The book of mormon also tells about the birth of jesus and about the star. Today, as we reflect on the annunciation of christs birth to joseph and mary, we have not only the benefit of hindsight, but also the clear book of mormon prophecies, as well as modern revelation, allowing us to clearly see that all the holy prophets testified of christs coming jacob 4. We have their records and teachings in the book of mormon. There are also many more scriptures in the bible and the book of mormon that talk about the birth of jesus. There are also many more scriptures in the bible and the book of. The book of mormon records the precise day the nephites witnessed the prophesied sign of christs death 3 nephi 8. Pictures and movies generally depict it at night because that is when the shepherds received the heavenly visitation announcing his birth, and they presume that when the account says let us no. The second event in the signs of his birth consists of signs and wonders in the new world, recorded in the book of mormon. Though several mormon leaders have clearly stated that the birth of christ was on april 6, and though each of the leaders mentioned above are, according to the lds church, prophets, seers, and revelators, and though the april 6 date is included in an lds teaching manual, and though a current apostle of the church said in general.
The prophets had failed to record all of the prophecies of samuel the lamanite, who preached some years before christs birth. Read on to see what the book of mormon says about the saviors birth. Prophecy in the book of mormon encyclopedia of mormonism. How the book of mormon helps date the birth of christ. Book of mormon 1997, 11417 purpose to teach the children that when we have faith, signs can. But some nephites said the time for jesus birth had already passed. The book of mormon is a pillar of revealed truth supporting and upholding the chief cornerstone, who is jesus christ.
The book of mormon, joseph smith, and birth of christ. Since the early 20th century, many mormons have thought they knew the exact date of the first christmas. With more knowledge of christs birth, you can create a stronger foundation on why the birth of jesus christ is so important for all mankind. Other prophecies anticipated more immediate events. And these records, abridged by mormon and organized as 3 and 4 nephi, report.
Mormonthe chief editor of the book of mormon part 2. The signs of christs birth, book of mormon stories 1997, 11416 close video nephi, the son of helaman, gave the sacred records and scriptures to his oldest son, nephi. As a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints which church is often inadvertently referred to as the mormon church, who accepts the book of mormon as scripture, it didnt take long to realize i would have to skip a great many mentions of jesus christ in order to do so. However, the book of mormons testimony of the birth of christ does not begin on that night.
A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. The book of mormon serves as a companion to the bibles teachings. Samuel the lamanite gives a sign of christs birth that will come in five years. Christmas scriptures from the book of mormon learn religions. The book of mormon adds to our knowledge of the saviors life and mission, and helps us to calculate the likely date of jesus christs birth. Talmage, an apostle of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, published a book in 1915 titled jesus the christ, in which he wrote, we believe that jesus christ was born in bethlehem of judea, april 6, b. Jesus had the disciples add samuels prophecy that many would rise at the time of christs resurrection. Talmage maintained that jesus christ was born on april 6 in the year 1 bc. An example of that companionship is found in both the foretelling of christs birth and in christs visit to the americas. Read these 15 scriptures to bring the christmas spirit into your lives. And by the power of the holy ghost ye may aknow the btruth of all things.
Since the nephites began counting their years from the time the sign of christs birth was given 3 nephi 2. It should be noted that by the time mormon wrote his synopsis of nephite history, he knew quite well how jesus fulfilled the prophecies that had been made about him before his birth. How the gospels and the book of mormon help us understand. They mocked those who still believed samuel the lamanites. Samuel the lamanite prophesied of those signs five years earlier helaman 14. Regardless of when christ was born, it is important that he was born and is the savior and redeemer of the world. Sign of christs birth book of mormon notes how deep.
As in the old testament, there were numerous prophecies of this event, one in particular by samuel the lamanite five years earlier helaman 5. What we do and do not know about christs actual birth date. Jesus christs birth was announced in america picture, scripture, and story. What jesus christs visit to the americas means for us. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. However, mormons believe that april 6 is his exact birth date. The members of christs church looked forward to the saviors birth and prayed about it for many years. How does the book of mormon help date christs death. In the book of mormon story about the birth of christ, he. What the book of mormon tells us about jesus christ. The book of mormons primary purpose is to be another witness of the lord jesus christ. Prophecies of christs birth in the book of mormon lds blogs. Book of mormon predicts jesus christs birth youtube.
Book of mormon prophets also forecast events of the latter days. Scholars have long discussed the exact timing of christs birth, but uncertainty still remains. In the opening chapters, mormon summarized the dramatic signs of christs birth. Lds primary singing time song visuals, away in a manger primary music leader, family home evening follow the prophet.
