Mosiah 3:1-4

 Chapter 3

King Benjamin continues his address—The Lord Omnipotent shall minister among men in a tabernacle of clay—Blood shall come from every pore as he atones for the sins of the world—His is the only name whereby salvation comes—Men can put off the natural man and become saints through the atonement—The torment of the wicked shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone. About 124 B.C.

1 AND again my brethren, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.

2 And 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.

3 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.

4 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. (Mosiah 3:1-4)

King Benjamin, having talking about sin and its consequences, changes topic.  He is about to speak to them “concerning that which is to come.”  What he is about to tell them had been “made known unto me by an angel from God.”

Hugh Nibley gives us insight into King Benjamin’s sermon.

“King Benjamin proceeds to look into the future, reporting a vision shown him by an angel in a dream (Mosiah 3:1—2). Divination of the future is an essential and unfailing part of the year-rite and royal succession everywhere, especially in the Old World, but again Benjamin gives it a spiritualized turn, and what he prophesies is the earthly mission of the Savior, the signs and wonders shown the ancients, being according to him ‘types and shadows showed . . . unto them concerning his coming’ (Mosiah 3:15).”[1]

Nibley continues:

“In his preliminary address, Benjamin, like Moses, impresses upon the people at length the great importance of the instructions he is about to give them, their binding obligation to keep them, and the great rewards that will follow. He purposely gets them into a high state of anticipation by telling them (confidentially) that what he is about to give them was made known to him personally ‘by an angel from God,’ so that this is indeed a divine restoration of the law that is being celebrated (Mosiah 3:2).”[2]

The angel announced he was there to “declare glad tidings of great joy.”  Declaring “glad tidings” is in common use in the scriptures.  For example, Paul wrote the Romans,

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15).

Speaking of the redemption of Israel, Isaiah would write:

“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 [HEB returns to Zion, or restores 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.

“Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD” (Isaiah 52:7-11).

The angel announcing Christ’s birth proclaimed, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).  It is appropriate the angel, speaking to Benjamin, used similar phrases.

Here we see Benjamin serving as both king and church leader.

“Combining the authority of his offices as king, teacher, and as representative and messenger of the Lord, Benjamin faithfully and triumphantly delivered the holy message from the angel of God of ‘glad tidings of great joy’ (Mosiah 3:3) to his people. Benjamin spoke with divine power. His speech penetrated the hearts of his people, regenerating their souls.”[3]

The angel was present in answer to his prayers and righteousness, giving him words to declare to the people, “that they may also be filled with joy.”

“[I]n Mosiah 3:4, the angel says he has come in response to King Benjamin’s prayers … As we shall see, King Benjamin, being a prophet of God, had the keys and power of revelation by which he could unlock spiritual blessings for his people, to triumph over the powers of evil, and to bring eternal peace and salvation to his community.”[4]

The angel declared the Lord had heard his prayers and, because of his righteousness, the angel had been sent to him.  The angel then said, “thou mayest declare [this] message unto they people that they may also be filled with joy.”

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[1] Old World Ritual in the New World, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[2] Work We Must, but the Lunch Is Free, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[3] Benjamin's Speech: A Masterful Oration, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute.

[4] King Benjamin and the Mysteries of God, M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute.