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Shepherds Why This Jubilee
Too often our Christmas season is filled with such questions as What do you want for Christmas? or What do you mean it is sold out? or Did decorating the tree take this long last year? only to find that when the season has come and gone a more vital question Is that all there is to Christmas? In Shepherds, Why This Jubilee? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland celebrates the Christmas season and spirit by focusing on the birth and life of Jesus Christ the true meaning of Christmas. In three essays, Elder Holland traces the path of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and sheds new light on familiar scriptures. He reflects on the sweet refrains of the carols and hymns that so eloquently recall the glorious first Christmas night, and he shares his own personal stories and memories of Christmas to testify of his deep feelings about Jesus Christ. When details overwhelm the holiday spirit, Elder Holland reminds us to remember why the shepherds were so joyful because in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord was born beneath a shining star. He reminds us that Jesus Christ is the answer to all our questions and the source of all our jubilee.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2000
12 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey R. Holland
44 books337 followersElder Jeffrey R. Holland was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 23 June 1994. At the time of this call, Elder Holland was serving as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, to which he had been called on 1 April 1989. A native of St. George, Utah, he has spent most of his professional life in Church education. He received his bachelor and master degrees from Brigham Young University and a master degree and Ph.D. from Yale University.
From 1980 until his call as a General Authority in 1989, Elder Holland served as president of Brigham Young University. He is a former Church commissioner of education and dean of the College of Religious Education at BYU.
Elder Holland is the author of several books, one of which he co-authored with his wife, Patricia. They were married in 1963 and are the parents of three children and the grandparents of 12 grandchildren.
From 1980 until his call as a General Authority in 1989, Elder Holland served as president of Brigham Young University. He is a former Church commissioner of education and dean of the College of Religious Education at BYU.
Elder Holland is the author of several books, one of which he co-authored with his wife, Patricia. They were married in 1963 and are the parents of three children and the grandparents of 12 grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 5, 2024
A short and sweet book to make you ponder more about the spirit of Christmas. The tender story at the end about made me bawl. I will plan to read at least every few years if not every year.
November 22, 2018
This is an incredibly quick read that helps you feel the spirit of Christmas incredibly quick as well. Elder Holland looks at Christmas through three different perspectives: The Nativity story, the carols, and the sorrow that accompanies the joy. It reads just like Elder Holland speaks, its almost like you can hear him saying the words out loud. I particularly liked the story about his father at the end. It is a wonderful Christmas addition to any library.
December 27, 2012
I love Elder Holland's perspective on life in general, but in this book he speaks specifically of why the birth and atonement and death of Jesus are all one. He speaks of the truths in Christmas carols. He points out that we could not have the joy in Christmas that we do without the agony in Gethsemane and Calvary.
Particularly poignant to me was his discussion of the sorrow that comes when a loved one dies during the holiday season. He speaks generally and personally about tragedies that have occurred during the holidays and a different way to appreciate the sorrow and yet still find a reason to rejoice.
I needed this small book for its large message of hope at this season.
Particularly poignant to me was his discussion of the sorrow that comes when a loved one dies during the holiday season. He speaks generally and personally about tragedies that have occurred during the holidays and a different way to appreciate the sorrow and yet still find a reason to rejoice.
I needed this small book for its large message of hope at this season.
December 14, 2021
This book was given to me by a friend two years ago when my dad passed away suddenly at Christmas time. I have re-read it the past two Christmas' as a reminder of the great blessings we have in this life. (and to have a little cry!)
June 23, 2016
This book contains three different Christmas talks given by Elder Holland. It put me in a Christmas mood already! He shares a personal experience in the last talk that was very touching and many people would be able to identify with it. I really love his talks and insights.
December 6, 2024
Filled me with the true Christmas spirit. So many great reminders and even more beautiful new insights into Christ and this special time of year.
December 27, 2024
2024 This December was a little rough for me, and my sister suggested I reread this book. It was very wise of her. Again, the last chapter in particular was very meaningful to me and helped buoy my spirits up. I'm grateful to Elder Holland for writing this!
2019 The first chapter of this book was one that I didn't enjoy quite as much. With the video and the FAQ page the Church put out this year, it puts a different spin on the Nativity. However, it is something that goes with more traditional early thought, and I didn't feel like I could rate the book down because of that.
