Excerpt from Birth of the Messiah by Paul Thomas Smith.
(reading only)
Late March through early April was lambing season, and shepherds may have been laboring in Bethlehem's hillside fields the night of Christ's birth, assisting the ewes in the births of their lambs. It is likely that these were no ordinary animals, for Jewish law proclaimed that only flocks designated for temple sacrifice could be raised near cities.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them [the shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
"And the angel said unto them, 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 [Bethlehem] a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward men" (Luke 2:9—14).
With the departure of the angels, the shepherds went "with haste" (Luke 2:16) to see for themselves the Messiah, the newborn "Lamb of God, the Son of the Eternal Father" (1 Ne. 13:40) who would grow to become the Shepherd of Israel—and be sacrificed for his flock (see Isa. 53:7; John 1:29; 10:11, 14—15; 1 Pet. 1:18—20; Alma 7:14; 13:11; Ether 13:11). After their visit, they spread the joyous word of the Messiah's birth, "and all they that heard it wondered at those tidings which were told them by the shepherds" (see Luke 2:17—18).
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