The Old Testament carries a spirit of eager anticipation. In that way, itâs a little bit like the Christmas season. Beginning with Adam and Eve, Old Testament patriarchs, prophets, poets, and people looked forward to better days, filled with hope for the Messiahâs renewal and deliverance. And the Israelites were frequently in need of that hopeâwhether they were in captivity in Egypt or Babylon or held captive by their own sin or rebellion. Through it all, prophets reminded them that a Messiah, a Deliverer, would come âto proclaim liberty to the captivesâ (Isaiah 61:1).
That hope began to be realized when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. The mighty Deliverer of Israel was born in a stable and laid in a manger (see Luke 2:7). But He wasnât just the Deliverer of the ancient Israelites. He came to deliver youâto bear your grief, to carry your sorrows, to be bruised for your iniquities, so that with His stripes you can be healed (see Isaiah 53:4â5). This is why Christmas is so full of joyful anticipation even today. The Messiah came over 2,000 years ago, and He continues to come into our lives whenever we seek Him.
Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church
I rejoice in my Redeemer.
Christmas is known as a joyful season because of the joy that Jesus Christ brings to the world. Centuries before the Savior was born, Old Testament prophets also felt joy as they spoke of the coming Messiah. Read some of the following passages, and think about why they would have been precious to people who looked forward to the Saviorâs mission: Psalm 35:9; Isaiah 25:8â9; 44:21â24; 51:11; Zephaniah 3:14â20; Moses 5:5â11. Why are these passages precious to you? What reasons do these scripture passages give to be joyful?
See also Dallin H. Oaks, âGood Tidings of Great Joyâ (First Presidency Christmas devotional, Dec. 4, 2022), Gospel Library; âJoy to the World,â Hymns, no 201.
Symbols can help me remember Jesus Christ.
Many of the traditions associated with Christmas can have symbolic meanings that point us to Christ. As you studied the Old Testament this year, you may have noticed many symbols of the Savior. A few are listed below. Consider studying these and recording what they teach you about Him.
Jesus Christ is referred to by many different names and titles. Look for titles in the following verses: Psalms 23:1; 83:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 12:2; 63:16; Amos 4:13; Zechariah 14:16; Moses 7:53. What other titles can you think of? You might even enjoy listing titles of Jesus Christ that you find in Christmas hymns. How does each title influence the way you think about Him?
Consider choosing a title or role of the Savior that will help you remember Him throughout the coming year.
01 And Hannah prayed , and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord , mine horn is exalted in the Lord : my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation .02 There is none holy as the Lord : for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.03 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge , and by him actions are weighed.04 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.05 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.06 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.07 The Lord maketh poor , and maketh rich : he bringeth low, and lifteth up.08 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord âs, and he hath set the world upon them.09 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.010 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed .011 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest.012 ¶ Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial ; they knew not the Lord .013 And the priestsâ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priestâs servant came, while the flesh was in seething , with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;014 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.015 Also before they burnt the fat, the priestâs servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.016 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently , and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.017 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord : for men abhorred the offering of the Lord .018 ¶ But Samuel ministered before the Lord , being a child, girded with a linen ephod .019 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.020 ¶ And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord . And they went unto their own home.021 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord .022 ¶ Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.023 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.024 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord âs people to transgress .025 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord , who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.026 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord , and also with men.027 ¶ And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord , Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaohâs house?028 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?029 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?030 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed .031 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy fatherâs house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.032 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.033 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.034 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.035 And I will raise me up a faithful priest , that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.036 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priestsâ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
2 Samuel 22
01 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:02 And he said, The Lord is my rock , and my fortress, and my deliverer;03 The God of my rock; in him will I trust : he is my shield , and the horn of my salvation, my high tower , and my refuge , my saviour; thou savest me from violence.04 I will call on the Lord , who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.05 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;06 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;07 In my distress I called upon the Lord , and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple , and my cry did enter into his ears.08 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.09 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.010 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.011 And he rode upon a cherub , and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.012 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.013 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.014 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.015 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.016 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord , at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.017 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;018 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.019 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.020 He brought me forth also into a large place : he delivered me, because he delighted in me.021 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.022 For I have kept the ways of the Lord , and have not wickedly departed from my God.023 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.024 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.025 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.026 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.027 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.028 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty , that thou mayest bring them down.029 For thou art my lamp , O Lord : and the Lord will lighten my darkness.030 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.031 As for God, his way is perfect ; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.032 For who is God, save the Lord ? and who is a rock , save our God?033 God is my strength and power : and he maketh my way perfect .034 He maketh my feet like hindsâ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.035 He teacheth my hands to war ; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.036 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.037 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.038 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.039 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.040 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.041 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.042 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord , but he answered them not.043 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.044 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.045 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.046 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.047 The Lord liveth ; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.048 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,049 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.050 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord , among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.051 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
Amos 4
01 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria , which oppress the poor , which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.02 The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness , that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.03 And ye shall go out at the breaches , every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the Lord .04 ¶ Come to Beth-el, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years :05 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven , and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord God .06 ¶ And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord .07 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.08 So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord .09 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord .010 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord .011 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning : yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord .012 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.013 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought , that maketh the morning darkness , and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord , The God of hosts, is his name.
Exodus 12
01 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,02 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.03 ¶ Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:04 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.05 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year : ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:06 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.07 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.08 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.09 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.010 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.011 ¶ And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded , your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste : it is the Lord âs passover.012 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment : I am the Lord .013 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.014 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial ; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever .015 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.016 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation , and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.017 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.018 ¶ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.019 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger , or born in the land.020 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.021 ¶ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families , and kill the passover .022 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.023 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.024 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.025 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.026 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?027 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord âs passover , who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.028 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.029 ¶ And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.030 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead .031 ¶ And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord , as ye have said.032 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.033 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.034 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.035 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver , and jewels of gold, and raiment :036 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.037 ¶ And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.038 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.039 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual .040 ¶ Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.041 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.042 It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.043 ¶ And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover : There shall no stranger eat thereof:044 But every manâs servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.045 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.046 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.047 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.048 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord , let all his males be circumcised , and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.049 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.050 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.051 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
Exodus 17
01 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin , after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord , and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.02 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ?03 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?04 And Moses cried unto the Lord , saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.05 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod , wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.06 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock , and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.07 And he called the name of the place Massah , and Meribah , because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord , saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?08 ¶ Then came Amalek , and fought with Israel in Rephidim.09 And Moses said unto Joshua , Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.010 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.011 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.012 But Mosesâ hands were heavy ; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.013 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.014 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book , and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.015 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi :016 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
Ezekiel 47
01 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house , at the south side of the altar.02 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.03 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.04 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.05 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.06 ¶ And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.07 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.08 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea : which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.09 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.010 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.011 But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.012 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine .013 ¶ Thus saith the Lord God ; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.014 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance .015 And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;016 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazar-hatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.017 And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.018 And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side.019 And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.020 The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.021 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.022 ¶ And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.023 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord God .
