Friday, December 14, 2012
December 14 - Witnesses of Christ in the New World
I love reading these testimonies of the prophets in the Book of Mormon! I originally had a separate lesson on “Witnesses of Christ in the Old World,” but replaced that with the City of Enoch lesson, since already I had separate lessons on each of the other prophets mentioned. This seemed the best place to link the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I don’t want to omit the Bible ornament since it is our first witness of Christ. This lesson went really well and I think it works.
Timeline: c. 600 B.C. - 20 B.C.
Opening Song: In A Little Stable-piano; vocal copy
Have the children ring bells while singing.
Ornaments: Book of Mormon and Bible
30 B.C. Helaman – “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” Helaman 5:9.
23-20 B.C. Nephi – “But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him, yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah. Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come. And as many as should look upon that serpent should alive, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal. And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these things, but also all the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham” Helaman 8:13-16.
All of these prophets who lived so many years before Christ was born anticipated His coming with faith. We are blessed to have their prophecies in the Book of Mormon, another witness of Jesus Christ. Hang the ornaments.
Closing Song: “The First Noel” Hymns, 213 *”Noel” means “Christmas” or “birth”
I made these versions using faux leather with paper sewed in-between and threaded with gold thread. I wrote the titles with gold ink.
I made my original ornaments from pieces of real leather from some old shoes I had (crazy, I know). I sewed a piece of white felt in-between them. Sewing the word “Bible” on was so tough to do since the leather was so thick, that I ended up just scratching the title on the Book of Mormon.
Here are my friend Julie’s versions - so nicely done!
Show Jerusalem on a globe. The people in the Bible lived in what we call “The Old World.” Jerusalem is the holiest city in the “Holy Land” where the covenant people of the Lord were concentrated, and where Christ later lived. Many of the words of the prophets in the Old World are found in the Bible (show ornament). Show books of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the Bible.
600 B.C. Lehi – Show GAK 300. Nephi told of Lehi’s witness: “Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world” 1 Nephi 10:4.
600-592 B.C. Nephi – Show GAK 303 or Nephi’s Vision of Mary. An angel showed Nephi a vision of Mary. “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. 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? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. …And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” (1 Nephi 11:13-15, 18-21)
544-421 B.C. Jacob (Nephi’s brother) – “For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son” Jacob 4:4-5.
399 B.C. Jarom (grandson of Jacob) – “Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them” Jarom 1:11.
148 B.C. Abinadi – Show GAK 308. “And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people” Mosiah 15:1.
124 B.C. King Benjamin – Show GAK 307. “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. …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. 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” (Mosiah 3:5, 7-8).
90 B.C. King Lamoni – “And it came to pass that he arose, according to the words of Ammon; and as he arose, he stretched forth his hand unto the woman, and said: Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou. For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name…” Alma 19:12-13.
83 B.C. Alma the Younger – “I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men” Alma 5:48, 50.
“For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people. And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God” Alma 7:7, 10.
74 B.C. Amulek – “And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice” Alma 34:8-10.
GAK 326. The main prophet in Jerusalem after Isaiah was Jeremiah. About this time (600 B.C.), the prophet Lehi also prophesied in Jerusalem about the coming of Christ and told the people to repent or they would be destroyed. The Lord warned Lehi that the people wanted to kill him. Obeying the Lord, Lehi fled Jerusalem with his family. They journeyed across the ocean to the Promised Land – to “The New World” in the Americas. Lehi, Nephi, and many other prophets in The New World engraved their testimonies of Christ on metal plates, which later became The Book of Mormon (show ornament).
Move the timeline marker along as you read these testimonies.
Complete Devotionals HERE.
