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Born This Happy Morning
The second verse of "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful" begins, "Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning." In this inspiring Christmas book, John Bytheway explores the miracle of that happy morning and what Christmas should mean to us. Although Christmas can feel over-commercialized and stressful, Born This Happy Morning helps readers recapture the magic of childhood Christmases by focusing on how we can give the joy of Christ's light to those around us, reminding us that the spirit of Christmas is multiplied in our hearts when we share the spirit of Christ with others.
Table of ContentsJoy of Giving SpontaneouslyJoy of Giving AnonymouslyJoy of Giving to a Friend in NeedJoy of Giving to FamilyJoy of Giving a Return to ChildhoodJoy of Receiving God's GiftsJoy of Forgiving
Table of ContentsJoy of Giving SpontaneouslyJoy of Giving AnonymouslyJoy of Giving to a Friend in NeedJoy of Giving to FamilyJoy of Giving a Return to ChildhoodJoy of Receiving God's GiftsJoy of Forgiving
67 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2020
22 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
John Bytheway
110 books290 followersJohn Bytheway (born October 1962) is an American author and academic, who is well known as a comic motivational speaker for youth within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Salt Lake City, Bytheway attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, receiving a Master's Degree in Religious Education. He also served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Philippines.
Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.
Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
December 12, 2020
A nice little book that reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas. May we all “keep Christmas well” as Scrooge learned to do in A Christmas Carol.
(Merry Christmas everyone! Happy reading!)
(Merry Christmas everyone! Happy reading!)
December 21, 2022
This is an amazing book! Loved reading it with my kids before Christmas.
December 11, 2020
An excellent book on making Christ, his birth, his life and his mission, the central focus of Christmas. Lots of Christmas movies/videos were mentioned and I loved the idea of watching them and discussing their teachings with my children. A perfect read for re-focusing Christmas on what really matters.
A couple of my favorite quotes:
"When we get into the scriptures, eventually the scriptures get into us, and their inspired words become a power we can draw upon through thick and thin."
"Our testimonies of the adult Christ may be the best gift and most lasting gift we can leave our children, so they may know to which source they may look for the forgiveness of their sins and the healing of their hearts."
A couple of my favorite quotes:
"When we get into the scriptures, eventually the scriptures get into us, and their inspired words become a power we can draw upon through thick and thin."
"Our testimonies of the adult Christ may be the best gift and most lasting gift we can leave our children, so they may know to which source they may look for the forgiveness of their sins and the healing of their hearts."
December 17, 2020
I read this book in one morning, about a week before Christmas, curled up under a blanket with my Christmas tree lit and the fire going! John Bytheway introduces William B. Smart's idea of three levels of Christmas, all of which bring some level of joy to our lives. Level one features Santa, jingle-bells, decorating, and gift-giving -- that's the level I was going for with the cozy setting in which I read. Level two is about "remembering the reason for the season," namely the babe in Bethlehem; a beautiful and important part of Christmas. We can learn much from the shepherds and Joseph and Mary. But there's an even deeper meaning to Christmas, which Brother Smart and Brother Bytheway call the level-three Christmas celebration: the love of Christ that He not only would be born as a babe but that He would die on the cross for our sakes.
The feel-good stories in this book illustrate various ways the "good tidings" of Christmas speak to our hearts. Brother Bytheway asks us to consider the joy of giving to friends, family, and strangers, both material presents and also gifts of time or forgiveness. I particularly loved the stories of the tender mercies he received at Christmastime that were evidence of gifts from heaven, like the fireflies in the Philippines or the GPS in the snowstorm.
I am glad I got ahold of this book this season (there are perks to working in a library)!
"Happily, the babe of Bethlehem became the Savior, our Redeemer and our Advocate. He has been there for us, and we are grateful, because we have needed Him. We still need Him, every hour, and He is always there. He ahs helped us through our sicknesses, our infirmities, our pains, and our trials. Oh, how we love Him, and how we love remembering Him!" (p. 112)
The feel-good stories in this book illustrate various ways the "good tidings" of Christmas speak to our hearts. Brother Bytheway asks us to consider the joy of giving to friends, family, and strangers, both material presents and also gifts of time or forgiveness. I particularly loved the stories of the tender mercies he received at Christmastime that were evidence of gifts from heaven, like the fireflies in the Philippines or the GPS in the snowstorm.
I am glad I got ahold of this book this season (there are perks to working in a library)!