Genesis 22
01 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.02 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest , and get thee into the land of Moriah ; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.03 ¶ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.04 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.05 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship , and come again to you.06 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.07 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?08 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.09 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.010 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.011 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.012 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.013 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.014 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh : as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.015 ¶ And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,016 And said, By myself have I sworn , saith the Lord , for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:017 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;018 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; because thou hast obeyed my voice.019 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.020 ¶ And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah , she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;021 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,022 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.023 And Bethuel begat Rebekah : these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abrahamâs brother .024 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
Hosea 13
01 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.02 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.03 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.04 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.05 ¶ I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought .06 According to their pasture, so were they filled ; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.07 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:08 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.09 ¶ O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help .010 I will be thy king : where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?011 I gave thee a king in mine anger , and took him away in my wrath.012 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.013 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.014 I will ransom them from the power of the grave ; I will redeem them from death: O death , I will be thy plagues ; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.015 ¶ Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.016 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Isaiah 11
01 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse , and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:02 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding , the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ;03 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord : and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:04 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.05 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins .06 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.07 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.08 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp , and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatriceâ den.09 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain : for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord , as the waters cover the sea.010 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse , which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.011 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.012 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.013 The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah , and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.014 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.015 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.016 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Isaiah 12
01 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord , I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.02 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation .03 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.04 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord , call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.05 Sing unto the Lord ; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.06 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
Isaiah 25
01 O Lord , thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.02 For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.03 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.04 For thou hast been a strength to the poor , a strength to the needy in his distress , a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.05 Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.06 ¶ And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.07 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.08 He will swallow up death in victory ; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.09 ¶ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord ; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation .010 For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.011 And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.012 And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust .
Isaiah 28
01 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim , whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!02 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm , as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.03 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:04 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.05 ¶ In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory , and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,06 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.07 ¶ But they also have erred through wine , and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.08 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness , so that there is no place clean.09 ¶ Whom shall he teach knowledge ? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk , and drawn from the breasts.010 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:011 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.012 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.013 But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.014 ¶ Wherefore hear the word of the Lord , ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.015 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge , and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:016 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God , Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone , a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.017 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.018 ¶ And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.019 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.020 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.021 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim , he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon , that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act .022 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption , even determined upon the whole earth.023 ¶ Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.024 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?025 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?026 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.027 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.028 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.029 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 44
01 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant ; and Israel, whom I have chosen:02 Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun , whom I have chosen.03 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty , and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:04 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.05 One shall say, I am the Lord âs ; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord , and surname himself by the name of Israel.06 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first , and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.07 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.08 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God ; I know not any.09 ¶ They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not , nor know; that they may be ashamed.010 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?011 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.012 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.013 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.014 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.015 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.016 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:017 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.018 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts , that they cannot understand.019 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?020 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?021 ¶ Remember these , O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant : I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.022 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions , and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.023 Sing , O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing , ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.024 Thus saith the Lord , thy redeemer , and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;025 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;026 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:027 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:028 That saith of Cyrus , He is my shepherd , and shall perform all my pleasure : even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built ; and to the temple , Thy foundation shall be laid.
Isaiah 51
01 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord : look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.02 Look unto Abraham your father , and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone , and blessed him, and increased him.03 For the Lord shall comfort Zion : he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden , and her desert like the garden of the Lord ; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.04 ¶ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.05 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.06 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.07 ¶ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men , neither be ye afraid of their revilings .08 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.09 ¶ Awake, awake, put on strength , O arm of the Lord ; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon ?010 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?011 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return , and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.012 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;013 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth ; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?014 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit , nor that his bread should fail.015 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea , whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name.016 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.017 ¶ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury ; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.018 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.019 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?020 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the Lord , the rebuke of thy God.021 ¶ Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:022 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord , and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:023 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down , that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
Isaiah 53
01 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?02 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant , and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.03 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.04 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs , and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.05 But he was wounded for our transgressions , he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed .06 All we like sheep have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.07 He was oppressed , and he was afflicted , yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter , and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.08 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation ? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.09 And he made his grave with the wicked , and with the rich in his death ; because he had done no violence , neither was any deceit in his mouth.010 ¶ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed , he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.011 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.012 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death : and he was numbered with the transgressors ; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 60
01 Arise , shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.02 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee , and his glory shall be seen upon thee.03 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light , and kings to the brightness of thy rising.04 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.05 Then thou shalt see, and flow together , and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.06 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord .07 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar , and I will glorify the house of my glory .08 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?09 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.010 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.011 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles , and that their kings may be brought.012 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish ; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.013 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.014 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord , The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.015 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.016 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings : and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.017 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.018 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise .019 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light , and thy God thy glory.020 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.021 Thy people also shall be all righteous : they shall inherit the land for ever , the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.022 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.
Isaiah 61
01 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;02 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord , and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn ;03 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness , the planting of the Lord , that he might be glorified.04 ¶ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.05 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.06 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord : men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.07 ¶ For your shame ye shall have double ; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double : everlasting joy shall be unto them.08 For I the Lord love judgment , I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.09 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.010 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord , my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.011 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 63
01 Who is this that cometh from Edom , with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.02 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat ?03 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.04 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.05 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.06 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.07 ¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord , and the praises of the Lord , according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.08 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour .09 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.010 ¶ But they rebelled , and vexed his holy Spirit : therefore he was turned to be their enemy , and he fought against them.011 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock ? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him ?012 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?013 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?014 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name .015 ¶ Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?016 Doubtless thou art our father , though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord , art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting .017 ¶ O Lord , why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servantsâ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.018 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.019 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name .
