Mormon Life - Nativity tag

Atheist messages displace CA park nativity scenes

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:33:00 -0700

source: ksl.com

Mormon Life says: This is heartbreaking! An atheist group replaced local nativity scenes with banners rejecting Christ. Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the three wise men are being crowded out by atheists.

Most of the Christmas nativity scenes that churches had placed in a Santa Monica coastal park for decades have been displaced by non-religious displays _ and the churches are crying conspiracy.

Post traumatic event syndrome

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 -0700

source: mormonmommywars.com

Mormon Life says: In a ward full of capable, spiritual people, this author finds the judgment can be a little harsh. Not too long ago, our bishop announced he was changing jobs, which meant he was moving out of the ward. Which meant that our ward had months to speculate who was going to be the new bishop. And as my husband was the 2nd counselor in the bishopric at the time, I had LOTS of people tell me that their money was on him.

I am also friends with a woman whose husband was the bishop when we moved into the ward, and we talked a little bit about what it’s like to be the bishop’s wife. And I came to this conclusion:

'Follow the Star' living nativity in California marks 250th historic performance

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:54:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Sunday, Dec. 4, marked the 250th performance of the 14th annual “Follow the Star" Living Nativity, a community Christmas pageant in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., sponsored by the Santa Margarita stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The performance is a living re-creation of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. Live actors, a professional set and even live animals bring the audience back to that “little town of Bethlehem.”

Yes, my father was Mary in the nativity scene

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:19:00 -0700

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: What a funny family Christmas story to retell. The Pocatello Idaho Stake high priests group was having a hard time finding a young woman to portray Mary in their re-creation of the Nativity. The girls were all afraid to ride the donkey. But just as it seemed the presentation would have to go forward without one of its key figures, a volunteer stepped forward.

To this day, very few people know the young girl on the donkey that night wasn’t actually a girl — it was my father (back when he was 12). The story never ceases to find its way into our Christmas traditions.

International Christmas cr裨e exhibit at Church History Museum

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:58:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

The nativity scenes on display for the Church History Museum's annual Christmas exhibit come from places like Sweden, Poland, Zaire, Germany, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and India, and will be up through Jan. 8.

"Almost all of them are from the museum collection," said Ray Halls, the museum's education manager, "and many are by Latter-day Saints."

Halls enjoys seeing how the different cultures express themselves.

Day 12: Kid-Friendly Nativity Script

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:06:00 -0700

by LDS Living staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: It's the last day of our 12 days! If you've missed any, make sure to check them out here.

Today, round out the 12 days with our script for the story of Christmas itself - the Nativity.

What better way to bring in the true spirit of Christmas than reminding the family the reason for our celebration?

Unfortunately, children sometimes lose interest faster than we would like. The key is to keep it simple. Here are some other tips.

Use as many fun props as possible. Baby doll as Jesus, Dad as donkey, faux gold and trinkets for the wise men to hold and present, a pet dog or stuffed animals as sheep for the shepherds, wings and glitter for the angel, etc., will all add interest and excitement for the children involved. Dress ups can be easily made with bathrobes and towels.

Allow the children to exhibit their talents. If you have one that can play a Christmas song on a musical instrument, work it into the program. If one of them likes to read, help them to be the narrator.

Have one of the adults be the “director.” Make sure one of the adults can whisper or remind children of their lines and give direction to them. (This can be the narrator.)

We’ve given you a couple options. You can follow the part-scripture, part-paraphrase scripts (for younger children) that have more songs from the Children’s Songbook. Or, read the script that outlines as the scriptures tell it (for a closer reading), which has a mixture of children’s songs and traditional Christmas songs; this script would work best with children mostly 9 and up. The songs suggested may be cut if you think they will be too difficult. Consider using songs you know your children have been learning in Primary or other places.

Close the nativity reenactment with testimony from parents and anyone else who would like to share.

Nativity Script #1

Part scripture, part paraphrase:

[Direction: Mary should be in place, with the angel nearby and ready to appear.]

