It was written to testify that jesus is the christ. For example, the book of mormon makes it clear that being the son of god not only gave jesus christ power over physical death, but also the power to suffer spiritual death for the sins of mankind. Ten testimonies of jesus christ from the book of mormon. The second event in the signs of his birth consists of signs and wonders in the new world, recorded in the book of mormon. Because witnessing of the savior is the central purpose of the book of mormon, signs of both christs birth and death are given in the book of mormon.
The birth of the savior was a natural occurrence unattended with any degree of mysticism, and the father god was the literal parent of jesus in the flesh as well as in the spirit, religious truths defined, p. The christmas story from the book of mormon the church of jesus. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Still, jesus christ is the center of mormon devotion, belief and practice. 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. Descriptions of jesus christ in the book of mormon jump to subtopic. 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. Bednar chronicled jesus christs birth from what we have in the book of luke in. The book of mormon gives exact calendar dates for the birth and the death of jesus christ which correspond to the length of his life being 12,048 days, exactly 33 years from passover to passover. We rejoice because the birth of jesus is a sign of the love of god for all of his children. The newest mormon message tells the story of the the prophet samuel, and his prophecy of the birth of the savior jesus christ. 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.
Historic christians heed the bible as the sole word of god, while latterday saints believe in the bible and other scriptures, including the book of mormon. There has been much controversy over the date of the birth of jesus christ. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. Book of mormon predicts jesus christs birth youtube. You may be wondering what the ancient people in the americas have to do with jesus christ.
The bible does not tell us the time of jesuss birth. When the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was organized on april 6, 1830, the lord said. He is not only the center of mormon worship, he leads the church personally through revelation to his prophet the president of the church and by giving the authority to church priesthoodholders to act in his name. When mary gave birth to jesus, many signs and angels appeared so that faithful people could find him and pay their respects. Shadow or reality, by gerald and sandra tanner, utah lighthouse ministry, p. One of the four volumes of scripture accepted by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Jeff chadwick examines the book of mormon and april 6 for the birth of christ. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. Elder talmage notes the book of mormon chronology, which says that the lord jesus would be born six hundred years after lehi left jerusalem. Mormons believe god the father, jesus and the holy spirit are separate beings. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. He is not only the center of mormon worship, he leads the church personally through revelation to his prophet the president of the church and by giving the authority to.
The birth of christ told in the bible joseph, mary, and jesus joseph, a carpenter, brought his wife, mary, to the town of bethlehem to take part in a census. Talmage, an apostle of the church of jesus christ of. 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. He is god and hasbeen active among the peoples of the world. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. It is a spiritual topic, associated with faith, belief, testimony, emotion, revelation, and personal conviction.
Dec 17, 2019 at this season, when we celebrate that event it is good to reflect on why the birth of the son of god is still a reason for us to rejoice. Jesus christ was born on earth christmas, book of mormon prophet samuel the lamanite announces the birth of baby jesus mobile ornament great for primary, family home evening, sunday school, bible study, daily scripture devotionals. Nephi, son of lehi, was one of the first prophets in the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has taken no official position on the exact date of christs birth. What the book of mormon tells us about jesus christ. Jan 17, 2019 the book of mormons most important truth is the fact that jesus christ was born, lived and died as the savior of the world and the light and life of the world 1 nephi 11. The book of mormon, joseph smith, and birth of christ. King benjamin explained that he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it. It also deviates in its teaching on the incarnation of jesus.
Book of mormon researchers have come to different conclusions, but the information found in the book of mormon and the new testament have. The book of mormon videos youtube channel is a collection of videos based on accounts from the book of mormon. Some latterday saints might be surprised to learn that not everyone, including respected authorities and apostles like orson pratt, hyrum m. 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. Gregory welch, charting the book of mormon provo, utah. The community of christ, formerly known as the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints, views the book of mormon as an additional witness of jesus christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishing arm, herald house. It is an abridgment by an ancient prophet named mormon of the records of ancient inhabitants of the americas. Mcconkie, agrees with the tradition, started 100 years ago by james e. 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. Nov 05, 2012 mormons believe god the father, jesus and the holy spirit are separate beings. Aug 26, 20 in the book of 1 nephi, the prophet nephi sees a vision of jesus birth. The title page of the book of mormon declares that the book was written for the convincing of the jew and gentile that jesus is the christ, the eternal god, manifesting himself unto all nations. Dec 24, 2010 he looked closely at the time of jesus death, for example, tied it to the length of jesus life given in the book of mormon, added such things as time for jesus circumcision eight days after his birth, marys 40 days of ritual purification, the visit of wise men from the east and a twoweek journey to egypt.