Isaiah 7
01 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.02 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim . And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.03 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fullerâs field;04 And say unto him, Take heed , and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.05 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,06 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:07 Thus saith the Lord God , It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.08 For the head of Syria is Damascus , and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.09 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliahâs son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.010 ¶ Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying,011 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.012 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord .013 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?014 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign ; Behold , a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son , and shall call his name Immanuel .015 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.016 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil , and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.017 ¶ The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy fatherâs house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; even the king of Assyria.018 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.019 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.020 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.021 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;022 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.023 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings , it shall even be for briers and thorns.024 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.025 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock , there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle .
Isaiah 9
01 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.02 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light : they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.03 Thou hast multiplied the nation , and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.04 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden , and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian .05 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.06 For unto us a child is born , unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor , The mighty God , The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace .07 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end , upon the throne of David , and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.08 ¶ The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel .09 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,010 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.011 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;012 The Syrians before , and the Philistines behind ; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.013 ¶ For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.014 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.015 The ancient and honourable , he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.016 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed .017 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.018 ¶ For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns , and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.019 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother .020 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:021 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Jeremiah 2
01 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,02 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord ; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.03 Israel was holiness unto the Lord , and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord .04 Hear ye the word of the Lord , O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:05 ¶ Thus saith the Lord , What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?06 Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?07 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land , and made mine heritage an abomination.08 The priests said not, Where is the Lord ? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.09 ¶ Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord , and with your childrenâs children will I plead.010 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.011 Hath a nation changed their gods , which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.012 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord .013 For my people have committed two evils ; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters , and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.014 ¶ Is Israel a servant ? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?015 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.016 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.017 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way?018 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt , to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river ?019 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.020 ¶ For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot .021 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine , wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?022 For though thou wash thee with nitre , and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God .023 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;024 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her .025 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope : no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.026 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,027 Saying to a stock , Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.028 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.029 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord .030 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction : your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.031 ¶ O generation, see ye the word of the Lord . Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?032 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.033 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.034 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these .035 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent , surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.036 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.037 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
Jeremiah 23
01 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord .02 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord .03 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.04 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord .05 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord , that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch , and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.06 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely : and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness .07 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord , that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;08 But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.09 ¶ Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord , and because of the words of his holiness.010 For the land is full of adulterers ; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.011 For both prophet and priest are profane ; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord .012 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation , saith the Lord .013 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.014 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery , and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness : they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.015 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.016 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord .017 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.018 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord , and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?019 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.020 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.021 I have not sent these prophets , yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.022 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.023 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord , and not a God afar off?024 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord . Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord .025 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.026 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;027 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.028 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord .029 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord ; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?030 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord , that steal my words every one from his neighbour.031 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord , that use their tongues, and say, He saith.032 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams , saith the Lord , and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord .033 ¶ And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord ? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord .034 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord , I will even punish that man and his house.035 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?036 And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every manâs word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.037 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?038 But since ye say, The burden of the Lord ; therefore thus saith the Lord ; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord , and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord ;039 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:040 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Jeremiah 33
01 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,02 Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;03 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.04 For thus saith the Lord , the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;05 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.06 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.07 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return , and will build them, as at the first.08 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.09 ¶ And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.010 Thus saith the Lord ; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,011 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord . For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord .012 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down .013 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the Lord .014 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord , that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.015 ¶ In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David ; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land .016 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.017 ¶ For thus saith the Lord ; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;018 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.019 ¶ And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying,020 Thus saith the Lord ; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;021 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.022 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.023 Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,024 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.025 Thus saith the Lord ; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;026 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.
Micah 7
01 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.02 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.03 ¶ That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.04 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.05 ¶ Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.06 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a manâs enemies are the men of his own house .07 Therefore I will look unto the Lord ; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.08 ¶ Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness , the Lord shall be a light unto me.09 I will bear the indignation of the Lord , because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light , and I shall behold his righteousness.010 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.011 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.012 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.013 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.014 ¶ Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.015 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.016 ¶ The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.017 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of thee.018 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy .019 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.020 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham , which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Numbers 24
01 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.02 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes ; and the spirit of God came upon him.03 And he took up his parable , and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:04 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:05 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles , O Israel!06 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the riverâs side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.07 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag , and his kingdom shall be exalted.08 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.09 He couched, he lay down as a lion , and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.010 ¶ And Balakâs anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.011 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.012 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,013 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord , to do either good or bad of mine own mind ; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak ?014 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.015 ¶ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:016 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:017 I shall see him, but not now : I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab , and destroy all the children of Sheth.018 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.019 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.020 ¶ And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.021 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.022 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.023 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!024 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim , and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.025 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
Psalms 118
01 O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.02 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.03 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.04 Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.05 I called upon the Lord in distress : the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place .06 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear : what can man do unto me?07 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.08 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.09 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.010 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.011 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.012 They compassed me about like bees ; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.013 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.014 The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation .015 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.016 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.017 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord .018 The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.019 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord :020 This gate of the Lord , into which the righteous shall enter.021 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.022 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner .023 This is the Lord âs doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.024 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.025 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord : O Lord , I beseech thee, send now prosperity.026 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord : we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord .027 God is the Lord , which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.028 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.029 O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 23
01 The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want .02 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.03 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his nameâs sake.04 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil : for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.05 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.06 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalms 27
01 The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall I fear ? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?02 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.03 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.04 One thing have I desired of the Lord , that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord , and to inquire in his temple.05 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion : in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock .06 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord .07 Hear, O Lord , when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.08 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord , will I seek.09 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.010 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.011 Teach me thy way, O Lord , and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.012 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty .013 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.014 Wait on the Lord : be of good courage , and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait , I say, on the Lord .
Psalms 35
01 Plead my cause, O Lord , with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.02 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.03 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.04 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.05 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.06 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.07 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.08 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.09 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord : it shall rejoice in his salvation .010 All my bones shall say, Lord , who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?011 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.012 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.013 But as for me, when they were sick , my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting ; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.014 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother : I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.015 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:016 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.017 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.018 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.019 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.020 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.021 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.022 This thou hast seen, O Lord : keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.023 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.024 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.025 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.026 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.027 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.028 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psalms 83
01 Keep not thou silence , O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.02 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.03 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.04 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.05 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:06 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;07 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;08 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah .09 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera , as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:010 Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.011 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah , and as Zalmunna:012 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.013 O my God, make them like a wheel ; as the stubble before the wind.014 As the fire burneth a wood , and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;015 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.016 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord .017 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish :018 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah , art the most high over all the earth.
