Was Christ born on Christmas?

There’s always been some conflict about the date of Christ’s birth. In fact, as a “Mormon,” I thought He was born in the spring, on April 6, in the year 4 or 5 BC. Recent research points to the birth of Christ sometime in December of 5 BC. That would certainly help the spirit of Christmas. I know, it doesn’t really matter what day Christ was born, but I like to solve problems, I can’t help searching.

BYU professor, Jeffrey R. Chadwick, Jerusalem Center Professor of Archeology and Near Eastern Studies, published his research  “Dating the Birth of Jesus Christ” which definitely challenges the April 6 date.

Looking at all the research, and documents available — scriptural, historical, archeological, and astronomical– Chadwick narrows it down to December of 5 BC as the probable date of the Savior.

Chadwick is careful to explain that the Doctrine and Covenants section 20 was a heading written by the scribe, John Whitmer on April 10. The manner of writing out the year, (one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh) was typical for that time and was a recording of the organization of the church — not a revelation on the birth of Christ.

*The Church has taken no official position of the exact date, even though some authorities have referred to Christ’s birth as being on the same day as the organization of the church. New evidence in the Joseph Smith Papers has made this clear.

For more detail, you can read here.  And an article that supports the April birth can be found here.