Sunday, December 11, 2016

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There is a song that is often heard during the Christmas season “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. It was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle and first sung by Andy Williams. I really believe this is the most wonderful time of the year, not just because “everyone telling us be of good cheer” or because of the “caroling out in the snow”, but primarily because “it’s the hap – happiest season of all and tales of the glories of Christmas long, long ago”. When we center our thoughts on Jesus Christ and his birth it brings us peace and inspires us to serve others. I hope you enjoy the scriptures and music below that help to make this one of the most wonderful time of the year.

Isaiah prophesied about 700 years before its fulfillment that the Messiah would be born:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Handel's "For Unto Us a Child is Born"

Isaiah was not alone in his prophecies of the Messiah many other ancient prophets foretold of the birth of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament as well as in the Book of Mormon.

But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)


Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world. (1 Nephi 10:4)


And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! (1 Nephi 11:18-21)

Home Free - "Angels We Have Heard on High"

But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.
And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. (Alma 7:9-10)


A Christmas version of Hallelujah 

Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God. (2 Nephi 10:3)

Five years before the prophesied time of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prophet Samuel came to the people in America and gave them a sign of the Savior’s birth:

And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. (Helaman 14:2-5)



 Pentatonix - "Mary Did You Know"