Zechariah 14
01 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.02 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle ; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.03 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.04 ¶ And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives , which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.05 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.06 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:07 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord , not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.08 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.09 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord , and his name one.010 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place , from Benjaminâs gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the kingâs winepresses.011 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.012 ¶ And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.013 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour .014 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.015 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents , as this plague.016 ¶ And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King , the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles .017 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.018 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.019 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.020 ¶ In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord ; and the pots in the Lord âs house shall be like the bowls before the altar.021 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein : and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.
Zephaniah 3
01 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!02 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord ; she drew not near to her God.03 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves ; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.04 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law .05 The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.06 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.07 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.08 ¶ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord , until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations , that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.09 For then will I turn to the people a pure language , that they may all call upon the name of the Lord , to serve him with one consent .010 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.011 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.012 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord .013 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies ; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.014 ¶ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.015 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord , is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.016 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.017 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.018 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.019 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth , and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.020 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord .
Merry Christmas! Thanks to all whose messages and music and service have proclaimed âgood tidings of great joyâ at this Christmas season.
Hundreds of millions celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season. The whole world should do so. His was and is the greatest life ever lived.
Even in worldly terms, the mortal life of Jesus of Nazareth has had a greater impact on this world and its history than any life ever lived. He has been the principal subject of prophets and poets for thousands of years. The greatest art and music of the western world have been devoted to celebrating the birth and life and mission of Jesus Christ. Philosophers and theologians have spent their lives studying His teachings. Those teachings have inspired countless works of charity, manifestations of the pure love of Christ.
No one has had more monuments to His life and teachings than the Lord Jesus Christ. This, of course, includes the great cathedrals that dot the landscape in Europe and the Americas, many of them requiring more than a century to construct. More recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 171 dedicated and operating temples and has 129 more in restoration, original construction, design, or just announced by President Russell M. Nelson at our recent October general conference. These houses of the Lord are on every continent and in 74 nations of the world. There we dedicate our lives to following Jesus Christ.
Millions have given their livesâand, more importantly, millions have patterned their lives after the Lord God of Israel, Jehovah, Jesus Christ, our Savior. President Gordon B. Hinckley did not overstate the point when he proclaimed, âHis matchless example [was] the greatest power for goodness and peace in all the world.â1
We can see an important purpose and symbol in the divine announcement of the birth of Godâs Only Begotten Son. We learn from the New Testament accounts that the announcements of the birth of the Christ child in the eastern hemisphere were made to three different groups, each with very different characteristics. Those who received the heavenly announcement of the birth were the very humble, the very holy, and the very wise.
The first announcement was to the shepherds in the hills by Bethlehem. An angel and a heavenly choir proclaimed âgood tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people ⊠a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.â2 The shepherds were probably chosen to receive these good tidings because they were meek and humble. Thus, they were uniquely receptive to the message of heaven, which they verified by visiting the newborn. Then, the scripture reports, they âmade known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.â3 Their work as shepherds and the lambs they tended both anticipated examples the Savior represented in His teaching. Also, when Jesus came to John the Baptist at the beginning of His ministry, that prophet declared, âBehold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.â4
The second announcement of the birth of the Messiah was in the temple in Jerusalem to two holy workers whose godly lives qualified them to receive the witness of the Holy Ghost. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple for the sacrifice prescribed for the firstborn, Simeon and Anna both witnessed that He was the Messiah. The scripture records that Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God for allowing him to see âthy salvation,â a âlight to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.â And Anna, âa prophetess,â âcoming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.â5
A third group learned of this remarkable birth. The Bible, as slightly improved by Joseph Smith, reports that âthere came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the child that is born, the Messiah of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.â6
From their stated inquiry we cannot doubt that they were led by the Lord for His sacred purposes. The Bible teaches that âthe things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God.â7 These wise men were of another land and culture, so a witness to them was a reminder that the Messiah was born for all people. In addition, there may have been another purpose. The value of the gold and other gifts the wise men presented may have helped Mary and Joseph to make their hasty journey to Egypt and to remain there to save the Christ child when His life was threatened by the wicked order of King Herod.8
Isnât it interesting that the miraculous event of the birth of Christ and something of the significance of that event was made known only to the very humble, the very holy, and the very wise? As Elder James E. Talmage taught in Jesus the Christ, âIndeed God raised up witnesses for Himself to meet all classes and conditions of menâthe testimony of angels for the poor and the lowly; the testimony of wise men for the haughty king and proud priests of Judea.â9
Remembering Simeon and Anna can inspire us to be like them and add our witness of the sacred birth and its purpose at this Christmas season.
For us, there is nothing new in the celebration of the birth of Christ. The message is timeless and familiar. It was taught to Adam. It was preached to the children of Israel. It was revealed to the descendants of Father Lehi. Again and again, prophets declared the central truths of the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ. Again and again, they declared His mission and taught His command that the children of God love and serve God and one another. Repeated through the ages, these declarations are the most important message in all eternity. For those who follow Christ, these declarations are not to be revised. They are to be renewed in each of our lives.
Christmas awakens in us a desire to extend ourselves beyond our normal ties of love and friendship. The heavenly proclamation âon earth peace, good will toward menâ10 was not limited to those for whom we already have feelings of love and affection. It directed goodwill to casual friends, to strangers, even to enemies. Christmas is also a time for forgiving, a time to heal old wounds and restore relationships that have gone awry.
Christmas is a time to eliminate arrogance and provocation, to subdue criticism, to practice patience, and to de-emphasize differences among people. We have the incentive to fellowship to all persons, those who are and those who are not of our faith, observing the command God had the prophet Moses give to the children of Israel:
âIf a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
âBut the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.â11
Christmas is a time to remember that we are all children of a Father in Heaven who gave His Only Begotten Son that all would be redeemed from death and who has offered the blessings of salvation and exaltation to all mankind on the same conditions.
As followers of Christ, we ought to be the friendliest and most considerate of all people anywhere. We should teach our children to be kind and considerate of everyone. We should, of course, avoid the kinds of associations and activities that compromise our conduct or dilute our faith and worship. But that should not keep us from cooperative efforts with people of every persuasionâbelievers and nonbelievers.
A few decades ago, President Thomas S. Monson spoke these words:
âThe shepherds of old sought Jesus the child. But we seek Jesus the Christ, our Older Brother, our Mediator with the Father, our Redeemer, the Author of our salvation; he who was in the beginning with the Father; he who took upon himself the sins of the world and so willingly died that we might forever live. This is the Jesus whom we seek.â12
Latter-day Saints are uniquely qualified to celebrate the saving message of Jesus Christ throughout the year. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost, whose mission is to testify of the Father and the Son.13 We are children of a Father in Heaven who declared, âThis is my work and my gloryâto bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.â14 And the prophets of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the Lord God of Israel, have declared His gospel:
âHe came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
âThat through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;
âWho glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands.â15
Therefore, in His restored Church we declare âthat through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.â16 I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Gordon B. Hinckley, The True Meaning of Christmas, (1992), 1.
