“Wicked King Herod,” Liahona, Sept. 2000, 14
Wicked King Herod
King Herod was worried. The Wise Men had said Jesus would be king. Herod wanted to be the only king, so he thought of a way to kill Jesus. Knowing that Jesus was a baby, Herod told his soldiers to kill all the babies in Bethlehem and nearby places. Matt. 2:3, 13, 16
An angel told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Egypt is far from Bethlehem. Herod would not find Jesus there. Matt. 2:13
Joseph obeyed. He and Mary and Jesus were in Egypt when Herod’s soldiers killed all the babies at Bethlehem. Matt. 2:14, 16
Zacharias did not want John to be killed, so he sent Elisabeth and John to the mountains. John was safe there. Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected by Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 261
King Herod asked Zacharias where John was, but Zacharias would not tell him. Teachings, 261
King Herod sent his soldiers to kill Zacharias. They killed him near the altar in the temple. Matt. 23:35; Teachings, 261
After King Herod died, an angel told Joseph to take Jesus and Mary home. Joseph took them to Nazareth, where Jesus was safe. Matt. 2:19–21, 23
Illustrated by Paul Mann