The Christmas Star

One thing I've been wanting to share for a while was some thoughts about the star that guided the wise men to Bethlehem to see the Christ child. A lot of people try to connect the star the wise men saw with some sort of celestial event, such as a supernova or comet or something observed from another group or culture that had records that could be matched up. While this is a valid approach to synchronizing various events and validating some of them, this one fails for, I feel, a number of reasons.

Herod and his people were quite surprised at the report of the appearance of the star, and had to ask the wise men when the star appeared. If it was such a tremendous celestial event, Herod and his people should have noticed. Since they didn't notice it, either it wasn't something that we associate with a tremendous celestial event, like a supernova, or they just couldn't see it.

Think about the implications of this for a moment. If Herod and his people didn't see it, then many of the world as a whole probably did not see it either. Apparently, certain celestial/heavenly manifestations are not meant for everyone to see.

There are several examples of this phenomenon throughout history and the scriptures. The disciple Stephen, as he was being stoned, reported seeing God and Jesus, but no one else apparently did. Saul, on his way to Damascus, saw a light, and heard a voice, but no one else in his party did (depending on the account you look at. We'll assume both.) Samuel the prophet could hear the voice of the Lord even when Eli could not.

Even in our Latter-day Saint history there are examples. A key example is when Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants was received. Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon were in a vision, and related what they were seeing to those around them. They alone were able to see the vision, but no one else around them could see it. It is important to note that two men were receiving the vision, not just one.

Even if we were able to be in the Sacred Grove when Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, we wouldn't see them. We would probably only see Joseph Smith, looking like he's talking into the air to no one.

As pertaining to the Christmas Star, what this means is that God could make the star appear to whomever He wanted it to appear to. To Herod and the people at Jerusalem, the star was not visible. To the wise men, and to those in the Western Hemisphere as reported in the Book of Mormon (in 3 Nephi 1), the star was visible.

I do also want to make note that we have to distinguish between two different Christmas Stars. The first is the one that told the wise men that Christ had been born. The second one was one that appeared to them and led them to the house where Jesus was. This second star was also not visible, but what is notable about the star is that it apparently moved, and probably was not very far above the ground (after all, how can you look at a star in the sky tonight and pinpoint a house in a small village).

So like the bell in The Polar Express, sometimes things of the Spirit are only visible to those who are looking for it, or need to see it.

In any case, Merry Christmas to everyone.