Mormon Life - Book of Mormon tag

Family Home Avenging

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:14:00 -0600

source: middle-agedmormonman.blogspot.com

Mormon Life says: This dad's likening of Book of Mormon prophets to the Avengers is kind of funny. We liked it. Last night I finally took the entire family to see The Avengers. For FHE. What? Yes, once in a while we go crazy on Monday night. It can't all be profound teaching and testimonies. It was also nice to go a week without singing Book of Mormon Stories, complete with hand actions.

The movie? I enjoyed it. Ten seconds of Hulk vs. Loki was worth the price of admission. Add to that a soda and popcorn, and you can't go wrong. My EC liked it too.

My husband Alex Boye receives worldwide feedback from Book of Mormon Challenge

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:33:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

My husband Alex Boye gets to sing on the beautiful red cliffs of St. George with the Piano Guys.

I get to sing "Wheels on the Bus."

Alex wipes his feet on the welcome mat of the producer's mansion before entering.

You know what I wipe.

Book of Mormon Lesson 21: "Alma ... Did Judge Righteous Judgments"

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The need for good government is perhaps greater today than any other time in history. We find wonderful examples of good leaders in Mosiah and Alma, who fearlessly stood for the right.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of that book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessing today. These people never had the Book. It was meant for us. Mormon, the ancient prophet after whom the book is named, abridged centuries of records. God, who knows the end from the beginning, told him what to include in his abridgement that we would need for our day. Mormon turned the records over to his son Moroni, the last recorder; and Moroni, writing over 1500 years ago but speaking to us today, states: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not, but behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Mormon 8:35) (President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, January 1988)

INTRODUCTION:

Perhaps the need for good government is greater today than at any time in the history of the world. With the pervasiveness of evil and permissiveness in the world and with the strident voices of sinners demanding absolute freedom and with the disappearing standards of honor and integrity, we have a great need for men and women who will stand fearlessly for what is right. Both Mosiah and Alma were these kinds of rulers.

Joseph Smith wrote,

We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. (D&C 121:39)

Note that the revelation tells us it is a description of “almost all men." In these chapters we will meet two men who did not fit this pattern. They were men who did not exercise unrighteous dominion, but who sought the will of God and the welfare of their people in everything they did.

1. MOSIAH TEACHES CORRECT PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT (Mosiah 29)

With the departure of the four sons of Mosiah on a mission, Mosiah was left without an heir to the throne, and he therefore determined to change the Nephite government from kings to judges. In his explanation to his people, we can find a wonderful discussion of good government. Consider the following verses and ponder what they teach about the kind of government that “will make for the peace of the people" (Mosiah 29:10).

-[Mosiah 29:11] Appointed “wise men" to positions of leadership. (See D&C 98:10)

-[Mosiah 29:11-14] Established laws that rested on a foundation of the commandments of God and promoted peace, security, and happiness.

-[Mosiah 29:16-24] Since wicked leaders “pervert the ways of all righteousness," their power was limited.

-[Mosiah 29:25-27] Decisions were to be made according to “the voice of the people."

-[Mosiah 29:28,29,31] Officials were to be made accountable for their decisions and actions. (See D&C 134:1)

-[Mosiah 29:32] Laws were to provide that “every man may enjoy his rights and privileges." (See D&C 98:5)

-[Mosiah 29:30,34,38] “Every man [was expected to] bear his part" and “answer for his own sins."

Who do the people choose as their first chief judge? (Mosiah 29:42) Why do you think they chose Alma?

2. AS CHIEF JUDGE, ALMA FACES PROBLEMS OF PRIESTCRAFT, REBELLION, AND PRIDE. (Alma 1-4.)

A. In the first year of his reign as chief judge, what problem did Alma face? (Alma 1:1-6) What was Nehor teaching that was so attractive? (Alma 1:3-5,16)

We have traditionally taught that Satan's plan was to force all men to be righteous. The scriptures do not say this, however. They simply tell us that Satan “sought to destroy the agency of man." (Moses 4:3) I suspect that there are two ways to do this. One is to remove all choices. The other is to remove all consequences from choices. It there is no accountability there is no agency. Might it be possible that Lucifer's plan was like the doctrine expounded by Nehor in Alma 1:4?

And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life (Alma 1:4).

What if Lucifer said to us in our pre-mortal councils, “I will save you no matter what you do." That certainly sounds like a more attractive plan than the one than this one: “I will make you do what is right no matter how you feel about it."

Anyway, Nehor's declaration of universal salvation without effort was so attractive that “many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money." (Alma 4:5)

What makes this doctrine so dangerous? (Alma 1:12; see also 2 Nephi 26:29-31)

What crime did Nehor commit as he about preaching? (Alma 1:7-9)

What judgement does Alma pronounce? (Alma 1:12-15)

We also face apostate doctrine from time to time. What does Gideon teach us to do in order to withstand such doctrine? (Alma 1:7) Gideon “admonished [him] with the words of God." What spirit should we avoid as we confront such doctrine? (Alma 1:21-22; see also D&C 38:41)

B. In the fifth year of the Alma's reign, what problem did he face? (Alma 2:1-10) What did the Amlicites do in order to be distinguished from the Nephites? (Alma 3:4,13,18) What other significance did this mark have? (Alma 3:14-19)

What are some things today, like the marks of the Amlicites, that might show an association with the world rather than an association with the Lord and his people? Why is it important for Latter-day Saints not to have these distinguishing characteristics? Is it possible that certain kinds of jewelry and clothing and haircuts mark us in much the same way that the Amlicites marked themselves?

What are the things that distinguish Latter-day Saints from the world? The Lord has given us a number of blessings that keep us from being too much like the world. How does the Word of Wisdom make us different from the world? What about our garments? What other things come to mind?

C. What had been the condition of the church in the second year of the reign of the judges? (Alma 1:23-31) How long did it take for the people of the Lord to turn to pride and worldliness? (Alma 4:6) Why is it so difficult for a prosperous people to avoid pride and materialism?

"The worst fear I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and His people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty and all manner of persecution and be true. But my greatest fear is that they cannot stand wealth" (Brigham Young, cited in Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.48).

What can a righteous person or people do to avoid this natural tendency? (See Alma 1:27)

What problems does Alma face in the 8th year of the reign of the judges? (See Alma 4:6-14) What would Alma have seen among his people to cause him to have written these observations? What do people do who are waxing proud? (4:6) What does costly apparel have to do with pride and riches?

Why do these financial transgressions lead to the conditions in Alma 4:9?

And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God.

We are told in 4:10 that the “wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block" to the non-members. Have you ever encountered a situation in which the actions of a member prevented a non-member from taking the Church seriously?

3. ALMA RESIGNS THE JUDGMENT SEAT IN ORDER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL (Alma 4:15-20)

Alma's reaction to the problems in the church was to become very sorrowful (Alma 4:15). How did Alma choose to deal with the problem? (Alma 4:16-19) What does the phrase “bearing down in pure testimony" suggest to you? What is a pure testimony? Have you heard many of them in your fast and testimony meetings? What is suggested by the phrase, bearing down in this context?

Why is it that the most powerful political figure in the nation of the Nephites could see “no way that he might reclaim them" except for bearing down in pure testimony?

What does Alma decide to do? (Alma 4:16,17)

Why does Alma select this solution? (Alma 4:19) Why is the preaching of the word the best solution to these kinds of problems?

What problems facing the world today are also best dealt with by the preaching of the gospel?

Why are some problems better solved by the preaching of the gospel than by the decrees of government?

CONCLUSION:

We live in a world replete with social programs and governmental agencies. Members of the legislature are frantic to communicate their willingness to help with state and national problems by throwing money at them. But the truth is that we will probably never change people lives by changing their environment. The Savior had all the tools to do that, much as Alma did.