This book "just happened" to come up on my reading list this year. The last chapter in particular was very timely. I had been reading the book to my mom, but I found this on Deseret Bookshelf Plus, and for this chapter we listened to Elder Holland tell his story. Having just lost my dad this summer, it was poignant for me to listen to his feelings about losing his dad right around the Christmas holiday. It was very meaningful to me and a wonderful reminder about all the blessings that come from Christ.
Great book.
2019 The first chapter of this book was one that I didn't enjoy quite as much. With the video and the FAQ page the Church put out this year, it puts a different spin on the Nativity. However, it is something that goes with more traditional early thought, and I didn't feel like I could rate the book down because of that.
This book "just happened" to come up on my reading list this year. The last chapter in particular was very timely. I had been reading the book to my mom, but I found this on Deseret Bookshelf Plus, and for this chapter we listened to Elder Holland tell his story. Having just lost my dad this summer, it was poignant for me to listen to his feelings about losing his dad right around the Christmas holiday. It was very meaningful to me and a wonderful reminder about all the blessings that come from Christ.
Great book.
December 19, 2024
2024 What a wonderful, revisit of this book. While I enjoyed the first two sections, I really needed the reminder about Christmas found in the last one. I don't have major sorrow that I'm dealing with. My life is actually really good. Still, sometimes the Christmas season is filled with anxiousness and sadness. (I do admit that winter is my least favorite time of the year.) I love the connection that Bethlehem and Calvary are linked inseparably, the reminder that it's okay not to always feel happy and joyful and peaceful during the season. But more than that, when I do feel a little down, I can shift my thinking to remembering the atonement and crucifixion that were followed by the glorious resurrection and redemption. Thinking upon those things makes Christmas so much more meaningful.
2019 This is a beautiful book reminding us that Jesus Christ is what Christmas is all about. It contains uplifting messages and thoughts for Christmas. Elder Holland read the book himself, and it was nice to hear his voice. This is one I'll read again during future Christmas seasons.
2019 This is a beautiful book reminding us that Jesus Christ is what Christmas is all about. It contains uplifting messages and thoughts for Christmas. Elder Holland read the book himself, and it was nice to hear his voice. This is one I'll read again during future Christmas seasons.
November 28, 2011
It's the holiday season and how perfect is this book for remembering what it is all about! And written by one of my favorite people Jeffrey R. Holland was just a bonus! Favorite part-
"At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched--none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and, later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would allow for Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph-all of whom would add to our delight. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby--that's how Christmas began."
"At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched--none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and, later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would allow for Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph-all of whom would add to our delight. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby--that's how Christmas began."
December 28, 2025
Such an inspiring and touching book. It consists of three talks by him that are about Christmas and each talk finds a meaningful approach to the Christmas season. The last talk, Christmas Comfort, is a tear jerker. I’ve cried every time I’ve read it. He talks about his own father’s sudden and early death on Christmas day and how the Lord reminded him that dark moment when he lost his dad that because of the birth of Christ there is hope. I need to find video or audio versions of these talks, that is the only way this book could be better.
December 17, 2023
Absolutely love this book and the things taught and mentioned. Love being reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.
December 30, 2018
Elder Holland’s familiar, soothing voice adds to his thoughts and testimony of the divinity of our Savior. This short book added meaning and a reverence to the season of Christmas.
December 14, 2023
Love this book
I like to read it at Christmas each year
I like to read it at Christmas each year
December 27, 2021
This is a very short collection of three sermons related to Christmas. I was touched by each one.
The first sermon reminds us of the humble circumstances of Christ's birth and how the wise men came later on. I liked this suggestion "perhaps this provides an important distinction we should remember in our own holiday season. Maybe the purchasing and the making and the wrapping and the decorating - those delightful generous and important expressions of our love at Christmas - should be separated slightly from the more quiet, personal moments when we consider the meaning of the baby (and his birth) who prompts the giving of such gifts."
The second sermon urges us to include Carol's and hymns in our Christmas worship. "I am convinced it is the hymns and carols that convey the real message of Christmas most consistently during the holidays." "I don't know whether you have thought of the Christmas hymns and carols as Christmas prayers, but they are. They are pleasing to the soul of the father. Maybe it is evidence to him that we are grateful for his ultimate Christmas gift to us - the babe of Bethlehem himself - and that we have not forgotten from whom and by whom that gift came. Even a little out of tune or slightly off-key, the Christmas hymn of the righteous is a prayer unto god. Through good times and bad, even in the sorrow and difficulty that occasionally a company Christmas for some, the fact of the matter is that Christ's birth has brought "joy to the world, [for] the Lord [has] come.. let ev'ry heart prepare him room, and Saints and angels sing."
