Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

"Lesson 46: The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Christmas),” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),163

The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ. Just as the Old and New Testaments testify of Christ, so does the Book of Mormon. We are blessed for having the Bible and the Book of Mormon as witnesses of Jesus Christ’s life and mission. Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of the savior. The Christmas story is also summarized in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 11:12–24.

Read 1 Nephi 10:4, 2 Nephi 25:19, 2 Nephi 29:8, Mosiah 3:5, Alma 7:10, Helaman 14:2–5, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 2:1–2, 9–10, Matthew 20:19, Luke 1:35, Luke2:8, 10–12, and John 3:16.

The New Testament records the birth of Jesus in Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon is another written witness of Jesus Christ and tells what happened in the Americas when he was born. Book of Mormon Prophets, just as Old Testament Prophets, testified of the coming of Christ: Lehi, 1 Nephi 10:4; King Benjamin, Mosiah 3:5; Alma, Alma 7:10; and Samuel the Lamanite, Helaman 14:2–5.

Signs of Jesus Christ’s birth were given in Bethlehem as recorded in Luke 2:6–14 and Matthew 2:1–2. A sign seen in Bethlehem was also seen in America as recorded in 3 Nephi 1:21. Other signs were given in America as recorded in 3 Nephi 1:15, 19.

Six hundred years before the Savior’s birth, Nephi said "his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (2 Nephi 25:19). Alma prophesied that the name of the mother of the Son of God would be "Mary"(Alma 7:10).

Jesus is the "Son of God"; in other words his Father is Heavenly Father (Luke 1:35). Joseph was Mary’s husband. Even though Heavenly Father was the Father of both Jesus Christ’s body and spirit, Joseph took care of Jesus and raised him as a father would raise a son. Just before the birth of Jesus, an angel told Joseph to name the baby would be "Jesus" (Matthew 1:21).

It is important that we have two scriptural witnesses of the birth and mission of Jesus Christ as "the testimony of two nations is a witness . . . that [God] remember[s] one nation like unto another . . . [God] speak[s] the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also" (2 Nephi 29:8).

Compare some of the Savior’s teachings in the Bible with those in the Book of Mormon, such as the following: Matthew 5:16 and 3 Nephi 12:16; Matthew 7:12 and 3 Nephi 14:12; and Matthew 5:44 and 3 Nephi 12:44.

Heavenly Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to earth save us all (2 Nephi 9:21–22; 3 Nephi 27:13–14; John 3:16). It is this great gift from our loving Heavenly Father that we symbolize and honor when we give gifts to others during the Christmas season.

What family traditions do you have that reminds you of the birth and life of Jesus Christ?

Labels: Alma, Birth, Book of Mormon, Chrstimas Lesson, Helaman, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, John, King Benjamin, Lehi, Lesson 46, Luke, Matthew, Mosiah, Nephi, Samuel, Signs