With the Christmas season fast approaching, one word that echoes in plays, carols, and general wishes of good cheer is joy. Joy fills the hearts of people everywhere with the peace and happiness the holidays bring. In the scriptures, the most beautiful verses of joy are those that speak of Jesus Christ. In Alma 13, Alma and Amulek preach to the people of Ammonihah, and Alma says to the people, “Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people…”(2). Here he is prophesying of Christ’s birth, and the joy that will be sounded by angels to the people.
Alma continues: “And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming…”(3). Later, the people ask him when Jesus will come to them, the people in America. They are told, “he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness”(4). Imagine the joy the people felt knowing that the Savior would come among them, that they would be able to see, hear, and touch him.
Joy has so many wonderful meanings. For instance, in Hebrew, joy can mean “gladness,” “rejoicing,” “make merry,” and “cheer”—all words used to describe Christmas! In English we wish each other “Merry Christmas,” but in French the phrase used is Joyeux Noël, which literally means “they joy,” and Noël comes from the Latin root natalis, which means “birth.” So Joyeux Noël, roughly translated, means “they joy in the birth,” and therefore, when French speakers wish each other “Merry Christmas,” what they are really expressing, though they may not know it, is joy for the birth of Christ.
To me, some of the greatest joy can be felt through the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not only does it give hope that we can one day experience all this, but, as Parley P. Pratt wrote, the Spirit is, “as it were… joy to the heart and light to the eyes”(5). King Lamoni’s father asks to receive this joy when he says to Aaron, “Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God… and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy… I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy”(6). How many of us would be willing to give up all that we possess to receive the Spirit?
A few weeks ago, as a member of the Women’s Chorus, I was able to participate in the BYU choirs’ “Celebration of Christmas” concert. We sang many moving songs celebrating the birth of Christ, including “Il est né” (“He was born”), the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah, and “O Holy Night.” By far my favorite moment came when all the choirs sang the song “Carol of Joy.” During our final performance, as I sang, the words to this beautiful carol came to me and touched my heart: “Earth wrapped in sorrow, lift up your eyes! Thrill to the chorus filling the skies. Look up, sad-hearted! Witness God’s love; join in the coral swelling above! O friendless world, to you is the song! All heaven’s joy to you may belong! You who are lonely, laden, forlorn… a Savior is born!” (7). While we sang those words, I was touched by the Spirit very profoundly because I realized in that moment that the reason we celebrate Christmas is not wholly because Christ was born, but because of what he came to Earth to do. This song was a wonderful testimony of Christ’s mission and the sacrifice he made for us. I truly relate to Alma when he says, “Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever”(8). I pray that everyone, wherever you are, can feel the joy this season brings to the hearts of people everywhere and share the love of our Savior as we commemorate the wondrous occasion of his birth.
Works Cited:
1. “Joy to the World” by George Frideric Handel
2. Alma 13:22
3. Alma 13:15
4. Alma 16:20
5. Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology: A Voice of Warning
6. Alma 22:15
7. Eileen Berry, “Carol of Joy”
8. Alma 26:16
Image from http://www.yougotjesus.com/baby_jesus.htm
3 comments:
I like how you tied in that Christ's birth wouldn't have been of much consequence if he had not fulfilled his earthly mission. This is a beautiful tribute to the real meaning of Christmas.
I enjoyed reading your blog, and its true about the joy we feel at Christmas. For me, i know that singing Christmas carols (especially when surrounded by those who can sing well) gives me one of the best feelings of the Christmas season. That joy is often harder to find sometimes, but Christmas really does bring out the best in all of us.
I liked the different translations of joy also.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. Its always a good reminder what the true meaning of Christmas is around this time. I also agree with you on how the happiest times in our lives are felt through the Holy Ghost.
Post a Comment