7th Day Christmas Past Question & Story

Posted by on Dec 18, 2014 in Christmas Past 2014 | 9 comments

4th-Christmas-Past-Logo-webOn the 7th Day Christmas Past, the true reason for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world!

Question:  How does a poem Eliza R. Snow wrote while traveling to Jerusalem help us ponder the connection between the Savior’s birth and the Savior’s Atonement?

Elder Lorenzo Snow and his sister Eliza R Snow were called to participate in the rededication of Palestine.  The group led by President George A. Smith departed Salt Lake City on October 26, 1872.  While en route to the holy land the party toured the European continent. President Smith’s party arrived in Nice, France on December 24.  George A Smith detailed the tour that Eliza R. Snow and others participated in as they visited various locations in Nice on Christmas Day:

“Touring with Lorenzo Snow, Eliza R Snow, Faramorz Little, Miss Clara Little, and Paul A Schettler.  Took a drive through Nice and vicinity romantic[ally] situated between hills & vallies. Handsom bay, red rocky soil, rendered lovely by the hand of patient toil.  The day was pleasant, the gardens green, variegated flowers abundant, orange groves loaded with golden fruit, contrasted beautifully with the deep dark foliage, while the lemon trees, also loaded with fruit, and the olive forests all combined to make a green contrast, never before witnessed by me on Christmas Day.  About 200 guests adorned our table at Tagle d’hotel which commenced with a good soup, & after 12 courses wound up with ice cream & roasted chesnots. The sitting lasted 1 1/2 hours .”

New Year’s Eve found the party in Milan Italy. In anticipation of their arrival in Jerusalem, Eliza Snow devoted a stanza of an expansive poem entitled “The Year 1872” to the topic of Jesus Christ. In this stanza, Eliza emphasizes the great love in the Savior’s atoning sacrifice and looks forward to the time when Christ will come again:

“I go to place my feet upon the land

Where once the Prince of Peace the Son of God

Was born – where once He lived and walk’d and preach’d,

And prayed, admonished, taught, rebuked, and bled;

And then, to answer justice’ great demand,

And seal his mission of Eternal Love,

Upon the cross poured out his precious blood –

Arose to life triumphant o’er the tomb;

And after being seen and heard and felt,

Ascended up to heaven; and as He went,

Those who stood looking, heard and angel say,

Ye men of of Gallilee why stand ye here

Gazing to heaven? The selfsame Jesus, whom

Ye see ascending, in like manner will

Again descend.”

The company continued on to Jerusalem. On Sunday, March 2, 1873 in a tent that had been pitched on the Mount of Olives by previous arrangement, President George A Smith led in humble, fervent supplication, dedicating the land of Palestine, and returning heartfelt thanks and gratitude to God for the fulness of the Gospel and the blessings bestowed on the Latter-day Saints.

Taken from:  Larry C. Porter, “Remembering Christmas Past Presidents of the Church Celebrate the Birth of the Son of Man and Remember His Servant Joseph Smith”, p. 15-18.  Found https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/BYUStudies/article/viewFile/6804/6453