I have been thinking quite a bit about this article as it makes total sense to me. In the Book of Mormon we are told that it would be a new star. I just learned that stars always arise in the east, and move diagonally into space. The fact that this star led them to the Bethlehem is really astonishing. My Verse by Verse Commentary says that gold signifies royalty, frankenstein alludes to Priesthood, and myrhh represents a foreshadowing of death and burial. It sounds highly likely that these men had knowledge of the redemptive work of the Savior and gave gifts that had an important message.
AlanJanuary 14, 2015
I figure, with fewer stretches, that the Wise Men A: were among the Jews who never left Babylon (it's possible that fewer than one-half returned after the captivity), B: were looking for a star, C: knew the new Messiah was to be born, as the new David, in the city of David, but went to Herod assuming he would have known where this King was to be born, found him, not in a stall, but they "entered into the house," presented their gifts, worshipped and then, warned by an angel, left by another way. This journey D. could have taken nearly 2 years, as all the children under two years of age were slain by Herod's men.
Also, the star wasn't over Bethlehem, as many suppose, as it WAS seen in the New World by the Nephites.
Tamara, I hope you are not implying that Nephi was one of the Wise Men? Although one could create a really cool story about that... kind of a "5th Wise Man" thing, although we really don't know how many there actually were, but they did bring 3 types of gifts
Myron RichardsonJanuary 14, 2015
To Tamara: I also noticed that verse several years ago and wondered, "Where did Nephi go?" The Book of Mormon also does not mention his brother, Lehi, that verse, and his brother, Lehi, was not one whit behind him. Samuel, the Lamanite also disappears from the narrative.
Wouldn't it be cool if we learned that the names of the three wise men who returned to worship the newborn Savior were the names of the three righteous men who left for the promised land?
CindyJanuary 14, 2015
I have found the coincidence (of Nephi, the son of Helaman departing out of the land and handing over all the sacred records to his son) of great interest, too.
sueJanuary 14, 2015
Jethro was a descendant of Abraham's wife, Ketura. Abraham was a Hebrew, so Jethro was a Hebrew.
What you say is extremely interesting, and if you read about the original Hebrew, Arabic and Chaldee meanings of the constellations of the zodiac, they all have titles that have to do with the Savior and the plan of salvation.
Since this was a new star, I am wondering if it could have arisen in a certain group of constellations, in the zodiac, that would let them know that the time had arrived.
One possibility would be the constellation Virgo or the Virgin. In one hand she holds a branch in her right hand and stalks of corn in her left hand. The Hebrew meaning for this constellation is "a virgin," and the Arabic is "a branch." The bright star in the corn stalk, in Arabic is called "the branch." "For behold, I will bring forth my servant, the BRANCH" ( Zech. 3:8) Other starts in this constellation are translated as: "who shall come down or who shall have dominion (Al Murreddin), and "the son, or branch, who cometh (Vindamiatrix).
There is also a constellation called Coma, or The Woman and the Child, which have equally suggestive meanings related to the coming of the Savior.
Thank you for this fascinating article. I have enjoyed your Nephi Project articles and several of your books. The only other suggestion I have heard was from Elder Bruce McConkie, suggesting that they might have been prophets from the Northern Kingdom, but your explanation makes a good bit of sense.
TamaraJanuary 14, 2015
I think it's interesting that in the last chapter in Helaman 16:14 Angels appeared to Wise men and did declare unto to "the wise men" glad tidings of great joy, which is the birth of the Holy Messiah. Next in 3 Nephi the prophet Nephi, the son of Helaman departs out of the land and hands over all the sacred records to his son.
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sueJanuary 17, 2015
I have been thinking quite a bit about this article as it makes total sense to me. In the Book of Mormon we are told that it would be a new star. I just learned that stars always arise in the east, and move diagonally into space. The fact that this star led them to the Bethlehem is really astonishing. My Verse by Verse Commentary says that gold signifies royalty, frankenstein alludes to Priesthood, and myrhh represents a foreshadowing of death and burial. It sounds highly likely that these men had knowledge of the redemptive work of the Savior and gave gifts that had an important message.
AlanJanuary 14, 2015
I figure, with fewer stretches, that the Wise Men A: were among the Jews who never left Babylon (it's possible that fewer than one-half returned after the captivity), B: were looking for a star, C: knew the new Messiah was to be born, as the new David, in the city of David, but went to Herod assuming he would have known where this King was to be born, found him, not in a stall, but they "entered into the house," presented their gifts, worshipped and then, warned by an angel, left by another way. This journey D. could have taken nearly 2 years, as all the children under two years of age were slain by Herod's men. Also, the star wasn't over Bethlehem, as many suppose, as it WAS seen in the New World by the Nephites. Tamara, I hope you are not implying that Nephi was one of the Wise Men? Although one could create a really cool story about that... kind of a "5th Wise Man" thing, although we really don't know how many there actually were, but they did bring 3 types of gifts
Myron RichardsonJanuary 14, 2015
To Tamara: I also noticed that verse several years ago and wondered, "Where did Nephi go?" The Book of Mormon also does not mention his brother, Lehi, that verse, and his brother, Lehi, was not one whit behind him. Samuel, the Lamanite also disappears from the narrative. Wouldn't it be cool if we learned that the names of the three wise men who returned to worship the newborn Savior were the names of the three righteous men who left for the promised land?
CindyJanuary 14, 2015
I have found the coincidence (of Nephi, the son of Helaman departing out of the land and handing over all the sacred records to his son) of great interest, too.
sueJanuary 14, 2015
Jethro was a descendant of Abraham's wife, Ketura. Abraham was a Hebrew, so Jethro was a Hebrew. What you say is extremely interesting, and if you read about the original Hebrew, Arabic and Chaldee meanings of the constellations of the zodiac, they all have titles that have to do with the Savior and the plan of salvation. Since this was a new star, I am wondering if it could have arisen in a certain group of constellations, in the zodiac, that would let them know that the time had arrived. One possibility would be the constellation Virgo or the Virgin. In one hand she holds a branch in her right hand and stalks of corn in her left hand. The Hebrew meaning for this constellation is "a virgin," and the Arabic is "a branch." The bright star in the corn stalk, in Arabic is called "the branch." "For behold, I will bring forth my servant, the BRANCH" ( Zech. 3:8) Other starts in this constellation are translated as: "who shall come down or who shall have dominion (Al Murreddin), and "the son, or branch, who cometh (Vindamiatrix). There is also a constellation called Coma, or The Woman and the Child, which have equally suggestive meanings related to the coming of the Savior. Thank you for this fascinating article. I have enjoyed your Nephi Project articles and several of your books. The only other suggestion I have heard was from Elder Bruce McConkie, suggesting that they might have been prophets from the Northern Kingdom, but your explanation makes a good bit of sense.
TamaraJanuary 14, 2015
I think it's interesting that in the last chapter in Helaman 16:14 Angels appeared to Wise men and did declare unto to "the wise men" glad tidings of great joy, which is the birth of the Holy Messiah. Next in 3 Nephi the prophet Nephi, the son of Helaman departs out of the land and hands over all the sacred records to his son.
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