O, come.

O, come.

Joy, to the world. The Christ Child is born, the Prince of Peace. Come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant. O Come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels. O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Joy to the world. The Christ Child is born, the Prince of Peace, and the Holy One. Sing choirs of angels, sing in exaltation. Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above. Glory to God, glory in the highest. O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord,

the Prince of Peace.

Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning. Jesus to Thee be all glory given. Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing. O Come (Joy to the world, the Christ Child is Born). O Come (the Price of Peace). O Come, let us adore Him (Christ is born). O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord (joy to the world). O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Joy to the world, the Christ Child is born (oh come).

Welcome to this 2022 Christmas on Temple Square concert from Salt Lake City, Utah.

My name is Stephen Jones, and it is my pleasure to be with you as we celebrate the promise of Christmas. We’ve gathered music and Christmas traditions from around the world to share with you now. But before we get started, let me clarify.

Now, what do we mean by the promise of Christmas? The promise is that a Savior was born. A Savior, your Savior, and my Savior, and wrapped up in those swaddling clothes, that little baby boy on Christmas morning was the gift of immortality and our opportunity for eternal life. Now, that's a joyful message.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, And saints and angels sing, And saints and angels sing, And saints, and saints and angels sing.

Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns, And Saints their songs employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more will sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He’ll come and make the blessings flow Far as the curse was found, Far as the curse was found, Far as, far as the curse was found.

Rejoice! Rejoice in the Most High, While Israel spreads abroad Like stars that glitter in the sky, And ever worship God, And ever worship God, And ever, and ever worship God. And ever, and ever worship God.

And ever, and ever worship God.

Look all around you. Do you see it too?

We each have our heartaches, problems we must face. We’ll overcome everything. We’ll make it through. Nothing’s impossible if we all promise to

share with others and let them feel His love for us. When we care for others we can make it shine, the light that comes straight from the heart overflowing with His pure love for us.

Every day can be just like Christmas with each tiny spark of His light that’s found in you.

By looking around you, you can already see there’s always something we can do to help our neighbors, our friends, and our family too. We can shine our light brighter if we do it together. share with others and let them feel His love for us.

When we care for others we can make it shine, the light that comes straight from the heart overflowing with His pure love for us.

Every day can be just like Christmas

with each tiny spark of His light that’s found in you, the light that comes straight from the heart overflowing with His pure love for us. Every day can be just like Christmas with each tiny spark of His light that’s found in you. When He was born in a lowly manger, the night clouds He parted, and a bright star appeared. A blessing from Father above

gave us much hope and great love… The light that comes straight from the heart

overflowing with His pure love for us. Every day can be just like Christmas

with each tiny spark of His light, the light that comes straight from the heart overflowing with His pure love for us. Every day can be just like Christmas

with each tiny spark of His light that’s found in you.

You and I celebrate Christmas so many different ways around the world. This Christmas season, how will you choose to celebrate? Now this concert is a part of it, and at times like these we celebrate with Christmas music and dancing. But sometimes we sit quietly and think about what it all means. Other times we put on Christmas pageants and act out the story of Jesus’ birth with the angels and the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and the donkey. I was always assigned to be the donkey. Or maybe we just get together with the people we love.

Our celebrations are a form of worship. The Psalmist said, “Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord.”

Here are a few of our brothers and sisters around the globe doing just that.

God of love, here I am before you. God of love, give me love to witness about You. God of love,

here I am before you.

God of love,

give me love to witness about You.

God of love,

here I am before you. God of love, give me love to witness about You.

God of love,

here I am before you.

God of love, give me love to witness about You. Lord, here I am. Lord, here I am. Lord, here I am.

Lord, here I am. Lord, here I am.

Lord, here I am.

Lord, here I am. Lord, here I am. Lord, here I am. Lord, here I am.

Hosanna on high.

Hosanna in the highest.

God of love,

give me love to witness about You. Hosanna on high. Hosanna in the highest.

God of love,

give me love to witness about You. Hosanna on high.

Hosanna on high. Hosanna in the highest.

God of love,

give me love to witness about You.

Hosanna on high. Hosanna in the highest.

God of love,

give me love to witness about You.

Lord, here I am.

Lord, here I am.

Lord, here I am.

Joy to the world, The Lord is come.

To every boy and girl, He’ll be the Holy One.

He’ll be a King. He’ll be our Lord.

He’s just a baby, but He’ll save the world. And I’ll sing, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. He is my Savior and my King. With all my heart to Him I’ll sing. A Lord and King will I adore. And with my praise forever more. He is my shephard and I’ll know from all my love to Him I’ll show. And from my life to Him I’ll live. And today He’s born. He’s born! And I’ll sing, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. He is my Savior.

Today He’s born.

He is born.

He’ll be my King.

He’ll be my Lord.

My King.

My Lord.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country

shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:

and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,

which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Once in royal David’s city, stood a lowly cattle shed,

where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed.

