Two Witnesses of Jesus’ Birth

By Laurel Rohlfing

You can do this program with your family or friends for Christmas. As you tell the story, show the scenes, using a shadow box and the silhouettes pictured here. Or make living scenes by dressing like the characters in the program.

Instructions for shadow box and silhouette figures: Stretch and tack muslin or a piece of unpatterned bed sheet onto a picture frame. Or two people could hold a sheet tightly between them. Mount the silhouettes on cardboard and cut out. Using hot glue or clay, attach small dowels at right angles to the backs of the silhouettes. Light the fabric from behind and from the sides with a clip-on light or an overhead or a slide projector. The audience will see the silhouettes as soon as they touch the fabric.

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney

Optional: Silhouette figures could be enlarged.

Song: “Ring Out the Bells” (Sing with Me, F-22)

Child: Christmas is a happy time,
A time of joy and mirth,
When people all throughout the world
Proclaim the Savior’s birth.

[Silhouette figure: Babe in manger]

Child: Many years before He came
The prophets did foretell
That Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
Would come on earth to dwell.

[Silhouette figures: Add Bible and Book of Mormon]

Child: The Bible tells of Jesus’ birth;
The Book of Mormon, too—
Two witnesses that Christ was born,
And we know that they are true.

Child: Both scriptures tell that Jesus Christ
Would be the Baby’s name.
Although the books are different,
The truth is just the same.

[Silhouette figures: Nephi, Babe in manger]

Narrator 1: In the Book of Mormon the prophet Nephi testifies: “For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and … his name shall be Jesus Christ” (2 Ne. 25:19).

[Silhouette figures: Angel, Joseph]

Narrator 2: In the Bible an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph, Mary’s husband, and said: “[Mary] shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS” (Matt. 1:21).

Song: “Christmas Cradle Song” (Sing with Me, F-5)

[Silhouette figures: Mary, Babe in manger]

Child: The mother of our Savior was
A virgin, pure and fair.
Her baby was the Son of God
The scriptures both declare.

[Silhouette figures: Isaiah, Mary, Babe in manger, angel]

Narrator 2: In the Bible we learn from the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son” (Isa. 7:14). And an angel told Mary: “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

[Silhouette figures: Nephi, Mary, Babe in manger]

Narrator 1: The prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon tells us: “I beheld a virgin, and she was … most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. … [And she was] the mother of the Son of God.” (1 Ne. 11:13, 15, 18.)

Song: “Who Is the Child?” (More Songs for Children, page 64)

Child: The scriptures testify that signs
Would tell of Jesus’ birth.
The people knew when they appeared
That Christ would come to earth.

[Silhouette figures: Shepherds, sheep, angel]

Narrator 2: In Luke we read: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. … And the angel said unto them, … “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8, 10–12.)

[Silhouette figures: Star, Wise Men on camels]

Narrator 2: In Matthew we read about the sign of the star: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, … behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. … And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Matt. 2:1–2, 9–10.)

[Silhouette figures: Samuel on city wall; sun rising, setting, and rising again; star]

Narrator 1: In the Book of Mormon, Samuel the Lamanite stood upon the city wall and proclaimed: “And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; … there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; … for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; … nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born. And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.’ (Hel. 14:3–5.)

Song: First verse of “Samuel the Lamanite” (Friend, December 1988, page 32.)

[Silhouette figure: Book of Mormon]

Narrator 1: In the Book of Mormon, we read that the night before His birth, the voice of the Savior declared: “Be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets” (3 Ne. 1:13).

[Silhouette figures: angels]

Child: The angels sang of peace on earth;
They sang o’er Bethlehem.
And in the Book of Mormon
There was peace, good will toward men.

[Silhouette figures: Bible, Book of Mormon, entire manger scene]

Child: Yes, the Bible tells of Jesus’ birth,
The Book of Mormon, too—
Two witnesses that Christ was born,
And we know that they are true.

Song: “Joy to the World” (Hymns, no. 201.)

Sharing Time Ideas

Adapt program to fit number of children in your Primary. Have children prepare silhouette figures, then give program for each other. Younger children could tell Christmas story in their own words, using shadow box and silhouette figures.
Divide group into two teams—one using Bible; other, Book of Mormon. Have children look up scriptures listed in program to answer questions such as: “What signs were given of Savior’s birth?” “Who revealed that name of Son of God was to be Jesus Christ?” Class members could compete in this.
Make roller box (see Primary Sharing Time Resource Manual, page 29), and attach silhouettes to roll of paper. This could be done as a group or individually.
Children could make three-dimensional diorama by arranging silhouettes in small box.
Tell or dramatize “The Christmas Story” (Friend, December 1985, page 40) or “The Day There Was No Night” (Friend, December 1978, page 10.)
Additional songs from approved resources could supplement program. You might consider “Mary’s Lullaby to the Infant King” (Sing with Me, F-10), “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” (Hymns, no. 202), “Christmas in Zarahemla” (Friend, December 1985, page 29), and “First Christmas in America” (Friend, December 1978, page 20.)