Good Tidings of Great Joy - An Advent Celebration of the Savior's Birth

by Eric D. Huntsman

From the author of God So Loved the World, this celebration of Christmas explores the scriptural accounts of Christ s birth and links those beloved stories to the traditional Advent themes of hope, love, joy, and peace. Unique to this volume is a fifth Advent theme of salvation, with scriptural prophecies from the Book of Mormon to help us understand how the birth of the Savior was intricately connected with His ultimate mission. The author also suggests ways to make our own celebrations more meaningful with specific scriptures, stories, and music for each day of December. Beautifully designed with full-color fine art paintings, photographs, maps, and topics for personal reflection, this scriptural journey encourages us to nurture the true spirit of Christmas while expanding our knowledge and appreciation of the greatest story ever told.

Genres: Religion, Christmas, Lds, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christian

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2011

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book added so much to my feeling the true spirit of Christmas. Huntsman first gave a very good history of the celebration of Christmas, starting with the very early Christians who did not celebrate Christmas at all, down through the years as Christians started to commemorate the birth of the Savior, and adopted the date of December 25th which was the same date the peoples that they were living among had been celebrating pagan holidays. Even then, Christmas was not a big holiday, and did not really become one until the 19th Century when the Victorians in England and the United States adopted it as a festive family holiday. Huntsman suggested that Latter Day Saints could celebrate "Advent" even though the church does not formally suggest so doing. He divides his book into 4 weeks of preparation for Christmas, giving scriptural accounts from what he calls "the infancy narratives" of Matthew and Luke, suggestions for hymns and other songs that add to the rich spiritual meaning and devotion of an "advent Christmas." He gives personal experiences of his family's celebration of Christmas that could be adopted by readers. One of the most important things he emphasizes is that if it weren't for the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, that is commemorated at Easter, Christmas would be just another day. The important thing about the birth of the Savior is that he came to earth to do the the will of His Father, which was to live and die for us, and thus open the door for salvation and eternal life! Thus our Christmas celebration should not end with the close of the day on December 25th, but should go on to every day of the year! Even if the reader does not literally prepare and use the lighting of candles in an advent wreath each week before Christmas, the reading of this very spiritual book is bound to increase love and appreciation for Jesus Christ, and a more meaningful celebration of Christmas.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite as spiritual as I was hoping. There were a lot of things that were more scholarly than spiritual. Not that it was written FOR scholars, just a bit more analytical. Having said that, I really did enjoy the book. There were some things in it that I hadn't considered -- different takes on the Savior's birth and there were some things Huntsman pointed out that we always assume, but that aren't in the scriptures. It definitely provided me with food for thought.

The parts of the book that I enjoyed most came at the end. I loved his concluding thoughts about Christmas. I also really liked some of his Christmas traditions and I loved that he included his devotional ideas. I had a friend that had a lot of Christmas stories and who did her own mini-devotional, and I've always thought it would be a good idea, I've just never really known where to start. This gave me a great starting point.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides insights into the Nativity story. Sections focus on each aspect of the Savior's birth, including the Annunciation, the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the shepherds, and the Magi. The author points out many things about the accounts in Matthew and Luke that I did not know. Similarities to witnesses of the Savior in the Book of Mormon are also provided.

One appendix provides devotionals that could be done to celebrate Christmas. I got some new ideas of traditions that I could incorporate in my Christmas celebrations.

The author adds an Appendix on celebrating Christmas with a child with autism. I found this section very interesting and touching and appreciated the openness of the author in this respect.

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot of great stuff in here! It is a very well-researched, detailed study of the birth of Christ, rooted in scripture and developed with history and context. I learned a lot and look forward to incorporating a lot of these things into our Christmas celebrations starting this year. The devotionals in appendix 2 gave me a list of Christmas stories I haven't heard of that I will be looking up now to see if my family would like to make them part of our advent celebrations.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not 24 bits about the Savior's birth to be used with advent celebrations. Instead it's a comprehensive LDS look at scriptures, traditions, carols, and history connected to Christmas. It's would be a really fun resource for a family celebration stretched over the weeks before Christmas.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helps families celebrate Christmas by focusing on a different theme (Hope, Love, Joy, Peace) each Sunday in December as they look forward to Christmas. A lot of little side notes and interesting tidbits about the season throughout history are included.

I think what makes this book most unique is the appendix with information on celebrating Christmas when a family member has autism.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a step-by-step guide to making the Christmas season more Christ-centered for you or your family this year, Good Tidings of Great Joy is a solid place to start. While Advent is not traditionally a part of LDS Christmas celebrations, Dr. Huntsman uses its structure effectively to focus on the major themes of the Christmas story: hope, love, joy, peace, and salvation.

Paralleling the Advent structure, Dr. Huntsman devotes four chapters of his book to the four biblical chapters that tell the story of Jesus' birth, Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2. He matches each biblical chapter with one of the major themes above and identifies the role or title of Christ that it exemplifies. For example, in the chapter titled “Son of David,” Dr. Huntsman devles into the first chapter of Matthew, discusses why Matthew traced Jesus' genealogy back to David, Joseph's role in the Christmas story, and the hopeful anticipation the Jews had for their coming Messiah. Additional insights are featured in informative sidebars – in this first chapter they include brief essays comparing Matthew's genealogy to the one recorded in Luke and highlight Christmas music such as Corelli's “Christmas Concerto” and the German carol “Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine.” A fifth section pulls its text from Book of Mormon passages regarding the birth of Christ such as Nephi's vision, King Benjamin's sermon, Alma the Younger's testimony, and Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy, and links latter-day scriptures to the well-loved New Testament narrative.