Narrator:

Gabriel the angel was sent to Mary, who was engaged to marry Joseph, to tell her she would be the mother of Jesus, the son of God. She was afraid, but he said:

Gabriel (Luke 1: 30-31):

Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

Mary (v. 38):

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

[Direction: Mary gets ready to come in on donkey with Joseph leading them.]

*To print the remainder of Nativity Script #1, click here.

Nativity Script #2

All scripture:

Scene 1: Narrator, Angel, and Mary

Narrator (Luke 1:26-28):

Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

[Direction: Angel Gabriel comes; Mary should show fear at first seeing him]

Angel (v. 28, 30-32):

Blessed art thou among women. Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be called the Son of the Highest.

Mary (v. 34):

How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

*To print the remainder of Nativity Script #2, click here.

Discussion:

Does your family perform a Nativity? Tell us about it in a comment below.

December Sharing Time: Christmas Testimonies

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:03:00 -0700

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: This sharing time will help strengthen the children's testimonies of the Savior. Preparation:
Obtain a nativity set that has the following pieces: Angel, Shepherd, Wise Man, Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. Place the pieces in a box. Put a table at the front of the room to set the nativity on as the children participate in the activity. If your nativity has additional pieces, such as a stable or animals, place them on the table before sharing time begins.

Familiarize yourself with the testimonies below and print the scriptures onto strips of paper.

Presentation:
Ask the children if they have ever seen a nativity set before. Explain that nativities are often used as Christmas decorations to help us remember the birth of Jesus. Tell them that they are going to help you set up your nativity set, and that they will learn more about the testimonies of each of the people represented as they do so.

Ask a child to choose a nativity piece out of the box (you may want to reserve the baby Jesus for last). Have them show it to the other children and ask who the figure represents. After they have determined who it is, let the child place the figure onto the table. Ask a child to read the accompanying scripture(s) that expresses that person’s testimony. Discuss the scripture to help the children understand each testimony.

If you desire, you may sing Christmas songs that the children are familiar with during the activity to reinforce the concepts taught.

Angels: An angel announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds.
Luke 2: 10-11. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

A choir of angels sang when Jesus was born.

Luke 2: 13-14. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Mary: Mary was chosen by Heavenly Father to be the mother of Jesus.

Luke 1: 28, 31, 32, 38. And the angel came in unto her, and said . . . blessed art thou among women. Thou shalt . . . bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS, and He shall be called the Son of the Highest. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

Joseph: Joseph was chosen by Heavenly Father to take care of Mary and baby Jesus on the earth. His testimony was in the form of actions, not words.
Matthew 1:20-21, 24-25. 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 . . . She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Then Joseph . . . did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: She . . . brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 2:13-14. Behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

Shepherds: The shepherds came to see baby Jesus after an angel told them He was born. They then told others what they had witnessed.
Luke 2:15-17. 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. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Wise Men: The wise men were righteous men sent to witness the presence of the Son of God. They followed the star and brought gifts to the young Christ child.
Matthew 2:2, 11. 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. 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.

Baby Jesus: Jesus Christ testified of himself to the people in the Americas the night before he was born.
3 Nephi 1:13-14. On the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Jesus also testified of himself after he was grown.
John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Let the children admire their completed nativity. Summarize that each figure represents someone who knew the baby was the Son of God. Tell the children that you also have a testimony of Jesus Christ and briefly express it to them. Help them gain a desire to have a testimony of the Savior.

"The Birth of Jesus Christ Was on This Wise"

Thu, 12 Dec 2002 11:27:00 -0700

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: New Testament scholar Gerald N. Lund provides a fascinating glimpse into the Christmas story. With the skill of a story- teller, he brings the drama to life, revealing the human side of the miraculous events leading up to the Savior's birth in Bethlehem of Judaea.

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth." (Luke 1:26.)