Christ could feed thousands with food that had been intended to feed a small boy. He could heal the sick. He could raise the dead. He had the power to eradicate every social problem. Just after he fed the 5000 (see John 6) some of the Jews wanted to “take him by force, to make him a king" (John 6:15). But Jesus “departed again into a mountain himself alone" (John 6:15).

Jesus knew what Alma knew—that the only way to really change people is to start on the inside. The sequence looks like this:

CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE

HEART ATTITUDE LIFE ENVIRONMENT

Book of Mormon Lesson 20: "My Soul Is Pained No More"

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Sometimes it's hard to forget our own mistakes - so it can be heard to believe God can fully forgive us if we repent. But Alma the Younger is a supreme example that God means it when He says "I will forgive."

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Like the Bible, [the Book of Mormon] is a volume of holy writ that speaks forth the mind and will of the Almighty. Like the Bible, it invites men to forsake the world and live as becometh saints. Like the Bible, it has such an impact upon the hearts of men that they are prepared to die in defense of their beliefs. Already the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh have left Babylon and come to Zion with songs of everlasting joy because of it. And before the end of the world, which is the premillennial destruction of the wicked, and before the end of the earth, which shall not occur until after the Millennium, the Book of Mormon shall so affect men that the whole earth and all its peoples will have been influenced and governed by it.” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p.170)

INTRODUCTION:

If you were a bookie making bets in Zarahemla between 100 and 92 BC, with the fore-knowledge provided by the Book of Mormon, you could have made a million dollars a day by giving long odds on this proposition: “I'm willing to wager 10,000 senines that Alma the Younger will one day be President of the Church!"

Anyone with money would have been delighted to get some of that action. The chance that Alma would one day be President of the Church was about the same as the chance that a curelom would learn to play the clarinet. But in about 91 BC, Alma became the leader of the Church, and the Chief Judge as well. All of which teaches us a major message of these chapters: WHEN THE LORD SAYS, "I WILL FORGIVE," WHAT HE REALLY MEANS IS, "I WILL FORGIVE!"

1. LIMHI AND ALMA'S PEOPLE JOIN MOSIAH'S PEOPLE IN THE LAND OF ZARAHEMLA (Mosiah 25)

At the end of Mosiah, the Nephite nation consists of the Mulekites, the Nephites of Zarahemla, the people of Limhi, the people of Alma, and the children of the Amulonites (see Mosiah 25:12). These five groups became one group under the leadership of king Mosiah II, son of Benjamin. But “there were not so many of the people of Nephi and of the people of Zarahemla as there were of the Lamanites; yea, they were not half so numerous" (Mosiah 25:3).

The decision of Limhi and Alma and the Amulonites and the Mulekites to join the people of Mosiah is instructive. They had a desire, I suspect, to associate with people led by a prophet of God. They wanted the fellowship of disciples of Christ. The request of the people of Limhi for baptism shows their commitment to this concept.

Lucifer would like to divide us. If he could find a way to drive a wedge between us and the people of the Lord, between us and the prophet, between us and the Spirit, between us and members of our family, his efforts to make us miserable would be much more effective.

2. MANY CHURCH MEMBERS ARE LED INTO SIN BY UNBELIEVERS (Mosiah 26; 27:1-7)

The challenge of conveying the testimonies of the fathers to the hearts of the children confronts every generation. But some generations seem to have handled it better than others. Many Nephites must have agonized when they saw their children make some of the same mistakes and suffer some of the same consequences as their parents. The dilemma facing the Nephites in Mosiah 26:1-4 is a classic example.

Benjamin's sermon was instrumental in helping convert a nation (see Mosiah 2-5). Everyone who heard that sermon, believed, repented, and received a mighty change of heart. Is it possible that these converts assumed that their children would acquire the same conversion experience by osmosis? By association? By the trickle-down effect? We do not know, but is it possible that they were so converted that they failed to pay the price to convert their kids, never dreaming that their children would need more than the opportunity to live among believers? Whatever the cause,

it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers. They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God (Mosiah 26:1-4).

These members of the 'rising generation' had three problems, and the sequence in which those problems are mentioned is critical. First (because they had been too small to understand the words of Benjamin), they did not believe the traditions of their fathers. The did not believe in the resurrection nor in the coming of Christ. Their first problem was THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE in Christ and his mission.

And “because of their unbelief", the word of God was incomprehensible to them. Their second problem, which came directly as a result of the first, was that THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND. This increased the problem, for their hearts were hardened.

The result of this lack of understanding was that “they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church . . . they would not call upon the Lord their God (Mosiah 26:1-4). Simply stated, THEY WOULD NOT OBEY the commandments.

I believe that this is the way it always happens. When people will not obey the word of the Lord, it is not necessarily because they do not want to obey. It is often because they do not understand. And they do not understand because they do not believe. President Packer spoke of this matter in a Christmas devotional at BYU.

. . . we have every encouragement to adopt the attitude, "seeing is believing." The remarkable thing is that if you hold that spirit, you do not have the hope or the chance of ever finding Christmas as it ought to be, because, you see, it is just the other way around, "believing is seeing." (Boyd K. Packer, BYU Speeches, December 19, 1962, p.5, emphasis added)

People who believe will see—will understand—the meaning behind the commandments; and seeing, they will have an increased inclination to obey.

I have attended some wonderful firesides about the importance of missionary work and temple marriage. Stakes have reviewed their statistics, felt concern, and gathered the youth and some great speakers to proclaim the importance of this gospel duty that needed attention. We had a missionary fireside a few years ago in my current stake. A returned mission president spoke. A returned missionary spoke. A missionary who had just received his call also spoke. My son was electrified by the meeting. He had never been more excited to go on a mission. But he had always planned on going. My guess is that such a meeting will never inspire one who does not believe in Christ enough to give two years of his life to serve. The solution for those who do not want to serve is to help them believe in Christ. Everything else will come in its place, for when they believe they will understand. And when they understand, they will be more likely to obey.

Of course, one of the best ways to get people to believe in Christ is to get them into the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Perhaps part of the condemnation of which President Benson spoke so frequently, a condemnation related to our use of the Book of Mormon, devolved from our failure to use this book to impart belief and testimony to our children. When I first began to understand this principle from the first four verses of Mosiah 26, I discussed it with my wife. We decided that for one year we would focus on Christ in every Family Home Evening in order to assist our children in learning to believe in Christ and his mission.

The problem among the people of Mosiah increased.

For it came to pass that [the unbelievers] did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church (Mosiah 26:6).

This was new ground of course, for “there had not any such thing happened before in the church" (Mosiah 26:10). Alma took the matter to the King who deferred to Alma, who then went to the Lord, “for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God" (Mosiah 26:13).

Note that the Lord answered Alma about this matter “after he had poured out his whole soul to God" (Mosiah 26:14). Consider that phrase. What does it mean to pour out your whole soul in prayer? This is a phrase that appears 12 times in the Book of Mormon. (Here is a list: Enos 1:9; Mosiah 14:2; 24:12; 24:21; 26:14; Alma 19:14; 34:26; 46:17; 58:10; Hel. 7:11; 7:14; Morm. 3:12) Even for one as righteous as Alma (in 26:20, the Lord covenants with Alma that he will have eternal life), the effort to obtain light and knowledge is a strenuous one.

As the Lord conveys his will to Alma, he makes a remarkable statement about forgivenessCa statement that is worth a prominent place on every refrigerator in Zion. “And whomsoever you receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive." (Mosiah 26:22, emphasis added) Words such as eagerly, graciously, readily, and willingly are synonyms for freely. Mark this verse and memorize it. If we come to Christ and believe in his name, he will eagerly, graciously, readily, and willingly forgive us. He will freely forgive! Note also that the first step for receiving this forgiveness is that we believe in his name. And he also promises “as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me" (Mosiah 26:30)

A related verse in Isaiah teaches this same truth:

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7, emphasis added).

The Lord's revealed pattern for dealing with those who sin is still followed by the Church (see Mosiah 26:29-32).

In a fast and testimony meeting last Sunday, a member of my ward pointed out a phrase in a chapter I have read often that speaks of this desire of the Lord to bless us. The phrase is in Luke 15:2: “This man receiveth sinners.”

3. ALMA THE Younger AND THE SONS OF MOSIAH ARE VISITED BY AN ANGEL (Mosiah 27:8-31; Alma 36:6-23)

Among the youthful unbelievers tormenting the Nephites were the son of Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Alma gets special attention in the verses of Mosiah 27, although we may assume that he acted in almost every affair with the support of the King's sons and a few others. Notice the descriptions of the wickedness of this man:

-(27:8) “very wicked"

-(27:8) “an idolatrous man"

-(27:8) “he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities"

-(27:9) “he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church"

-(27:9) he was guilty of “stealing away the hearts of the people"

-(27:9) he caused “much dissension among the people"

-(27:9) he provided “a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over [the people]"

-(27:10) “he was going about to destroy the church of God"

-(27:10) he was “seeking to lead astray the people of the Lord"

-(27:11) he was “going about rebelling against God"

-(28:4) he and his companions were “the very vilest of sinners"

-(Alma 36:14) he had “murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction"

This review of Alma's iniquities is sobering. I have referred to him from time to time as John the Baptist for Satan. He helped prepare the way for Lucifer to steal souls. How it must have pained his father's heart to see him in such a condition. We can imagine that a multitude of words had been spoken as the father tried to reason with his son. But the son would not listen and father Alma turned to the only possible source of assistance. Alma the elder might have said what Lincoln said:

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go" (cited by Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1963, p.109).

Finally an angel appeared to the rebels, telling them the Church was the Lord's (see Mosiah 27:13) and commanding them to leave it alone. The angel reported to Alma the Younger that the provocation for his visit was the prayers of Alma's father and others of the Nephite people:

Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith (Mosiah 27:14).

Every parent who has a wayward child ought to remember this verse. Prayers have great power! I am convinced that every prayer of faith by an anxious parent for a struggling child is heard and answered. Angels do not often appear, but someone appearsBa bishop, a home teacher, a friend, a seminary teacher with a powerful witness of the Church and the work of God and of the danger of opposing it. Unfortunately, not everyone is as willing to listen as young Alma was. Also, we would be making a mistake if we insisted that every conversion occur in the way that this one began to occur. President Benson taught:

We must be careful as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were; Alma the Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the Atonement can reach even those in despair.

But we must be careful as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said, “were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not (3 Nephi 9:20). (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1989, p. 5).

Alma was paralyzed by the announcement of the angel. The sons of Mosiah picked up their friend and carried him home. The reaction of the father to the appearance of his comatose son was interesting: “and his father rejoiced . . ." Alma the elder had seen his son come home in a lot of ways, but never in a better way than this.

It came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort: For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit (Mosiah 27:23,24).

Unless we are careful, the apparent simplicity of this spiritual rebirth may confuse us. Alma, wicked as he was, did not have an interview with an angel, sleep for three days, and then announce his conversion. He said this of the experience his soul had while his body lay unmoving, “after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God" (Mosiah 27:28, emphasis added). Does that sound easy?

Alma uses a word—a verb—in Mosiah 27: 28,29, that is most interesting. The verb is snatch. Alma praises the Lord who “in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning . . . I was in the darkest abyss . . . My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more." The word was used again in the Book of Mormon in Alma 26:17 by Ammon to describe what the Lord had done for him and his brothers.

Think of that snatching from the other side of the veil. Consider the willingness, indeed the longing of the Redeemer to apply his atoning blood to the spiritual wounds of these young men. Alma's witness that he was snatched “out of an everlasting burning" reminds me of a story told by Elder M. Russell Ballard.

I remember reading about a fire fighter in the eastern United States who ran into a burning house to rescue several children from an arson-induced fire. While his colleagues battled the blaze to keep it from spreading to other structures in the neigh- boyhood, this man dashed into the building again and again, each time emerging with a child in his arms. After rescuing a fifth child, he started into the inferno once more. Neighbors shouted that there were no more children in the family. But he insisted that he had seen a baby in a cradle, and he dove into the intensifying heat.

Moments after he disappeared into the fire and smoke, a horrifying explosion shook the building and the entire structure collapsed. It was several hours before fire fighters were able to locate their colleague's body. They found him in the nursery near the crib, huddled protectively over a life-sized . . . and practically unscratched . . . doll.

I'm overwhelmed by that story. I'm touched by the fire fighter's courageous and selfless devotion to duty, and I'm thankful that there are men and women in the world who are willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of others.

As I think about such heroism, however, I'm reminded that the most heroic act of all time ever was performed in behalf of all mankind by the Son of God. In a very real sense, all humanity . . . past, present, and future . . . was trapped behind a wall of flame that was fueled and fanned by our own faithlessness. Sin separated mortals from God (see Romans 6:23), and would do so forever unless a way was found to put out the fires of sin and rescue us from ourselves (Our Search for Happiness, p. 11).

Alma and his friends were not the only ones who have been snatched!

As Alma recounted his conversion to his son Helaman, he added significant insights to our understanding of the atonement and the willingness of the Lord to forgive. Perhaps those insights can be best summarized by this statement from President Boyd K. Packer:

You need not know everything before the power of the Atonement will work for you. Have faith in Christ. It begins to work the day you ask (Ensign, May 1997, p. 10).

As you know, there are many marvelous comparisons in the accounts of Alma's conversion in Mosiah 27 and Alma 36. One of those, for me, has always been especially moving. As Alma the Younger confronted the horror of his rebellion and sinfulness, and contemplated an appearance before the bar of God in such a woeful condition, he said,

the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror (Alma 36:14).

But after the change, what he called in Mosiah 27 being “born of the Spirit" (Mosiah 27:24), he said this:

Methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there (Alma 36:22, emphasis added).

Many times in the scriptures we are told that Christ has made possible through his suffering our reconciliation with the Father, for “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18) Alma's transformation from inexpressible horror at the thought of God's presence, to a divine longing to be there, is among the most powerful witnesses in the scriptures of the reality of the power of that reconciliation.

4. ALMA AND THE SONS OF MOSIAH DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO TEACHING THE GOSPEL (Mosiah 27:32-28:20; Alma 36:24)

Latter-day Saints believe that individuals who are truly born of God gladly give a life of service to their fellow beings—they share the gospel message, sacrifice their own time, energy, and resources for the benefit of others, and in general hold high the Light of Christ, being faithful to all the commandments (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1, BORN OF GOD).

The only proper response, when we are permitted to view ourselves and our lives in the startling light of gospel clarity, is to try to kindle other lights. Having received the witness, we are obligated to share the witness. As the Lord said, “It becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor" (D&C 88:81).

And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation . . . (Mosiah 27:32).

But there was more to this mission than reflecting the light of Christ.

And they traveled throughout all the lands of Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them (Mosiah 27:35).

CONCLUSION:

I was standing by the side of a busy street in Phoenix years ago, my 4-year old son Michael by my side, waiting for a break in traffic. The road had no parking spaces at the sides. The outside lanes ended at the curb where we stood, automobiles racing by just a few feet away from us. Suddenly my son jerked his hand from mine and started across the street. A vehicle swerved and raced by, missing him by the tiniest of margins. As my mind and eyes registered the impending disaster and the narrow escape, my legs gave way. I grabbed (snatched!) my son and sat down on the grass by the thoroughfare. My heart rate had leapt to triple digits in seconds. My legs could not support me. I was trembling in every extremity from the most devastating fear I had ever known.

