Cassie Schmidt:

Every Christmas I find myself reflecting on Mary and Joseph and their divine role in the Savior’s life. From the beginning they knew this sweet babe’s destiny, and I can only imagine the weight they felt as they tried to raise the Savior of the world in a warm and loving family. While they trusted that Heavenly Father had a plan for their child, I’m sure they still found themselves in sleepless nights, worrying as any parent does.

As a new mother myself, I have held my daughter in my arms in the middle of the night, wondering if I am doing all I can to turn her and my family toward the Savior. I know that Heavenly Father cares for my child just as much as He did for Baby Jesus, and I take comfort in knowing there is a God who has a plan for each of His children.

The songs “Breath of Heaven” and “Joseph’s Lullaby” remind me of the love of two humble parents in Bethlehem, the love I have for my own daughter, and — more importantly — the love of a Father in Heaven for all of His children. They remind me to trust in God’s plan just as Mary and Joseph did so many years ago.

They remind me of sacrifice… the sacrifice that Mary and Joseph made to raise the King of Kings, the sacrifice Heavenly Father made to send His Only Begotten Son to the earth, and most importantly, the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made to save us all so we can live as families for eternity.

Jared Schmidt:

When I was a freshman in college, I experienced my first Christmas away from home. It was a busy and stressful time — finals, studying, and the rush of the season made it hard to focus on what Christmas is truly about. I remember feeling a little disconnected from the spirit of the holiday that year.

One of my roommates invited me, almost last minute, to join our ward choir. I hadn’t planned on it, but I decided to go. The song we sang was “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” I had never heard it before, but as we practiced and sang, one line in particular stood out to me:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.”

That simple phrase spoke directly to my heart. In that moment, I felt the Spirit testify that Christ is real — that even in a world filled with chaos, hate, and noise, God is still aware of us. He has not forgotten His children. The message of that song reminded me that true peace comes through Jesus Christ, and that His light continues to shine even in dark times.

That experience helped me feel the true meaning of Christmas in a way I never had before. I know that Christ lives. He brings hope, peace, and good will to all people who turn to Him. Even when the world feels uncertain, He is constant. And I am grateful to know that “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.”