52 He Shall Come into the World to Redeem His People

He Shall Come into the World to Redeem His People

He Shall Come into the World to Redeem His People

CHRISTMAS

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ holds the purpose of “the convincing of [all people] that Jesus is the Christ” (title page). Each prophet testified of Him. The Brother of Jared saw Jesus’s Spirit, as He was before He was born into this world. Nephi witnessed His mortal ministry. Samuel proclaimed signs of His birth and death. Nephi and Jesus’s other disciples kneeled before the Lord and felt the prints from the nails in his hands and feet and the gash in his side. They all knew, “There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who … cometh to redeem the world” (Helaman 5:9).

How has The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ strengthened your testimony of Him? How have you drawn closer to Him as you have worshiped and served with other Christians? How are you cherishing the gifts that Jesus has given to you? Are you sharing your testimony of and love for Him with others? Have you expressed gratitude to your Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son?

Jesus Christ was born to be my Savior.

This year, like all others, Bob will read aloud from Luke 2, so that we will keep our focus on Jesus Christ and the reason we celebrate this season: we celebrate Jesus.

1 Nephi 11:13–36 Nephi saw the Virgin Mary, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. The condescension of God means that He would bow Himself down and come to our level, so that He could lift us up to again be with Him. Jesus did this for us.
Nephi knew Heavenly Father loves all His children. Nephi was then told that Jesus, the Son of God, would be born to Mary.
The Tree of Life represents the Love of God. (Will you name be written in His Book of Life?)
There is nothing more joyous to the soul than feeling and experiencing the love of God. Jesus is our way to happiness in Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness for us.
Jesus saw the Mortal Messiah and many who worshiped at His feet.
The Iron Rod represents the Word of God. This can mean the truth as spoken by the prophets and recorded in the scriptures. But, most importantly, it refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word of God. We need to focus on Him to hold onto Him.
The Rod of Iron will lead us to the Living Waters, or Tree of Life, which is the Love of God.
Vs 26 “Look and behold the condescension of God!”
Nephi then saw Jesus, and he also so John, the prophet that would prepare the way. He saw John baptizing Jesus, and the Holy Ghost descending like a dove upon Jesus.
Nephi saw the ministry of Jesus Christ. He saw the twelve apostles. He saw angels ministering unto the children of men. He saw Jesus healing the sick and casting out devils, by the Power of the Lamb.
Nephi saw that Jesus was judged by the people and crucified for the sins of the world. After this, the multitudes of the earth combined to fight against the apostles.
Those gathered in the great and spacious building will need to be humbled. This building will fall; the pride of the world will fall. Make sure that you never fight against the prophets and the apostles of the Lamb.

Mosiah 3:5–10 King Benjamin prophesies the Jesus will be born into the world and work mighty miracles among men: “healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.”
Jesus would suffer, bleed, and die for us; he’d take upon himself all our sins, pains, and sorrows, so that through Him we can be healed and become whole.

Vs 7-10
7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

Helaman 14:1–13 Samuel prophesied that Jesus Christ, the Son, of God would be born in five years to redeem all that believe on His name.

A day, a night, and a day as though it were one day was a sign of Jesus birth. Then there was a new star. There would be many signs and wonders in the heaven.

8 “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.”

Vs 9 Samuel, like all prophets, was commanded to “Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord.”

It is important to understand the blessings promised us if we are true and faithful to our covenants, and the punishment we will receive if we don’t repent of our sins, “and also that [we] might know the conditions of repentance.”

12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.

You can watch First Presidency Messages here: Christmas Videos.

You can listen to Christmas Music.

You can more fully feel the Spirit of Christmas through worshiping, singing, and serving with others.

You can find ideas here: LighttheWorld.org

For Home Sunday School:
Matthew 1:18–25
Matthew 2
Luke 2
3 Nephi 1:4–22
Away in a Manger

For kids:

Jesus Christ was born to be my Savior.

Teach children about the birth of Jesus Christ and how happy we are that He came to the earth.

