The bible proclaims the birth and life of jesus christ. We buy each one of our children a christmas book every year and present it to them on christmas eve with a new pair of pjs. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas. The book of mormon correctly claimed jesus would be born at the land of jerusalem for many years, critics of the book of mormon have called attention to a colossal blunder in alma 7. The book of mormon is a pillar of revealed truth supporting and upholding the chief cornerstone, who is jesus christ. In a prophecy about the coming of the savior, the nephite high priest alma said, and behold, he shall be born of mary, at jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers. For mormons, its not jesus birthday mormonism research.
Within days of the birth, the family returned to nazareth, passing through jerusalem for marys purification. According to mormon theology, jesus was born in jerusalem book of mormon, alma 7. The book of mormon adds to our knowledge of the saviors life and mission, and helps us to calculate the likely date of jesus christs birth. If he had been the author of the book of mormon he would have so stated the fact, since any deviation from the wellknown setting would certainly draw objection and accusation. What are the clues chadwick used to solve this puzzle.
Now when jesus was born in bethlehem of judaea in the days of herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to jerusalem, 2 saying, where is he that is born king of the jews. During the christmas season we read from the bible about the birth of jesus christ in luke 2. In his mad attempt to kill the baby jesus, king herod had all the young male children of the area murdered matt. Nothing in the bible about jesus being born in jerusalem, and the book of alma is not part of the bible. Dear gramps, i was asked these questions about the church. The scriptures record that he taught his gospel through word and deed as he. Now when jesus was born in bethlehem of judea in the days of herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to jerusalem, saying, where is he that. They traveled to bethlehem for the census while mary was pregnant. Since the book of mormon was published, some have criticized it for getting the location of jesus birth wrong.
And thereafter, whenever mormons came knocking on my door or when they stopped me on the road, i would asked them this simple question. There is no story to match the drama of the birth of jesus christ. Chadwick, dating the birth of jesus christ, byu studies 49, no. The bible does not tell us the time of jesuss birth. Tvedtnes, cities and lands in the book of mormon, journal of book of mormon studies 42 fall 1995. Even though jesus christ is taught in the book of mormon to be the only means by which we can receive salvation, the book is given the name the book of mormon because it is the prophet mormons account of the peoplevery much like the book of luke and the book of matthew are not actually about luke and matthew, but are. November 16 prophecy fulfilled in house of bread micah 5. On the discrepancy between the bible and book of mormon on. How the book of mormon helps date the birth of christ. The answer they gave was 100% correct jesus was born in bethlehem. A book of mormon story about the birth of christ is portrayed in a new. Posted in march, witnessing tip of the day, tagged alma 7. This scene from the arena scrovegni chapel in padua by the italian artist giotto shows mary, joseph and jesus in the bethlehem stable.
Now after jesus was born in bethlehem of judea in the days of herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to jerusalem matthew 2. The new testament says jesus was born in bethlehem of judea, but one rogue israeli archaeologist says it is far more likely the christian savior was born in. The land of jerusalem in the book of mormon and the dead sea scrolls. However, the book of mormon said he would be born at jerusalem. Book of mormon chronology chart church of jesus christ. Was jesus born at jerusalem as the book of mormon claims.
Talmage maintained that jesus christ was born on april 6 in the year 1 bc. Book of mormon the second event in the signs of his birth consists of signs and wonders in the new world, recorded in the book of mormon. The miracle of his conception, marys travail and young josephs frustrated efforts to find adequate lodging, the rustic setting in which the babe was born, the triumphant angelic announcement, the shepherds wonder and awe, and the import of his birth have for centuries inspired countless poets, writers, and artists. The city of jerusalem jebusi belonged to the tribe of benjamin joshua 18. In a deep spiritual sense mother rachel was left weeping for her children because they. The book of mormon alleges it was in the land of jerusalem. Born in bethlehem jesus christ bible prophecy truth. Jesus born in jerusalem vs bethlehem life after ministry. Why does the book of mormon say that jesus would be born in. What the book of mormon tells us about jesus christ. Do the skeptics seriously mean to suggest that the book of mormons bibledrenched author or authors missed one of the most obvious facts about the most popular. If you mention this to a mormon missionary, he might say jerusalem and bethlehem are only a few miles apart and that alma could have. If jesus was born in bethlehem, why does alma say he would.