"Happily, the babe of Bethlehem became the Savior, our Redeemer and our Advocate. He has been there for us, and we are grateful, because we have needed Him. We still need Him, every hour, and He is always there. He ahs helped us through our sicknesses, our infirmities, our pains, and our trials. Oh, how we love Him, and how we love remembering Him!" (p. 112)
December 5, 2020
A very sweet book. I love that John Bytheway incorporates some of our current Christmas culture by talking about “The Christmas Carol”, “Home Alone”, and “Its a Wonderful Life”. I also really like his mention of the three levels of Christmas. He was good at tying everything together at the end with a nice Christmas bow 🎁.
December 17, 2022
Reread and loved it as much the 2nd time. Definitely a Christmas favorite to be read every year.
November 26, 2022
Perhaps there is no more perfect way to launch the beginning of what we call the "Christmas Season" than to have John Bytheway remind us of the levels of Christmas. His book helps us see why seeking a Level Three Christmas is the only way for us to enjoy the real meaning of this special and sacred holiday and have any hope of keeping that with us when the tree and decorations are put away for another year. I highly recommend his work.
December 21, 2020
A perfectly enjoyable and insightful read for Christmas. I really liked it.
December 21, 2020
Quick read. Love his perspective on celebrating the different levels of Christmas.
February 3, 2021
The first chapter of this book was worth the whole book. The rest of the book was just okay for me.
April 26, 2021
Just read a Christmas book in April. Whoops 🤷♀️
December 23, 2022
I enjoyed this short read. I liked the 3 levels of Christmas idea and want to strive for level 3 all year long.
December 16, 2021
This was a nice, short read. It helped me reflect on Christ and the true meaning of Christmas.
May 26, 2022
Great little book to help us remember Christmas all year long.
December 1, 2020
I haven’t read/listened to a John Bytheway book in a long time, and this one was delightful. It was a great reminder of why I truly love the Christmas season. I am excited to bring back the magic this year!
November 5, 2020
A good addition to the John Bytheway collection. It is a good remider for us to reflect on the reasons we celebrate Christmas. And a reminder that we should feel that Christmas spirit mor than in just December. I kept thinking about what Gordon B. Hinckley said in 2000, "There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection."
I use ratings to decide which books I am going to buy, and I recently decided I am partially responsible for inflating the ratings on books. Either they were 5 star or 1 star. I decided to use the star rating more objectively as follows:
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
I use ratings to decide which books I am going to buy, and I recently decided I am partially responsible for inflating the ratings on books. Either they were 5 star or 1 star. I decided to use the star rating more objectively as follows:
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
May 31, 2021
Christmas level 1, 2 and 3
Level 1 is the "Santa Clause" level.
Level 2 is the "Silent Night" level. We are more focused on the "reason for the season"
Level 3 "For Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at the 3rd level, William B. Smart in the editorial called "The Three Levels of Christmas" in the Church News said. The 3rd level is at the adult Christ level, not the infant Christ level--that our Savior brings his gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope. Level 3 is about Christ he LORD, the newborn KING.
Level 1 is the "Santa Clause" level.
Level 2 is the "Silent Night" level. We are more focused on the "reason for the season"
Level 3 "For Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it at the 3rd level, William B. Smart in the editorial called "The Three Levels of Christmas" in the Church News said. The 3rd level is at the adult Christ level, not the infant Christ level--that our Savior brings his gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope. Level 3 is about Christ he LORD, the newborn KING.
December 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this exploration of William B. Smart's three levels of Christmas.
Written in John Bytheway's accessible, conversational style and drawing on quotes from others as well as the plot and message of A Christmas Carol, this book gave me a lot to reflect upon as I prepared for my Christmas festivities as well as began planning for the new year.
2021 Twelve Books of Christmas 7/12
Written in John Bytheway's accessible, conversational style and drawing on quotes from others as well as the plot and message of A Christmas Carol, this book gave me a lot to reflect upon as I prepared for my Christmas festivities as well as began planning for the new year.
2021 Twelve Books of Christmas 7/12
December 24, 2020
This was a quick read that I really liked and should've read a few weeks ago. He goes into William Smart's 3 levels of Christmas. Level 1 Santa Claus; level 2 silent night: Jesus in the manger, but we can't leave him in the manger because he grows up and becomes an adult in level 3 and our Savior.
Good stories throughout.
Good stories throughout.
December 22, 2021
Such a great source to reflect on Christmas! I love his movie analogies and the humor. Such a spirit filled and inspired book. I should make it a routine to read every Christmas season!
update: 2021-Read this again. I might make it a tradition to read every year. Love it!
update: 2021-Read this again. I might make it a tradition to read every year. Love it!
November 13, 2020
A book filled with ideas on how to put Christ back in Christmas.
December 12, 2020
Three levels of Christmas celebrations and thoughts on how to keep Christmas in your heart all year long
December 17, 2020
A perfect book to understand and experience the feeling of Christmas, and how to carry that same kind of joy throughout the whole year!
December 18, 2020
A short book about how the Living Christ is the true meaning of Christmas. Makes me feel happy.
December 27, 2021
Great little book by John Bytheway to read at Christmastime.
“An eternal perspective, one of the sweetest fruits of a testimony of Jesus Christ, allows us to see that life really is wonderful, even when it isn’t. That ‘all is well,’ even when it isn’t. And that because of Christ, we who are made partakers of ‘misery and wo’ at times might also have joy.”
“Is your schedule too packed? Are certain cultural traditions and pressures causing you undue stress and preventing you from receiving and reflecting the joy of Christ’s birth? How might you simplify your calendar this Christmas and plan better for next? . . .
“Perhaps this year you don’t send those Christmas cards, or you let go of some other media-inspired expectation you have of yourself. The cost in either time or money will take away some of your ability to focus on the Savior and feel His Christmas joy. . . .
“Perhaps this year you have a simplified Christmas with more homemade gifts and gifts of service because the pressure and cost of trying to buy it all is too great —and unnecessary— and it will take away some of your ability to focus on the Savior and feel His Christmas peace.” (Patrick Keaton)
“Jesus explained how His light and our light can work together: ‘Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do’ (3 Nephi 18:24). Just another of God’s gifts that we receive is the opportunity to join Him in the joyous mission of bringing His light to the world.”
“Nephi and Mary, in times of grief and in times of exultation, both look to God, the real, most reliable, and best source for appropriate feelings about ourselves. Nephi teaches us that we need not self-reliance but reliance on God when we’re humbled by our own weakness. . . . Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ gives us just another reason to respect and admire her, not only as the mother of the Son of God but because of her magnifying God in a moment when she learned of her own special variance and chosen status.”
“When we get into the scriptures, eventually the scriptures get into us, and their inspired words become a power we can draw upon through thick and thin.”
“An eternal perspective, one of the sweetest fruits of a testimony of Jesus Christ, allows us to see that life really is wonderful, even when it isn’t. That ‘all is well,’ even when it isn’t. And that because of Christ, we who are made partakers of ‘misery and wo’ at times might also have joy.”
“Is your schedule too packed? Are certain cultural traditions and pressures causing you undue stress and preventing you from receiving and reflecting the joy of Christ’s birth? How might you simplify your calendar this Christmas and plan better for next? . . .
“Perhaps this year you don’t send those Christmas cards, or you let go of some other media-inspired expectation you have of yourself. The cost in either time or money will take away some of your ability to focus on the Savior and feel His Christmas joy. . . .
“Perhaps this year you have a simplified Christmas with more homemade gifts and gifts of service because the pressure and cost of trying to buy it all is too great —and unnecessary— and it will take away some of your ability to focus on the Savior and feel His Christmas peace.” (Patrick Keaton)
“Jesus explained how His light and our light can work together: ‘Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do’ (3 Nephi 18:24). Just another of God’s gifts that we receive is the opportunity to join Him in the joyous mission of bringing His light to the world.”
“Nephi and Mary, in times of grief and in times of exultation, both look to God, the real, most reliable, and best source for appropriate feelings about ourselves. Nephi teaches us that we need not self-reliance but reliance on God when we’re humbled by our own weakness. . . . Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ gives us just another reason to respect and admire her, not only as the mother of the Son of God but because of her magnifying God in a moment when she learned of her own special variance and chosen status.”
“When we get into the scriptures, eventually the scriptures get into us, and their inspired words become a power we can draw upon through thick and thin.”
February 5, 2025
I meant to read this in 2023. And then again in 2024. But the holidays have a way of being too busy, too stressful, with limited down time, and so another year passed without this gem of a book being read. As I packed my Christmas books up for the year, I thought, why not? Every day can be Christmas. In fact, every day SHOULD be Christmas. We need more Christ in our lives every day.
Bytheway writes of three levels of Christmas:
1) fun, Santa Claus, presents, trees, etc.
2) "silent night" level, focus on the birth of Christ
3) the adult Christ, the Savior's gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope
(taken from chapter 1)
He proceeds to share thoughts on variations of joy—of giving, of receiving, of forgiving... I love the stories he shares and the concepts he teaches.
