Heavenly Signs Signify Savior’S Birth

Event 150

Reference: 3 Ne. 1:4-22

And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninetyand second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophetsbegan to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to begreater signs and greater miracles wrought among thepeople. 5 But there were some who began to say that thetime was past for the words to be fulfilled, which werespoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. 6 And they began torejoice over their brethren, saying:MormonNephite landsnear land ofZarahemlaA.D. 1Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled;therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath beenvain.People7 And it came to pass that they did make a great uproarthroughout the land; and the people who believed began tobe very sorrowful, lest by any means those things whichhad been spoken might not come to pass. 8 But behold, theydid watch steadfastly for that day and that night and thatday which should be as one day as if there were no night,that they might know that their faith had not been vain.Mormon9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by theunbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditionsshould be put to death except the sign should come to pass,which had been given by Samuel the prophet.10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi,saw this wickedness of his people, his heart wasexceedingly sorrowful.11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himselfdown upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God inbehalf of his people, yea, those who were about to bedestroyed because of their faith in the tradition of theirfathers.12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lordall that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came untohim, saying:13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time isat hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on themorrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I willfulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of myholy prophets. 14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all thingsJesus Christ which I have made known unto the children of men from thefoundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father andof the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son becauseof my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shallthe sign be given.Jesus ChristNephite landsnear land ofZarahemlaA.D. 115 And it came to pass that the words which came untoNephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken;for behold, at the going down of the sun there was nodarkness; and the people began to be astonished becausethere was no darkness when the night came. 16 And therewere many, who had not believed the words of the prophets,who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, forthey knew that the great plan of destruction which they hadlaid for those who believed in the words of the prophets hadbeen frustrated; for the sign which had been given wasalready at hand. 17 And they began to know that the Son ofGod must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people uponthe face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both inthe land north and in the land south, were so exceedinglyastonished that they fell to the earth. 18 For they knew thatthe 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 theirunbelief.Mormon19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all thatnight, but it was as light as though it was mid-day.And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morningagain, according to its proper order; and they knew that itwas the day that the Lord should be born, because of thesign which had been given. 20 And it had come to pass, yea,all things, every whit, according to the words of theprophets.21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear,according to the word.22 And it came to pass that from this time forth there beganto be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, toharden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believein those signs and wonders which they had seen; butnotwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the more partof the people did believe, and were converted unto theLord.