Christmas Study Plan: (for 19-24 Dec)
Christmas Study Plan: (for 19-25 Dec):
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/christmas-study-plan-2024?lang=eng
Helaman
14:5 I am so thankful
for the new star that appeared to testify of Jesus’s birth!
“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.”
Prophets have always testified of Jesus Christ. They told of His birth!
Isaiah
9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”
President Russell M. Nelson said, “[Jesus Christ’s birth was] foreseen by prophets since the days of Adam [and Eve].”
Isaiah
9:6–7 Isaiah
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
1 Nephi
11:13–23 Nephi
13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?
15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
Mosiah 3:5–10 King Benjamin
5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as 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.
6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
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
2 And behold, he said 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.
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.
8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.
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.
Video: Samuel the Lamanite Prophesies of Jesus Christ: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2024-01-0700-samuel-the-lamanite-prophesies-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng
Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus
Luke
1:38 “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to
thy word.”
I am thankful for the faith that Mary had to accept God’s plan for her
and to bring the Son of God into this world for all of us. President Jeffrey R.
Holland noted, “[Her] courage and conspicuous faith are as striking as anything
ever recorded in scripture.” Joseph was also faithful and desirous to do the
Lord’s will. He was compassionate and kind, a great choice for the man called
to be Jesus’s faither during mortality (even though He was literally the
offspring of God).
Read Luke 1:26–38
Video: An Angel Foretells Christ’s Birth to Mary: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-10-0002-an-angel-foretells-christs-birth-to-mary?lang=eng
Read Matthew 1:18–25
Vs 19 Joseph was contemplating putting Mary away privately, because he
didn’t want to shame her. He had a great capacity for love and kindness.
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.
We can be angels for others by helping them feel God’s love! Write a message of love to someone, and deliver it personally (if you can). Be an ministering angel.
Luke 1:17 “And he shall go before him in … spirit and power… to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus Christ and His mission as our Savior.
Luke 1:6 Elisabeth and her husband, Zacharias, “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.”
Sometimes we have to wait for our most desired blessings, just as this elderly couple waited for their son John.
Read Luke 1:5–25, 67–80 Gabriel tells Zechariah of John’s birth and John’s mission. Zechariah can’t believe it because of how old he and his wife are. Gabriel tells Zechariah that he won’t be able to speak until John is born, because he questioned what the Lord’s messenger told him.
After John was born,
Zechariah gave a powerfully strong mission of the Savior and also of John’s mission.
Luke 1:39–66 How have you supported a friend or family member like Mary and Elisabeth supported each other? It’s all about sharing our life experiences and helping each other as we go through this life together.
Video: Mary and Elisabeth Rejoice Together: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-10-0003-mary-and-elisabeth-rejoice-together?lang=eng
Play a game where everyone shares a quality that they admire in another person (present or not).
Luke
2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.”
How does the announcement of angels concerning the Coming of Jesus
Christ replace your fear with joy?
Luke 2:10 Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
How have you responded to the message of the angels and the shepherds to help declare these tidings to all people?
“As humble shepherds worshipped at the manger, they were adding their witness to Mary’s and Joseph’s that this baby was God’s Son and a divine plan was at work.”
When and how have you added your witness that Jesus is the Son of God? How will you continue to do so?
Read Luke 2:8–20
Video: Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Christ: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-10-0005-shepherds-learn-of-the-birth-of-christ?lang=eng
Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains
Gift of Christmas Music playlist
3 Nephi
1:13 “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time
is at hand, … and on the morrow come I into the world.”
“The scriptural story of Jesus Christ,” President Russell M. Nelson taught, “is indeed a two-hemisphere story. While Mary and Joseph in the East were making preparations for the holy child’s birth in Bethlehem, Nephi in the West was being taught by the premortal Messiah. To Nephi the Lord said, ‘Be of good cheer; … 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’ [3 Nephi 1:13].”
Read 3 Nephi 1:4–23
Video: Nephi Prays and Signs of Christ’s Birth Appear: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2024-01-0750-nephi-prays-and-signs-of-christs-birth-appear?lang=eng
We too can have a reassurance of Jesus’s Second Coming, if we pray in faith.
Luke
2:7 “She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.”
Jesus Christ was born to be the Savior of the world. Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem. Away from the crowded inn, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. Angels appeared to shepherds, who then went to see the baby Jesus. After the shepherds left to tell everyone what they had seen and heard, “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
Video: The Christ Child: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-09-0050-the-christ-child-a-nativity-story-lighttheworld?lang=eng
Simeon saw the Christchild.
Anna also saw the Christ.
Read Luke 2:1–38
Matthew
2:2: “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.”
The wise men mentioned in Matthew
2 had looked for the coming of Jesus Christ for a long time. They were happy
to travel far to take Him gifts and worship Him. “We cannot doubt,” President
Dallin H. Oaks said, “that they were led by the Lord for His sacred purpose. …
These wise men were of another land and culture, so a witness to them was a
reminder that the Messiah was born for all people.”
He came for you and for me. What gifts can we give Him?
Read Matthew 2:1–12 The wise men were led to Jesus by the light of the star and by the Spirit. Herod, in his jealousy, pretended he wanted to worship Jesus; so, he asked the wise me to return to tell him where Jesus was. They were warned by God in a dream not to do that, and they went another way to return to their home country. Thus, Jesus’s life was preserved; and their gifts gave the young family the means to flee to Egypt to protect the young child.
How do you seek, find, or worship Jesus Christ? (Be more deliberate in your determinations and intentions to do so. Seek the Lord through prayer, study, service, and fasting.)
Video: The Wise Men Seek Jesus: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-10-0007-the-wise-men-seek-jesus?lang=eng
What sacrifices are you willing to make to seek Jesus, to find Him, to be with Him, and to offer yourself to Him?
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