Some quotes:
"Nephi and Mary, in times of grief and in times of exultation, both look to God, the real, most reliable, and best source for appropriate feelings about ourselves. Nephi teaches us that we need not self-reliance but reliance on God when we're humbled by our own weakness." (p. 105-106)
After describing families (even ours) celebrating Christmas at a level one level, he writes:
"We see the joy in their faces, and we hope they will feel the genuine joy associated with the Saviors birth. At the same time, we ache for them—and for our own children and grandchildren—as our adult perspective informs us of what may come in their lives and in their lifetimes. But, like Nephi, we know in whom we have trusted, and, like Mary, our souls will magnify the Lord. Our testimonies of the adult Christ may be the best and most lasting gift we can leave our children so that they may know to what source they may look for the forgiveness of their sins and the healing of their hearts." (p. 112-113)
This is a book I will revisit, maybe not every year, but often.
Bytheway writes of three levels of Christmas:
1) fun, Santa Claus, presents, trees, etc.
2) "silent night" level, focus on the birth of Christ
3) the adult Christ, the Savior's gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope
(taken from chapter 1)
He proceeds to share thoughts on variations of joy—of giving, of receiving, of forgiving... I love the stories he shares and the concepts he teaches.
Some quotes:
"Nephi and Mary, in times of grief and in times of exultation, both look to God, the real, most reliable, and best source for appropriate feelings about ourselves. Nephi teaches us that we need not self-reliance but reliance on God when we're humbled by our own weakness." (p. 105-106)
After describing families (even ours) celebrating Christmas at a level one level, he writes:
"We see the joy in their faces, and we hope they will feel the genuine joy associated with the Saviors birth. At the same time, we ache for them—and for our own children and grandchildren—as our adult perspective informs us of what may come in their lives and in their lifetimes. But, like Nephi, we know in whom we have trusted, and, like Mary, our souls will magnify the Lord. Our testimonies of the adult Christ may be the best and most lasting gift we can leave our children so that they may know to what source they may look for the forgiveness of their sins and the healing of their hearts." (p. 112-113)
This is a book I will revisit, maybe not every year, but often.
October 2, 2023
Very nice little book about everything that we love about Christmas and yet an invitation to do even more good and to have it last all year long, with giving and receiving many different kinds of gifts (giving freely, often, and deeply), focusing on gospel principles like forgiveness, praise, comfort, hope, and of course love and joy, and --- most importantly --- keeping Christ and the Spirit with us and being like Them all year.
Classic bits of humour and personal experience are interspersed like is typical of John Bytheway. The book is realistic but cheerful and light the same way that Christmas makes us feel.
So here's to all of us trying for a "level three" Christmas! There is a reason that we all love the Christmas season, and that reason is found within Christmas' very name.
Classic bits of humour and personal experience are interspersed like is typical of John Bytheway. The book is realistic but cheerful and light the same way that Christmas makes us feel.
So here's to all of us trying for a "level three" Christmas! There is a reason that we all love the Christmas season, and that reason is found within Christmas' very name.
January 27, 2021
This was the right book for me at this time. It has helped the Christmas spirit to linger in my thoughts and heart as the new year begins.
John Bytheway shares an editorial he read years ago about the three levels of Christmas.
Level One is Santa Claus.
Level Two, the babe born in a manger.
Level Three, the life, mission and atoning sacrifice of our Savior, the magnificent gifts we receive because He lives.
He shares his message through scripture, quotes from Christmas messages, examples from life. All are tender and real.
The quietness of the season permeates this joy-filled little book and my heart.
John Bytheway shares an editorial he read years ago about the three levels of Christmas.
Level One is Santa Claus.
Level Two, the babe born in a manger.
Level Three, the life, mission and atoning sacrifice of our Savior, the magnificent gifts we receive because He lives.
He shares his message through scripture, quotes from Christmas messages, examples from life. All are tender and real.
The quietness of the season permeates this joy-filled little book and my heart.
January 23, 2022
My wife and I read this together. We didn't quite finish during the Christmas season, so we read on through January. We really enjoyed the thoughts and stories in this book. I especially liked the theme of the three levels of Christmas: 1) the Santa Claus level, 2) the Silent Night level, and 3) the adult Christ level. All the levels can be good, but we shouldn't get stuck at level 1 or level 2. The more we can celebrate at level 3 the more we can feel the love of God in our lives and let ourselves be changed by the grace of Christ. This is a great book with great thoughts about the Christmas season.
December 21, 2020
I enjoyed this brief read on the various levels of Christmas observance - the highest being the worship of the living Christ and all that we receive from Him. It was a bit nostalgic to listen to John Bytheway again as my teenage years were filled with his messages in “You’re Gonna Make it” and other talks. He helped me a lot in my youth.
This book reminds us of some classic books and movies and other examples with the power to point is to the power of Christ and Christmas to change hearts. Merry Christmas!
This book reminds us of some classic books and movies and other examples with the power to point is to the power of Christ and Christmas to change hearts. Merry Christmas!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews