A sk virtually anyone his or her favorite part of Christmas and "the music" will likely be among the top answers.

Appropriately so.Music, as much as any earthly undertaking, bridges age, language and cultural gaps to bring Heavenly Father's children together in a common bond of worship of the Father and the Son.

In music, "We'll Sing All Hail to Jesus' Name." (See Hymns, No. 182.)

In a revelation given to Joseph Smith manifesting the will of the Lord to Emma Smith, the Prophet's wife, concerning making a collection of hymns for the Church, the Lord said:

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

"Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice. . . ." (D&C 25:12-13.)

At this time of the year, the sacred hymns of Christmas cause our hearts to rejoice.

"Inspiring music," according to President Ezra Taft Benson, "may fill the soul with heavenly thoughts, move one to righteous action, or speak peace to the soul." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 324.)

And of all the music traditionally sung at Christmas time, none draws us closer to the Lord and Savior - or sings higher praise to Him - than Handel's Messiah.

The oratorio's lyrics come, of course, from the Bible. They are simple and straight forward, prophesying of the Savior's life and mission, then recounting the fulfillment of those prophecies in grandeur and glory.

Handel's music - sometimes stirring, sometimes pastoral, sometimes striking - invites reverence for the Lord while invoking passion for His message.

Few are those who can listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus" or "Worthy is the Lamb" without being overpowered by the majesty and omnipotence of Jesus Christ.

And few are those who can immerse themselves in the soothing strains of "Behold the Lamb of God" or "I know that my Redeemer liveth" without being overcome by a witness of the Savior's immense love for all of us.

In this music we worship and sing our praises.

And so it should be.

At Christmas time, when material distractions vie incessantly for our attention, we should ". . . talk of Christ, . . rejoice in Christ, . . . preach of Christ, . . . prophesy of Christ, and . . . write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Ne. 25:26)

Sacred music - like Handel's Messiah - helps make that possible.

A young LDS family found that to be ever so true.

Beginning when the family's four children were yet preschoolers, the mother found time to sing in a local annual production of Messiah.

Each year, the children were dressed in their Sunday best to attend the Saturday night performance. Each year, the long performance seemed to grow shorter - and more enjoyable.

Before long, these youngsters were as familiar - and comfortable - with this great oratorio as they were with music of their era.

The effect of the sacred music was perhaps best illustrated when the family was forced to drive cross-county late on a Sunday night. To help pass the time, the family listened to an audio cassette tape, one that was deemed appropriate by the parents and agreed upon as entertaining by the children. The answer: Handel's Messiah.

To this day, the family remembers driving down the gaudy and sometimes seductive Las Vegas strip, seeking lodging for the night, with the "Hallelujah Chorus" trumpeting above the worldly sounds outside.

Perhaps Handel himself did not fully realize the magnificent work he wrought. If so, we can only feel for his loss. But we can also celebrate what he gave.

". . . If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." (See 13th Article of Faith.)