That experience has come back to me from time to time as I have read about the conversion of the Sons of Mosiah and their associates, and about their longing to serve a mission among the Lamanites. They were motivated by their own rescue, and their own forgiveness. But most of all they were motivated by fear—

Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble (Mosiah 28:3).

What I had experienced at the thought of a physical catastrophe, they experienced at the thought of a spiritual catastrophe. And that is a lesson worth learning. Which is worse? To break an arm or a commandment? To poison a stomach or a spirit? To lose a limb or to lose a testimony. The record in Mosiah makes it quite clear how Alma and his companions would answer that question.

Teachings of George Albert Smith 10: The Scriptures, the Most Valuable Library in the World

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "God loves all His children. He wants all of them to return to Him. He desires everyone to be in tune with the sacred music of faith." - Quentin L. Cook

Excerpt from "In Tune with the Music of Faith" by Elder Quentin L. Cook, April 2012 General Conference:

Clearly, a dividing line between those who hear the music of faith and those who are tone-deaf or off-key is the active study of the scriptures. I was deeply touched years ago that a beloved prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, emphasized the need to continually read and study the scriptures. He said: “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”24

I hope we are reading the Book of Mormon with our children regularly. I have discussed this with my own children. They have shared with me two observations. First, persistence in reading the scriptures daily as a family is the key. My daughter in a lighthearted way describes their early-morning efforts with mostly teenage children to consistently read the scriptures. She and her husband wake up early in the morning and move through the blurry mist to grasp the iron railing that lines their staircase to where their family gathers to read the word of God. Persistence is the answer, and a sense of humor helps. It requires great effort from every family member every day, but it is worth the effort. Temporary setbacks are overshadowed by persistence.

The second is how our youngest son and his wife are reading the scriptures with their young family. Two out of their four children are not old enough to read. For the five-year-old, they have five finger signals to which he responds in order for him to participate fully in the family scripture reading. The signal for finger 1 is for him to repeat, “And it came to pass” whenever it appears in the Book of Mormon. I have to admit that I love the fact that the phrase appears so often. Incidentally, for the interest of young families, finger signal 2 is “And thus we see”; fingers 3, 4, and 5 are chosen by the parents based on the words contained in the chapter they are reading.

We know that family scripture study and family home evenings are not always perfect. Regardless of the challenges you face, do not become discouraged.

To read the full talk, click here.

Two writers use Book of Mormon to score political points

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:05:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Recent comments by Martin Bashir and by a blogger in Salon magazine deserve rebuke for using the Book of Mormon to score political points. It’s been an unexpected season of cherry-picking from the Book of Mormon, one with frustrating but hopeful consequences.

Let’s pretend I said this: “I’m voting for Mitt Romney because he says he’s for lower taxes, and the Book of Mormon says taxes should be low. I follow the Book of Mormon, so I’m voting for Mitt!”

You would likely think what I was saying was simplistic, small-minded and inappropriate.

Defending the Faith: A simple explanation works best for the Restoration

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:19:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

We left off last week with the notion that the Book of Mormon was plagiarized from a manuscript written by Solomon Spalding, who had died in 1816. Sidney Rigdon, so the story goes, stole the work from Spalding's family and, for whatever reason, used it to set the young farmer Joseph Smith up as a prophet.

Though lacking any real historical support, this was the dominant non-Mormon theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon for more than a century. In recent decades, though, it's fallen on hard times.

It didn't help, probably, that, when Spalding's lost manuscript was found, it was also found to bear no significant resemblance to the Book of Mormon.

Book of Mormon Lesson 19: "None Could Deliver Them But the Lord"

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The middle chapters of Mosiah are full of examples that God is perfectly reliable. We must know this for ourselves and trust in the promises of the Lord.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Few men on earth, either in or out of the Church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about. Few are they among men who know the part it has played and will yet play in preparing the way for the coming of Him of whom it is a new witness. Few are they who believe its truths and abide by its precepts to such a degree that they would qualify to read the sealed portion of the plates and learn the full account of what the Lord has in store for the people of the world (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p.159).

INTRODUCTION:

One of the overarching messages of these accounts from the end of the book of Mosiah is that God keeps his promises. Over and over again as these dramas unfold, we see evidence—powerful evidence—of the truthfulness of the Lord's declaration in D&C 1:38:

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

As you study and ponder and teach these chapters, watch for the fulfillment of the Lord's promises made to the people of Nephi in the Land of Nephi, and to all men.

1. ALMA TEACHES THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT AND BAPTIZES MANY PEOPLE (Mosiah 18)

Alma, converted by the words of Abinadi and the Spirit of the Lord, “repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people and began to teach the words of Abinadi . . ." (Mosiah 18:1, emphasis added). He went privately rather than openly like Abinadi. I am fully confident that he did not give many first discussions to Noah or his priests during this time. He had narrowly escaped martyrdom himself and he seems to have had a different purpose than Abinadi. Alma's mission was to convert. Abinadi's was to warn. Alma's message was also the message of the atonement—“the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven" (Mosiah 18:2). Alma was another person who had “beautiful feet." And he taught anyone who would listen. “And as many as would hear his word he did teach" (Mosiah 18:3).

This brings to mind Paul's counsel to Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). All of us serve under the same obligation as Timothy and Alma. When an opportunity to preach presents itself, we must preach. The “season"---the practicality, the preparation, our personal fears---cannot be considerations.

Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say (D&C 100:5,6).

We will say a bit more about this later in the lesson.

Note that Alma taught them privately. The threat of discovery and destruction by Noah was a dark shadow over every meeting, every sermon, every action associated with this tiny group of believers. Still they met and preached and acted, for their love of the work and the word surpassed their fear of the king. So, in spite of the danger—the searches (Mosiah 18:5)—they met and worshiped. Their gathering place was in a grove of trees near a body of pure water in a place called Mormon.

Finally, “After many days," when a significant crowd had gathered, Alma preached about repentance and redemption and faith and then offered this people the opportunity to enter into the covenant of baptism.

A careful analysis of these verses of covenant and promise teach wonderful lessons about the obligations we assume by entering into the water, and the obligations God assumes if we abide by our promises (Mosiah 18:8-10).

OUR PART

1. A desire to come into the fold of God

2. A desire to be called his people

3. A willingness to bear one another's burdens

4. A willingness to mourn with those that mourn

5. A willingness to comfort those that stand in need of comfort

6. A commitment to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places

7. A determination to serve him

8. A determination to keep his commandments

GOD'S PART

1. He will redeem us

2. We will be numbered with those of the first resurrection

3. We will have eternal life

4. He will pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us

I read a story the other day on the Internet. I love the net, but I get crazy when I find wonderful stories and striking insights and important information without any sources cited. However, I'd like to share this story here because it teaches a great lesson about our part of the baptismal covenant, whether the story is true or not. We'll call it a parable—“The Parable of the Brick and the Jaguar."

A young executive was driving his brand new Jaguar in an area where there were usually several children playing in the street. He thought he saw something darting our from between parked cars and slowed down. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting . . . “Just what the heck are you doing? . . . That's a new car and the damage that brick you threw is going to cost me a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

“Please mister, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop . . ." Tears were dripping down the boy's cheeks as he pointed around the parked car. “It's my brother," he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back in his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver . . . lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK.

“Thank you and God bless you," the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the street toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar: a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone had to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

God whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, he has to throw a “brick” at you (Author unknown).

The sacramental prayers remind us of our baptismal obligations to take the name of the Lord and to keep his commandments and to always remember him. I have wished on occasion that we had a regular reminder of the other part of the baptismal covenant. We have promised to bear one another's burdens, and to mourn and to comfort. But so often it takes a brick to get our attention.

