Sunday Reflections

Silent Night, Holy Night
From time to time, the spirit of God touches minds, improves lives...


by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Quorum of the Twelve
Published: Saturday 20 Nov 2008

From time to time, if we are living worthily, the Spirit of God touches our hearts and minds that our lives are improved forever. A warm feeling penetrates our hearts. The silent still, small voice speaks to us quietly, communicating through a burning in our bosom (see Doctrine and Covenants 9:8). Knowledge given to us from God draws us closer to Him, sanctifying us and strengthening our desire to return to His presence.

During such unforgettable moments, revelation comes to us and forever alters our view, sharpening our focus on what matters most in life. We sense more profoundly our eternal relationship with Him as the literal Father of our spirits. We also feel more acutely our complete dependence upon the merciful atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. I had just such a revealing experience.

It was Christmas time in the Bavarian Alps in 1937. I have always loved Christmas. There is a special spirit about it. The chill in the winter air is the perfect counterpoint to the warmth that should fill our hearts as we contemplate the message of salvation found in the birth, and life, and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

I experienced that warmth many years ago while serving as a missionary for the Church just prior to the outbreak of World War II. As you might expect, the possibility of armed conflict was very intense. But, as Christmas approached, our thoughts were drawn to the Savior. We rejoiced in the privilege of serving Him during that sacred season in the famous city of Salzburg, Austria.

On Christmas Eve, Elder Staker Olson and I visited the village of Oberndorf, nestled securely in the beautiful Bavarian Alps. It was a crisp, clear winter night. We walked under a canopy of stars, across the smooth stillness of new-fallen snow to a humble little church where a familiar melody beckoned with its message of hope and peace. Inside, a choir was singing in German a carol that brought warmth to our hearts on that cold winter night. Though we were far from our homes and families, we were filled with our Heavenly Father's love and comforted by His Spirit as we listened to the calming strains of Silent Night! Holy Night!

Perhaps it was like the night that more than a century earlier inspired the assistant pastor in that quaint village to write the words to one of the most beloved hymns in all of Christendom. In 1818, Joseph Mohr was walking in the mountains above Oberndorf when he was overcome with the sublime beauty that surrounded him: The towering, majestic mountains; the brilliance of the stars in the sky; the shimmering glow of moonlight reflected on snow-covered hills and valleys; and the warm, welcoming lights of the village.

The setting provided inspiration for the new hymn Joseph Mohr was writing for Christmas services the next day. As he made his way homeward, words and phrases came together in his mind:

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.

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.
— Hymns, no. 204

Joseph Mohr took his words to Franz Gruber, the church organist. Since the church's organ was broken, Gruber had to compose music for the new hymn on his guitar. But the tune came easily, and the next day "Silent Night" had its first performance in that unique little church. Sung by its creators to Gruber's guitar accompaniment, it probably sounded a little different from the full, rich, harmonious version we sing today. But the message was the same.

As we listened to the choir's harmony while standing in the very same church where the first rendition of this sacred song was sung, we were spiritually moved. We were filled with the true spirit of Christmas.

As we left Oberndorf and walked about fifteen miles to our humble lodgings in old Salzburg, we spoke of life more confidently. Our goals and aspirations were clear, and we were both focused as to our direction in life.

Much of our conversation centered on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We felt closer to Him that Christmas Eve. As we savored that sense of God's love for us, we also felt an outpouring of His love toward all mankind. Even with the threat of war hanging heavily over Austria and the rest of the world, for one night, at least, all [was] calm, all [was] bright. It was, truly, a holy night, a Christmas that we will never forget.

We determined that we would be even more diligent in our missionary efforts to proclaim Christ's gospel of repentance, and we resolved that, upon our return home, we would serve the Master all our lives through magnifying our assignments in the Church. With humble hearts it was a time to reflect on the attributes of godliness as exemplified by the perfect life of the Savior.

We had been studying The Book of Mormon. As we walked, we spoke of what we could do to follow Alma's great admonition to the church which was established in the valley of Gideon (Alma 6:8):

And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works (Alma 7:23-24).

We desired with greater fervor than ever before to be strong, faithful men with valiant testimonies upon whom the Lord could rely. We wanted to always abound in good works; to be kind and loving towards others. As missionaries, we had learned to preach and teach the great atonement, the resurrection, and the restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

While we missed the company of cherished family and loved ones, we did not dwell on our absence from home. I expressed my goal to find a girl with qualities of character that stem from a deep and abiding spiritual foundation. We now knew that the virtues and attributes enumerated in Alma's admonition were the qualities we were looking for. My companion and I wanted to be married for time and all eternity. I did find such a companion who possessed all these qualities I had hoped for. Her name is Elisa Young Rogers. She exceeded all of my dreams expressed on that sacred night.

Of course, it wasn't just the hymn that had such impact on us. It was the song's message of the dawn of redeeming grace. To think that the Son of God would come into the world so humbly, live His life so perfectly, teach His gospel so completely, atone for our sins so graciously and do it all so willingly!

I pray that our hearts and homes may resonate with this marvelous message of love, hope and peace during the holiday season and forever. With the apostle John, I testify that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:1)