And the last section was the most powerful. Here Holland reminds us that Christmas should be a great comfort to us in times of sorrow. He related stories of loss, even his own father dying on Christmas morning, and how he learned while angrily pacing the hospital halls and being surprised by a new baby's cry that "it came to me in a profound way that in this life no one can have real love without eventually dealing with real loss, and we certainly can't rejoice over one's birth and the joy of living unless we are prepared to understand and accommodate and accept with some Grace the inevitability - including the untimeliness - of difficulty and trouble and death. These are God's gifts to us - birth and life and death and salvation, the whole Divine experience in all it's richness and complexity." "none of us would want to go through those experiences.. but even so, in the end it is all right. It is okay. These are sad experiences, terribly renting experiences, with difficult moments for years and years to come. But because of the birth and Bethlehem and what it led to they are not tragic experiences. They have a happy ending there is a rising after the falling. There is life always. New births and rebirth and Resurrection to eternal life. It is the joy of the stable - the maternity Ward - forever."
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25-26
The first sermon reminds us of the humble circumstances of Christ's birth and how the wise men came later on. I liked this suggestion "perhaps this provides an important distinction we should remember in our own holiday season. Maybe the purchasing and the making and the wrapping and the decorating - those delightful generous and important expressions of our love at Christmas - should be separated slightly from the more quiet, personal moments when we consider the meaning of the baby (and his birth) who prompts the giving of such gifts."
The second sermon urges us to include Carol's and hymns in our Christmas worship. "I am convinced it is the hymns and carols that convey the real message of Christmas most consistently during the holidays." "I don't know whether you have thought of the Christmas hymns and carols as Christmas prayers, but they are. They are pleasing to the soul of the father. Maybe it is evidence to him that we are grateful for his ultimate Christmas gift to us - the babe of Bethlehem himself - and that we have not forgotten from whom and by whom that gift came. Even a little out of tune or slightly off-key, the Christmas hymn of the righteous is a prayer unto god. Through good times and bad, even in the sorrow and difficulty that occasionally a company Christmas for some, the fact of the matter is that Christ's birth has brought "joy to the world, [for] the Lord [has] come.. let ev'ry heart prepare him room, and Saints and angels sing."
And the last section was the most powerful. Here Holland reminds us that Christmas should be a great comfort to us in times of sorrow. He related stories of loss, even his own father dying on Christmas morning, and how he learned while angrily pacing the hospital halls and being surprised by a new baby's cry that "it came to me in a profound way that in this life no one can have real love without eventually dealing with real loss, and we certainly can't rejoice over one's birth and the joy of living unless we are prepared to understand and accommodate and accept with some Grace the inevitability - including the untimeliness - of difficulty and trouble and death. These are God's gifts to us - birth and life and death and salvation, the whole Divine experience in all it's richness and complexity." "none of us would want to go through those experiences.. but even so, in the end it is all right. It is okay. These are sad experiences, terribly renting experiences, with difficult moments for years and years to come. But because of the birth and Bethlehem and what it led to they are not tragic experiences. They have a happy ending there is a rising after the falling. There is life always. New births and rebirth and Resurrection to eternal life. It is the joy of the stable - the maternity Ward - forever."
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25-26
June 8, 2019
Three essays by an LDS/Mormon "Elder" (see here and here and here and here).
Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come From a Store
Opens with a reference to Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the title of the essay comes from here). Quotes Joseph Smith's translation of Luke 2:7. Emphasis on poverty. Lots of unrelated, sentimental observations; no unified topic.
And Saints and Angels Sing
Focus on carols. Quotations from Doctrine & Covenants and the Book of Mormon.
Christmas Comfort
Several stories about tragedy, and a reminder that falling and rising (Luke 2:34) has a particular order.
Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come From a Store
Opens with a reference to Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the title of the essay comes from here). Quotes Joseph Smith's translation of Luke 2:7. Emphasis on poverty. Lots of unrelated, sentimental observations; no unified topic.
And Saints and Angels Sing
Focus on carols. Quotations from Doctrine & Covenants and the Book of Mormon.
Christmas Comfort
Several stories about tragedy, and a reminder that falling and rising (Luke 2:34) has a particular order.
