WE BELIEVE IN CHRIST By Ronda Hinrichsen

      (A sacred, musical Christmas program for FHE, Ward Choir programs, or other inspirational services.)

Author’s Note: This program includes a list of hymns which may be sung by choirs, congregations, or family members throughout the course of the performance; however, these hymns are suggestions only and may be substituted by hymn arrangements or other appropriate music.

Performance Time: Approximately 40 minutes.

Speakers Needed: 
Narrator 1
Narrator 2

Suggested Hymns:

O Little Town of Bethlehem (Hymns #208)—sung twice

The Lord is My Light (Hymns #89)

Once in Royal David’s City (Hymns #205)

While Shepherd’s Watched their Flocks (Hymns #211)

Who Is the Child? (CSB, pg. 46)

With Wondering Awe (Hymns #210)

Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus (CSB, pg. 36)

I Believe in Christ (Hymns #134)

NARRATOR 1:           Since the beginning of time, prophets have testified that Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, would come to the earth. Moses said the Only Begotten Son would come in the meridian of time (Moses 5:57-59).

NARRATOR 2:           Isaiah declared: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).” And Micah prophesied that the promised Messiah would be born in the little town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

SONG:                        O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM (Hymns #208)

NARRATOR 1:           Mary, Jesus’ mother, also testified of Christ’s coming birth. Soon after the angel Gabriel told her she would conceive and bear the Son of God, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. There, she rejoiced, saying: “My soul doth magnify the Lord,

“And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

“For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

“For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

“He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.     

“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

                                    “He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

“As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever (Luke 1:46-55).”

SONG:                        THE LORD IS MY LIGHT (Hymns #89)

NARRATOR 2:           Several months later, God fulfilled His promise to the world by sending the Messiah. The apostle, Luke records:

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

                                    “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...

                                    “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 first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:1, 3-7).

SONG:                        ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY (Hymns #205)

NARRATOR 1:           “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

NARRATOR 2:           “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 Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-11).”

SONG:                        WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS (Hymns #211)

NARRATOR 1:           Some who saw the Holy Child may have asked: “Is this the One? Is this truly the Creator of the World?” But others knew the truth.

NARRATOR 2:           “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 (Luke 2:15-17).”

NARRATOR 1:           Because these humble men obeyed the Lord, they were privileged to not only see the Christ, but to also testify of his divinity. They knew that Jesus truly was the One.

SONG:                        WHO IS THE CHILD? (CSB, pg. 46)

NARRATOR 1:           The heavens also declared Christ’s divinity. In Matthew, chapter 2, it states:

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

                                   “Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are

                                   come to worship him . . . 

                                   “and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where

                                   the young child was (Matthew 2:1-2, 9).”

SONG:                        WITH WONDERING AWE (Hymns #210)

NARRATOR 2:          Those who lived on the American continent saw the star, too, but shortly before it appeared in the sky, Jesus Christ, Himself, testified that He, the Son of God, would soon be born on the earth. In the Book of Mormon we read:

“And it came to pass that... the prophesies 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 . . .

NARRATOR 1:          “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.

NARRATOR 2:          “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:

NARRATOR 1:           “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, 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 (III Nephi 1:4-5, 9-14).”

SONG:                        SAMUEL TELLS OF THE BABY JESUS (CSB, pg. 36)

NARRATOR 2:           Christ’s personal testimony, followed by the promised signs, not only saved His people, but also
                                    brought peace and truth to all. This is what Christ always does for us. He teaches us. He
                                    strengthens us. He comforts us in our times of need. But most of all, He redeems us.

NARRATOR 1:           That is why we believe in Christ.

SONG:                        I BELIEVE IN CHRIST (Hymns #134)

SONG:                        O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM (Hymns #208)

                                                                                End