Post by Heloram –
The next part of my father’s speech was probably the greatest thing he has ever spoken. Not that everyone wasn’t listening intently anyway but they really paid attention when he said “I want to tell you what an angel from God came and told me.”
Quoting my father directly again,
“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.
For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy.
For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.
And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.
It wasn’t until we discussed this in detail as a family did I really get the full impact of what this angel declared. Still, now I am sure these glad tidings of great joy haven’t fully sunk in.
As we discussed and pondered this great message, it is fascinating that each of us were touched by something different. I imagine this, like most teachings of the prophets, when carried by the spirit into our hearts will impact us differently as our individual needs and circumstances change. But two things jumped out to me at when I heard these “Glad tidings of great joy.”
1. What kind of love must God have for us that the angel said the whole purpose Benjamin was visited was that we may rejoice and be filled with joy? God actually loves us so much He sends an angel to tell us how we may be redeemed and how to participate in this redeeming love.
2. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning comes to earth and performs so many mighty miracles, yet, His own people consider Him a man and crucify Him. How can people be so blind? Does Satan have so great a hold on man’s hearts, the truth cannot penetrate?
I wonder if the Lamanites are that far gone? They would certainly kill us if we went up to them. Would miracles like these soften their hearts?
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 3:1 – 10)
