Description
by Duane S. Crowther
Table of Contents
1. Our Heavenly Father’s Eternal Plan of Happiness, 5
Essential Elements in the Divine Plan to Bring to Pass Man’s Immortality and Eternal Life, 5
The Premortal Choosing and Empowering of the Redeemer, 6
Planning for the Savior’s Mortal Advent, 7
Lucifer’s Attempt to Usurp the Power of the “Only Begotten”, 7
Michael, the Archangel Who Became Adam, 8
Enoch’s Grand Summary of “the Plan of Salvation unto All Men”, 9
2. Prophecies of the Mortal Birth of Christ, 11
Pearl of Great Price and Old Testament Prophecies
Adam, 11
The Concept of Jesus as the “Only Begotten Son” of God the Father, 12
The Concept of the Meridian of Time, 13
Enoch, 13
Mahonri Moriancumer, 15
Moses, 16
Isaiah, 16
The Syro-Ephraimite War, 17
Micah, 20
Book of Mormon Prophecies
Lehi, 21
Nephi, 22
Jacob, 24
Abinadi, 25
King Benjamin, 26
Alma the Younger, 27
Nephi, Son of Helaman the 2nd, 28
Samuel the Lamanite, 29
Nephi, Son of Nephi, Grandson of Helaman the 2nd, 30
The Christmas Story
3. Events in Palestine Preceding the Savior’s Birth, Prior to the Journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, as Found in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, 33
Telling the Story of Jesus, 33
Dating the Events Related to the Birth of Christ, 34
The Genealogies of Christ’s Mortal Parents, 35
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold to His Father, Zacharias, by the Angel Gabriel, 36
Herod the Great, 36
The Course of Abia [Abijah], and Officiating in the Holy of Holies, 37
Officiating on the Day of Atonement, 37
Gabriel, 39
Zacharias Returned Home; Elizabeth Conceived, 40
Location of the Home of Zacharias, 40
The Miracle of Elizabeth’s Conception, 41
The Angel Gabriel Foretold the Birth of Jesus to Mary, 41
The Name Mary, 41
Espousal, or Betrothal, and Marriage, 41
The Doctrine of Virgin Birth, 42
God the Father, Not the Holy Ghost, is the Father of Jesus Christ, 43
Mary Visited Elizabeth About Three Months, 44
The Routes from Nazareth to Jerusalem, 44
The Magnificat, 45
Mary Returned to Nazareth, 45
The Birth, Circumcision, and Naming of John the Baptist, 45
The Prophecies of Zacharias Concerning Christ and John the Baptist, 46
Zacharias’ Prophecy of the Savior, 47
Zacharias’ Prophecy of His Son, John, 47
The Benedictus, 47
John the Baptist was Ordained by an Angel When Eight Days Old, and was Baptised as a Child, 47
Joseph’s Struggle Concerning the Law of Moses’ Edicts Concerning Non-virgin Espoused “Wives”, 48
Joseph, 48
The Mosaic Laws on Brides Who are Not Virgins; Putting Wives Away Privately, 48
An Angel Foretold the Birth and Mission of Jesus to Joseph, 49
Joseph’s Acceptance of the Angel’s Counsel to Take Mary as His Wife, 49
Jewish Marriage Customs, 49
The Name Jesus, 50
Nazareth Prior to the Time of Christ’s Birth, 50
Nazareth at the Time of the Savior’s Birth, 51
Nazareth Not Held in High Regard During the Ministry of Christ, 51
Nazareth Today, 52
4. Events in Palestine Surrounding the Savior’s Birth, Beginning with the Journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, 53
The Roman Decree for a Census to be Taken in Palestine, 53
Caesar Agustus, 53
Roman Censuses, 53
Cyrenius, 54
Joseph and Mary Journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem, 54
Observations on Ancient Jewish Marriage Laws, 55
The Season of Christ’s Birth, 55
Meaning and Implications of the Name “Bethlehem”, 55
The Old Testament History of Bethlehem, 56
Bethlehem at the Time of the birth of Christ, 56
Bethlehem Today, 58
The Birth of Jesus the Christ, 58
So Few Words Report Christ’s Mortal Birth, 58
A Typical “Romanticised” Account of the Savior’s Birth, 58
The Traditional Site of Christ’s Birth, 59
Some Possibilities to Consider in Connection with Christ’s Birth, 59
Angels Appeared to Bethlehem Shepherds, 60
Shepherds Tending the Temple Flocks, 60
The Lamb of God, 60
The Shepherds Visited the Baby Jesus, 61
The Beginning of Word-of-mouth Missionary Work, 61
5. Events in the Early Childhood of Jesus, 62
The Circumcision of Jesus, 62
The Rite of Circumcision, 62
The Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple, 62
Presenting a Newborn Child unto the Lord, 62
The Law of Purification for Women After Childbirth, 63
Required Offerings Following Childbirth, 63
The Testimony of Simeon, 64
Elements of Simeon’s Testimony and Prophecy, 64
The Testimony of Anna the Prophetess, 65
Another Witness Spreading the Word, 65
Wise Men from the East Follow the Star to Palestine and Inquire of King Herod, 65
Conjectures Concerning the Identity of the Wise Men, 66
The Magis’ Encounter with Herod (the Great), 67
The Star in the East, 67
The Wise Men Bring Gifts to the Christ Child, 68
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, 68
Wise Men Warned in a Dream, 69
Joseph, Jesus and Mary Flee to Egypt, 69
The Flight into Egypt, 69
Out of Egypt Have I Called My Son, 69
The Slaughter of the Children of Bethlehem, 69
The Slaughter of the Innocents, 70
Ramah and Rachel, 70
The Family’s Removal from Egypt to Nazareth, 70
The Death of Herod the Great, 71
Herod’s Kingdom Divided Between Three of His Sons, 71
Jesus the Nazorean, 71
6. The Early Childhood and Youth of Jesus, 72
Scriptural Passages Attesting to Jesus’ Acquiring Learning and Wisdom, 72
Annual Visits to Jerusalem, 72
Obedience to the Requirement that Males Appear Before the Lord, 72
Jesus Achieved “Manhood” Status, 73
The Ancient Equivalent of the Modern Bar Mitzvah, 74
The Teen-age Years of Jesus, 75
Jesus Not with His Parents as They Traveled Back to Nazareth, 75
Scriptural Clues to Jesus’ Teen-age Conduct, 75
Descriptions of Probable Activities During Jesus’ Youth, 75
The Family of Jesus, 77
Various Theories Concerning the Family of Jesus, 77
Jesus a “Carpenter” or a “Craftsman”?, 77
Index, 79