The rabbis of ancient Israel had a saying: "Judea is wheat, Galilee straw, and beyond Jordan, only chaff." The urbane and worldly wise Jerusalemites, privileged to dwell in the Holy City, looked down on all others with condescension; but they especially viewed the Galileans as crude, unlearned, and earthy peasants. For the most part the people of Galilee were men of the soil and of the sea. This kept them in touch with basic values; and in spite of the feelings of the Judeans, they were known for being hard-working and warm- hearted, and for showing unrestrained hospitality and uncompromising honesty.

As for Nazareth itself, like many other villages of Judea and Galilee, it sat amid steep, tree-covered hillsides so as not to utilize precious agricultural land. For a village now so famous to us, it seems to have been of singular insignificance then. It is not even mentioned in the Old Testament or in the extensive writings of the ancient historian Josephus. Nathanael expressed what must have been a common feeling even among the Galileans when he said, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46.) Evidently, the suggestion that the Messiah had come from such a civic backwater was unthinkable.

But that is not to say that this home village of Mary and Joseph, and later the Master Himself, was a drab and dull setting. One writer describes it as follows: "You cannot see from Nazareth the surrounding country, for Nazareth lies in a basin; but the moment you climb to the edge of the basin . . . what a view you have. Esdraelon lies before you, with its twenty battlefields. . . . There is Naboth's vineyard and the place of Jehu's revenge upon Jezebel; there Shunem and the house of Elisha; the Carmel and the place of Elijah's sacrifice. To the east the valley of Jordan, . . . to the west the radiance of the Great Sea. . . . You can see thirty miles in three directions."

This was the setting in which our story begins.

Engagement of Joseph and Mary

"To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David." (Luke 1:27.)

As we are dropped into the midst of their lives, Joseph and Mary are "espoused." (Matt. 1:18.) Espousal among the Hebrews was significantly more binding than are our engagements today. The couple entered into it by written agreement and considered it the formal beginning of the marriage itself. While the couple might not actually live together for as much as a year after the betrothal—a time designed to allow the bride to prepare her dowry—the espousal was as legally binding as the formal marriage.

The scriptural text gives no hint of the age of either Mary or Joseph, but from existing sources we can make some educated guesses. We know that puberty began somewhat earlier in the Middle East than is common in Western countries today. Therefore, marriage at earlier ages than we are accustomed to was the general rule. Speaking of men, one rabbi described the stages of development as follows: At five he began study of Torah; at ten, study of the Mishnah (the oral laws); at fifteen, the study of Talmud (the extensive commentaries on the scriptures). At eighteen, he married; at twenty, he pursued a trade or business. For a girl, probably the most common age of marriage was fifteen or sixteen. Sometimes it was later, sometimes earlier, but it is likely that Mary was around sixteen and Joseph, her espoused husband, only two or three years older than that.

Nazareth was a small village. Joseph and Mary must have known each other well. How fascinating it would be to know the circumstances that brought them to the point of betrothal. Much is made of the fact that in those days families arranged marriages through the auspices of a matchmaker. No doubt that was true, but that does not mean that the individuals involved had no voice in the matter. We know from contemporary sources that, once the arrangements were made, the consent of the couple was required. The man had a direct say in the choice of his bride, and the woman could refuse the marital arrangements if not to her satisfaction. So what was it that drew these two together?

We know Mary must have been of unusual loveliness. Nephi saw her in vision six hundred years before her birth and described her as "exceedingly fair" and "most beautiful and fair." (1 Ne. 11:13, 15.) But did Joseph see only the outward beauty, or did he sense the same qualities that caused Gabriel to declare that this woman was "highly favoured" of the Lord? (Luke 1:28.) No wonder Joseph loved her! Imagine finding a woman of such remarkable grace and beauty in a small village in the mountains of the Galilee.

And what of Joseph? What was it about this man that caused Mary to give her consent to the marriage arrangements? Only a few scriptural verses tell us about Joseph. He was a carpenter, that we know. (See Matt. 13:55.) And because fathers commonly taught their sons their own trade, Joseph was likely reared in a carpenter's shop at his father's knees. His hands would have been rough and callused. He was a man of labor, a man who created things through his own craftsmanship.