Allow them to hold these pictures 28, 29, 30, 31 as you tell the story of His birth.

You can also talk about His life and mission, about His atonement and resurrection, and look at more pictures. More importantly though, bear your testimony to them and along them to express their own joy and happiness about Jesus.

Why did Heavenly Father send Jesus Christ?

Children could draw pictures of why they are thankful for Jesus.

Scriptures to read: I wrote notes for these first three in section above: 1 Nephi 11:13–23; Mosiah 3:5–10; Helaman 14:1–13; and also 3 Nephi 1:4–22

The Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ both teach of Jesus’s birth:

*Luke 2:4–14; Matthew 2:1–2; and 3 Nephi 1:15, 19–21.

We have a record of what happened both in Bethlehem and in the Americas.

Testify why you are thankful to have The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ as a second witness to The Holy Bible.

Children love stories. Stories are one of the best ways to help children learn and remember truths. As you share the story of Jesus’s birth, consider also sharing stories from your life that have helped to strengthen your faith in the Savior.

Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world.

It is because of Jesus’s Atoning Sacrifice for all of us that we choose to celebrate Him. His birth was so important to the fulfillment of His mission her on earth.

Because of that sacrifice, He can save us from sin and death, comfort us in afflictions, and help us “be perfected in Him” (Moroni 10:32).

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

How has The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ increased your understanding of His sacrifice for you and your love for Him?

What gift can you give to Him now and throughout this coming year to express your love and gratitude for Him?

2 Nephi 2:6 6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

Alma 7:7–13 There were no greater things that the people looked forward to than the birth of Jesus Christ; and now that is true of His Second Coming.

9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.

Jesus was born of Mary. He is God’s own Son.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Jesus came to take upon Himself our sins, so that we may be relieved and progress and choose to follow Him back to our Father.

11:40 40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

Helaman 5:9 9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

14:16–17. Even though death and sin were brought into the world, Jesus changed that.
17 But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.

For kids:

Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father’s gift to me.

Wrap up a picture of Jesus as a Christmas present.

Talk about your favorite Christmas presents, and allow the children to share theirs. Also, let them express what they’d life for Christmas this year.

Let the children unwrap the present with the picture of Jesus.

How is Jesus Christ the best Christmas present ever?

He Sent His Son: What blessings do we have because of Jesus?

 

The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.

‘“Another Testament of Jesus Christ” is more than just a subtitle for the Book of Mormon; it is a statement of its divine purpose.’
I actually think that the full title The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ should always be used when we are initially introducing the book in speech or writing, because of it’s divine purpose. I feel that it is the same as using the complete name of the Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We need to be specific in using the name of the Lord appropriately whenever we can, because we are testifying of Him and of His Church and of His gospel.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ’s express mission is to testify of Jesus Christ.

1 Nephi 6:4 4 For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.

19:18 18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.

2 Nephi 25:23, 26 23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

33:4, 10 4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

How had studying The Book of Mormon brought you closer to the Savior?

Here are some prompts to consider:

• “Something I learned or felt about the Savior this year was …”
• “Learning about the Savior in the Book of Mormon changed the way that I …”
• “My favorite person [or story] in the Book of Mormon taught me that the Savior …”

Share your experiences studying The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ and your testimony with others.

Share a copy with someone, with your testimony written inside.

Share the app: The Book of Mormon app

A Living Witness of the Living Christ

How have the truths expressed in the talk above changed your life?

Book of Mormon

For kids:

The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.

Share with each other your favorite stories and verses from The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Look through some of the photos in the Come Follow Me manual as well as in the Book of Mormon Stories to help children remember and summarize. Point out how these stories teach us of Jesus Christ.

Give the picture of Jesus, and let them raise that picture up every time they hear Christ’s name as you read together:

2 Nephi 25:23, 26 (copied above)

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ was written to help us, and all the world, believe in Jesus Christ.

 

Christmas Study Plan: (for 19-23 Dec): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/christmas-study-plan-2024?lang=eng