We exert our forces and offer our resources when hurricanes devastate the poor in Central America, or when floods leave thousands homeless in Africa, or when tsunami’s devastate Indonesia or Japan. I believe that the baptismal covenant requires us to be just as willing to act in behalf of those who suffer silently in our own neighborhood—the widow, the orphan, the blind, the halt, the lonely, the poor.

Elie Weisel writes:

If there is one word that described all the woes and threats that exist today, it's indifference. You see tragedy on televison for three minutes and them comes something else and something else. Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference (From the Citation for an Honorary Doctoral Degree, awarded to Elie Weisel at the 114th Summer Commencement Exercises at BYU, August 17, 1989).

We are prohibited by the covenant we made at baptism from being indifferent to the suffering around us. In Matthew 25, the Lord made our duties crystal clear in his parable of the sheep and the goats. There we are taught this:

If we ignore misery when we encounter it and could reduce it, we are not disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. If, when we have the opportunity and capacity we fail to minister to those who hunger or thirst, to those who are sick or lonely or incarcerated, then it is as though we had abandoned the Savior himself in his hour of need, and without repentance, we may Ago away into everlasting punishment." [Matthew 25:46 (34-36)] Our prayers and professions are hypocritical. In practice, our indifference is a denial of our faith (Misery and Joy, by Ted Gibbons, p. 95).

The people of Alma “clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: this is the desire of our hearts" (Mosiah 18:11). Then Alma baptized them, and organized a church. (Mosiah 18:17) This is the first mention of a church in America in the Book of Mormon.

Mosiah 18 gives a sweet view of the articles and covenants of Alma's church: the provisions made for the teaching and meeting of the people, that which the priests were to receive for their labor (18:26), the doctrine that was to be preached, etc.

He also organized the people to assist in the application of their baptismal covenants.

And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul. And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants (Mosiah 18:27-29).

Our part of the baptismal covenant contains one other provision worth a brief mention here. We are under covenant to stand as witnesses of God always and everywhere. There are a multitude of wonderful examples of disciples who have done this very thing under the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances. Abinadi and Alma come to mind at once. But in my study of the Old Testament this year, I found an example that I have often overlooked.

In 2 Kings 5, we read the story of Naaman, the captain of the host of Syria, a great an honorable man, and a mighty man of valor, who happened to be a leper (2K5:1).

Serving in the home of this man was an Israelite slave, a little maid “brought away captive out of the land Israel" (2K5:2). Consider her circumstances. She is an innocent victim of a war waged by men she probably does not know over issues she may not understand. She has been torn from her family and her religious community. But when she learns that her master has leprosy, she stands as a witness. The God in whom she has trusted has allowed her life to go in directions she could never have imagined. Every hope she had seemed to have been destroyed. All of her faith and obedience had not kept her safe, home, happy. And yet, when the opportunity presents itself, she stands as a witness.

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy (2K5:3).

She is a wonderful example for those of us who are under covenant to stand as witnesses at all times and in all things and in all places.

Noah learned of a movement among his people, sent spies to watch Alma and his people, and then an army to destroy them (Mosiah 18:32,33). Alma received a warning of the coming of the king's army, and he and his people departed into the wilderness.

2. KING NOAH BETRAYS HIS PEOPLE AND SUFFERS DEATH BY FIRE (Mosiah 19)

A certain amount of political intrigue followed the escape of Alma and his people. Part of the people began to oppose the king and contentions followed. Finally the people of Noah seem to have begun to see their king for what he really was. Gideon would have sent the king to his eternal reward except for the timely attack of the Lamanites (Mosiah 19:6-8).

As the people fled, Noah commanded his followers to abandon their families and follow him, for “he himself did flee before them . . ." (Mosiah 19:9).

Many would not do this thing, but “the rest left their wives and children and fled" (Mosiah 19:12). We know from the records that the wicked priests were among those who abandoned their families in favor of their own lives. And we know the name of at least one child who was left behind by a fleeing father: Limhi. He may have had a family of his own by then. The record refers to him as a “just man" (Mosiah 19:17), and it may be that he refused to leave his own family. Either way, Ahe was not ignorant of the iniquities of his father.”

The Lamanites captured those who remained behind, and they conferred the kingdom on Limhi, who made an oath to give to the Lamanites one half of all they possessed (see Mosiah 19:26).

Those who fled soon had a change of heart, however. We learn that

they had sworn in their hearts that they would return to the land of Nephi, and if their wives and their children were slain, and also those that had tarried with them, that they would seek revenge, and also perish with them. And the king commanded them that they should not return; and they were angry with the king, and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire (Mosiah 19:19,20).

You may remember that I suggested that one of the messages of these chapters is that the Lord keeps his promises. All of them. Without excuse. The death of Noah by fire fulfilled one such promise, a promise mentioned in Mosiah 12:3; 13:10; and 17:18. Abinadi had predicted that those who followed Noah with such devotion during his spiral into iniquity would one day value his life “as a garment in a hot furnace." We see here that they did.

But there was another promise—another prophecy—made by Abinadi to the people of Noah. That promise, found in Mosiah 12:1-8, was that these rebellious Nephites would be brought into bondage (12:2) and would be smitten and slain (12:2) because of their refusal to repent. That bondage began, as we have seen, in Mosiah 19. The fulfillment of the rest of the prophecy, with regard to the people of Limhi, we will see in Mosiah 21 and 22.

3. LIMHI'S PEOPLE ARE CHASTENED AND EVENTUALLY DELIVERED BY THE LORD (Mosiah 20-22)

The wicked priests ought to be in the Guinness Book of World Records under misery. Their drunkenness and immorality, their support of king Noah, their abandonment of their wives and children, their flight into the wilderness . . . and if that were not enough, they were able to initiate through their iniquity and lack of self control to initiate a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, following two years of relative peace (see Mosiah 20:29), by kidnaping 24 Lamanite daughters. And there is more.

One of Limhi's great desires was that these men should be captured. They were thieves.

And he caused that his people should watch the land round about, that by some means they might take those priests that fled into the wilderness, who had stolen the daughters of the Lamanites, and that had caused such a great destruction to come upon them. For they were desirous to take them that they might punish them; for they had come into the land of Nephi by night, and carried off their grain and many of their precious things; therefore they laid wait for them (Mosiah 21:20,21).

The misery the Nephites experienced at the hands of the Lamanites was in fulfillment of the prophecies of Abinadi.

And it came to pass that after many days the Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger against the Nephites, and they began to come into the borders of the land round about. Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their cheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled (Mosiah 21:2-4).

The people were in agony and “did afflict the king sorely" (21:6) with their desires to go to battle. They went, three times, and were defeated each time. Then, finally, it happened.

And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies. And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions (Mosiah 21:13,14).

Their humility and their cries did not go unnoticed, but . . .

the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage. And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger (Mosiah 21:15,16).

In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord said this:

They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me (D&C 101:7,8).

We have seen too many TV shows. We are not accustomed to problems than cannot be solved quickly. But the Lord is working on the composition of the human soul, where eternal changes are almost always prolonged.

We should remember that people don't get in serious trouble in one step. I don't think anyone steps off a precipice into the depths of immorality and apostasy. They slide down the slippery sides of the chasm. When they hit bottom, it's interesting that usually they want to take one step out. There's not one step out any more than there was one step in. It's a long, hard climb. Mostly they have to crawl to get outCon their knees. The best way out is to get into the organized activity pattern of the Church, to stay in it and resist the temptation to be drawn out of it. When people get out of this pattern, penalties come. They find themselves unhappy . . . and no one wants to be unhappy (Elder Boyd K. Packer, Improvement Era, May 1970, p. 7).