Bednar chronicled jesus christs birth from what we have in the book of luke in the new testament, as well as the book of mormon. If god physically impregnated mary, then the jesus of mormonism was created through an. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury translation of a record of ancient inhabitants of the american continent, which was written in a script which the book refers to as reformed egyptian. The christmas story from the book of mormon the church of jesus. The book of mormon also prophesied of christs second coming, and because i know that god has fulfilled his promises before, i know that he will continue to do so. The birth of christ most christian societies celebrate the birth of christ in the winter in late december or early january, but most scholars believe he was born in the spring. When christ visited the book of mormon peoples, he had the disciples bring him their scriptural record. It is a spiritual topic, associated with faith, belief, testimony, emotion, revelation, and personal conviction. The coming forth of the book of mormon to restore plain. Many prophets on the american continent prophesied about jesus christs birth. Other book of mormon prophets had previously spoken and would later speak of having their garments washed white in the blood of the lamb, but no prophet gave such clear information about the atoning work of christs blood itself or placed such central attention on the fact that christs blood actually would be spilt.
For a full book of mormon chronology using the tun as the year, demonstrating that 600 tuns can be counted off using from a may 596 bc departure to a september 5 bc birth of christ, see robert f. When the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was organized on april 6, 1830, the lord said it had been 1830 years since the birth of christ. If the proposed date of april ad 30 for the death of jesus is correct, then possible birthdates for christ are limited to sometime in 5 bc or in the. Animated, kidfriendly video puts the book of mormon story. This exceptional diligence on the part of nephite recordkeepers may help resolve at least two questions that new testament scholars debate regarding the timing of christs death. Talmage was apparently the first lds writer to propose this particular date. Jeff chadwick examines the book of mormon and april 6 for the birth of christ. During the christmas season we read from the bible about the birth of jesus christ in luke 2. When i first began this series of articles on jesus christ in the book of mormon a book of companion scripture to the bible, i anticipated being done by july. Brother clark, actually, in the dating scheme that he has in his book, puts jesus birth in december of 5 bc. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas.
We should be so excited that the book of mormon contains signs of christs birth and death, because it goes to prove that the miracle of jesus christ extends to all people. Nephi follows his father, the prophet primary 4, book of mormon lesson 2. Bednar chronicled jesus christ s birth from what we have in the book of luke in the new testament, as well as the book of mormon. People on both sides of the world knew of the coming of the savior. As a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints which church is often inadvertently referred to as the mormon church, who accepts the book of mormon as scripture. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians. This biblical doctrine of christs divine birth is confirmed repeatedly in the book of mormon and other latterday scripture. What are the clues chadwick used to solve this puzzle. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. For example, the term only begotten, which is used 6 times in the new testament to describe jesus christ, is used 9 times in the book of mormon, times in the doctrine and covenants, and 25 times in the pearl. The book of mormon adds information that helps clarify the issue, but does not settle the timing with exact precision. A book of mormon story about the birth of christ is portrayed in a new animated video by the church. Explain that throughout the book of mormon, the prophets talked about and looked forward to the birth of jesus christ. In this regard the book includes prophetic visions of christs birth and life in jerusalem, the global calamity that accompanied his atoning sacrifice and crucifixion, and his ministry among the people of the americas following his resurrection.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has taken no official position on the exact date of christs birth. For mormons, its not jesus birthday mormonism research. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. Signs in america of jesus christs birth to teach the children that when we have faith, signs can strengthen our testimonies of jesus christ.
Samuel and the star, published on december 6, tells the story of samuel the lamanite an ancient american prophet in the book of mormon and how he prophesied that the savior would be born in five years from that time. Signs of jesus christs birth were given to a group of people on the american continent in ancient times. The bible does not tell us the time of jesuss birth. Chalk and eraser container or paper bag for clues pencil for each child copy of worksheet for each child invite a. While some use the book of mormon to say that mormons are not christian, the fact is that the book of mormon s purpose to to testify of jesus christ. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints ldsmormon and its members celebrate the birth of jesus in december along with the rest of the christian world. The book of mormon is a book of scripture that details gods teachings to people who lived in the americas from about 600 bc to ad 400. Signs in america of jesus christs birth, primary 4. Mormon changes all mentions of the hebrew equivalent of christs name. Book of mormon 1997, 11417 purpose to teach the children that when we have faith, signs can strengthen our testimonies of jesus christ. In the first presidencys christmas devotional in 2015, elder david a. Talmage, an apostle of the church of jesus christ of. Something that makes the church of jesus christ of latterday saints often inadvertently referred to as the mormon church distinct from other christian denominations is having the book of mormon as scripture. Virgin birth if all humans, mary included, are literally gods spirit children, born in a preexistence via a sexual relationship between heavenly father and mother in heaven.
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