Comments on: Who were the Shepherds in the Christmas Story?

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:20:46 +0000

Excellent article. Thank you for sharing.

By: Brian Bacon

Brian Bacon — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 10:28:33 +0000

So in essence what the commentator is saying is that the Levites and those who held the priesthood authority to over see the Temple and its rites received the revelation of the birth of the messiah? Very interesting observation

By: JL

JL — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:54:53 +0000

Bryce, in his trilogy, The Kingdom and the Crown, Gerald Lund uses the shepherds’ experience to lay the foundation of believers who decades later are watching and waiting for the Messiah’s mission to begin. It brought clarity to why these shepherds received the visitation, and pointed out that there were witnesses of his birth who recognized Him in His ministry.

By: Frederick Smith

Frederick Smith — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:21:32 +0000

Possibly the most important component of the shepherd’s visit to the Christ child is that these men were the designated witness as to who could be a sacrifice in Israel. They were the ones trusted to verify that the sacrifice was a first born male without blemish.

By: Tevya

Tevya — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:32:22 +0000

I believe its Bruce R. McConkie’s “The Mortal Messiah” Vol 1, where he says this same thing about the shepherds. Now perhaps he was just reading other sources like those you quoted, but he did write and publish while an Apostle. So I definitely think that adds some weight to the idea within LDS theology. And it makes a lot of sense. If its not true, then there must’ve been something else that was special about these shepherds.

Bryan Hansen mentions the identity of the “wise men.” From what studying I’ve done, I think its far more likely that they were mortals, like the shepherds, but also very special in their beliefs and role. There are several options, but one very likely one is that they were Bedouin tribal leaders, or other Arab, Median, or Persian leaders. As such they might have been of the same Abrahamic tradition as Jethro, holding Priesthood and knowing of the prophecies of the coming Messiah.

By: Chris - Oregon

Chris - Oregon — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:39:46 +0000

Wow! Very interesting! It really makes a lot of sense. I shared this with my family members, who were equally as impressed. Great research! We loved it! Merry Christmas!

By: Bryan Hansen

Bryan Hansen — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:58:36 +0000

I don’t know if this is true or not, but it is interesting and does make sense. Incidentally there is LDS mythology that some of the wise men were Nephites. I do not konw what I think about that idea either. There is a book about translated beings, etc. which discusses this idea as the specific Nephites were translated beings.

By: Christmas Reading | Heavenly Ascents

Christmas Reading | Heavenly Ascents — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:44:59 +0000

[...] Who Were the Shepherds in the Christmas Story? [...]

By: Krasimir Kolarov

Krasimir Kolarov — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:15:21 +0000

Thank you! Remarkable! Merry Christmas to all of you from Bulgaria!

By: Jim White

Jim White — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:33:51 +0000

Loved it. Great article. I shared with my family too. Keep up the great work! Merry Christmas and Hosanna to the Highest!