"The Glad Tidings of Great Joy," Mosiah 3:1-4

Mosiah 3:1-4

This new chapter is a continuation of King Benjamin's remarks to his people. Having just preached obedience to the commandments of God, my first thought was, "Why not conclude there?" The answer that I find in chapter 3 is, "Because he is now about to preach unto them Christ Jesus."

In verse three, the phrase "the glad tidings of great joy" has two footnotes on it. One for "glad" and the other for "joy."  The first reference for "glad" takes me to Isaiah 52:7-10:

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

"Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

 This verse causes me to want to be found among those that "publisheth salvation."

The other footnote on the word "joy" provided ample references to true joy as found throughout the scriptures:

"Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

"That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?" (Job 20:4&5)

 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; " (Psalms 16:11)

"Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom," (Proverbs 15:21)

"The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 29:19)

I am grateful for the access I have these records, for the good news that are published in these chapters, and for the path of joy that is contained herein.