Silent Night and Our Day
Behold the Lamb of God, by Walter Rane
It is always a joy to hear, and recount stories of triumph people experience in their lives. It is no coincidence or miracle that the poem Silent Night by Joseph Mohr was destined to fill the homes and hearts of people on that holy Christmas Eve of 1818.
The Napoleonic wars had taken a huge toll on Europe for the prior 20 years. The story of St. Nicklaus Chapel in Oberndorf Austria began in 16th century Salzburg. The cathedral was built to become the Rome of the North. The Fortress was built to guard the city.
Joseph Mohr born in 1792 had natural music abilities. Had a strong connection to the poor due to his modest upbringing. He was an orphan and asked to become a priest at age 19 (the suggested age at that time was 25). Most moving perhaps about this story was this youthful priest giving his life to the Lord and his fellow man.
As the movie Silent Night portrays, he was the assistant priest and was told to stop doing non-traditional religious changes like mass in German; although, he was following direction from Rome. His superior insisted he return to mass in traditional Latin and discouraged his natural tendencies to help the poor and the unchurched in his area. I loved how he finally stood up to this charge and said, he had decided to do a Christmas celebration in his own way and discard the cenacle and uncompromising ways of his mentor priest. He did not want to become like him but wanted to follow The Lord. He wrote his hope in 6 verses in 1816.
Franz Gruber his musical associate was born in 1787. In 1816 Franz became the organist in the Parrish at Oberndorf. They both added music to the lullaby on Christmas Eve 1818 and performed the song for the first time that evening by simple guitar. Joseph said, “The two of us did something for the Holy Night. I transcribed the words, and Franz Gruber the melody. Neither knew of its significance.” Now translated into 300 languages it is sung all over the world. The hymn is synonymous for the human/Christian message of peace. The Austrians sing it only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It was here in Oberdorf that future apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin, 119 years later, consecrated his life to serving the Savior while in Austria on a mission. Six weeks he was alone waiting for a companion just prior to the beginning of WWII. On a memorable Christmas Eve in 1937, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, then a full-time missionary, and his new companion walked from Salzburg, Austria, to the village of Oberndorf, nestled in the Bavarian Alps. While visiting the village known as the inspiration for the hymn “Silent Night,” they paused in a small church to listen to Christmas music sung by a choir. “A crisp, clear winter night enveloped us as we began our return trip,” Elder Wirthlin recalled. “We walked under a canopy of stars and across the smooth stillness of new-fallen snow.” As they walked, the young missionaries shared their hopes, dreams, and goals for the future. In that heavenly setting, Elder Wirthlin renewed his commitment to serve The Lord: “I made up my mind that I would magnify any callings I received in The Lord’s Kingdom.”
We only sing three verses in our current hymnal, but here are all six verses of the translation from German. They are all extraordinarily beautiful.
Silent Night! Holy Night!
1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child!
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!
4. Silent night, Holy night!
Here at last, healing light
From the heavenly kingdom sent,
Abundant grace for our intent.
Jesus, salvation for all.
Jesus, salvation for all.
5. Silent night! Holy night!
Sleeps the world in peace tonight.
God sends his Son to earth below
A Child from whom all blessings flow
Jesus, embraces mankind.
Jesus, embraces mankind.
6. Silent Night, Holy night!
Mindful of mankind's plight
The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed
From earthly woes we would be freed
Jesus, God's promise for peace.
Jesus, God's promise for peace.
This lullaby expresses so well our collective hopes and aspirations of peace, comfort and redemption offered to us during the season of Christmas if we are but willing to choose Christ over less important things.
In The Book of Mormon, we read of the signs of The Lord's birth in Bethlehem. In 3 Nephi 1:4-9, we read,
“And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people. But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain. And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass. But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain. Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.”
There are many today who are trying to silence those of faith as we steadfastly hold to our faith in Jesus Christ and His Messianic message of hope. It is especially troubling to see many of the rising generation who are losing their way. It seems at the times of greatest blessing, there are commensurate challenges. At the end of that same chapter (3 Nephi 1:29-30):
"And there was also a cause of much sorrow among the Lamanites; for behold, they had many children who did grow up and began to wax strong in years, that they became for themselves, and were led away by some who were Zoramites, by their lyings and their flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers. And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation."
We have a rising generation today that in some respects is spiritually strongest ever, yet some have "become for themselves" and are leaving the table of heritage and feast of The Lord for a mess of pottage. Or as the prophet Haggai said in his day (in Haggai 1:2-6),
"Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."
The pursuits of the flesh leave us with empty bags of moths, mice and rust. The subsequent chapters in scripture tell us that refuge is found only in unity and gathering together in bodies of believers.
We testify that it is our faith in Jesus Christ and His Light to the world that we can find refuge and salvation. Jesus is our healing Light to cure our plight. Let’s not be silent to the challenges of our times and “Light the World” each day of this season.
He will come.
Immanuel,
Auburn Stake Presidency