Advent/Christmas 2024 Music & Thoughts

[SilentOne]

"Although some of us may feel lonely or isolated, it is important for us to remember the hope that Jesus Christ brings. The incarnation, God becoming a man, is the very reason why we have hope. Without Jesus Christ, we have no hope and only death to look forward to. But for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, we are no longer hopeless! Scripture says, 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.'

"This living hope is the hope and promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, 'our hope.' We have hope because Jesus came as a man, lived, died, and rose again."

- Daniel Kabason

I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

- Psalm 16:8-11

[SilentOne]

My dear brothers and sisters, the birth of Jesus brings us light which is hope and indescribable joy. Can you imagine people waiting for their Redeemer, then one day this hope becomes a divine reality? Could you describe the happiness that flowed in the hearts of this people? I like the way the Book of Mormon describes this event:

“And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

“And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

“And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.”

- Hubermann Bien-Aimé

 

[SilentOne]

All my hope is centered in Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He truly is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep. “God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”

- Johann A. Wondra

And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

- Moroni 7:41

[SilentOne]

 

As the Holy Ghost bore record to Elisabeth, He bears record to us that the words of the prophets have been fulfilled. The Savior has come and performed the work His Father sent Him to do... His promise that we can become His sons and daughters will be realized as we believe in Him and exercise faith in Him unto obedience. Then we will be prepared to receive the gift of eternal life.

- Robert D. Hales

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

- 2 Nephi 31:20

[SilentOne]

My heart grieves for the many sorrows some of you face, for the painful loneliness and wearisome fears you may be experiencing.

Nevertheless, I bear witness that our living hope is in Christ Jesus! He is the true, pure, and powerful entrance to divine enlightenment.

I testify that with Christ, darkness cannot succeed. Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ.

I bear witness that darkness cannot stand before the brilliant light of the Son of the living God!

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

- John 16:33

Edited December 3, 2024 by SilentOne

[SilentOne]

We may not be captive in Egypt or Babylon, as were the ancient Israelites, but we are captive nonetheless—captive to sin and death. And like Israel of old, we hope for deliverance. The birth of “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” heralded the fulfillment of that hope. That is why we sing of Bethlehem, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

The birth, life, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ constitute “good tidings” of healing, liberty, and deliverance.

- Henry B. Eyring

Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him. And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

- 2 Nephi 11:4-5

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

[Jamie123]

On 12/4/2024 at 7:23 PM, SilentOne said:

We may not be captive in Egypt or Babylon, as were the ancient Israelites, but we are captive nonetheless—captive to sin and death. And like Israel of old, we hope for deliverance. The birth of “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” heralded the fulfillment of that hope. That is why we sing of Bethlehem, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

The birth, life, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ constitute “good tidings” of healing, liberty, and deliverance.

- Henry B. Eyring

Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him. And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

- 2 Nephi 11:4-5

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

I love Anne Murray. She's my favourite of all ever.

Edited December 6, 2024 by Jamie123

[SilentOne]

As we celebrate Christmas, may we all rejoice in the reality that Jesus Christ was born to be our Savior, bringing to all of us hope that transcends earthly circumstances and points towards a future filled with hope, joy, and peace in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

His birth heralds a message of hope that shines brightly in a world often marred by darkness, offering the promise of redemption, reconciliation, and eternal life through faith in Christ.

- Fritzner A. Joseph

For the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared; teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

- Titus 2:11-14

[SilentOne]

The light of the Savior can glow within us if the Savior is in our hearts.

- Sue Clark

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

- Deuteronomy 6:5

[SilentOne]

I feel grateful for every miraculous gift of God, for the wonders of His love, for the beauty of His creations, for all that is good and right and true flowing down from our Father in Heaven on high

- Bruce D. Porter

[SilentOne]

We are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, the one God. He loves us so much that He remembers us in the details of our lives. When we think of Heavenly Father, we think of Him as an embodiment of Love. Because He loves us so much, He sent His only begotten son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to us as a gift, the greatest gift of salvation and eternal life.

- Ambrose Xavier Amalaraj

And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.

- 1 Nephi 11:21-23

[SilentOne]

 

To sing the song of redeeming love is to feel the pure love of Christ — to feel the joy and hope that comes from an expanded soul changed by sincere repentance. Alma describes this feeling as exquisite, sweet joy. To sing this song is not just to feel the joy but to share it. “[C]harity is the pure love of Christ." It is the ability to see God’s children as He sees them. True disciples are filled with this pure love. Through the grace of the Savior, we are changed and we become more like him.

