John the Baptist Is Born
God keeps a promise to Elisabeth and Zacharias
Zacharias and Elisabeth were faithful people who loved God. They had prayed to have a baby. Now they were very old, and they still had no children.
Zacharias was a priest who served in the temple in Jerusalem. One day, he was chosen to burn incense in a sacred room in the temple.
Suddenly, an angel appeared. Zacharias was afraid. The angel said, “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard.” He said Zacharias and Elisabeth would have a son. They should name him John. The angel said that John had an important work to do. He would help people be prepared to receive the Savior when He came.
Zacharias couldn’t believe what the angel was saying. He and Elisabeth were too old to have children. The angel said that because Zacharias didn’t believe his message, he wouldn’t be able to speak until John was born.
People wondered why Zacharias was taking so long inside the temple. As he left, he couldn’t speak. They could tell something special had happened.
Months later, Elisabeth did have a baby, just like the angel had promised. Their family and friends were so happy! They came to meet the baby.
They thought the baby should be named Zacharias, like his father. Elisabeth said, “He shall be called John.” They asked Zacharias, who still couldn’t talk. He wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised.
Suddenly, Zacharias could speak again. He thanked God and was filled with the Holy Ghost. He told everyone that God remembered His promises to His people. He said that John would be a prophet. John would teach people to repent and be baptized. He would help them prepare to learn from Jesus Christ.