Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad. 

Feliz Navidad. 

Feliz Navidad, prospero año y felicidad!

Just imagine that sung in a beautiful J-Lo voice that I've developed since being in the Hispanic environment. Ole!

But speaking of singing, I, Hermana (Stephanie) Blanchard, participated in the Christmas Choir for the Christmas Zone Conference. For anyone who knows me, this is a remarkable feat. My oral choir experience consists of singing the national Anthem in the 4th and 5th grade. Can't say it was particularly helpful, but when it comes to singing the music of Christmas it really doesn't matter how shrilly, pubescent, or awkward your voice is.

I wanted to share the lyrics of one of my favorite Christmas songs, "What Child is This?"

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Baby, the son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The baby, the Son of Mary.

The birth of the savior was truly a very humble experience. As one of our former prophets Joseph Fielding Smith once said,

"There is no story quite as beautiful, or which can stir the soul of the humble quite to the depths, as this glorious story can of the birth of our Redeemer. No words that man may utter can embellish or improve or add to the eloquence of its humble simplicity. It never grows old no matter how often told, and the telling of it is by far too infrequent in the homes of men. Let us try to imagine ourselves out with the shepherds who were watching over their flock that memorable night. These were humble men who had not lost the faith of their fathers, whose hearts had not become hardened as were the hearts of the rulers of the Jews in the days of our Lord’s ministry, for had they been, the angels would not have appeared to them with their glorious message."

That was a thought that I never would have come up with myself. Let's place ourselves in the shoes of those humble shepherds. When they heard the glorious message of the Savior's birth, they immediately put aside what they were doing and came unto him. They left their flock and placed their trust in the Lord

It's something we have to ask ourselves,

Are we humbling ourselves and coming unto Christ? Are we sharing the gospel with others so that they can come to Christ, too? If Christ came today, would we feel comfortable to come unto him?

if the answer is a negative, remember that it is never too late to come unto Christ. He is not at the end of the finish line, after we have done all that we have done, but He is with us every step of the way. He is loving, merciful, and kind. Never forget the reason He came into the world; to guide us and show us the way to live so that we may, again, be with our Father (and with our families) in heaven. 

Love you all,

Hermana Blanchard