- Vern P. Stanfill

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

- 1 John 3:1-3

[SilentOne]

I wasn't planning to use this song, but I woke up with it in my head and it fits, so:

 

[SilentOne]

The Lord’s coming to earth was essential to the Father’s plan. There had to be a Savior, a Redeemer, a Great Mediator. Jesus told the Father, “Send me” because He loved God our Eternal Father and because He loved us.... 

The Lord Omnipotent, who reigneth, who was and is from all eternity to all eternity, descends from His most lofty position to the very lowliest—raising the poor out of the dust and the needy out of the dunghill. He descended below all, that all might be raised with Him and the Father.

- David L. Frischknecht

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

- Psalm 36:5-7

[SilentOne]

What is it about true love that touches every heart? Why does the simple phrase “I love you” evoke such universal joy?

Men give various reasons, but the real reason is that every person who comes to earth is a spirit son or daughter of God. Since all love emanates from God, we are born with the capacity and the desire to love and to be loved. One of the strongest connections we have with our premortal life is how much our Father and Jesus loved us and how much we loved Them.

- John H. Groberg

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

- 1 John 4:7-10

[SilentOne]

The good tidings of great joy that the angel delivered to the shepherds and that the angel declared to King Benjamin—and that each of us individually and in families understands today is Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Jesus Christ is the source of great joy for all people. He is central to God’s plan for His children. Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father’s purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life.

- Thierry K. Mutombo

For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy. For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

- Mosiah 3:4-5

[Ironhold]

"And when the emptiness still gets you down / all alone you walk the lonely ground / just think about the ones you love / and take the loss and rise above" - Enuff Z'Nuff, "Happy Holidays"

Believe it or not, I find that rock, metal, and "power pop" bands often have a very real and very *human* grasp of things when it comes to Christmas music, both the classics - like Rob Halford's rendition of "Good King Wenceslas" and Manowar's rendition of "Stille Nacht" - and original songs, like the one I quoted above or the Northern Lights Orchestra's "Celebrate Christmas". 

I actually prefer Shinedown's version of "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" to the original because their rendition is so comparatively raw that it's as if the singer is someone who has just been at war *with themselves* and has now found peace. 

[SilentOne]

@Ironhold I didn't think to say so when I posted the thread this year, but please share any Christmas music you like here.

Probably unnecessary disclaimer: unless it would violate site rules.

[SilentOne]

How we ought to rejoice that this Firstborn Son in the spirit was willing to become the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, to suffer incomprehensibly and die ignominiously to redeem us. He perfectly unites justice and mercy. He saves us from—not in, but from—our sins. And He also redeems us from the Fall, from spiritual and physical death. He opens the door to immortality and eternal life. It would be impossible to plumb the depths of His love.

- D. Todd Christofferson

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

- Isaiah 12:2-3

[Ironhold]

17 hours ago, SilentOne said:

@Ironhold I didn't think to say so when I posted the thread this year, but please share any Christmas music you like here.

Probably unnecessary disclaimer: unless it would violate site rules.

YouTube is blocking me because I have an ad blocker going, otherwise I'd have directly linked things already. 

[SilentOne]

2 minutes ago, Ironhold said:

YouTube is blocking me because I have an ad blocker going, otherwise I'd have directly linked things already. 

Maybe I'll look up what you mentioned before when I have a bit more time.

[Ironhold]

5 minutes ago, SilentOne said:

Maybe I'll look up what you mentioned before when I have a bit more time.

Rob Halford - "Away In A Manger"

Rob Halford - "What Child Is This?"

Rob Halford - "Good King Wenceslas"

Manowar - "Stille Nacht"

Northern Lights Orchestra - "Celebrate Christmas"

Enuff Z'Nuff - "Happy Holiday"

Shinedown - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

Slade - "Merry Xmas Everybody" ("So here it is, Merry Christmas! Everybody's having fun! Look to the future now, it's only just begun!")

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - "Old City Bar"

 

I would also recommend Rob Halford's "Get Into The Spirit" due to how absolutely positive the vibes are, but there's a non-zero chance that'll blow your speakers out. 

"Get into the spirit! Reach up to the sky! Get into the spirit! Raise your spirits! Raise your spirits high!"

[SilentOne]

A few of the songs @Ironhold recommended before I go to bed:

 

 

 

[SilentOne]

To each of us in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, God promises, covenants, and invites us to come partake of His abundant joy and goodness.

- Gerrit W. Gong

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord.

- Psalm 117

[SilentOne]

Next set of songs from the list provided by @Ironhold