1.Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let evâry heart prepare him room, And Saints and angels sing, And Saints and angels sing, And Saints, and Saints and angels sing.
Verse
2.Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns, And Saints their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
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3.No more will sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; Heâll come and make the blessings flow Far as the curse was found, Far as the curse was found, Far as, far as the curse was found.
Verse
4.Rejoice! Rejoice in the Most High, While Israel spreads abroad Like stars that glitter in the sky, And ever worship God, And ever worship God, And ever, and ever worship God.
Text:Isaac Watts, 1674â1748; alt. by William W. Phelps, 1792â1872
I was recently assigned to dedicate a portion of historic Nauvoo. As part of the assignment, I was able to visit Liberty Jail in Missouri. As I viewed the jail, I contemplated the events that make it such a significant part of Church history. The lives of the Saints were threatened as the result of an extermination order issued by the governor of Missouri. In addition, the Prophet Joseph and a few choice associates had been unjustly imprisoned in Liberty Jail. One of the reasons for the violent opposition to our members was most of them were opposed to slavery. This intense persecution of Joseph Smith and his followers constitutes an extreme example of the unrighteous exercise of agency that can impact righteous people. Josephâs time in Liberty Jail demonstrates that adversity is not evidence of the Lordâs disfavor nor a withdrawal of His blessings.
I was deeply moved as I read what the Prophet Joseph Smith declared as he was confined in Liberty Jail: âO God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?â Joseph inquired how long the Lordâs people would âsuffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions.â
As I stood in Liberty Jail, I was deeply touched as I read the Lordâs answer: âMy son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.â It is clear that opposition can refine us for an eternal, celestial destiny.
The Saviorâs precious words âMy son, peace be unto thy soulâ resonate with me personally and have great significance for our day. They remind me of His teachings to His disciples during His mortal ministry.
Prior to Christâs suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, He commanded His Apostles to âlove one another; as I have loved youâ and subsequently comforted them with these words: âPeace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.â
One of the most cherished titles of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is âPrince of Peace.â Ultimately His kingdom will be established including peace and love. We look forward to the millennial reign of the Messiah.
Notwithstanding this vision of the millennial reign, we know that world peace and harmony are not prevalent in our day. In my lifetime, I have never seen a greater lack of civility. We are bombarded with angry, contentious language and provocative, devastating actions that destroy peace and tranquility.
Peace in the world is not promised or assured until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Savior instructed His Apostles that His earthly mission would not achieve universal peace. He taught, âThink not that I am come to send peace on earth.â Universal peace was not part of the Saviorâs initial mortal ministry. Universal peace does not exist today.
However, personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention, and division that blight and corrupt our world today. It has never been more important to seek personal peace. A beautiful and beloved new hymn, written for todayâs youth by Brother Nik Day, titled âPeace in Christâ declares, âWhen thereâs no peace on earth, there is peace in Christ.â We were blessed to have this hymn just before the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
This hymn reflects in a beautiful fashion the aspiration for peace and appropriately emphasizes that peace is anchored in the life and mission of Jesus Christ. President Joseph F. Smith declared, âThere never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love ⊠until mankind will receive Godâs truth and Godâs message ⊠and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine.â
While we will never retreat from efforts to achieve universal peace, we have been assured that we can have personal peace, as Christ teaches. This principle is set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants: âBut learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.â
What are some of the âworks of righteousnessâ that will help us deal with disputations and lessen contention and find peace in this world? All of Christâs teachings point in this direction. I will mention a few which I believe are particularly important.
President George Albert Smith became President of the Church in 1945. He had been known during his years as an Apostle as a peace-loving leader. In the preceding 15 years before he became President, the challenges and trials of a massive worldwide depression, followed by the death and destruction of World War II, had been anything but peaceful.
At the conclusion of World War II, during his first general conference as President in October 1945, President Smith reminded the Saints of the Saviorâs invitation to love their neighbors and forgive their enemies and then taught, âThat is the spirit all Latter-day Saints should seek to possess if they hope some day to stand in his presence and receive at his hands a glorious welcome home.â
The Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Galatians, sets forth the dichotomy between works of righteousness that qualify us to inherit the kingdom of God and works that can, without repentance, disqualify us. Among those that qualify us are the fruits of the Spirit: âlove, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, [and] temperance.â Paul also includes bearing one anotherâs burdens and being not weary in well-doing. Among those works that are not righteous he includes hatred, wrath, and strife.
One of the great lessons in the Old Testament period relates to Father Abraham. Abraham and Lot, his nephew, were wealthy but found they could not dwell together. To eliminate strife, Abraham allowed Lot to choose the land he wanted. Lot chose the plain of Jordan, which was both well watered and beautiful. Abraham took the less fertile plain of Mamre. The scriptures read that Abraham then pitched his tent and built âan altar unto the Lord.â Lot, on the other hand, âpitched his tent toward Sodom.â To have peaceful relationships, the lesson is clear: we should be willing to compromise and eliminate strife with respect to matters that do not involve righteousness. As King Benjamin taught, âYe will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably.â But on conduct relating to righteousness and doctrinal imperatives, we need to remain firm and steadfast.
If we want to have the peace which is the reward of the works of righteousness, we will not pitch our tents toward the world. We will pitch our tents toward the temple.
Peace and agency are intertwined as essential elements of the plan of salvation. As described in the Gospel Topics article âAgency and Accountability,â âAgency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves.â Thus, agency is at the heart of the personal growth and experience that bless us as we follow the Savior.
Agency was a principal issue in the premortal Council in Heaven and the conflict between those who chose to follow Christ and the followers of Satan. Letting go of pride and control and choosing the Savior would allow us to have His light and His peace. But personal peace would be challenged when people exercised their agency in harmful and hurtful ways.
I am confident that the peaceful assurance we felt in our hearts was strengthened by the knowledge we had of what the Savior of the world would accomplish in our behalf. This is beautifully set forth in Preach My Gospel: âAs we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.â
We are children of God and part of His family. We are also part of the family into which we are born. The institution of the family is the foundation for both happiness and peace. President Russell M. Nelson has taught usâand during this pandemic we have learnedâthat the home-centered, Church-supported religious observance can âunleash the power of families ⊠to transform [our] home[s] into a sanctuary of faith.â If we have this religious observance in our homes, we will also have the Saviorâs peace. We are aware that many of you do not have the blessings of righteous homes and contend regularly with those who choose unrighteousness. The Savior can provide protection and peace to guide you ultimately to safety and shelter from lifeâs storms.
I assure you that the joy, love, and fulfillment experienced in loving, righteous families produce both peace and happiness. Love and kindness are at the center of having Zion in our hearts and homes.
Our peace is greatly enhanced when we follow the Lordâs prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. We will shortly have an opportunity to hear from him. He was prepared from the foundations of the world for this calling. His personal preparation has been most remarkable.
He has taught us that we can âfeel enduring peace and joy, even during turbulent times,â as we strive to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. He has counseled us to ârepent dailyâ to receive the Lordâs âcleansing, healing, and strengthening power.â I am a personal witness that revelation has been received and continues to be received from heaven by our beloved prophet.
While we honor and sustain him as our prophet, we worship our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are ministered to by the Holy Ghost.
I testify and provide my personal apostolic witness that Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world, leads and guides His restored Church. His life and atoning mission are the true source of peace. He is the Prince of Peace. I bear my sure and solemn witness that He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Isaiah 9:6; 2Â Nephi 19:6. The Savior, in His Beatitudes, also taught, âBlessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of Godâ (Matthew 5:9).
See Doctrine and Covenants 1:35. President Wilford Woodruff declared this in 1894 and again in 1896 (see The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 251â52; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79â82; Ezra Taft Benson, âThe Power of the Word,â Ensign, May 1986, 79â80; Dallin H. Oaks, âPreparation for the Second Coming,â Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 9).
We are âfree to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all menâ (2Â Nephi 2:27). Agency also allows the devastating evil choices of others to cause pain and suffering and sometimes even death. The scriptures make it clear that the Lord God gave agency so that man could choose good or evil (see 2Â Nephi 2:16).
I was fortunate to grow up in a home where peace prevailed. This was primarily due to the influence of our mother, who was a faithful member of the Church. My father was outstanding in every way but was less active. Mother honored our father and avoided contention. She taught us as children to pray and attend church. She also taught us to love and serve each other (see Mosiah 4:14â15). Growing up in such a home provided peace and has been a great blessing in my life.
Russell M. Nelson graduated from the University of Utah Medical School first in his class at age 22. He had long desired to be a surgeon and received the best training available at major medical institutions. He faithfully fulfilled military commitments in Korea and Japan. For many years he was a pioneer in open-heart surgery and was recognized worldwide. As remarkable as this preparation was to bless people all over the world with his medical skills, President Nelsonâs spiritual preparation was even more important. He is the father of a large family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He has faithfully served his family and Church throughout his life.
See Russell M. Nelson, âOpening Message,â Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 6; see also Russell M. Nelson, âJoy and Spiritual Survival,â Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 81â84.
1.Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise; Join the triumph of the skies; With thâangelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem!
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2.Hail the heavân-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risân with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Chorus
Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King!
1.Stars were gleaming, shepherds dreaming; And the night was dark and chill. Angelsâ story rang with glory; Shepherds heard it on the hill. Ah, that singing! Hear it ringing, Earthward winging, Christmas bringing! Hearken! We can hear it still!
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2.See the clearness and the nearness Of the blessed Christmas star, Leading, guiding; wise men riding Through the desert dark and far. Lovely showing, shining, growing, Onward going, gleaming, glowing, Leading still, our Christmas star!
Music:Polish carol; arr. by Darwin Wolford, b. 1936
The principles of teaching in the Saviorâs way can apply to any teaching opportunityâat home, at church, and elsewhere. However, every opportunity comes with its own unique circumstances. This section gives additional suggestions that are specific to various learners and teaching settings.
The Home Is the Best Place for Teaching and Learning the Gospel
President Russell M. Nelson has taught that the home should be the âcenter of gospel learningâ (âBecoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints,â Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 113). The teaching that happens at church or in seminary is valuable and needed, but itâs meant to support the teaching that happens at home. The main settingâand the best settingâfor gospel learning, for both ourselves and our families, is the home.
But that doesnât mean that good gospel learning happens automatically at home; it takes conscientious effort. President Nelson has suggested that you might need to âtransformâ or âremodel your homeâânot necessarily by tearing down walls or adding new flooring but perhaps by evaluating the overall spirit in your home, including your contribution to that spirit (âBecoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints,â 113). For example, consider the music, videos, and other media in your home; the pictures on the walls; and the way the members of your family speak to and treat each other. Do these things invite the influence of the Holy Ghost? Do you set aside time for learning the gospel, individually and as a family? Do family members feel loved, safe, and close to God when they are in your home?
You may not feel that you have control over the spiritual environment in your home. If thatâs the case, be the best influence you can and ask the Lord for help. He will honor your righteous efforts. When you try to teach and learn the gospel, even if you donât see desired results right away, you are succeeding.
Learning at Home Is Founded on Relationships
âLove those you teachâ applies to all settings for gospel teaching, but in the home, love ought to come most naturally and be felt most deeply. Even if your home is less than ideal, it is meant to be the center of gospel teaching because thatâs where our most lasting relationships are built. Teachers outside the home may have more experience or training as teachers, but they can never duplicate the potential for loving, eternal relationships that exists at home. So nurture those relationships. Spend the time and effort necessary to listen to your family members and build trust and understanding with them. This will help create a firm foundation for your efforts to teach and learn the gospel at home.
Learning at Home Can Be Planned but Also Spontaneous
Most Church classes happen once a week, with a scheduled beginning and end, but this is not always the case at home. You may have a scheduled home evening lesson or family scripture study, but teaching opportunities in the family frequently occur in informal, everyday momentsâwhile eating a meal, doing chores, playing a game, traveling to work or school, reading a book, or watching a movie together. A rainstorm can be a chance to talk about how the Savior shelters us from spiritual storms. A teenager with a difficult decision to make may be ready to learn about personal revelation. A child who is frightened may benefit from your testimony about the Comforter. Children who misbehave or mistreat each other can be taught about repentance and forgiveness.
Because such moments are unplanned, you canât prepare for them the way you would prepare for a traditional lesson. However, you can prepare yourself by being sensitive to the Spirit and striving to âbe ready alwaysâ (1Â Peter 3:15). Any moment may become a teaching or learning moment.
