An homage to all the details that made Christ’s birth as miraculous and glorious as it was. By miracle after miracle, little Baby Jesus was brought from heaven into this world. 33 years later He would create the way for every soul on earth to return to that heaven. In a town called Nazareth, a woman named Mary, being of Jewish descent, knew that some woman would become the mother of Christ—but she never imagined that woman being her. But when a heavenly messenger named Gabriel descended, he told her she was highly favored and said, “Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus.” Mary felt troubled. How could it be that the Light of the World be delivered from her own womb?

Gabriel ended his visit with a concise and profound statement: “With God nothing shall be impossible.” And with perfect faith—still not knowing how these events would unfold—the pure woman accepted God’s will for her, and accepted her position as the Mother of Christ.Mary went to visit and confide in her cousin Elizabeth, who found herself in a similarly remarkable situation. After about three months, Mary returned to Nazareth. Joseph was troubled about the sudden pregnancy of his future wife. But he was visited by an angel in a dream who testified that her baby was of the Holy Ghost. Joseph faithfully accepted his position as husband to the mother of Jesus. Deep into Mary’s pregnancy, a tax decree went out from Rome, and they were required to take a long journey to Bethlehem.

They would soon arrive in the crowded little Bethlehem, and be forced to settle for meager accommodations, a barn-like, bottom-floor cave.“Attempts have been made to identify the star” that appeared in the sky that night, but ultimately it could only mean one thing: the Savior of the world was coming. This was a long awaited sign to both the divided Nephites and Lamanites, and to the people of Jerusalem. A group of unsuspecting shepherds received this message by an angel, and then a multitude of heavenly hosts, singing, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men.” Acting on remarkable faith, the shepherds hurried to find the Babe, for in their hearts they knew the Savior they had been waiting for had come.And so there they were, in their makeshift delivery room, about to give birth to the Son of God: King of Kings, Alpha and Omega, Light of the World, Prince of Peace, and Savior of the world.

“And she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger. ”Following the birth, those devoted shepherds told the parents of the promise of peace on earth they had heard and seen. They then returned to their flocks, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.”Mary took all of this in and pondered it in her heart. The divine journey her Son would take was “still a mystery to that pure mother and wife.”Rumors reached King Herod, and wise men were sent to search for the child. When they found that holy family, they “fell down and worshipped Him,” offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.The wise men, not knowing the ill intentions of King Herod, diverted from their original plan and chose not to return to the king after being warned in a dream.In accordance with Jewish custom, Jesus was presented at the temple, where Simeon and Anna testified of the greatness of that baby boy who would save us all.