Matthew also describes him as a "just man." (Matt. 1:19.) It is a simple phrase, yet it speaks volumes, for those same words are used to describe men such as Noah, Job, Nephi, and Jacob. Was it purely by accident that such a man was in Nazareth waiting to be Mary's partner in this most significant of dramas? Surely God the Father had seen in Joseph a man worthy to raise His Son and help prepare Him for His mortal ministry. While it would not be Joseph's privilege to actually father the "Firstborn," it would be his labor that would provide for His needs, his voice that would encourage His first steps, his hands that would guide the boy's fingers across the sacred scrolls of the Torah in those first Hebrew lessons. Joseph was also the one who would put a mallet and chisel and plane in those smaller hands so that one day this boy from Nazareth would also be known as "the carpenter." (Mark 6:3.) No wonder Mary loved him!

The Name Mary

"And the virgin's name was Mary." (Luke 1:27.)

One of the most common feminine names in the New Testament is Mary—Miryam (Miriam) in Hebrew. One Bible concordance identifies at least seven different Marys in the New Testament, so it is not surprising to find a virgin of that name in the village of Nazareth. But perhaps there is more to it than that. Among Book of Mormon prophets, even a hundred years before the birth of the Savior, the actual name of the woman who was to mother the Messiah was known: It was to be Mary. (See Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10.) If that was so among Book of Mormon prophets, is it not possible that the name was also known among Old Testament prophets as well, and therefore among the people of the Holy Land?

We know from existing records that the people at the time of Christ's birth generally believed that the birth of the long-awaited Messiah was imminent. What mother would not hope that her daughter might be the promised vessel for such an honor? Such maternal optimism might explain the frequency with which daughters were named Mary. But for whatever reason, Mary's mother fulfilled prophetic promises when she named her child, little dreaming that her daughter indeed would be the one to do so.

Gabriel's Salutation

"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus." (Luke 1:28-31.)

It was early July in Galilee.

The heat, even at night, can be stifling and oppressive. Luke indicates that Mary and Joseph were likely of poor families. If that be the case, the house of Mary's family would have been small, no more than one or two rooms curtained off for sleeping and privacy at night.

We are not told if it was day or night, or if she was alone in the house; surely she must have felt a sudden clutch of fear when she looked up and saw a personage standing there before her. All of us have had someone come up behind us or appear in a doorway unexpectedly and startle us. We give an involuntary cry of surprise and feel the quick burst of adrenalin that leaves the heart pounding, the palms sweaty, and the mouth dry. So it is not difficult to imagine the shock of having not just a man appear suddenly in your room, but a being of transcendent radiance and glory.

But the shock of Gabriel's sudden appearance could not have been any greater than the stunning impact of his words. First there was the "impossible" announcement that she was about to conceive. Her response is so spontaneous, so logical. It adds even further to the power and simplicity with which Luke tells us of this night. One can almost picture her blurting it out, in spite of the glory of the being standing before her: "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34.)

But that was only the first of the stunning pronouncements. The Messiah had been foretold for four millennia. Now to realize that the long centuries of waiting had come to an end, that the Messiah was about to be born, and that she—Mary of Nazareth—was to be the mother! Add to that the declaration that, for the first and only time in the history of the world, this was to be a virgin birth, and the revelation was even more staggering. This simple, pure woman from a little-known city in Galilee was to carry in her womb the divine offspring of the great Elohim Himself. Her son would be the Son of God!

Only when we consider the magnitude of those statements do we begin to appreciate how marvelous is Mary's answer. There were no questioning looks, no stammering demands of "Why me?" There were no murmurs of doubt. There was no disputation, no hesitation, no wondering. She simply said, in glorious and touching simplicity: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38.)

Mary's Pregnancy

"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." (Matt. 1:18.)

At the command of Gabriel, Mary left Nazareth to visit her cousin Elizabeth, wife of Zacharias the priest, living in Judea. Elizabeth was six months pregnant with a miracle of her own, and Mary abode with her kinswoman about three months until the time came for Elizabeth to deliver.

Consider for a moment what coming back to Nazareth at that point must have meant for Mary. She suddenly, unexpectedly departed from her home for an extended stay far to the south. When she returned, the growing within the womb was pushing outward, expanding now to swell the mother's belly. It is not a secret that can be hidden for long.

This was not a society like our own where immorality is not only tolerated but often openly flaunted. Modesty and virtue were deeply ingrained into the fiber of the nation and were especially strong in the small towns and villages of Israel. Imagine the effect on that tiny village when Mary returned and the first of the village women began to notice the change in her.

Anyone who has ever lived in the tightly knit, closely bonded society of a small town or village can predict with some accuracy what happened next. At first there would have been only questioning looks and quick shakings of the heads. Surely such could not be so. Not Mary. Perhaps she was just putting on a little weight. Then more and more voices would have questioned, not openly, of course, but in whispers, at the well each day as they came together for water, or while doing the laundry on the banks of a stream.

Was Mary allowed to tell others of her visit from Gabriel? Matthew's comment, "she was found with child," would imply not. (Italics added.) But even if she were allowed to tell, would such a "wildly fantastic" claim have quelled the rumors? A virgin birth? Mother of the Messiah? A child fathered by God Himself? Either she was mad or took them for absolute fools to imagine they would believe such a story. To the villagers, her departure from the village "with haste" took on new and ominous significance. (See Luke 1:39.) And poor Joseph. Victim of such "infidelity." What would he do now?

Joseph Takes Mary to Wife

"Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 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. . . . Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." (Matt. 1:19-20, 24.)

Neither Luke nor Matthew gives us much detail, but we can read the pain and embarrassment between the lines. Here was a good man, faithful in every respect. What pain must have filled his soul to learn that his betrothed was with child! Surely not Mary, not his lovely and chaste Mary. We can only guess at the agony of spirit he must have experienced at the confirmation of her "unfaithfulness."

How many men would let the bitterness and anger of such betrayal fester and boil over into a blind desire for revenge that can cause people to strike out, seeking to hurt as deeply as they themselves are hurt? By Mosaic law, adultery was punishable by death. (See, for example, John 8:5; Lev. 20:10.) Joseph could have taken Mary to the elders of the village and demanded justice. But, despite the pain he must have felt, despite the personal humiliation, he would not put his beloved Mary through the shame and danger of a public trial. He would simply dissolve the marriage contract quietly.

But then again, in one blinding instant of revelation, all was explained and put right. In response to Gabriel's incredible announcement, Mary had simply said, "Behold the hand-maid of the Lord." Now Joseph heard the same stunning pronouncement. We gain a glimpse of the greatness of the man from his response. Matthew says it in one phrase: "Then Joseph being raised from sleep . . . took unto him his wife." (Matt. 1:24; italics added.) The verse suggests that little time elapsed between the announcement and the marriage, perhaps even occurring entirely before dawn.

As with Mary, Joseph accepted without question the fantastic nature of the declaration. There was no vacillation. Surely he knew his fellow villagers well enough to know that a hasty marriage in the middle of the night would only fuel the rumors. All he would accomplish by such an action would be to bring the onus of doubt and shame upon himself. But the angel had spoken. His doubts were resolved. His Mary had been proven faithful. And so he arose from his bed and took her to be his wife.

The Town Called Bethlehem

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. . . . And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child." (Luke 2:1, 3-5.)

Bethlehem. The city of David. Ancient homeland of Israel's greatest king. In Hebrew it is called Beth Lechem. Literally, Beth Lechem means "The House of Bread." How perfect that He who was to take the throne of David and become Israel's ultimate king should come to earth in the city of His illustrious ancestor! How fitting that He who would be known as the "Bread of Life" should enter mortality in the tiny village called "The House of Bread." (See John 6:35.)

Though His birth is celebrated in December, latter-day revelation explains that it actually occurred in the spring. (See D&C 20:1.) The time would have been late March or early April when Joseph moved southward with Mary at his side, heavy with the living treasure in her womb. Spring is a time of glorious beauty in Israel. The "latter rains" water the parched soil, and in gratitude the earth responds with an explosion of grass and wildflowers. New life springs from the old with the wildest abundance. What better season to welcome him who would be called the "Prince of Life"? (See Acts 3:15.)

