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: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

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. (1)

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. (2)

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth

To a virgin, espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou virgin, who art highly favored of the Lord. The Lord is with thee, for thou art chosen and blessed among women.

And when she saw the angel, she was troubled at his saying, and pondered in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.

And behold, thou shalt conceive, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David;

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel; How can this be?

And the angel answered and said unto her, Of the Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest. Therefore also, that holy child that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son, in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who is called barren.

For with God nothing can be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold the handmade of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

And in those days, Mary went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda,

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And why is it, that this blessing is upon me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed art thou who believed, for those things which were told thee by the angel of the Lord, shall be fulfilled.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit rejoiceth in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he who is mighty hath done to me great things; and I will magnify his holy name,

For his mercy on those who fear him from generation to generation.

He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

And Mary abode with Elizabeth about three months, and returned to her own house. (3)

Now, as it is written, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. After his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on there things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a vision, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now this took place, that all things might be fulfilled, which were spoken of the Lord, by the prophets, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, (which, being interpreted, is, God with us.)

Then Joseph, awaking out of his vision, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; (4)

Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and 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.

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given. (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 it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all his empire should be taxed.

This same taxing was when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be taxed, every one in his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David,)

To be taxed, with Mary his espoused wife, she being great with child.

And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was none to give room for them in the inns. (7)

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word. (8)

He was born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the same word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (9)

And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And lo, an angel of the Lord appeared unto them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

But the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this is the way you shall find the babe, he is wrapped in swaddling clothes, and is lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest; and on earth, peace; good will to men.

And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go, even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

All they who heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds;

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had heard and seen, as they were manifested unto them. (10)

 

Scripture Chain

1. I Nephi 11:13-18
2. Alma 7:10
3. JST Luke 1:26-50, 55
4. JST Matthew 2:1-7
5. 3 Nephi 1:13, 14
6. Helaman 14:5
7. JST Luke 2:1-7

8.3 Nephi 1:21

9. JST John1:13, 14

10 .JST Luke 2:8-20