6. State of the World at the Time of the Savior's Birth.--At the beginning of the Christian era, the Jews, in common with most other nations, were subjects of the Roman empire. They were allowed a considerable degree of liberty in maintaining their religious observances and national customs generally, but their status was far from that of a free and independent people. The period was one of comparative peace--a time marked by fewer wars and less dissension than the empire had known for many years. These conditions were favorable for the mission of the Christ, and for the founding of His Church on earth. The religious systems extant at the time of Christ's earthly ministry may be classified in a general way as Jewish and Pagan, with a minor system--the Samaritan--which was essentially a mixture of the other two. The children of Israel alone proclaimed the existence of the true and living God; they alone looked forward to the advent of the Messiah, whom mistakenly they awaited as a prospective conqueror coming to crush the enemies of their nation. All other nations, tongues, and peoples, bowed to pagan deities, and their worship comprized nought but the sensual rites of heathen idolatry. Paganism was a religion of form and ceremony, based on polytheism--a belief in the existence of a multitude of gods, which deities were subject to all the vices and passions of humanity, while distinguished by immunity from death. Morality and virtue were unknown as elements of heathen service; and the dominant idea in pagan worship was that of propitiating the gods, in the hope of averting their anger and purchasing their favor.--See the author's _The Great Apostasy_, 1:2-4, and notes following the chapter cited. FOOTNOTES: [144] Exo. 33:11; see also Numb. 12:8; Deut. 34:10; compare P. of G.P., Moses 1:2, 11, 31. [145] P. of G.P., Moses 5:57; for later mention of the "meridian of time," see 6:56-62; and 7:46; and compare Doc. and Cov. 20:26; 39:3. [146] "Meridian: ... figuratively, the highest point or culminating-point of anything; the zenith; as the meridian of life."--"New Stand. Dict." [147] B. of M., 3 Nephi 2:8; compare 4 Nephi 1:1, 21; Mormon 8:6; Moroni 10:1. [148] Gen. 32:28; 35:10. [149] Exo. 1:1, 7; 9:6, 7; 12:3, etc. [150] Exo. 12:35, 40; 13:19; 15:1; Numb. 20:1, 19, 24, etc. [151] See mention throughout the books of Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and references therein. [152] Isa. 11:13; 17:3; Ezek, 37:16-22; Hos. 4:17. [153] Jer. 25:11, 12; see also 29:10. [154] Ezra 1:1-4; the author, "House of the Lord," pp. 47-53; also "Articles of Faith" xvii:1-22. [155] Ezra 2:64-67. [156] "House of the Lord," pp. 51-53. [157] Josephus, Ant. xii:6 and 7; 2 Maccabees 2:19; 10:1-8; also John 10:22. [158] Luke 2:1. [159] Matt. 2:1. Page 106. [160] Note 1, end of chapter. [161] Deut. 7:6; see also 10:15; Exo. 19:5, 6; Psa. 135:4; Isa. 41:8; 45:4; compare 1 Peter 2:9. [162] Note 6, end of chapter. [163] 2 Kings 17:24.