In keeping with Christmas tradition, we decided to tell the Nativity story by reenacting it. This year we invited the Davis and Funk families to join the cast.
I decided to update the script to include the Book of Mormon accounts of the signs of Christ's birth.
As always, it was a little chaotic with young kids who are not familiar with the process but it was fun!
Here is the new script:
SCENE 1: Narrator, Nephites, Samuel, Unbeliever
NARRATOR: Just over two thousand years ago, a wonderful miracle took place. Christ came down to be with us, to save us and show us how life should be lived. On the night Jesus Christ was born, signs in heaven were seen by people both in Judea and in the Americas. Our Savior had been born.
Nephite #1: Look there! It is just as Samuel prophesied. A great star!
Nephite #2: Yes, the sun has gone down, but it is still light. There is no darkness at all.
Nephite #3: He has come! The Son of God has come into the world to redeem all who repent and come unto Him.
Nephite #4: It happened in five years, just as Samuel said. He really was a prophet of God. Do you remember when he spoke to us?
Samuel: “Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name”
Unbeliever: How can that be?
Samuel: “And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day” (Hel. 14:3).
Unbeliever: I can’t believe it! This man is crazy!
Samuel: “And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you” (Hel. 14:5).
Christ could have chosen anywhere to be his home. He could have built a palace for himself that would have made the grandeur of the Roman Empire seem like nothing. But he didn’t. Christ chose to be born among the forgotten, the overlooked and the poorest. This is the story of how Christ came to be with us.
SCENE 2: Narrator, Mary, Angel
NARRATOR: The story opens with a young woman in her home - Mary. (ENTER MARY) Unless you look a bit deeper, there is nothing particularly remarkable about Mary. She was from a town called Nazareth, and she was engaged to be married to Joseph. But, to God, she was very important. (ENTER ANGEL) So important that God sent an angel down from heaven with a message for her.
ANGEL (Luke v. 28, 30-32): Blessed art thou among women. Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be called the Son of the Highest.
Mary (v. 34): How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Angel (v. 35, 37): The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Mary (v. 38, 46, 48): Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
(MARY GETS READY TO COME IN ON DONKEY WITH JOSEPH LEADING THEM. ENTER CAESAR (optional), WHO UNROLLS A SCROLL)
SCENE 3: Narrator, Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Caesar (optional)
NARRATOR: But the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, who ruled over the land, sent an order saying he wanted to count every single person in the country. So everyone – including Mary and Joseph – had to go back to their home town to be registered. Joseph came from a faraway town called Bethlehem. Because Mary was engaged to be his wife, she came with him to Bethlehem. (EXIT CAESAR [OPTIONAL]) To save her aching legs, Mary rode on a donkey.
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem (Hymn #208)
NARRATOR: When they arrived in Bethlehem, they knocked on every door in the town, looking for a place to stay – but everywhere was full of people. (JOSEPH AND MARY PRETEND TO KNOCK ON DOORS)Each time they were given the same answer. Lots of people had come down to be counted, so the whole town was full – there were so many families to accommodate. Mary and Joseph nearly gave up, but then they tried the very last guest house. (INNKEEPER ENTERS)
Joseph: Please, please help! My wife is about to have a baby. Do you have a room?
Innkeeper: I’m so sorry. All my rooms are full with guests from across the country. All I can offer is my stable out the back, where we keep all the animals.
Joseph: Thank you so much, we’ll take it.
Mary: Thank you. At last we have somewhere!
Narrator (v. 6-7): And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
[Direction: Mary should put a baby doll in a manger-like setup.]
Song: “Away in a Manger” Hymns #206
(ENTER VARIOUS ANIMALS – OXEN, CHICKENS, DONKEYS, SHEEP [OPTIONAL] – WHO GATHER AROUND MARY AND JOSEPH BEHIND THE MANGER. )
SCENE 4: Shepherds, Sheep, Narrator, Angel,
ENTER SHEPERDS AND SOME CHILDREN DRESSED AS SHEEP
Narrator (v. 8-9): And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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.
[Direction: While Narrator is speaking, Angel should appear, and Shepherds should show fear.]
Narrator (v. 10): And the angel said unto them,
Angel (v. 10-12): 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign u nto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Narrator (v. 13): And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Narrator and Angel (together) (v. 14): Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Song: “Angels We Have Heard on High” (Hymns #203)
[Direction: Angels exit]
Narrator (v. 15): And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,
Shepherds (v. 15): Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
[Direction: Shepherds “make haste” and approach manger.]
Narrator (v. 17-18, 20, 19): And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. [Direction: Shepherds go away praising]
Narrator: But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Song: “Silent Night” (Hymns #204)
Scene 5: Narrator, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Three Wise Men
[Direction: Wise Men enter and wander around looking for Jesus. Mary, Joseph, and baby still in place.]
Narrator (Matthew 2:1): Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.
Wise Men (v. 2): 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.
Narrator (v. 9-11): And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts.
Wise Man 1: Because you are the King of Kings, I bring you gold.
Wise Man 2: Because you are the Son of God, I bring you frankincense.
Wise Man 3: Because you are the Saviour of the world, I bring you myrrh.
Narrator: And they departed into their own country.
[Direction: Wise Men exit.]
Narrator Luke 2:40: And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Closing Song: “Joy to the World” (Hymns #201)