Throughout the book, Dr. Huntsman seamlessly weaves scripture, ancient history, beautiful art work, family anecdotes and photos, musical pieces, and inspirational stories into an uplifting volume for the holiday season. And make sure you don't skip the three informative appendices! The first addresses the context of the infancy narratives within the books of Matthew and Luke as well as the beginnings of the gospel in Jesus' time. The second provides a resource for a daily Christmas devotional including suggestions for a scripture reading, Christmas-themed story, and carol each day – in our family, we've been using a similar one I developed a few years ago and the boys eagerly look forward to starting the “Christmas book” each year. The final appendix is written with those with special needs in mind. Dr. Huntsman describes the adjustments they've made as a family to their Christmas celebration to incorporate their son with autism more fully on a level he can understand and appreciate.

Back in April I reviewed Dr. Huntsman's Easter book God So Loved the World. While this Christmas offering, Good Tidings of Great Joy, was not as paradigm-shifting for me, it adds a depth of understanding to the oh-so-well-known story of the first Christmas that will enrich your observance of this “most wonderful time of the year."

* Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does an LDS bible scholar celebrate Christmas? With a close look at the infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke, not only acknowledging the many differences (and even minor contradictions) in the two accounts but using those differences to make profound and insightful observations about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Huntsman also celebrates Christmas with music (he is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). I loved the discussions he includes in this book of the various carols -- some familiar and some more obscure -- he enjoys singing or listening to during the Christmas season. I discovered several Christmas songs and learned the backstory for others while reading this book. My favorite new discovery is Bach's Christmas Oratorio, which I wish I had discovered years ago. It is beautiful.

Huntsman also spends a few minutes each evening in December leading up to Christmas reading a passage of scripture with his family. He provides a great suggested list of scriptures in an appendix to the book, and I've been reading those with my family every night this year. It has been a great way to keep ourselves focused on the Savior amid the hustle and bustle of this time of year.

Finally, family is obviously a very important part of Huntsman's Christmas celebrations. As he shares the various ways his family prepares for Christmas (reading scriptures, singing songs, and lighting advent candles), I was particularly touched by how they have adapted their traditions to ensure their autistic son not only participates in but actually enjoys their various Christmas activities.

This is the third of Huntsman's books I have read that focus on various aspects of the Savior's life, the other two focusing on Easter week and on His miracles. I hope that more books are in the works. I would love one on the Savior's sermons.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is lovely--full of artwork, suggested music, and a serious treatment of Advent and how to prepare spiritually for the Christmas season. There are thoughtful discussions on the first two chapters of Matthew and Luke, background information, suggested topics for preparing for Advent celebrations in the home, and even a fifth week focusing on the Christmas story in the Book of Mormon. There are also daily devotional topics in an appendix in the back. We've done and been through many books as we go through the Christmas season in my family and we are happy to add this one to the mix.

[Diane Holm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and contains actual photographs of the holy land.

If you want to know the history of Christmas through the scriptures and gain a deeper knowledge and understanding this is the perfect book. Every aspect of the life of Jesus Christ is touched upon and it is unfolded with a special spirit.

There are ideas and suggestions for your family to enjoy the season focused on the deeper meaning surrounding Christmas. It will surly delight and uplift your holiday experience.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huntsman takes a look at the biblical Christmas story as well as offering ideas for making Christmas meaningful. He compares the accounts in Matthew and Luke, looking at the Hebrew and Greek roots of the words to add insights into their accounts. He also looks at Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ and includes sidebars about Christmas carols.

This book is loaded with illustrations and information. I will say that having quite so many sidebars got distracting for me, but overall, I think most readers will find something they enjoy in this book.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book did enhance my Christmas season, I didn't enjoy it as much as the companion Easter volume. I expected that it would be scholarly in the historical sense, but I found it to be much an exercise in comparative literature (Luke vs. Matthew accounts). That all made sense when I found out that Huntsman was originally part of BYU's Classics and Comparative Literature Department, and only later transferred to Ancient Scripture. Anyway, I didn't find as much spiritual sustenance as I was hoping for. 3.5 stars.

[Kylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but not near as much as the volume he wrote about Easter: God So Loved the World: The Final Days of the Savior's Life. This book was interesting, and I think I learned quite a bit, but it was more dry and had a lot of his family's personal family traditions. It's not that I didn't appreciate those parts, I just didn't find them as interesting. Overall, this was a good book, and I would like to read it again next Christmas (but probably earlier in the month so I can appreciate it better). 3 1/2 stars for me.

[Kerstin Olcott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit bogged down by the season so I didn't get to read it as in depth as I want to. I will definitely be reading it again next fall to get ready for Christmas. It made me really excited to try celebrating advent with my family next year. I had been thinking about it before but this book definitely gives it a deeper meaning. It was a perfect read for the Christmas season- I want to read Huntsman's Easter book now.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Very scholarly book. It delves into comparisons of Matthew's and Luke's nativity stories and the broader point each author was trying to make, ie. Messiah of the Jews vs. Savior of the whole world. Also, a lot of time spent comparing the Greek and Hebrew roots of different words/phrases used. I feel like I learned a lot. Also, it goes into the author's own Christmas traditions, mainly celebrating Advent. It felt completely at odds with the rest of the book.

[Debbie Lisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book again each Christmas season. It never disappoints and always reminds me of the ‘true meaning of Christmas’. It’s a simple, quick read, and brings me much joy during the holiday season.

[Anji · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have celebrated Advent the past two years and thought this would have some additional stories for each Sunday, but it was just a little too deep for me.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed diving into the history surrounding Christ's birth. Also enjoyed learning about advent as a family this Christmas. A great resource!