What Are the Glad Tidings of Great Joy?
What are these “glad tidings of great joy” delivered by angels? Who received them, and why? What was the message or the news exactly? Who are the wise men and what was their role? What are their names and where are they from? Who were the “shepherds” abiding in the fields awaiting the “good news?” Were their “flocks” really just sheep, or were they congregations of faithful Christians converging in the area for the advent of Christ?
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Glad Tidings of Great Joy
Prophets have had the glad tidings declared to them in all nations:
Luke 2:9-10 (~0 AD)
“…lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.“Mosiah 3:2-4 – King Benjamin (~124 BC)
“…the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake, and I awoke, and behold he stood before me. And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.”Alma 13:21-26 – Alma Sr. (~82 BC)
“Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations, yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; …this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard… For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land;”Alma 39:15-17,19 – Alma Jr. (~74 BC)
“And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people. And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming… Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?“Helaman 13:6-7 – Samuel (~6 BC)
“…behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it unto me, and he did bring glad tidings to my soul. And behold, I was sent unto you to declare it unto you also, that ye might have glad tidings; but behold ye would not receive me.”Wise Men- Who Are They?
Alma 13:26 (~82 BC)
“And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.”Helaman 16:14 (~2 BC)
“And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled.”3 Nephi 1:23-30 (~1 AD)
“And thus the ninety and second year did pass away, bringing glad tidings unto the people because of the signs which did come to pass, according to the words of the prophecy of all the holy prophets.”Moroni 7:29-31 (~410 AD)
“…neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness. And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father… by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.“Was Nephi one of the wise men?
I don’t know. But consider Helaman 11:18-19, Helaman 16:13-14, 3 Nephi 1:2-3 and 3 Nephi 2:8-9.