Chapter 21 explains the arrest of Ammon and some of his men from Zarahemla. Limhi thought perhaps they were some of the wicked priests of Noah (see 21:23.24). We also learn in this chapter the of the manner in which the plates of the Book of Ether were discovered (see 21:25-27).

In Mosiah 22, the Nephites escape from the Lamanites and return to the land of Zarahemla where they join the people of Nephi. This escape is fulfillment of another promise of the Lord to his children.

Verily I say unto you, notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy (D&C 101:9).

4. THE LORD DELIVERS ALMA'S PEOPLE FROM BONDAGE (Mosiah 23,24)

The righteousness of Alma's people did not prevent the prophecies of Abinadi from being fulfilled. But their experience with their enemies and with bondage was a much different one from the experience of the people of Noah and Limhi.

When his people asked Alma to be king, he deferred. He had seen (so had they for that matter!) how much damage a wicked king could do to a righteous people. Nephi (see 2 Nephi 5:18) and the brother of Jared (see Ether 6:22,23) had similar concerns. Alma defined the issue clearly when he warned:

And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments (Mosiah 23:14)

This is a lesson worth exploring. We cannot be too careful about those to whom we give our allegiance.

I had a friend in high school. He came from a broken home and lived with a father who beat him frequently and made life miserable for him, his younger brother, and his mother. But I liked him. He was bold and creative and resourceful. From time to time he would confide in me that one day he and his brother were going away . . . far away. When the time was right, and the opportunity appeared, they would find a way to leave their father behind forever. Usually following such a sharing of confidence, J.M. would ask me if I would come with them.

I was always flattered that he would ask, and I always said Yes. The truth is that I had no need or desire to go. My family was great! Mom and Dad were warm and loving and I was safe. But I wanted to be accepted, to appear adventurous. After a couple of years, the family moved to a nearby state. Months later we got a newspaper clipping in the mail from the mother of the two boys. J.M. had learned enough by reading and observation to convince himself and his brother that he could fly a plane. One night they went to the airport, stole and Piper Cub, and took off. At 5000 feet J.M. apparently lost control of the aircraft. It crashed and they were both killed.

I remember sitting at the kitchen table reading the article with my mother. What if they had attempted the flight while they lived in my ward? What if I had been invited to come along? I might have trusted J.M. enough to go. It could have cost me everything.

And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments (Mosiah 23:14)

We cannot be too careful about whom we decide to trust.

The Lamanite army that had followed Limhi and his people into the wilderness became lost. In their wanderings they had found the people of the wicked priests in a place they called Amulon (23:31). Then they stumbled upon the people of Alma in Helam.

In the book of Mosiah we see four different groups of people react to the coming of a Lamanite army. Their reactions are diverse and most enlightening.

ZENIFF (see Mosiah 10:9,10). “And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness; and I also caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man according to his age. And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle."

NOAH (see Mosiah 19:9). “And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their children."

LIMHI (see Mosiah 20:7-9). “Therefore they sent their armies forth; yea, even the king himself went before his people; and they went up to the land of Nephi to destroy the people of Limhi. And now Limhi had discovered them from the tower, even all their preparations for war did he discover; therefore he gathered his people together, and laid wait for them in the fields and in the forests. And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had come up, that the people of Limhi began to fall upon them from their waiting places, and began to slay them."

ALMA (see Mosiah 23:27-29). “Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children. And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites. And Alma and his brethren went forth and delivered themselves up into their hands; and the Lamanites took possession of the land of Helam."

There is a lesson here, and it is the lesson of Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

When the Lamanite king gave Amulon permission to rule Helam and the people of Alma, things became nearly unbearable. But from that experience came a wonderful lesson. I wrote the following several years ago.

The Nephites who had joined the church at the Waters of Mormon and who had settled at Helam were placed in bondage by the Lamanites. (See Mosiah 18, 23, and 24.) Amulon, Alma's former colleague and present enemy, was made king over the people of Alma, and he undertook to make their lives miserable. He "exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put taskmasters over them." (Mosiah 24:9.)
And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death. (Mosiah 24:10, 11.)
In the bitterness of his apostasy, Amulon could not bear the shame generated by the worship of his subjects. To end his discomfort, he installed the death penalty for prayer:
And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. (Mosiah 24: 25.)
The Lord responded, “Lift up your heads and be of good comfort . . . I will deliver [you] out of bondage. And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders." (Mosiah 24:13, 14.)

An account of a similar incident comes from the Massacre at Haun's Mill in 1838. Almost twenty men or boys were killed in the attack on a small Mormon settlement by a mob of Missouri settlers. Fifteen others were wounded. The mob, before leaving, "pillaged the village and robbed the dead of their boots, clothing, and valuables." When they left the mill "they dragged with them horses, wagons, cows, and property of nearly every description belonging to the settlement." (Joseph Smith and the Restoration, Ivan J. Barrett, 1968, p. 330.)
A few days following the attack, a number of the mob returned. According to members of this group of rabble, they "lived fat, too," feasting on the remaining cattle and hogs that should have sustained the surviving widows and orphans, as well as the wounded. (Ibid.)
Like the people of Alma, these unfortunate victims found their only solace in prayer, and the widows vented their feelings in heartfelt appeals to their Heavenly Father. (Assorted Gems of Priceless Value, N.B. Lundwall, p. 97.) And, like Amulon, two thousand years earlier, the mobbers could not endure the guilt engendered by these prayers.
One of the mobbers delivered the warning, "The captain [Captain Comstock] says if you women don't stop your damn praying, he will send down a posse and kill every damn one of you!" Even the solutions were the same. Prayers and cries were hushed as women, fearful for their lives, spoke to their Creator in the silence of their hearts and minds.
But for at least one, this terrified silence was a shame and humiliation. Amanda Smith longed to hear her own voice raised in prayer. One morning, as the day began, she slipped into a nearby cornfield, crawled into a shock of corn, and raised her "voice high that it reached the heavens." (Enos 1:4.)
As she left her sanctuary a voice spoke to her, repeating the following words from the hymn "How Firm a Foundation":

That soul who on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I cannot, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!

From that moment on, she was at peace. (Ibid.) [From Rending the Veil of Heaven, Ted Gibbons, pp. 51,52)

Alma's people paint a powerful portrait of true disciples in a time of trouble. We learn from them what we ought to do (see Mosiah 24:15,16)

-They did submit cheerfully and with patience to the will of the Lord

-They had great faith

We also learn what God is able to do for us in such situations:

-The Lord softened the hearts of their enemies (23:29)

-The Lord eased the burdens upon their shoulders (24:14)

-The Lord did strengthen them (24:15)

-He promised to go with them and deliver them out of bondage (24:16,17)

-He caused a deep sleep to come upon their enemies (24:19)

-He promised to stop their pursuers in the valley of Alma (24:23)

-They reached Zarahemla in only twelve days (24:25) The people of Limhi were many days in the wilderness (see 22:13)

CONCLUSION:

Enos and the Brother of Jared knew that God cannot lie (Enos 1:6; Ether 3:12). We must know it too. We must put our trust in the promises of the Lord. We have seen in these chapters that he is perfectly reliable. It is that quality that enables us to have faith in him.

I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round. (Alma 7:20)

Book of Mormon Lesson #18: “God Himself Shall Redeem His People,” Mosiah 12-17

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:51:00 -0600

source: feastuponthewordblog.org

We are saddled with the task of sorting out the whole of Abinadi’s speech in a single lesson. That’s devastatingly difficult, particularly because Abinadi’s speech marks the—and I mean the—turning point in the history of the Nephites, and in about a dozen ways. We’ve got to look very carefully at those details. That’s all the more difficult, given that the historical setting still needs some serious work, even after last week’s lesson and associated notes, and given that we’ve also got to do some serious theological work on the text as we work through it. There’s too much to be done on Abinadi’s speech.

