Mark says, "The Christmas of 2004 was my first Christmas home from my mission and there was a new movie that came out that I was excited about called 'The Polar Express.' I have always loved the book The Polar Express because of the simple message behind it but somehow the movie helped bring even greater power to the message to me. At the end of the movie, there was an amazing song that to me captured the entire message of the book and movie called 'Believe' sung by one of my favorite singers Josh Groban."
"Now that I have my own children and see the magic of Christmas light up in their eyes, I can’t help but think of the hope and joy they feel because they believe. This belief is not just a belief in Santa, but in the Spirit of Christmas and all that it represents. That magic almost always fades with the belief in Santa, but it doesn’t have to."
Mark continues, "When we put up the Christmas tree this year the day after Thanksgiving as is our family tradition, our children were ecstatic because it signified the start of the Christmas season. They were thrilled when we told them they could sleep underneath the Christmas tree and as they awoke to a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and Christmas songs in the background, there was a different Spirit in our home. I couldn’t help but think of this song coming to life for our family just as story of the Polar Express does in the book and the movie. It was a beautiful moment seeing our 'children sleeping, snow is softly falling. Dreams are calling like the bells in the distance. We were dreamers not so long ago...'"
Mark concludes, "Along with many others, these experiences have helped me learn that the Spirit of Christmas is much more than just Santa, gifts, shopping, and lights. It is the message of the Savior of the world and the joy and power that comes into our homes and lives by 'just believing' in Him. As we face uncharted waters with the twists and turns society has taken, the message to 'believe' has taken even greater meaning. It is far easier to stop believing in that which we can’t see because we can’t see it, but I think there is much greater power in believing. We will all be better if we heed the message that is at the heart of the song 'Believe in what you feel inside. Give your dreams the wings to fly. You have everything you need, if you just believe.' I hope listening to this song in this light will give you a small taste of my belief in Christmas and its true meaning and I, along with the train conductor, implore you to 'Just Believe' this Christmas season."
Just Believe
Performed by Josh Groban
Words & Music by Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri
Children sleeping, snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling like bells in the distance
We were dreamers not so long ago
But one by one we all had to grow up
When it seems the magic slipped away
We find it all again on Christmas Day
Believe in what your heart is sayin'
Hear the melody that's playin'
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe
Trains move quickly to their journey's end
Destinations are where we begin again
Ships go sailing far across the sea
Trusting starlight to get where they need to be
When it seems that we have lost our way
We find ourselves again on Christmas Day
Believe in what your heart is sayin'
Hear the melody that's playin'
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe
If you just believe, if you just believe
If you just believe, just believe, just believe
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