Luke 2:7, which replaces "inn" with "inns." President Nelson spoke about this at a BYU devotional back in December 2002.
To summarize what he said, the word that "inns" comes from connotes a room rather than an entire building like a hotel. Travelers would stay at caravansaries, which could accommodate their animals. A caravansary was shaped like a hollow square or a U, with the courtyard in the center and all the rooms (inns) facing into the courtyard so guests could keep an eye on their animals. Quoting President Nelson:
"Because the guest chambers surrounding the courtyard were filled, Joseph possibly made the decision to care for Mary’s delivery in the center courtyard of a caravansary—among the animals. There, in that lowly circumstance, the Lamb of God was born."
Luke doesn't mention a stable, but he does mention a manger, and what President Nelson says here still fits what Luke's account is telling us.
I think it makes the story better. Jesus was born into an even lower setting than we've always imagined with the stable (I've heard plenty of people suggest that a private stable was actually a better birthplace than a crowded inn). It also makes it easier for the shepherds to find Him, since looking for a baby in a manger at little Bethlehem's caravansary would be far easier than searching all the stables in town.
Haze K.August 21, 2025
Matthew 3:2-6 in your article should read Matthew 2:2-6.
To the best of my limited understanding, of course.
Haze K.August 21, 2025
I wish there had been another option besides a "red-letter" edition, a different color choice, perhaps.
I say this as a convert who regularly used "red letter editions" of the Bible (And I suspect, other investigators and converts as well).
IF you are not acquainted with the "Mainstream Christianity" tradition, Red Letter Bibles have traditionally had the words spoken by Jesus Christ printed in red.
Jessica WhitakerAugust 21, 2025
I have heard much false doctrine in church meetings regarding the Savior's development from our people who are ignorant or slothful of the JST. Thank you!
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EricAugust 22, 2025
Luke 2:7, which replaces "inn" with "inns." President Nelson spoke about this at a BYU devotional back in December 2002. To summarize what he said, the word that "inns" comes from connotes a room rather than an entire building like a hotel. Travelers would stay at caravansaries, which could accommodate their animals. A caravansary was shaped like a hollow square or a U, with the courtyard in the center and all the rooms (inns) facing into the courtyard so guests could keep an eye on their animals. Quoting President Nelson: "Because the guest chambers surrounding the courtyard were filled, Joseph possibly made the decision to care for Mary’s delivery in the center courtyard of a caravansary—among the animals. There, in that lowly circumstance, the Lamb of God was born." Luke doesn't mention a stable, but he does mention a manger, and what President Nelson says here still fits what Luke's account is telling us. I think it makes the story better. Jesus was born into an even lower setting than we've always imagined with the stable (I've heard plenty of people suggest that a private stable was actually a better birthplace than a crowded inn). It also makes it easier for the shepherds to find Him, since looking for a baby in a manger at little Bethlehem's caravansary would be far easier than searching all the stables in town.
Haze K.August 21, 2025
Matthew 3:2-6 in your article should read Matthew 2:2-6. To the best of my limited understanding, of course.
Haze K.August 21, 2025
I wish there had been another option besides a "red-letter" edition, a different color choice, perhaps. I say this as a convert who regularly used "red letter editions" of the Bible (And I suspect, other investigators and converts as well). IF you are not acquainted with the "Mainstream Christianity" tradition, Red Letter Bibles have traditionally had the words spoken by Jesus Christ printed in red.
Jessica WhitakerAugust 21, 2025
I have heard much false doctrine in church meetings regarding the Savior's development from our people who are ignorant or slothful of the JST. Thank you!
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