For many years, critics of the book of mormon have called attention to a colossal blunder in that volume but one of many, though the book claims to be a revelation from god. They claim that this is a mistake, and evidence that joseph smith forged the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. It is a spiritual topic, associated with faith, belief, testimony, emotion, revelation, and personal conviction. The book of mormon, joseph smith, and birth of christ. Since the early 20th century, many mormons have thought they knew the exact date of the first christmas. Yet, every schoolchild knows that jesus was born in bethlehem. The book of mormon s most important truth is the fact that jesus christ was born, lived and died as the savior of the world and the light and life of the world 1 nephi 11. Lds church, mormon views on jesus paternity, conception.
Sjodahl write, almas prophecy is a grand supplement of benjamins prediction. In his 1915 classic entitled jesus the christ, elder james e. Bethlehem suffered a tragic and sad event after jesus was born. Birth jesus nativity mormon since virtually everyonechildren and adultsin joseph smiths day knew that jesus was born in bethlehem, how could the prophet. To suggest that joseph smith knew the precise location of jesus baptism by john in bethabara, beyond jordan 1 ne. Jeff chadwick examines the book of mormon and april 6 for the birth of christ. Why did alma say christ would be born in jerusalem. The book of mormon specifically states that christ would be born in the land of jerusalem. But the bible prophecy concerning the lords birth predicted that the messiah would be born in bethlehem micah 5. Mcconkie, agrees with the tradition, started 100 years ago by james e. If jesus was born in bethlehem, why does alma say he would be. There are also many more scriptures in the bible and the book of mormon that talk about the birth of jesus. Prior to jesus second birthday, the family moved bethlehem, where the wise men came to visit them in their. But thou, bethlehem ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of judah.
The book was written by a mormon, but the story isnt twisted so we went ahead and purchased it. The important fact is that jesus was born in real time and in a real place. Many mormon beliefs about jesus christ are similar to other christian beliefs about him. The distance between the two is only six miles, so the three documents may be harmonized by interpreting jerusalem in. But jesus was born in bethlehem, not jerusalem matt. Why does the book of mormon state that jesus was born in jerusalem alma 7. The nephites, having been removed from the middle east by many years and many thousands of miles, simply used the name jerusalem to reference that entire area of the world. The book of mormons most important truth is the fact that jesus christ was born, lived and died as the savior of the world and the light and life of the world 1 nephi 11. It has been stated that joseph smith used the bible and other writings to write the book of mormon, yet he decided to use the land of jersalem to describe where jesus was going to be born, even though the bible clearly states that he was born in bethlehem. Talmage, an apostle of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, published a book in 1915 titled jesus the christ, in which he wrote, we believe that jesus christ was born in bethlehem of judea, april 6, b. Even the first fulfilled type by which christ is to be revealed in heaven is as the lamb rev. In response to the question of whether jesus was born at jerusalem, oliver cowdery wrote the following, which has been excerpted from his article trouble in the west, which appeared in the latter day saints messenger and advocate, vol. Joseph smith, of course, knew well that jesus was born in bethlehem.
Read these 15 scriptures to bring the christmas spirit into your lives. The life and teachings of jesus and his apostles, 22 in christianity, the exact date of jesus birth is unknown. Why does the book of mormon say that jesus would be born. Therefore, mormons believing jesus birthday is on april 6 doesnt really matter in the context of. We read that jesus shall be born of mary at jerusalem, which is in the land of our forefathers alma 6. Nearly a century has passed since his book appeared, and in that time it has become practically axiomatic among latterday saints that jesus was born on april 6 of 1 bc. Why does the book of mormon say that jesus would be. The two gospels that include the nativity say jesus was born in bethlehem. Born in bethlehem the prophecy but thou, bethlehem ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in israel. As in the old testament, there were numerous prophecies of this event, one in particular by samuel the lamanite five years earlier helaman 5.
On page 2 of lesson five of this manual, it reads, nephi lived in america at the time jesus was born across the ocean in jerusalem. Animated, kidfriendly video puts book of mormon story about. Talmage, an apostle of the church of jesus christ of. The three wise men, along with their caravan, and angels gather around the child. Pictures and movies generally depict it at night because that is when the shepherds received the heavenly visitation announcing his birth, and they presume that when the account says let us no. Brother clark, actually, in the dating scheme that he has in his book, puts jesus birth in december of 5 bc. We do not hide the fact that we do not believe the book of mormon is an. If you mention this to a mormon missionary, he might say that jerusalem and bethlehem are only a few miles apart and that alma could have been referring to the general area around jerusalem. We all know the classic rendering of luke 2 which is tradition to read every year, as well as all the prophesies concerning the lords birth throughout all the bible.