Search for Lodgings

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 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." (Luke 2:6-7.)

No room in the inn. If, as we believe, it was April and not December, then it was very likely Passover season in Jerusalem. This could explain the reason Joseph took Mary on the rigorous, sixty-mile journey to Judea when she was in the final month of her pregnancy. The Roman "taxing" mentioned by Luke was more accurately a census or enrollment. Each family head had to register and give an accounting of their property so that taxes could be levied. But while there was considerable flexibility in timing allowed to meet this requirement, if it was Passover season, that would allow them to meet two responsibilities. The Mosaic Law required that every adult male bring his sacrifices before the Lord (i.e., to the temple) each year at Passover. (See Ex. 23:14-19.) So by choosing this time of year, Joseph could fulfill both requirements.

Today we can hardly conceive of the magnitude of this most important of all Jewish festivals. From all over the empire, Jews returned to their homeland at Passover. Though determining exactly how large Jerusalem was during this period is difficult, a fairly accurate guess would place the population between one and two hundred thousand. Josephus tells us that during Passover "innumerable multitudes came thither [to Jerusalem] out of the country." In another place, he was even more specific. Because the Paschal lamb had to be totally consumed by the family in the ritual meal, tradition stated that no fewer than ten and no more than twenty could gather for each lamb sacrificed. (See Ex. 12:10.) Josephus tells us that during one Passover of his time (about A.D. 70, 256,500 lambs were sacrificed. Even using the more conservative figure of ten, that still means the population of Jerusalem at Passover had swollen by more than 1000 percent to the staggering number of nearly three million people.

The throngs must have been incredible, the facilities throughout the city taxed beyond belief. And with Bethlehem only six miles south of Jerusalem, no wonder there was no room at the inn. Luke probably could have said with equal accuracy, "There was no room anywhere."

Often in the art and literature surrounding the Christmas story, the unknown, unnamed innkeeper of the scriptural account is viewed as selfish and uncaring, an insensitive oaf unmoved by the plight of a woman heavy with child. This may make for interesting art and literature, but it is not justified by the scriptural record. In the first place, the "inns" of the Middle East were not quaint and homey little buildings with thatched roofs and latticed windows from which warm lamplight beckoned the weary traveler. The inns of the Holy Land were typically large, fortress-like buildings, built around a spacious open square. Called khans or caravanserai, they provided stopping places for the caravans of the ancient world.

Just as modern hotels and motels must provide parking for automobiles, so did a caravanserai have to provide a place where the donkeys, camels, and other animals could be safely cared for. Inside the khan, which was usually of two-story construction, all the "rooms" faced the courtyard. They were typically arched, open antechambers facing out onto the square. Here the traveler could build a small fire or sleep within clear view of his animals and goods. "In these hostelries, bazaars and markets were held, animals killed and meat sold, also wine and cider; so that they were a much more public place of resort than might at first be imagined."

Even if there had been room at the inn, a caravanserai was hardly the ideal place for a woman in labor. Perhaps the innkeeper, moved with compassion at Mary's plight and knowing of her need and desire for privacy, offered them his stable. Perhaps Joseph found the place on his own. The scriptures do not say. But one thing is very probable, and this contradicts another popular misconception. The birth likely did not take place in a wooden shed with pitched roof as is so commonly depicted in nativity scenes around the world.

In Bethlehem today stands the Church of the Nativity. Beneath the church is a large grotto or cave. In southern Judea, including the area around Bethlehem, limestone caves are common. Such caves provided natural shelter for the flocks and herds of ancient Israel. They were warm, safe from inclement weather, and could easily be blocked to keep the animals safe for the night. The tradition that this grotto was the stable of Luke's account is very old and accepted by many scholars. President Harold B. Lee, then of the Council of the Twelve, visited this grotto in 1958 and confirmed that in his mind it was "a hallowed spot, . . . a sacred place."