December 22, 2020
I mean, seriously? Did anyone think I would give anything from Elder Holland less than a 5 star? This book is absolutely amazing. It's very short (only like 100 pages, I think), but packed. Elder Holland's addresses, I've found, can be profound and meaningful to many audiences. But the way that he writes, ties in hymn lyrics, scriptures, and other reference material, is just fantastic.
This book is no exception to his remarkable ability to bring to life the scriptures and to tie in personal, meaningful experiences.
The best part of the book is the last part which accounts for almost half the book. Though I did like hearing him read this part, this is basically the same address that he gave to BYU Idaho students in 1998 which you can find at this link:
https://video.byui.edu/media/Jeffrey+...
All in all, though, definitely a 5 star book.
This book is no exception to his remarkable ability to bring to life the scriptures and to tie in personal, meaningful experiences.
The best part of the book is the last part which accounts for almost half the book. Though I did like hearing him read this part, this is basically the same address that he gave to BYU Idaho students in 1998 which you can find at this link:
https://video.byui.edu/media/Jeffrey+...
All in all, though, definitely a 5 star book.
December 11, 2019
This is a short book, just a collection of three talks that Elder Holland gave years ago. I was somewhat familiar with one of them but not the other two. They're beautifully written (as is everything by Elder Holland) and the focus of a couple of them, especially "Christmas Comfort" is not the typical stuff you often hear in Christmas talks or stories. I think that one had the biggest impact on my thinking this week. I definitely needed it!
December 6, 2023
A short, yet beautiful and inspiring look at the birth of Jesus Christ, and why we should celebrate this glorious event. Written with his usual insight and even humor, Elder Jeffery R. Holland, apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, helps transport us to the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
Love, love, loved this book, especially because the audiobook was read by the author.
Love, love, loved this book, especially because the audiobook was read by the author.
December 15, 2025
A sweet little Christmas message from one of the most tender apostles. I loved how 1/3 of his book focuses on the joy expressed through singing! Truly it is the best form of worship and expression of love. I loved his message at the end that is for everyone in every circumstance. We celebrate Christ’s birth because of His death. Because of what He did for us all. And no matter what we experience, because of Him, it will all be made right.
December 10, 2020
I love Elder Holland. He is one of my very favorite speakers to listen to. This was a nice, lengthy talk about Christmas and the true meaning of Christ being born. I enjoyed reading it and it helped me focus on the real reason for the season, but it was a little disjointed in parts...just a little. Possibly because I read the ebook, not sure.
December 18, 2017
This is a book that has been sitting on my shelf for 7 years and I finally picked it up and read it. It is a wonderful Christmas book that I hope to read every year. It is a great tool to help me remember Jesus Christ during the holiday season.
December 27, 2017
Some great insights on celebrating the atonement on Christmas. You can't have one without the other. Also, a story of Elder Holland's father who died on Christmas day and how he found a deeper meaning of Christmas through that tragedy.
December 3, 2021
This is a beautiful book consisting of 3 talks by Elder Holland. As per usual, his words are reflective and moving and the last chapter is deeply touching as he shares the experience of losing his dad at Christmas time. Such a wonderful Christmas book that focuses on our Savior.
December 7, 2022
A beautifully written book that incorporates cherished Christmas carols to bring joy to all during the Christmas season. I highly recommend this book to anyone that struggles to enjoy Christmas or is just in need of an uplifting book to read at this joyous time of year.
December 24, 2023
I love the way Elder Holland teaches. This is a quick and powerful read about just why Christmas is the celebration that it is. “You can’t separate Bethlehem from Gethsemane…” A particularly good read for those who may be grieving or struggling at Christmastime
December 14, 2024
How could I give this less than 5 stars? This little book is absolutely precious and made me tear up. I love Elder Holland, and he truly has a way with words. An excellent addition to the Christmas season.
December 19, 2017
The last chapter was easily the best, then the first, and then the middle one. I listened to the audio version and I think it would have meant more if I had read it.
December 30, 2017
Nice Christmas read. The last chapter/section was the best. Quick read, if you’re not too busy. Nice way to remember what is most important about the season.
January 30, 2018
Super quick read about the birth of The Savior. I always love Jeffery R. Holland, and this did not disappoint.
December 21, 2018
Elder Holland is simply one of my heroes. I could read his words all day long. They truly touch my soul. This is a beautiful book, especially for those who may struggle at Christmastime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews