“Christmas Nativity Countdown,” For the Strength of Youth, Dec. 2023.
Christmas Nativity Countdown
Cut out your own nativity!
For the last 10 days leading up to Christmas, cut out one piece each day. Learn more about the first Christmas by reading the information and scriptures on the back. By Christmas Day, you’ll have the full set.
You could also think about sharing the nativity with a friend, giving it to them piece by piece or all together.
December 16: Mary
Luke 1:26–38; Alma 7:10: The angel Gabriel told Mary, who was a virgin, that she would be the mother of the Savior. She trusted in the Lord and accepted His will.
December 17: Joseph
Matthew 1:18–25; 2:13–15: Joseph was a “just man” who protected and cared for Mary and Jesus.
December 18: Manger
Luke 2:1–7: A manger is a box that holds food for animals. On the night of Jesus’s birth, Mary “laid [the Savior] in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
December 19: Animals
Because the Savior was laid in a manger, there may have been animals such as donkeys, dogs, sheep, camels, and oxen nearby.
December 20: Angel
Luke 2:8–14: An angel declared the news of the Savior’s birth to shepherds guarding their flocks.
December 21: Shepherds
Luke 2:15–20: After receiving the news of the Savior’s birth, the shepherds “came with haste” to see the Savior and then shared the good news with others.
December 22: Star
3 Nephi 1:13–21: The night of Christ’s birth, a new star appeared in the sky.
December 23: Wise Man
Matthew 2:1–8: Though we often think of “three” wise men, we actually don’t know how many there were. They followed the new star to Judaea and asked Herod where the Savior would be.
December 24: Wise Man
Matthew 2:9–11: The Wise Men continued to follow the star until they met the Savior, but they did not arrive the night He was born. Jesus was a “young child” when they arrived with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
December 25: Baby Jesus
Isaiah 9:6: The real reason we celebrate Christmas is the Savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate His birth, though we also remember that He suffered and died that each of us may live again.