Scriptures: Luke 1:5–25, 57–80;Matthew 3:1–6;Doctrine and Covenants 84:27–28; Matthew 3:2
John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus Christ
Readers:
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Angel
Zacharias
Elisabeth
Neighbors & cousins
John the Baptist
Narrator 1: There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest namedZacharias: and his wifewasElisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments andordinancesof the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth wasbarren, and they both werenowwellstrickenin years.
Narrator 2: And it came to pass, that while he executed thepriest’s office before God (in the temple),the whole multitude of the people were praying. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord. And when Zacharias sawhim,he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Angel:Fearnot, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee ason, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power ofElias, to turn the hearts of thefathersto the children, and thedisobedientto the wisdom of the just; to make ready a peoplepreparedfor the Lord.
Zacharias: Whereby shall Iknowthis? for I am anoldman, and my wife wellstrickenin years.
Angel: I amGabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt bedumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thoubelievestnot my words.
Narrator 1: And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
Narrator 2: It came to pass, that, as soon as thedaysof his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months.
Elisabeth: Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked onme,to take away myreproachamong men. (God blessed me with a child!)
Narrator 1: Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and hercousinsheard how the Lord had shewed greatmercyupon her; and they rejoiced with her.
Narrator 2: And it came to pass, that on theeighthday they came tocircumcisethe child.
Neighbors & cousins: Let’s call him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
Elisabeth: Notso;but he shall be called John.
Neighbors & cousins: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
Narrator 1:And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Zacharias (writing): His name is John.
Narrator 2: And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongueloosed,and he spake.
Zacharias: Praise God!
Narrator 1: And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings werenoisedabroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.
Neighbors & cousins: What manner of child shall this be!
Narrator 2: And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, andprophesied.
Zacharias: Blessedbethe Lord God of Israel; for he hathvisitedandredeemedhis people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (Jesus Christ). And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord topreparehis ways; to giveknowledgeof salvation unto his people by theremissionof their sins, through thetendermercy of our God.
Narrator 1: And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and wasordainedby the angel of God at the time he waseightdays old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and tomakestraight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for thecomingof the Lord, in whose hand is givenallpower.
Narrator 2: In those days cameJohnthe Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa.
John the Baptist: Repentye: for thekingdomof heavenisat hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophetEsaias, saying, Thevoiceof one crying in the wilderness,Prepareye the way of the Lord, make hispathsstraight.
Narrator 1: And the same John had hisraimentofcamel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat waslocustsand wild honey.
Narrator 2: Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan,confessingtheir sins.
John the Baptist: Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.