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yourLDSradio has a constant stream of a variety of LDS/Christian music. For the Christmas season, yourLDSradio has a separate stream with just Christmas music.

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Jenny Oaks Baker, a Mormon woman (member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has been nominated for a Grammy. This is her first music video, a fun take on “A Whole New World.”

Fast facts about Jenny Oaks Baker:

• She’s a wife and dedicated mother of four. In this Washington Post article, she says: “I’ll drop everything to be there  for my kids. Being a good mother is my number one priority.” (See this article for more about her life.)
• Was performing with a symphony at age eight
• Received her bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York City
• Retired from her seven-year position as first-chair violinist of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. to be more available for her family
• Has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress and with the National Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, and the Utah Symphony Orchestra
• In addition to her Grammy-nominated album, she’s had another album (Then Sings My Soul) that got to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts.
• Music plays a significant part in her family life (all of her children are musicians) and in her faith.
• Daughter of Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Her violin is over 200 years old. (See this interview with Jenny Oaks Baker.

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~by Michelle

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Mormons”) reserve Monday nights to spend with family, for what is called Family Home Evening. Last week, we went to a Christmas “Night in Bethlehem” activity sponsored by a local arts/reception center. They had transformed a room into a bustling Bethlehem, with different “shops” to visit. While we were wandering around the different stations in the darkened room, quietly a young couple entered, representing Mary and Joseph. We watched them knock on the doors of several “inns” and, of course, be turned away.

Then a familiar strain of music began playing, and my children and I looked at each other with excitement. It was one of our favorite Christmas songs, composed by Shawna Edwards, entitled “Do You Have Room?” As we watched Mary and Joseph walk away toward the next room (where we would watch a live nativity to the Bible account of the Christmas story in Luke 2 and sing sacred Christmas music), one of the Bethlehem “residents” began singing some of the lyrics to Shawna’s song.

Do you have room for the Savior? And do you seek Him anew?

Have you a place for the One who lived and died for you?

Are you as humble as a shepherd boy, or as wise of men of old?

Would you have come that night? Would you have sought the light?

Do you have room?

Our youngest daughter was particularly moved by the whole evening, to the point of bursting into tears when we got to our car. She reflected on the words to “Do You Have Room?”, wondering what she would have done to make room for Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. What a tender moment. We talked about how important it is for us to make room for Jesus in our lives now.

As we listened as a family to the First Presidency Devotional two nights ago, we were again able to discuss what things we could do to make the Savior more of the focus during the Christmas season. We decided on a new tradition that I hope will carry into future years.

What are you doing to make room for the Savior this Christmas?

Share your thoughts (or a favorite Christmas memory) in a comment at Shawna Edwards Music* and Shawna will send you a free copy the MP3 of the original recording of “Do You Have Room?” I encourage you take a few moments and read what others have written as well.

*Be sure to include a valid email address.

Photos courtesy of Kelly P. — a woman who kindly responded to my random request to take a picture at the nativity display at the “Night at Bethlehem” activity…my camera was missing in action that night. Even in little ways, people can show kindness and love that makes a difference. Thanks, Kelly.

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Read more of Vocal Point’s thoughts during the show on The Sing Off’s blog. And watch Vocal Point’s performance videos. (Ben’s performance of “I’ll Be Missing You” in honor of his dad (who died during the early stages of the show), can be found on week 6.)

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I have been a member of the Church all my life. My husband and I raised seven children and I am a contented grandmother of thirteen. I love doing many things: Family History, reading, keeping up with politics, gardening, attending and working in the temple, collecting dolls, and playing the violin.

The more I attend the temple, the more honored I feel to be able to be there. I am grateful to be a worker to help those who come as they participate in sacred ordinances and take time be in this place that for us, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the holiest place on earth.

This Easter, I was asked to play my violin for the temple workers in the early morning prayer meeting.  I didn’t hesitate to accept, but had an extra challenge to be able to play well, because I have had fibromyalgia for about eight years, and the pain and shaking make playing very difficult.  I worried, and took my problem to the Lord in prayer, asking him to help me perform in a manner He would approve of, and to help me overcome my fibro, just for this once.

The piece I chose to play was “The Holy City.” It is an inspiring, stirring, classic piece based on a verse in Revelation where John sees The New Jerusalem.  I have always loved it. But because I would have to play at 6:30 am, it would be hard to get my hands dextrous enough to do it correctly.  Some mornings I arose early to practice, but I was half asleep as I played, and it sounded terrible.  I was really worried, but kept on practicing and praying, neglecting to make dinner and do housecleaning. I tried not to look at the things piling up around me.  I just “sawed!”  Fortunately, I have a wonderful husband who picked up the slack in the kitchen and did the laundry for us.

The night before I was to perform, I hardly slept. I dozed for two hours, then got up and practiced to keep my fingers warm, the notes in tune and consistent, and my vibrato steady, then went back to bed and dozed again. I prayed as I played. At last it was 3 am and I rose for the final time,  got ready and practiced while my husband got ready.  I was frightened and shaking with nerves.  I went on my knees to ask my Heavenly Father to be with me and help me to play in a manner worthy of his holy house.

We arrived at the temple a little before six, and I felt peace and quiet there, and was able to calm down.  I changed into my white dress [we all wear white in the temple] and walked down to the chapel.  My accompanist and I had time to go over it once, and I felt comfortable and prepared. I glanced at my sisters and brothers, dressed in pure white and smiling, and felt their love and support very strongly.  The Lord’s Spirit was there.  My husband sat beside me to silently cheer me on, and when the time came to get up and play, I felt Heavenly Father soothe my nervousness and help my playing  project his love at this Easter time to my fellow temple workers.

When we finished and I sat down, my husband whispered, “Perfect!”  After the meeting, I received compliments from just about everyone, and all throughout the morning they came up to express their love.  Some said it brought tears to their eyes.

I knew that my Heavenly Father helped me to play in a “heavenly” manner in His house, and took away my physical problem for those few minutes.  I felt His spirit there with me, and will never forget that rare privilege.

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Story in Boston Globe about Mormon authors

Mormon moms express and share their faith through dance

BYU (Brigham Young University) Professor helped with Where the Wild Things Are movie storyboard

Read more about various other Mormon artists in Mormon Artist magazine

Some of the most well-known Mormon Artists are not known individually, but as a group — the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Read about the 2009 Mormon Tabernacle Choir tour here. You can also enjoy many of the choir’s songs, beautifully put to pictures, here. For example, read this post about gratitude for this beautiful world in which we live, and then enjoy the following video Mormon Soprano created:

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p.s. We know for each widely-publicized story, there are thousands of other stories that may not make headlines, but are also powerful and meaningful. But we need your help to find and share these stories! If you have links like these to share, please include them in the comments, or send us an email so we can share them in future Links We Like posts.

Paul Cardall shares his journey and faith as he records thoughts, feelings, and experiences while waiting for a heart transplant (which he recently received!) Hear an interview with Paul here — the end of the interview is what really caught our attention. He says: “I wouldn’t trade my life with somebody’s else’s…. I think it’s made me a better person…. I hope that what I go through can help inspire other people never to give up; no matter how hard life gets, there’s always a bright side on the other end of things and you may go thruogh some fog for a time, but the fog clears.”

Stephanie Nielson (aka NieNie) recently marked one year since the plane crash that took the life of the pilot, put her husband in the hospital, and left her in a coma in a burn unit for months, hovering between life and death. She writes of family, faith, and finding joy in simple things. Other recent posts we like include: “My Perfect Life,” “Moments” and “Critical Condition.”

Read a recent story (“Blessed by adversity….”) published about Gary Ceran, a man who keeps on keeping on, even after he has “lost three children to cancer. He’s lost twins to premature birth. He’s lost businesses to the economy. And that was before his wife Cheryl and children Ian and Julianna were killed when a drunken driver plowed into the family car on Christmas Eve in 2006.” [In fact, though it’s been nearly three years since the accident, you might want to first read the very powerful story that appeared shortly after this tragic accident: “Holding on: 3 cling to faith, each other.”]

Gary’s swift and heartfelt forgiveness was talked about much in the news during that time.  That spirit of forgiveness was also mentioned, along with other profound stories (including that of the Amish people who reached out in forgiveness when a milkman killed six children in their schoolhouse), in a talk by President James E. Faust given in a Mormon General Conference meeting in April 2007.

What people inspire *you* to keep on keeping on? Please share their stories! We don’t all have extreme trials like the ones above, but we all have trials to face, and we all need a boost now and again.

Do you have an experience you would like to share that helped you face your own challenges? Please feel free to email us at gmail, with the username ‘mormonwoman’

For more Links We Like, see here.

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