And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

John 10:16

These other sheep were the people of Ancient America, among whom it had been prophesied that Christ would one day come. Manuscripts of explorers from as early as the 16th century tell of native oral traditions which speak of a white God who came down among the people, healing the sick and the lame.

The story is told in 3 Nephi Chapter 1 of the Book of Mormon. For several hundred years prophets had preached to the ancient American peoples concerning the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ and the miraculous signs that would accompany his birth. Some no longer believed Christ would come, and began to persecute those who believed the signs would be manifest. “Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.”

The people who believed began to sorrow. Prophets throughout the years had spoken of day and a night and a day which would be as one day (in other words, it would be light for36 hours straight). Would these miraculous things come to pass?

The persecutors of the believers decided to set a deadline. If the sign did not occur by a certain day, all of the believers would be put to death. The prophet Nephi prayed unto the Lord on the behalf of the believers, and the Lord spoke unto him saying “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world.”

The night before the day of the deadline, the sun went down and the world was filled with light. Those who had threatened the lives of the believers fell to the earth in astonishment. After the 36 hour period the sun went down and darkness fell over the land once again.

“And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.”

The King of Kings, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had been born. He saved the faithful believers from temporal death at his birth, and he would save them from spiritual death upon the event of his crucifixion.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23