“Finding the Real Joy of Christmas through the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Dec. 2020.
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Finding the Real Joy of Christmas through the Book of Mormon
The Christmas story is woven throughout the chapters of this sacred book.
President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) taught that “we find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the focus of the season.”1
Finishing up our study of the Book of Mormon this year can help us do just that. President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015), President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught: “The central purpose of the Book of Mormon is its testament of Jesus Christ. Of more than 6,000 verses in the Book of Mormon, far more than half refer directly to Him.”2
Particular passages of the book focus on Him in a powerful way. For example, Mosiah 3 contains an angel’s words to King Benjamin. The angel begins his message by saying something similar to what an angel declared to shepherds in Bethlehem on the night of the Savior’s birth: “Behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy” (Mosiah 3:3). He then taught King Benjamin not only about the future coming of Jesus Christ into the world but also why His coming would be so important.3
My favorite chapter from the Book of Mormon to study at Christmastime is 1 Nephi 11. Nephi wanted to understand his father Lehi’s vision of the tree of life. Because of his righteous desire and faith, Nephi was shown the same tree his father had seen in the vision. He described it as “exceeding of all beauty” (1 Nephi 11:8). He could tell just by looking at this tree that it was “precious above all” (1 Nephi 11:9).
Nephi asked the Spirit what the tree represented. In response, the Spirit invited Nephi to “Look!” and witness the story of the Savior’s birth. He first saw in the city of Nazareth a beautiful virgin, who was “the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh” (1 Nephi 11:18). The next time Nephi saw her, Mary was holding a child in her arms. The angel said: “Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?” (1 Nephi 11:21). And Nephi concluded that the tree represents “the love of God” (1 Nephi 11:22). Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also taught that it symbolizes the Savior Jesus Christ.4
It’s beautiful to think about Nephi learning about the meaning of the tree by seeing the Christ child in His mortal mother’s arms. Nephi knew that the birth of the Savior was one of the greatest evidences of God’s love for the rest of His children. As recorded in the Bible, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Nephi then declared that what the tree represents “is the most desirable above all things” (1 Nephi 11:22). The angel agreed: “Yea, and the most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:23).
These are just a few of the many stories and testimonies of the Savior woven throughout the Book of Mormon. Especially during Christmastime, we can read them and remember that the birth of Jesus Christ exemplifies the love of God—a love that is “the most joyous to the soul.” Let’s finish the year by studying the Book of Mormon, rejoicing in God’s love, and expressing gratitude for the gift of His Only Begotten Son. As we focus on the Savior during this wonderful time of year, we can more abundantly share His Spirit with others.