Was Jesus born in Jerusalem or in Bethlehem?

Question

Dear Gramps,

I was asked these questions about the church. First, In Alma 7:10 it says that Jesus was born in Jerusalem. My question on that is that we have come to know that he was born in Bethlehem. What is the explanation for this?

Todd

Answer

Dear Todd,

You are probably referring to the scripture in Alma 7:10, which says-

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

There is a difference between the Land of Jerusalem and the City of Jerusalem. The term “land of Jerusalem” is frequently used in the Book of Mormon as the land from which Lehi and his family came. It was also designated as such by the words of the Lord in 1 Nephi 17:14–

Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.

Bethlehem was in the land of Jerusalem.

I hope this clears up the confusion.

Gramps