But we’ll get started and see what we can’t do here.

Mormon Parenting: King Benjamin's fantastic promises to parents

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:01:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Would you like your kids to “never transgress the laws of God?”

Would you like your children not to “fight and quarrel one with another?”

What most parents wouldn’t give for those two promises!

Well, in fact, they are two of the 10 promises listed by King Benjamin — promises that will be ours if we respond to the challenge they are predicated upon.

Book of Mormon Lesson 18: "God Himself . . . Shall Redeem His People"

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Abinadi had "beautiful feet," as described by Isaiah, and he took his mission from the Lord very seriously. He was even willing to die for it.

Quote of the week:

It is not sufficient that we should treasure the book of Mormon, nor that we testify that it is of God. We must know its truths, incorporate them into our lives, and share them with others. I [feel] an overwhelming love for the people and an urgent desire that all would comprehend the value of the Book of Mormon. (Elder Richard G. Scott, C.R., Oct. 1988, pp. 89,90)

INTRODUCTION:

In Isaiah 6 (or 2 Nephi 16), Isaiah responds to the question of the Lord, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" with the familiar offering, “Here am I; send me." Knowing the difficulty and danger of the work, and understanding something of the disinterest of his people, he nevertheless offered himself for a most dangerous assignment: “Here am I; send me."

We know that the Savior said similar words when the Father asked for someone to undertake the awful burden of the atonement (see Moses 4:1; Abr. 3:27). I believe that there were a great many others who in the pre-mortal life or in mortality must have responded in a similar way.

To the question, Who will take a final message of repentance to the world before the great flood? Noah must have said, Here am I; send me!
When the Lord sent forth a pre-mortal call for someone to preach repentance to the Jews and prepare the way for the Savior, John the Baptist no doubt offered himself with this same sentiment: Here am I; send me!
To the question, Who will warn Jerusalem of its danger before the Babylonian destruction? Lehi and Jeremiah and others must have said, Here am I; send me!
When the survival of the Jews was at stake, and someone was needed to visit the king and plead for relief, Esther in essence said to her cousin Mordecai, Here am I; send me!
And when the time came for someone to warn the court and people of King Noah, Abinadi stepped forth: Here am I; send me!

What is it about this message—this warning—that impels otherwise normal disciples to lay their life on the line, and to come forth from obscurity and safety to hazard everything? The story of Abinadi before Noah will offer at least some answers to this question. As you read this lesson and study and ponder the associated scriptures, watch for indications about Abinadi's reasons for risking his life to preach truth to a truly despotic king and his wicked followers.

1. ABINADI CALLS NOAH AND HIS PRIESTS TO REPENTANCE, EXHORTS THEM TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS, AND TEACHES OF THE ATONEMENT (Mosiah 12, 13)

Abinadi came twice to the court of Noah. The context makes it seem that he must have gone into hiding after his first visit. The “Lord delivered him out of their hands" (Mos. 11:26) when they first sought to take away his life, but “they sought from that time forth to take him." (Mos. 11:29) When he came back with a second warning because they had ignored the first, he “came among them in disguise," hoping to have time to deliver his message before they learned his identity, I suppose. But he was apprehended and taken before the king and then the priests for a Nephite inquisition. In fact, Abinadi indicated, “I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands" (Mosiah 17:9), which suggests that there was an element of volunteering in his capture

The priests asked him a number of questions, to which he responded in a way that astonished them (see Mos. 12:19). Finally one of them asked this question, and it is this question from among many questions that was engraved in the plates which would later be abridges and become part of the Book of Mormon. Clearly there is something here we are supposed to learn. Here is the question:

What meaneth the words which are written, and which have been taught by our fathers, saying: 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? (Mos. 12:20-24)

Perhaps the purpose of the question was to point out that Abinadi's message did not the fit the pattern described by Isaiah. His second message contained nothing of beauty, good tidings, peace, or good tidings of good. Abinadi had very little to say about lifting up the voice, about singing, about joy, comfort, redemption, or salvation. His message was about judgment.

Abinadi answered this question at some length in Mosiah 15:13-18. But before we discuss that answer, let us consider the nature of the imagery Isaiah is using. In the day in which Isaiah wrote this passage, messages were often carried by runners, men who sprinted from place to place with documents of importance. Carrying a message of victory—a message of good tidings—was a great honor. Consider the following example:

In 490 BC the Athenians had miraculously defeated a much stronger force of invading Persians on the Plains of Marathon. Pheidippidies was selected to carry the good news back to Athens. The fleet runner ran the grueling 25 miles as fast as he could. Upon reaching the walls of the Acropolis, Pheidippidies cried out, “Rejoice, we conquer!" and promptly fell dead. (Webster's Word Histories, Mirriam-Webster, Inc., 1989, p. 291; for an additional example, see 2 Sam. 18: 19-28)

The allusion in Isaiah's description is to the beautiful feet of messengers who would run with the most important message ever carried in the history of the world. This also would be a message worth dying for, as Abinadi shows us.

As Abinadi answered this question, he made reference to “those who have published peace" (Mos. 15:14,15), “those that are still publishing peace" (Mos. 15:16), “those who shall hereafter publish peace" (Mos. 15:17), and to the Savior himself.

And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people; For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished. (Mos. 15:18,19)

All those who have carried this message of peace and hope and joy and salvation have beautiful feet. Perhaps one of the great compliments you could pay to any missionary would be to make the observation that he or she has beautiful feet!

All this was lost on the priests of Noah, of course. No matter what they said to Abinadi, they did not know the commandments and they did not keep them. No doubt they possessed written copies of them, but that was not enough. The commandments can never have the ability to purify and exalt us, and we can never know them, until they are written in the right place.

And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives. (Mos. 13:12, emphasis added)

So Abinadi taught them the commandments. He quoted the first 2 of the 10 Commandments and challenged the priests with them.

Have ye done all this? I say unto you, Nay, ye have not. And have ye taught this people that they should do all these things? I say unto you, Nay, ye have not. (Mos. 12:37)

Noah at this point had had all the fun he could stand. He was not inclined to tolerate this kind of disrespect from anyone. “Away with this fellow," he said, “and slay him; for what have we do with him, for he is mad." (Mos. 13:1)

On at least four occasions in the scriptures it appears that the Lord has protected his messengers (with the beautiful feet) so that they could deliver his message.

1. When the Sanhedrin caught Stephen and accused him of blasphemy, they “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15)

2. When Laman and Lemuel attempted to kill Nephi by throwing him into the sea, he said, “Touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him. (1 Nephi 17:48)

3. When Lehi and Nephi were in the Lamanite prison, and enemies came to slay them, “they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels." (Hel. 5:36)

4. And it also happened to Abinadi. “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time. . . . Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these words that the people of king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster . . . (Mos. 13:3,5)

Abinadi then quoted the remainder of the 10 commandments to them and taught them of the purpose of the Law of Moses (see Mosiah 13:11-24, 27-35). Abinadi explained that no one could be saved by the Law of Moses.

And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of God. (Mos. 13:32)

2. ABINADI QUOTES ISAIAH, TESTIFIES OF THE ATONEMENT, AND EXHORTS NOAH'S PRIESTS TO TEACH THE PEOPLE THAT REDEMPTION COMES THROUGH CHRIST (Mosiah 14-16)

Notice whom Abinadi quoted in Mosiah 14. His intent was to show that even the prophets who lived the Law of Moses spoke of the atonement. Nephi must have referred to such passages as these when he wrote this:

. . . but that I might more fully persuade [Laman and Lemuel] to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. (1 Nephi 19:23)

Review Mosiah 14:2-12 and note (Mark? Highlight?) the things that Isaiah knew about the atoning sacrifice of the Savior. I have recorded some below, along with a suggestion or two about what some of them might mean.