Learning at Home Consists of Small, Simple, Consistent Efforts
Parents sometimes get discouraged when their attempts to teach the gospel at home donât seem to be succeeding. Taken individually, a single home evening, scripture study session, or gospel conversation may not seem like it is accomplishing much. But the accumulation of small, simple efforts, repeated consistently over time, can be more powerful and strengthening than an occasional monumental moment or landmark lesson. âAll things must come to pass in their time,â the Lord has said. âWherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is greatâ (Doctrine and Covenants 64:32â33; see also Alma 37:6â7). So donât give up, and donât worry about accomplishing something grand every time. Just be consistent in your efforts.
In the Home, Learning and Living Are Inseparable
The gospel takes on immediate relevance in the home. There the people with whom you are learning the gospel are the people with whom you will live itâevery day. In fact, much of the time, living the gospel is how we learn the gospel. So as you learn and teach the gospel at home, look for ways to connect what you are learning with what you are doing. In your home, let the gospel be something you strive to live by, not just something you talk about.
Teaching opportunities in the family frequently occur in informal, everyday moments.
Children Need Variety
All children are different, and as they develop, their needs will change. Varying your teaching methods will help you meet their diverse needs. For example, consider using the following:
Stories. Stories help children see how the gospel applies to everyday life. Use stories from the scriptures, from your own life, from your family history, or from Church magazines, especially stories about the Savior. Plan ways to involve children in the storyâby holding pictures, repeating phrases, or acting out parts.
Visual aids. Pictures, videos, and objects can help children understand and remember gospel principles. Many pictures and videos can be found in the Media Library on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Music. Hymns and other sacred songs can help children feel Godâs love, feel the Spirit, and learn gospel truths. The melodies, rhythms, and simple rhymes can help children remember gospel truths for years to come. As you sing with children, help them discover and understand the principles taught in the songs.
Most children learn best when multiple senses are involved. Find ways to help children use their senses of sight, hearing, and touch as they learn. In some situations, you may even find ways to include their senses of smell and taste!
Children Are Creative
When you invite children to draw, build, color, or write something related to a gospel principle, you help them better understand the principle and you give them a tangible reminder of what they have learned. They can also use what they have created to share what they learned with others. Each issue of the Friend magazine includes creative activities for children.
Children Are Curious
When children ask questions, see them as opportunities, not as distractions. Childrenâs questions are an indication that they are ready to learn, and their questions give you valuable insights into what they are thinking and feeling. Help them see that the answers to their spiritual questions can be found in the scriptures and the words of living prophets.
Children Need Love Even When They Are Disruptive
Sometimes a child acts in ways that disrupt the learning of others. Most behavioral disruptions grow out of an unmet need. When this happens, be patient, loving, and understanding about the challenges the child may be facing. He or she may just need more opportunities to participate in the lesson in positive waysâfor example, by holding a picture, drawing something, or reading a scripture.
If a child continues to be disruptive, it may be helpful to speak to him or her individually. In a spirit of love and patience, explain your expectations and your confidence that he or she can meet them. Praise the child when he or she makes better choices.
Children Have Much to Share
When children learn something new, they naturally want to share it with others. Encourage this desire by giving children opportunities to teach gospel principles to each other, their family members, and their friends. Also ask them to share with you their thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the principles you are teaching. You will find that they have insights that are simple, pure, and powerful.
Children Can Feel the Spirit but May Need Help Recognizing His Influence
Even children who have not yet received the gift of the Holy Ghost can feel His influence, especially when they are learning about Jesus Christ and His gospel. When they make righteous choices, they can feel the Saviorâs approval through the Spirit. Teach children about the different ways the Spirit communicates with us. Help them recognize His voice as He speaks to them. This will help them develop a habit of seeking and acting on personal revelation throughout their lives.
Youth Have Great Potential
Youth have the potential to do remarkable things in the Lordâs service. Many experiences recorded in the scriptures illustrate that God has confidence in the spiritual abilities of young people. If the youth sense that you trust them, their confidence in their divine potential will grow and they will amaze you with what they can accomplish. Lovingly help them see what Heavenly Father knows they can become. Follow the Saviorâs example by continuing to love and encourage them, patiently working with them, and never giving up on them.
Youth Are Learning about Themselves
The youth you teach are forming the foundations of their testimony. They are in the process of discovering their beliefs and convictions. They are making decisions that will affect the course of their lives. To survive spiritually in these perilous times and to fulfill the Lordâs mission for them, the youth you teach will need to know how to find strength during their trials, answers to their questions, and courage to âstand as witnesses of Godâ (Mosiah 18:9).
Youth have a growing desire to learn things by reasoning and experience rather than by simply being told things. This means that teaching youth will require good listening skills. When youth feel understood, they will feel more open to counsel and guidance. Assure them that the Lord knows them and will help them as they wrestle with questions and trials. They can exercise their faith in Him by developing a daily habit of prayer and scripture study and by serving others. Encouraging youth to participate in Church classes and study on their own can help them have personal experiences that will build their testimony of their divine heritage.
Many Youth Are Comfortable Using Technology
If the youth you teach have their own electronic devices, remember that these devices are tools to enhance learning. Teach them how to use their electronic scriptures and other resources found in the Gospel Library. You can also send messages and links to youth to help them prepare for upcoming lessons.
Youth need to understand what Heavenly Father knows they can become.
Adults Can Take Responsibility for Their Learning
Adult learners are capable of acting for themselves in gospel learning settings (see 2Â Nephi 2:26). Invite them to prepare for gospel discussions by studying something ahead of time, and encourage them to share what they are learning by the Spirit. You might also ask them which gospel principles they would like to spend time learning about together.
Adults Draw on Their Experiences When Learning
Job stated, âWith the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understandingâ (Job 12:12). Generally, wisdom and spiritual understanding come after years of experience. As you teach adults, invite them to share experiences that have built their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This will give them opportunities to testify about how they have come to know that the gospel principles they are studying are true. Sharing experiences will also build relationships between those you teach, helping âall ⊠be edified of allâ (Doctrine and Covenants 88:122).
Adults Seek Practical Application
The adults you teach may have many roles and responsibilities in their professions, communities, Church callings, and families. When they study the gospel, they are often thinking about how what they are learning can help them in those roles. Invite them to see how the word of God is relevant to their unique circumstances. You can do this by asking them how gospel principles are meaningful and applicable to their lives.
