Some people wonder how members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as “the Mormons”) feel about Jesus Christ or if we celebrate Christmas any differently than the rest of the world. So with Christmas upon us, I’d like to share a couple of my favorite scriptures about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
I love all the scriptures, but I particularly love the account of Christ’s birth given in the gospel of Luke. I remember as a child we used to act out the story on Christmas Eve before we went to bed. Some years I got to be the innkeeper, or the innkeeper’s wife. I also remember playing the part of the angel – sometimes the same years I was the innkeeper (or the innkeeper’s wife). My younger sister probably had the best idea, though: One year she asked for the part of Mary. I had never asked for this part because it had always been reserved for our mother. But to my surprise, our parents let my sister be Mary. And best of all (for her, anyway), she got to ride on our dad’s back. (He was playing the donkey.)
My favorite
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.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:9-18)
My heart leaps every time I hear or read these verses. To be honest, I’m not sure precisely why. But it’s a scene I can almost envision—not quite as a memory, but somewhere deep in my heart. These humble shepherds were tending their flocks, something that would have been routine for them. But their routine met a joyous interruption in the form of an angel who had a message for them from God the Father Himself.
Our Heavenly Father did not intend for the birth of our Savior to go unknown by mankind. He sent this angel to tell the shepherds, and the shepherds shared the message with those around them.
But beyond this, “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.” (vv 13-14) What a glorious celebration there must have been that night in the heavens! Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, had come to the earth! The hosts of Heaven were unrestrained in their rejoicing.
He came as a humble babe, born in a stable and laid in a manger in the midst of the animals. He was visited that first night not by the wealthy or the powerful, but by a group of shepherds who had been tending their flocks. But truly He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
