Light of the World

I have always loved the lights of Christmas.  From the single light in each window of my childhood home to the lights draped on homes, parks and shopping centers, the lights of the season were welcoming and enchanting.   For a few years I had the privilege of singing with the Mormon Youth Chorus and on the day after Thanksgiving, we sang in the Tabernacle with the doors flung open as the switch was thrown and Temple Square was flooded with light.  In moments like those I could picture how the angels felt as they heralded the coming of the Light of the World.  

It is unlikely that I was one of the angels seen in the field on that holy night singing, but wherever I was on that sacred night, I am sure I was singing then as I sing now, “Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the Highest!”  He had sent His Son, “love’s pure light… the dawn of redeeming grace.”  In every “dark street shineth the everlasting Light.”  “Light and life to all He 

brings, ris’n with healing in His wings”.  “The heav’nly star its rays afar on ev’ry land is throwing, and shall not cease till holy peace in all the earth is growing.”  “Born to raise the sons of earth.  Born to give them second birth.”  “Fear not…Glad tidings of great joy I bring, to you and all mankind.”

The music of His light brings hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary, mercy to the weak and if there are “…moments when the melody of joy falters below our power of expression, we may have to stand silent for a time and simply listen to others, drawing strength from the splendor of the music around us. Many of us who are “musically challenged” have had our confidence bolstered and our singing markedly improved by positioning ourselves next to someone with a stronger, more certain voice. Surely it follows that in singing the anthems of eternity, we should stand as close as humanly possible to the Savior and Redeemer of the world—who has absolutely perfect pitch. We then take courage from His ability to hear our silence and take hope from His melodious messianic intercession in our behalf.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, April 2017)
 
Come to Him, stand close, let His hope and light wash over you, let Him do His work of healing, refining and redeeming.  He is come!

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