“And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? … And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” 1 Nephi 11:16-21

“I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God.” Mosiah 15:1-2

The most beautiful part of Christmas for me is that God became one of us to save us. God is all powerful and could have saved us in any number of ways, but the way he chose was to leave his throne to become a child. Not just any child – a child born in poverty, outside a traditional nuclear family, to an oppressed people. He descended below all to raise us above all. The Good Shepherd carries us home rather than drags us home.

I first became aware of the tune of this hymn about two months ago when my stake choir began rehearsing it for our Christmas fireside. We used different words that captured a different part of the Christmas story, but my internet search led me to Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor, and I knew I had to share it with all of you. May we always remember that God on high chose to come low to be with us. Merry Christmas!