Christ was born in Bethlehem or Jerusalem?

Alma 7:10 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.

The title itself is a bit misleading. The Book of Mormon doesn't say "In Jerusalem," it says "At Jerusalem." It's a subtle difference that has even confused some Latter-day Saints. But really, it just requires some straightforward comprehension—understanding the difference between "at" and "in."

Here's the thing—the Bible, specifically in the New Testament, makes it clear that the City of David is in Bethlehem. But this seems to contradict the Old Testament, which refers to it as 'at' Jerusalem. So, where exactly is the City of David? Is it at Jerusalem or in Bethlehem? The answer is actually both. You just need to analyze how the language describes the geographical location. Jerusalem was used as the capital, and the way the text refers to these places reflects that.

2 Kings 14:20 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

So, where's the City of David? Take a closer look at "At Jerusalem" vs "which is called Bethlehem" or more likely "In Bethlehem".

Seem like you're saying I live In the Philippines. Yeah, but the Philippines is a huge place of different archipelago. So, where exactly?

Back to the topic. Before you conclude, try to analyze the settings.

First, consider whether the speaker really knows where Bethlehem is, or if he’s even familiar with the name Bethlehem in his time. Chances are, he doesn’t. He only knows the land of his forefathers, which is Jerusalem. This explains why he uses the phrase "AT Jerusalem." By saying this, he’s referring to the location more generally, encompassing the area around Judah as the wider region where the Savior will be born.

Second, imagine how much worse it would be! If the speaker randomly mentioned Bethlehem without actually knowing the place, it would clearly seem like a made-up story with sloppy proofreading. In this case, it would become obvious that the book wasn’t crafted through revelation but rather just pieced together like a copy-paste job.

It would be a huge mistake to talk about a place that the speaker isn't even aware of! Do you see the value in accurate translation? If Joseph Smith had been translating by simply using the Bible as his guide, he wouldn't have missed crucial details like exact locations. However, he didn’t rely on the Bible to assist with his translation. This approach highlights the beauty and authenticity of the work.