The Church of Christ with the Elijah Message Blog

Luke 2:8 – 16.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Seek the Lord.

The first gifts of Christmas

Matthew 2:1-12.
1.  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judeae in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2.  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3.  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5.  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judeae, for thus it is written by the prophet,
6.  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7.  Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9.  When they had heard the king, they departed, and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12.  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their won country another way.

The Joy of the  Season

Luke 2:1-16.
1.  And it came to pass in those day, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3.  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judeae, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5.  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8.  And there was in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,
11.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14.  Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.
15.  And it came to pas, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

III Nephi 1:9-21.
9.  Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.
10.  Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceeding sorrowful.
11.  And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea  those which were about to be destroyed because of  their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
12.  And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all the day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
13.  Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14.  Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son–of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh.  And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
15.  And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi was fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.
16.  And there were many, which had not believed the words of the prophets, fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the word of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.
17.  And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land nort and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.
18.  For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.
19. And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was midday   And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.
20.  And it had come to pass, yea, all thing, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.
21.  And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

Helaman 14:2-8.
2.  And behold, he saith unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
3.  And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
4.  Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
5.  And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
6.  And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.
7.  And it shall come to pass that ye shall be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
8.  And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

Matthew 1:18-25.
18.  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20.  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22.  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23.  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24.  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25.  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.