On the Twelfth Day of Christmas Stories

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...
Luke 2 : 1-21

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nd it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

      (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

      And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

      And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David: )

      To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

      And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

      And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

      And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

      And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

      And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

      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.

      And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

      Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

      And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

      And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

      And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

        And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

      But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

      And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

      And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

3 Nephi 1 : 4-21

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nd it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.

      But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.

      And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.

      And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass.

      But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.

      Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

      Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.

      And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

      And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord, all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

      Lift up your head and 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 fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

      Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of  the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh.  And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

      And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

      And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

      And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

      For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.

      And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day.  And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

      And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

We love the stories of Christmas!  May we all feel the joy of Christmas as the Christ child would want  us to feel it.  We pray that you will have love,

peace, and happiness in your home this holiday season,

and throughout the coming year.