The story behind “Little Baby in a Manger,” a new Christmas song in “Hymns — For Home and Church," began 18 years ago in South Korea.
American composer Traci Law and her husband, Ryan, were living there with their 2-year-old daughter, Eliza, while Ryan taught English and prepared for graduate school. The couple thought of it as an adventure.
Law had long been creating new arrangements of hymns, and now she wanted to write a song of her own.
She decided to write something that combined her two favorite things: motherhood and Christmas.
“I wanted to do something that Mary could sing to her baby,” Law said. “But it sort of evolved and kind of paints a picture of the whole Nativity and then ends with inviting everybody in just to worship together.”
She hopes that those who hear the song will accept that invitation to worship.
“I feel like it’s an opportunity to, like in real time, to invite the Savior into your heart because of the words that are in there. So I really do hope people will take that opportunity.”
'Little Baby in a Manger'
Come to save both friend and stranger—
Little Baby in a manger, come and save me.
See the Kings and shepherds lowly
Heaven’s star is shining o’er the little baby.
Come, oh, come, let us adore Him.
Come, oh, come and kneel before the little Baby.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
He’s come to save me.
Listen to this song here.
Inspiration through effort
Because she didn’t have a piano in her home in South Korea, Law frequently walked to the local Church meetinghouse to continue developing her piece on the ward’s piano. Law said she feels like the extra effort that went into composing this song gives it a special feel.
“The whole process was so joy-filled,” she said, even as she recalled the months of work.
Law described moments of feeling God work through her to get the song on paper.
“I tried hard, and I worked hard at it, but there were times it felt like it did just flow like a conduit.”
One of the more difficult parts of the process for Law was writing the chorus. She ultimately settled on repeating the word ‘alleluia’ because of the word’s worshipful nature.
A note under the published version of the song elaborates, “‘Alleluia’ means ‘praise the Lord.’ It shows how happy we are that Jesus was born on earth so that He could save us.”
The song took on a sense of wonder and awe for Law as she gave birth to her second child, Abigail, during the composition process. Having an infant prompted her to ponder Mary’s experience raising the Christ child.
“Can you even imagine?” Law said. “You have that precious baby, that Son of God, and you’re in charge of taking care of Him,” she said. “I just think it’d be overwhelming and beautiful.”
Christ is always there
Law’s love of music was shaped by her involvement in a children’s religious choir growing up. Since then, she has felt that the best use of music is helping people connect with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
“If they feel that,” she said, “then so many of their other challenges might melt away.”
Lyrics that help Law feel close to Christ come in the first verse: “Little Baby in a manger — Come to save both friend and stranger.”
Law said everyone likely has times where they feel like a stranger and far from Christ.
“I was really trying to communicate that idea — like, wherever you are in that spectrum, He’s still there for you — He’s always there for you.”
Law said writing this song has cemented her testimony that to the Savior, she is “worth saving.”
From contest to congregations
Getting to share “Little Baby in a Manger” with the entire Church is a “huge deal” to Law. However, this isn’t the first time her song has been in the public eye.
Law submitted her song, then titled “Little Baby,” to a Church music contest where it won first place in its category. Shortly after, she was invited to share “Little Baby” in the December 2008 New Era.
The song has also played a part in her family’s worship, as Traci and Ryan are now parents to five children. Their son Joshua even requested it to be sung at his baptism. Law said it’s one of her favorite songs she’s ever written.
“The song was written in 2007, so it’s been part of my family for a long, long time now,” she said. “It’s just unbelievable that it gets to be shared with everyone. I can hardly believe it. I don’t have words for it.”
Now serving as an assistant director of the Utah Valley Children’s Choir, Law continues to compose music from her home in Spanish Fork, Utah. According to her website, she strives to create music that draws people to what matters most.
“Music has a way of creating belonging and connections,” she said, “and that’s something I always hope to offer through my songs.”
