12 Days of Christ: Day 3

 Journey

Liz Lemon Swindle, Journey

The First Christmas Journey

by Christina Crosland, The Ensign, December 2018 

We tell the Christmas story every year, but how often do we picture the journey that Mary and Joseph took? Their faith and sacrifices are significant parts of the story.

1. Luke 1:26–27, 30–31

Mary was from Nazareth, a village of 400–500 people.¹ To the world, she was a simple peasant girl. And yet she and Joseph accepted their calling to raise the Son of God.

2. Luke 2:4–5

Traveling to Bethlehem would have taken at least four to five days,² and the scriptures give no hint of a donkey accompanying them through the rocky hills. Even “great with child,” Mary made the journey with Joseph that fulfilled prophecy: the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2).

3. Luke 2:7–11

In Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were without their own home or crib to place the King of kings. They must have felt great humility as they witnessed, amidst an otherwise humble birth, the clear signs that this babe was the Son of God.

4. Matthew 2:13–14

Without warning, the small family had to leave their city and country behind. Before the Christ child was even two years old, His life was being threatened (see Matthew 2:16). But dedication to and love for their Savior motivated Mary and Joseph to take the long trip to Egypt.

5. Matthew 2:19–23

After some time in an unfamiliar land, Joseph and Mary made their longest trip yet. But the miles must have seemed shorter, because this time, they were returning home. Once there, they put their faith in God and raised Him who would “be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23).

Like Mary and Joseph, we too are traveling on our own journey with Jesus Christ. While the going may be long and difficult, every footstep of faith leads us closer to eternal life—a gift provided by our loving Savior, whose own journey made salvation possible.

"The Prayer" - Katherine Jenkins and The Tabernacle Choir

"The Prayer" - David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheco

Lyrics - this song is both in English and Italian

Written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way

Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe

La luce che tu dai
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore restera
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei

Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’è
When shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci da
We ask that life be kind
E il desiderio che
And watch us from above

Ognuno trovi amore
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a se
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera