--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Alder, Lydia D. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 13 number: 2 published: 1909-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Lydia D. Alder, "The Glory of Bethlehem," *Improvement Era* 13, no. 2 (December 1909): 164–165.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1302unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1302unse start_page: 164 end_page: 165 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1302unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Glory of Bethlehem The Glory of Bethlehem. {For the Improvement Era.) N Bethlehem I stood — 'twas eve, ere yet The dying sun was hid in banks of gold, His brilliant glory spreads a radiance far Bathes Moab's mountains as with splendor old. A golden crown rests on their rugged heights, Lights up the dark ravines where shadows brood, Then slowly fades the glow, and purple mists Fall gently, nestling there in tender mood. Judea's plains lie 'twixt that scene and me; Dividing rows of hedge are clear to sight; "The Shepherds' Fields" with flocks were dotted o'er When blazed the star upon that wondrous night. Here mortal ears heard sweetest heavenly strains, The music soft e'en now blends with the air: "Peace, peace on earth," angelic voices sing, That restful peace is hov'ring everywhere. The fields of Boaz catch the rays of gold They glisten where the wheat fields stood of yore, When gleaners homeward bore the drooping sheaves, Rejoicing at the harvest's plenteous store. That dusty road winds here to Bethlehem, Around from o'er the mountains far away; the highway where they came of old, It is The taxes here at Bethlehem to pay. THE GLORY OF BETHLEHEM. 165 Truth's signet is on this most thrilling scene, O'er Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born; Though silent now the "Hallelujah Song," Lo! here 'twas heard on that first Christmas morn. Intent I gaze —the panorama grand still here, When man-made glories wrecked and ruined lie The landscape fair as on that glorious day, When angels sang the sweetest lullaby. Still here the peace his coming brought to earth, And love, the love he taught to ev'ry man. The spirit ne'er departing breathes of him Who glorified the Father, wrought the gospel plan. Lives Bethlehem a world-famed city still, Stands here the church of "The Nativity;" The advent of the Lord God manifest, Hath sealed for aye, its sacred history. And people living here the simple life, Slow dream away the days that come and go Unconscious that a world owns Bethlehem, Or that its wondrous star fore'er will glow. When Christmas carols sound o'er land and sea Love's off 'ring to the Christ of Bethlehem; O'er fair Judea's plains still gleam the stars That listened when the angels sang to men. I turn to other lands, roam o'er the earth. Yet memory paints this bright Judean scene The mountains dipp'd in gold, birds slow of wing, And crimson clouds with rifts of gold between. Lydia D. Alder Salt Lake City, Utah.