Saturday, January 17, 2015

The Living Christ: A Christmas Advent

30 days (December 1-30 OR November 26-Dec 24)

The text comes from "The Living Christ", the testimony of the prophets and apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

You will be starting backwards, memorizing the last phrase on day 1.    ***Each day after, learn the new phrase, then continue reciting the phrases you have already learned!  This will reinforce the memorization.

Each day: Say the phrase. Define any words and discuss the phrase's meaning.  Sing the song. Try to memorize the phrase.

Day 1: God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
     SONG: He Sent His Son (CS p. 34)

Day 2: His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.
     SONG: Away in a Manger #206 ("Fit us for heaven to live with thee there")

Day 3: He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world.
     SONG: Do you hear what I hear? ("He will bring us goodness and light!")

Day 4: He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.
     SONG: O Come O Come Emmanuel

Day 5: We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God.
     SONG: Silent Night #204 ("Son of God")

Day 6: Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.
     SONG: Good King Wenceslas ("Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing")

Day 7: He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him.
     SONG: Hallelujah Chorus

Day 8: We testify that He will someday return to earth.  And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
     SONG: Jesus Once of Humble Birth  #196 ("Now in glory comes to earth")

Day 9: We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—built upon the foundation of  apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
      SONG: With Wondering Awe #210 ("The heavenly star...on every land is throwing, and shall not cease til holy peace in all the earth is growing")

Day 10: That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
      SONG:  Sleep Little Jesus  (CS p. 47) ("Earth long has waited her Savior and King")

Day 11:  For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
     SONG: Mary's Lullaby  (CS p. 44)("Thy gentle head shall wear a crown, for thy Father is the
King; Thy tender hands, so tiny now, have blessings great to bring")

Day 12: Of Him the Prophet also declared: And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
     SONG: The First Noel #213 ("Born is the King of Israel")

Day 13: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.
     SONG:  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen ("To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray")

Day 14: Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
     SONG: Angels We Have Heard on High  #203("Come...and see, come adore on bended knee; Glory in the highest to God")

Day 15: In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised dispensation of the fulness of times.
     SONG: Joy to the World #201 ("The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King")

Day 16: As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His other sheep in ancient America.
     SONG: Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus (CS p. 36)

Day 17: He rose from the grave to become the firstfruits of them that slept.
     SONG: Hark the Herald Angels Sing #209 ("Risen with healing in His wings...Born that man no more may die")

Day 18: He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.
     SONG: Oh Come All Ye Faithful #202 ("Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing")

Day 19: We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. 
    SONG: O Little Town of Bethlehem #208 ("Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.")

Day 20: He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.
     SONG: Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains #212 ("Sweet are these strains of redeeming love, message of mercy from heaven above")

Day 21: He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross.
     SONG: We Three Kings OR The Holly and the Ivy

Day 22: He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. 
     SONG: Picture a Christmas (CS p. 50) ("Remember Him as you picture Christmas this year")

Day 23: He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
     SONG: Little Jesus (CS p. 39) ("Came to earth to show the way")

Day 24: He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead.
     SONG: Once in Royal David's City #205 ("With the poor and mean and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.")

Day 25: His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example.
     SONG: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day #214 ("Peace on earth, goodwill to men")

Day 26: Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He went about doing good, yet was despised for it.
     SONG: Once Within a Lowly Stable  (CS p. 41) ("He came down to show all people how to help
and how to love")

Day 27: Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
     SONG: Unto us a Child is Born ("King of all creation")

Day 28: He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New.
     SONG: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear #207 ("by prophets seen of old")

Day 29: None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
     SONG: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks  #211 ("Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men  begin and never cease")

Day 30: As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice.
    SONG: O Holy Night ("It is the night of our dear Savior's birth", "truly He taught us to love one
another", "chains shall He break", "His power and glory evermore proclaim")

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