So there in the sheltered warmth of the cave, beneath the limestone hills of Bethlehem, He who was to become the Good Shepherd—not of the sheep that grazed the hills of Israel, but of the human flock—was born and cradled in a manger.

That seems almost beyond our comprehension. Here was Jesus—a member of the Godhead, the Firstborn of the Father, the Creator, Jehovah of the Old Testament—now leaving His divine and holy station; divesting Himself of all that glory and majesty and entering the body of a tiny infant; helpless, completely dependent on His mother and earthly father. That He should not come to the finest of earthly palaces and be swaddled in purple and showered with jewels but should come to a lowly stable is astonishing. Little wonder that the angel should say to Nephi, "Behold the condescension of God!" (1 Ne. 11:26.)

Announcement to the Shepherds

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-12.)

One of these verses is frequently misquoted: "Keeping watch over their flocks by night." But the verse does not say flocks, plural, but flock, singular. One scholar explained the significance: "There was near Bethlehem, on the road to Jerusalem, a tower known as Migdal Eder, or the watchtower of the flock. Here was the station where shepherds watched the flocks destined for sacrifice in the temple. . . . It was a settled conviction among the Jews that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and equally that he was to be revealed from Migdal Eder. The beautiful significance of the revelation of the infant Christ to shepherds watching the flocks destined for sacrifice needs no comment." The flock mentioned in the scripture, then, apparently was the one used for temple sacrifices, and the shepherds thus had responsibility for the most important flock in the region.

Sometimes in translation the power of the original language is considerably lessened. While the words, in English, of the angel to the shepherds are beautiful and significant, we miss much of the electrifying impact the original words must have had on those men of Judea. Let us just examine two or three of the phrases as we assume they were given in Aramaic to the shepherds that night.

"In the city of David." We have already seen that the Jews expected Bethlehem to be the birthplace of the Messiah. This in part stemmed directly from the prophet Micah, who centuries before had specified the place. (See Micah 5:2.)

"Is born a Savior." The word that meant "Savior" was Yeshua. In the Greek New Testament that name was transliterated into Hee-ay- sous, or, in English, "Jesus." When the angel announced to Joseph that Mary would bear a son, note what he said: "Thou shalt call his name Jesus [Yeshua]: for he shall save the people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21, italics added.)

"Which is Christ." Our English word Christ is derived directly from the Greek, Christos. It means "the anointed one." Christos was a direct translation of the Hebrew word, Messhiach, which meant exactly the same thing—the anointed one. Messhiach is of course transliterated into English as "Messiah."

"The Lord." The simple title, "Lord," is perhaps the most significant of all, yet we totally miss its importance in the translation. In the Old Testament the name of God was written with four Hebrew consonants: YHVH. Because they did not write vowels, there has been some debate as to its proper pronunciation. Modern scholars often write it as YAHVEH, but the King James translators wrote it as JEHOVAH.

The Jews of ancient times, however, viewed the name as being so sacred that it should not be pronounced out loud. Whenever they found it written, they would substitute the Hebrew word Adonai, meaning the Lord. The translators who produced the King James Version of the Old Testament honored that tradition of the Jews, and where they found the name YHVH, they wrote in (with very few exceptions) "the Lord." However, adonai can also be used as a title of respect for men, such as in the phrase, "My lord, the king." To distinguish between the two uses, the translators wrote Lord in small capital letters if it represented the name of deity, and regular upper and lower case letters if used normally. (See, for example, 2 Sam. 15:21, where both uses are found in the same verse.) The declaration of the angel to the shepherds obviously used Lord or Adonai in reference to deity; literally it could be translated Jehovah.

Now we begin to sense the impact of the angel's words upon these shepherds. In essence, here is his pronouncement: "Unto you is born this day in the city prophesied to be the birthplace of the Messiah, Yeshua [or Jesus], the Savior, who is the Anointed One (the Messiah), and who is also Jehovah, the God of your fathers."

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:16-19.)