Adults Can Think in Complex Ways
Because of their experience and knowledge, adults know that there are not always easy answers to gospel questions. They can appreciate that a scripture passage may have multiple meanings, and they can apply a gospel principle to a variety of life situations. Invite them to ponder how gospel principles relate to each other and to what is happening in their lives. Encourage participation and discussion so that they can learn from each otherâs unique perspectives.
Adults can share many experiences that have built their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Help Each Person Grow and Progress
Joseph Smith taught, âAll the minds and spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargementâ (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 210). Assume that all Godâs children are capable of increasing in knowledge and progressing. Ask the Lord to help you know how to help each person.
Learn about Specific Needs
Talk to learners or their parents or caregivers. Find out how each individual best learns and what strategies are most helpful. You could also counsel with other leaders and teachers who have experience and insights to share. For helpful teaching strategies, see disabilities.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Create a Positive Atmosphere
Create a positive atmosphere where everyone feels safe and loved. Do not assume that all learners with disabilities are the same, and treat each person with love and respect. Encourage others to be kind and accepting.
Ensure That All Can Participate
Small changes can be made to activities to ensure that all learners can learn, including those with physical limitations or learning difficulties. For instance, if an activity suggests showing a picture, you could sing a related song instead to include learners with visual impairments.
Establish Consistent Routines and Structure
One way to establish a routine is to create a poster with a schedule. Your schedule might include prayers, teaching time, and activity time. Following a schedule can help reduce feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for some learners.
Understand Why Challenging Behaviors Happen
Learn about disabilities or circumstances that may influence a person to act inappropriately. Pay careful attention to what is happening when challenging behaviors arise. Prayerfully consider how to modify the situation in order to better support learners.
Teachers can create a positive learning environment where everyone feels accepted and loved.
Become Familiar with Technology
Before your class or meeting, spend some time getting familiar with the technology youâll be using. Explore some of its features, such as how to share videos or pictures. Consider holding a âtestâ meeting with family members or friends.
Most wards and stakes have a technology specialist. You might also know others who have experience with virtual meetings. Ask for their advice or guidance.
Eliminate Potential Distractions
If possible, find a quiet place to attend your meeting. Noises in the background can be distracting. Encourage learners to do the same or to keep their microphones muted if theyâre not speaking.
Use the Camera
If possible, keep your camera on so that learners can see your face. Invite (but donât require) learners to turn their cameras on too. This can help create a spirit of unity and mutual support.
Use the Virtual Chat Feature
Many virtual meeting programs allow participants to type questions or comments in a chat window. Some also allow participants to virtually raise their hands. Let learners know about these features. You may want to assign someone to watch for raised hands or comments in the chat so that you can focus your attention on leading the discussion.
Find Ways to Involve Learners
Virtual learning settings sometimes make it hard for people to be seen and heard. Make a conscious effort to involve those who want to be involved. Sometimes this means creating smaller groups (for example, by breaking up a large Sunday School class). Sometimes it means asking learners beforehand to participate in a specific way. Donât let the limitations of technology cause you to forget about or overlook people who are eager and willing to learn.
1.Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
Verse
2.The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes; But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Verse
3.Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.
Chorus
Asleep, (Asleep,) asleep, (asleep,) asleep, the Savior in a stall! Asleep, (Asleep,) asleep, (asleep,) asleep, the Lord of all.
1.O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light. The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.
Verse
2.For Christ is born of Mary, And, gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondâring love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth.
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3.How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is givân! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heavân. No ear may hear his coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in.
You and your children might have some Christmas decorations you can use to start a conversation about Jesus Christ. Maybe you could talk about how a Christmas star, lights, or a gift reminds us of the Savior. Then you could look in one or more of the following scriptures for something that could symbolize Jesus Christ: Genesis 22:8; Numbers 24:17; Psalms 23:1; 27:1. Maybe your children could hold up a picture or decoration that goes with each verse as they read it. How is Jesus like a lamb, star, shepherd, or light? Consider singing a Christmas song together, like âStars Were Gleamingâ (Childrenâs Songbook, 37).
Your children could also look at the picture at the end of this outline as you read Isaiah 9:6 to them. Ask your children to point to the baby Jesus when they hear the phrase âa child is born.â Share your testimony that prophets in the Old Testament knew that Jesus would be born.
As you prepare to study the life of Jesus Christ in the New Testament next year, consider reviewing with your children what they have learned about Him this year in the Old Testament. You might review the outlines in this resource and any personal study notes to help you remember what youâve learned. Younger children might benefit from looking through Old Testament Stories or the pictures in Come, Follow Me. What prophecies or stories stood out? What have we learned about the Savior?
Christmas traditions can point to Jesus Christ.
Israelite families had traditions, such as the Passover and other feasts, that were meant to point their hearts and minds to the Lord (see Exodus 12). What traditions do you and your children have at Christmastime that help you focus on Jesus Christ? What traditions do you know about from your family history? You might consider discussing with your children some traditions you want to start. Some ideas might include serving someone in need, choosing something you will offer as a âgiftâ to the Savior, inviting a friend to watch the First Presidencyâs Christmas devotional with you (broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org), writing your own Christmas song, or finding a creative way to share the message of Christâs birth.
In the home, learning and living are inseparable. âThe gospel takes on immediate relevance in the home. There the people with whom you are learning the gospel are the people with whom you will live itâevery day. In fact, much of the time, living the gospel is how we learn the gospel. So as you learn and teach the gospel at home, look for ways to connect what you are learning with what you are doing. In your home, let the gospel be something you strive to live by, not just something you talk aboutâ (Teaching in the Saviorâs Way, 31).
Heavenly Father gave me the gift of His Son to be my Savior.
How can you help your children feel the reverence and joy of Christâs birth? You might watch the video âThe Christ Childâ (Gospel Library) or read together Matthew 1:18â25; 2:1â12; Luke 1:26â38; 2:1â20. Each child could choose a person from the video or scripture account and share how that person felt about the Savior. Then you could share with each other your own feelings about Him.
Perhaps you and your children could talk about gifts youâve given or received over the years that have brought joy. Then you could read Isaiah 25:9 together and talk about why you rejoice that Heavenly Father sent us a Savior. To help your children better understand Jesus Christâs role as our Savior, invite them to read Isaiah 25:8â9; 53:3â5; and Hosea 13:14. What do these scriptures teach us about how the Lord saves us?
You could also sing a Christmas song together, such as âAway in a Mangerâ (Childrenâs Songbook, 42â43) or âO Little Town of Bethlehemâ (Hymns, no. 208). Help your children find phrases in the song that help them know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them.
For more, see this monthâs issue of the Friend magazine.
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