{"id":114074,"date":"2025-12-16T17:44:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T00:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=114074"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:44:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T00:44:18","slug":"what-wondrous-love-is-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2025\/12\/what-wondrous-love-is-this.html","title":{"rendered":"What wondrous love is this?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Star over Bethlehem, from the Christmas 1898 cover of Harper\u2019s Magazine
(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s a thought from President Russell M. Nelson that I think especially appropriate for the Christmas season:<\/p>\n

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In a coming day, you will present yourself before the Savior. You will be overwhelmed to the point of tears to be in His holy presence. You will struggle to find words to thank Him for paying for your sins, for forgiving you of any unkindness toward others, for healing you from the injuries and injustices of this life.<\/div>\n
You will thank Him for strengthening you to do the impossible, for turning your weaknesses into strengths, and for making it possible for you to live with Him and your family forever. His identity, His Atonement, and His attributes will become personal and real to you.<\/div>\n
But you don\u2019t have to wait until then. Choose to be one of His true disciples now. Be one who truly loves Him, who truly wants to serve and lead as He did.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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\"Christkindlmarkt<\/a>
A wintry scene in Munich. In the foreground, you can see some of the booths at that city\u2019s annual Christkindlmarkt (or \u201cLittle Christ Child Market\u201d). \u00a0Wikimedia Commons public domain image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I share with you now an exquisitely beautiful choral version of the Christmas hymn that I\u2019ve chosen for today: \u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DsVnvN3EVxY<\/a><\/p>\n

This is a Christian folk hymn from the American South. \u00a0It was first published at Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1811, and has been called a \u201cwhite spiritual.\u201d \u00a0That aspect is clearly brought out in these two quite different videos:<\/p>\n