Dec 22: He was Here | Ray Campbell, Utah

Today's posting comes from my brother, Ray Campbell. For as long as I can remember, Ray has always been there. We've been close over the years. As small children, we did almost everything together. We played together in the sandbox. We rode bikes together. We sneaked out to go to "Scott Wilkin's" store many times without my parents knowing. I remember one poignant experience with him that I think about often. As Ray and I were growing older, naturally we were growing into ourselves and our own likes and interests. When Ray would go play with "his" friends often I would feel left out. One day, I was following on my bike behind him because I knew that he was going to play at Scott's house. Just before getting to his friend's house he turned around and NICELY told me to go home. I remember feeling devastated that I couldn't play with him. I'm pretty sure I started to cry. In what I believe was an act of brotherly compassion, he comforted me and decided to let me play with he and his friend. I love my brother Ray! He's a great example to many.

Ray says, "I haven’t always loved the Forgotten Carols. I actually used to think they were pretty cheesy. But as I have gotten older and listened to them, I have grown to love them as they explain the different/possible perspectives of the events surrounding the Saviors birth. This song in particular struck a chord in my heart a long time ago as I was questioning my own testimony of the gospel. Years ago I was able to attend a performance of the Forgotten Carols and was fortunate enough to get a great seat close to the stage. I was on a date…and remember not really being very focused on the message of the performance or the lyrics of the first few songs, but rather, on my date. Then, this song: 'He Was Here' was performed… and it completely shifted my focus for the evening and made me feel the spirit so strongly. This is a song about conversion. It speaks of a shepherd who was with all the other shepherds the night that angels appeared announcing the birth of the Savior. But unfortunately, he falls asleep and because he did, he missed the appearance of the angels and was not able to witness it first hand, but was forced to take the word of others. He doubted, questioned and even flat out said that 'It can't be true'. He asked for the details to be repeated to him over and over again. However, eventually he does believe as if he had been there, even though he wasn’t. He exercises faith and feels the spirit or 'magic in the air' as he calls it. This song illustrates missionary work, sharing testimony and how the spirit testifies of truth. I especially like the part of the song where it gives an invitation to join them in their belief of the Savior and the appearance of heavenly angels."

"I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have actually witnessed, in person, what the shepherds did, what the wise men did, what Joseph and what Mary did. I remember lamenting to my mission president that I wish I could have been there to witness these spectacular events. He said 'Elder Campbell, you were there…we were all there. What else would we have been doing? Where else would we have been?' The more I have thought about that, the more I agree! What else would we have been doing that was more important? The answer is nothing. We were there. Life can be crazy. Each of us are presented daily with choices…and what we choose in those moments determines if we move closer to God or further away. I am grateful for the fact that this song states again and again that the Savior indeed was here. And because he was here, each of us will live again. And I know that he will come again. I know this to be true. I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

He was Here

Forgotten Carols by Michael McClean

Performed by: Glenn Yarbrough

The flock was more than peaceful

The night was dark and deep

The stillness wrapped around me

I drifted off to sleep

And when my friends awoke me,

Oh, what a tale they had to tell.

They said the angels told them

About a newborn king

They had a star to guide them

They heard the heavens sing

They said that when they found Him

They knew they’d never be the same.

Somehow I did believe them

Though everything I knew

Said I should not believe them

This story can’t be true

But there was something magic in the air

That made me feel as if I had been there!

I asked a thousand questions

Their answers startled me

The more I heard

The more I thought I knew this could not be

And then the struggle started

Me head was wrestling with my heart.

Why would a God from heaven

Come to the world this way?

Why in a lowly stable

Would the Messiah lay?

I shook my head and asked them

To tell the story one more time.

Yes, I did believe them

Though I’d not seen a thing

I did not go to Bethlehem

Or hear the angels sing

But there was something magic in the air

That made me feel as if I had been there.

I knew that as the world moves on through time

There would be more stories just like mine.

About the souls who’ve chosen to believe

In something that they never got to see!

Do you think you’ll join us?

Though you’ve not seen a thing

You were not there in Bethlehem

To hear the angels sing

But if you feel the spirit in the air,

Then just like me you’ll know

That He was here!

He was here!

The king of kings and lord of lords was here.

{He was here}

He was here

He was here

{He was here}

And He will come again

For He was here

{The king of kings, the lord of lords.

The king of kings and lord or lords was here.

He was here. The king of kings, the lord of lords

He was here}

And He will come again

For He was here

For He was here