“Prophecies of Jesus Christ,” Friend, December 2018
From the First Presidency
Prophecies of Jesus Christ
By President Dallin H. Oaks
First Counselor in the First Presidency
Adapted from the 2016 First Presidency Christmas Devotional.
Illustrations by Shawna JC Tenney and Bradley Clark
At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. There were many prophecies of His birth.
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An angel told Mary, “Thou shalt … bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31).
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The prophet Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
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Lehi taught about “a Savior of the world” (1 Nephi 10:4).
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The prophet Abinadi said, “Did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah and that God should redeem his people?” (Mosiah 13:33).
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An angel showed Nephi a vision of Mary with baby Jesus. “And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” (1 Nephi 11:21).
I pray we will remember that Christmas is not just a season of “greetings” or “happy holidays.” It is a celebration of the birth of the Son of God. It is a time to remember His teachings and His Atonement.