The thesis of this article was first presented in my entry entitled jesus christ in the book of mormon in the encyclopedia of mormonism new york. There are also many more scriptures in the bible and the book of. Book of mormonjesus christ 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. Why would the book of mormon need to testify of jesus christ. The people watched faithfully for a night with no darkness, which was the sign that jesus christ would be born. Mormonism is centered on jesus christ and his role as creator and redeemer. The writings were said to describe a people whom god had led from jerusalem to the western hemisphere 600 years before jesus birth. Matthews purpose is to show that jesus is the promised messiah and king of israel, and so his account of the birth of jesus is filled with regal elements. How the book of mormon helps date the birth of christ.
He prophesied that jesus christ would come 600 years after his father, lehi, left jerusalem. And by the power of the holy ghost ye may aknow the btruth of all things. What are the clues chadwick used to solve this puzzle. The book of mormons most important truth is the fact that jesus christ was born, lived and died as the savior of the world and the light and life of the world 1 nephi 11. May 27, 2005 the mormon doctrine of jesus deviates from biblical teaching regarding the preincarnate life of christ. Talmage maintained that jesus christ was born on april 6 in the year 1 bc. Mary was great with child, soon to miraculously give birth to jesus christ, the son of god. The signs of christs birth, book of mormon stories 1997, 11416 nephi, the son of helaman, gave the sacred records and scriptures to his oldest son, nephi. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds mormon and its members celebrate the birth of jesus in december along with the rest of the christian world. However, mormons believe that april 6 is his exact birth date.
Smith of the council of the twelve wrote in the doctrine and covenants commentary. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas. He looked closely at the time of jesus death, for example, tied it to the length of jesus life given in the book of mormon, added such things as time for jesus circumcision eight days after his birth, marys 40 days of ritual purification, the visit of wise men from the east and a twoweek journey to egypt. In the book of mormon story about the birth of christ, he. The book of mormon is a pillar of revealed truth supporting and upholding the chief cornerstone, who is jesus christ. After the crucifixion and resurrection in jerusalem, jesus appears in the americas, repeats the sermon on the mount, blesses children, and appoints twelve disciples. While some use the book of mormon to say that mormons are not christian, the fact is that the book of mormons purpose to to testify of jesus christ. The biblical account only gives a few clues and they have seemed inconsistent. This value supports his birth date of april 6, 1 bc and his death date of april 1, 33 ad, with the resurrection date on april 3, 33 ad. 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. Yet the book of mormon twice refers to a land of jerusalem in which jesus was to be born alma 7.
Chadwick, dating the birth of jesus christ, byu studies 49, no. 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. The book of mormon also tells about the birth of jesus and about the star. Jesus is the son of god but was born to a woman on earth. Read these 15 scriptures to bring the christmas spirit into your lives. Nephi also prophesied that the savior would be the messiah and he would be raised up among the jews. The crowning event recorded in the book of mormon is the personal ministry of the lord jesus christ among the nephites soon after his resurrection. Why is the name of christ mentioned in the book of mormon before christs birth when it isnt mentioned in the bible until the new testament. Nephi said of mary, and in the city of nazareth i beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints 31,115 views 2. For unto you is born this day in the city of david a saviour, which is christ the lord luke 2. The book of mormon s most important truth is the fact that jesus christ was born, lived and died as the savior of the world and the light and life of the world 1 nephi 11. Samuel the lamanite tells about jesus christ duration.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Why did jesus say that there were other sheep who would hear his voice. The fundamental principles of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning jesus christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended up into heaven. As in the old testament, there were numerous prophecies of this event, one in particular by samuel the lamanite five years earlier helaman 5. More than two thousand years ago, angels appeared to startled shepherds to announce the birth of the son of god. The organization of the church in the year 1830 is hardly to be regarded as giving. People on both sides of the world knew of the coming of the savior. There are also many more scriptures in the bible and the book of mormon that talk about the birth of jesus. The book of mormon, joseph smith, and birth of christ part 2. Christmas scriptures from the book of mormon learn religions.
In the first presidencys christmas devotional in 2015, elder david a. 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. Brother clark, actually, in the dating scheme that he has in his book, puts jesus birth in december of 5 bc. Jun 25, 2019 in the first presidencys christmas devotional in 2015, elder david a. In his 1915 classic jesus the christ, elder james e. Dec 27, 2018 brother clark, actually, in the dating scheme that he has in his book, puts jesus birth in december of 5 bc.
Talmage was apparently the first lds writer to propose this particular date. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Jesus is the lamb without spot or blemish slain from the foundation of the world book of mormon the second event in the signs of his birth consists of signs and wonders in the new world, recorded in the book of mormon. This is consistent with the broader pattern of toponymy that appears in the book of mormon i. Jesus in mormonism mormon christology religionfacts. In the book of mormon story about the birth of christ, he was. Mormonism teaches that jesus incarnation was the result of sexual relations between the flesh and bone heavenly father and mary. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. There is compelling evidence from the bible, book of mormon, and sacred calendars that jesus was born on the evening before thu 6 apr 1 bc. During the christmas season we read from the bible about the birth of jesus christ in luke 2. You may have seen this scene depicted through nativities at christmastime. Prophets in the new world preached that jesus christ would be born.