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall; with the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav’n above, And He leads His children on to the place where He is gone. One day He will come to greet us, blazing trails of glory past. We will bow in adoration, for our Lord has come at last. Oh, the long-awaited morning; we will shout in joyous praise. Promised Lord at last to meet us, Christ, the King. Christ, the King. Christ, the King of latter days. Christ, the King of latter days.

Amen.

Jesus Christ is also known as the light of the world.

Our promise of Christmas is that the Savior will help light our way.

As Psalm 119 says, “The word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Jesus set a perfect example.

He was so focused on helping people one by one, and He invites us to let our “light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father, which is in heaven.” There’s a light in a smile. There’s a light in a grand display, or in a simple kind deed.

We point people to the Lord when we share our light.

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains. And the mountains in reply,

echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis deo.

Gloria in excelsis deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing.

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis deo.

Gloria in excelsis deo.

Hark! Hark! Hark! The herald angels sing. Proclaiming Christ the new born King.

Hark! Hark! Hark!

They sang songs of praise that glory to God in the highest And peace on earth, good will to men.

Hark! Hark! Hark! The herald angels sing, proclaiming Christ the new born King.

Hark! Hark! Hark! They sang songs of praise that glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will to men. That glory to God in the highest and peace on earth, good will to men.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and shall call His name Emmanuel— God with us.

For unto us, a child is born. Unto us. a Son is given

and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace.

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them.

Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy.

For unto you is born this day, in the city, David, a Savior. Savior. A Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Jesus Christ.

God’s only Begotten Son. The only One who could save us from our sins,

from our sadness. He was born so we can be born again.

If we love Him, remember Him follow Him.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice greatly!

For unto you, and unto me,

and unto all of us,

a Savior is born.

Baby so lovely and pure,

Lord of the heavens and earth,

laid in a manger to rest,

dreaming in slumber blessed.

Sleep while the chorus above us is swelling and legions are telling good tidings of joy. Sleep as the angels sing carols so sweet,

Child in a manger, sleep.

Born as the shepherds abide

keeping their flocks in the night. Laid in a manger to rest,

cradled in tenderness. Sleep while they haste through the darkness to find Thee and kneel down beside Thee in wonder and awe.

Sleep while the angels watch over their sheep,

Child in a manger, sleep.

Born of the mercy of God, gift of His infinite love. Laid in a manger to rest, sleep, Son of Holiness. Sleep while the starlight around us is falling, and angels are calling, “Come worship the King!” Sleep as the Father enfolds us in peace,

Child in a manger, sleep.

Child in a manger, sleep.

The promise of Christmas is the promise of hope for every person who has ever lived on Earth.

Because of the baby born in a humble stable,

we can have the promise of eternal joy with God.

For that baby was the Son of God, born to bring the fulfillment of all the promises made by prophets since the world began.

Jesus promised to come to Earth and save us from sin and death.

He came to enable us to return home to God.

He kept His promise through his infinite love for us.

And now we look forward with great anticipation for His return.

For He has promised to come again— not as a baby,

but as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus, who is born of humble birth, will come to us

in glory, to reign forevermore.

What promises can you and I make to Him?

Can we love, as He did? Bring compassion to the sorrowing?

Forgive another? Invite peace?

I testify that He is indeed the promised Messiah.

How grateful I am for Him at this sacred season.

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the heavens looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. Jesus, once of humble birth, now in glory comes to earth.

Once He suffered grief and pain;

Now He comes on earth to reign.

Now He comes on earth to reign.

Once forsaken, left alone, but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes

Once all things He meekly bore, but He now will bear no more.

But He now will bear no more.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by forever,

and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there,

with Thee there.

Thank you for joining us. I had a great time and I hope you did, too. We hope that you have joy year round, knowing that the promise of Christmas is that unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Merry Christmas.

A star in the sky was just one of the signs proclaiming to all of the world that through this little child, so meek and so mild, all the prophecies would be fulfilled. And the angels sing in the heavens, salvation is there at the door. And though He’s just a boy all the world will rejoice, For a Savior is born!

The shepherds all feared when the angels appeared, but rejoiced when they heard the news.

The King of the world has come to the earth with salvation for me and for you.

You will find Him there in a manger,

in clothes that are tattered and worn.

And though He’s just a boy all the world will rejoice, For a Savior is born!

And all will sing hallelujah!

Give praise to the Lamb!

This little baby is already holding the whole world in His tiny hands.

And even though He came long ago,

He’s still with us today.

Golgotha was done and the glory was won, and now forever we’re blessed by His grace. And angels still sing in the heavens. Death will keep us no more.

Because of that boy, all the world will rejoice, For a Savior is born!

And all will sing hallelujah! Stronger than ever before. Because of that boy, all the world will rejoice, For a Savior is born! And all will sing hallelujah Stronger than ever before. Because of that boy, all the world will rejoice, For a Savior is born!