(14:2) He will grow up as a tender plant (He will need care and protection like any child)

(14:2) He will not be of a form or beauty to attract us (like a root out of dry ground, Isaiah says. Have you ever pulled a carrot from an unwatered garden plot?)

(14:3) He will be despised and rejected

(14:3) He will be a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief

(14:3) We hid our faces from him (most of the multitudes turned away)

(14:3) We did not understand what he could do for us

(14:4) He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows

(14:5) He was wounded for our transgressions

(14:5) With his stripes we are healed

(14:7) He was oppressed and afflicted but he did not cry out

(14:8) He was cut off from the living (the crucifixion)

(14:9)He made his grave with the wicked and with the rich (he was crucified between to thieves and was laid in the tomb of a rich man)

(14:10) After he shall have performed the atonement, he shall see his seed (in the Spirit World he saw a multitude of those who had believed in him)

(14:10) He shall prolong his day (he will be resurrected)

(14:11) God shall see the suffering of this Son and the demands of justice will be satisfied

(14:11,12) He will bear the iniquities of many (all) people

What are the results of the Savior's willingness to atone for us? Abinadi speaks of them in Mosiah 15:7-9, 19-25.

(15:8) He breaks the bands of death and brings about the resurrection

(15:8) He has power to make intercession for the sons of men

(15:9) He is filled with compassion and mercy

(15:9) He stands between us and the demands of justice

(15:9 He has satisfied the demands of justice

(15:19) He saves all mankind from perishing

(15:23) The righteous are raised to dwell with God and have eternal life

(15:25) Little children have eternal life

For the time being, there is a probation granted in which men can repent or not according to the knowledge they have and the desires of their hearts. But a time will come it will be too late to choose.

The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just. And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not. (Mosiah 16:1,2)

How much better it will be for us if we learn to kneel from love and gratitude rather than fear and condemnation!

The issue that will determine our final state is not what we were or what we intend one day to be, but what we are. Thus, if we are repentant and obedient, no matter what may have transpired previously in our lives, the Lord promises to turn scarlet sins to white and crimson colored sins to wool (see Isaiah 1:18); to never mention our sins to us again (see Ezek. 18:21,22); to subdue our sins and throw them into the depths of the sea (see Micah 7:19); to blot out like a thick cloud our transgressions (Isaiah 44:22); and to not remember our sins (see Isaiah 43:25). This, he has promised, he will do as often as we truly repent (see Mosiah 26:30). But if we are encompassed in sin, and if we do not repent, we have no promises at all.

But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. (Mosiah 16:5)

3. ABINADI SEALS HIS TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR WITH HIS LIFE (Mosiah 17)

A careful reading of Mosiah 17:1,2 makes it clear that Abinadi hears the impassioned plea of Alma to spare him (Abinadi). It was only after Alma had been cast out and men sent to slay him (Mosiah 17:3) that guards surrounded Abinadi and took him away to his martyrdom. We have often commented that Abinadi may have died without the awareness of a single convert. But he must have had some hope. Hearing the words of Alma and seeing his ejection from this order of wicked priests, Abinadi may have believed that some good would come of his mission. And indeed it did.

My colleague, President Andrew Horton, has made a careful study of this matter and concluded that as a direct result of the ministry of Abinadi which was carried on by Alma the Elder and his descendants, 23,707 people united with the Church, and, in addition to this, thirteen other large groups of people (whose numbers are not specified) were converted. As you might have guessed, neither Noah nor any of his priests is included in this number.

Their charge against Abinadi was false doctrine. The king and his priests must have been feverish to find something—anything—to give a semblance of legality to their judgment.

And after three days [it took three days to come up with this?], having counseled with his priests, he caused that he should again be brought before him. And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death. For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people. (Mosiah 17:6-8)

Notice the deliverance they offered Abinadi. He would be put to death for teaching what they determined to be false doctrine, unless he would take back “all the words which [he had] spoken evil concerning" Noah and his people. (Mosiah 17:8)

CONCLUSION:

Abinadi had beautiful feet; he was running with the most important message in the world. In reality it was a message of beauty, good tidings, peace, lifting up the voice, singing, joy, comfort, redemption, and salvation. The words he had spoken were a package, the warnings and the promises, and he could not recall any of them. I can see him in my mind's eye, standing before the king and his court, erect, defiant, powerful, fearless, attended no doubt by a multitude of unseen beings cheering and rejoicing as he spoke:

I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. (Mosiah 17:9,10)

Book of Mormon Lesson #17: “A Seer Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings,” Mosiah 7-11 (Sunday School)

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:12:00 -0600

source: feastuponthewordblog.org

Let’s say that this lesson serves as a kind of bridge between Benjamin and Abinadi. At least, that’s how I want to take it. There’s much to learn as we cross this bridge, but my principal aim will be to set up as well as possible Abinadi’s speech and circumstances. We’ll see why especially in the next lesson.

So what are we looking at here?

Prince Charles and the Book of Mormon

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:06:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: This is such a neat story! A quick, enjoyable read. As a musician, I spend my days promoting my music and my videos, but nothing comes close to the feeling you get when you’re promoting your faith.

I was sitting in Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few years ago when the ward mission leader walked into class with a stern look on his face. He had a box full of copies of the Book of Mormon and he gave one to each of us, challenging us to give it away this week and come back next week with a report of whom we gave it to.

My band was on tour that week doing a performance for a charity organization called “The Prince’s Trust.” Every year at this event, they celebrate the accomplishments of inner-city kids.

FHE: Scripture Study

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Shauna Gibby
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high." -Richard G. Scott

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “The Power of Scripture,” by Richard G. Scott,

Ensign, Nov 2011, 6

Thought:

Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.

(Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign, Nov 2011, 6.)

Song:

“Search, Ponder, and Pray,” Children’s Songbook, p. 109.

Scripture:

And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

(2 Nephi 4:15)

Lesson:

Preparation: Write the following scriptural references on slips of paper:

1. Jacob 3:2 (word 21)

2. Matthew 24:35 (word 9)

3. Psalm 46:8 (word 2)

4. Doctrine and Covenants 5:6 (word 13) 5. Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 (word 5) 6. 1 Nephi 7:12 (word 18)

7. Isaiah 34:16 (word 2)

8. Abraham 3:25 (word 12)

On a large sheet of paper write the following scripture:

___1____ upon the ___2____ of Christ; for ___3____, the ___4____ of Christ will

___5____ you all ___6____ what ___7____ should ___8____.

Procedure: Divide the slips of paper among the class. One at a time have them look up their scriptures, read it to the group, and find the puzzle word. Fill in the words until the entire phrase has been finished.

Have your family members find 2 Nephi 32:3 in their scriptures. Read the scripture with your class and discuss what it means.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Building Blocks for Better Lessons, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], p. 58.)

Story:

One evening two young missionaries met Sasha on the street of a city where he still resides. They asked whether he believed in God. He continues:

"I was confused. I knew from my experience that when someone comes to you in the darkness and asks for ten kopecks, your answer does not matter much, because there is going to be a fight within a minute or two. Earlier, I had considered religious believers to be mentally sick people, and yet these young men seemed like quite normal people.

"I agreed to make an appointment with the missionaries. Oh, I tortured them so much! I asked them many silly, cynical questions, and I even supposed that they were agents of the CIA.

"Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!), I had lost my job then and had time to read the Book of Mormon and the Bible all day long. The experience of reading these two books of scripture hour after hour, day after day, completely transformed my life. I found the truth. As I met with these wonderful young men, my cynicism gradually but fully dissolved. In our meetings and through my personal reading of the scriptures day after day, I became a new person, with a new outlook on the world.

"As I read the Book of Mormon, I realized that there are not inherently good and bad people in the world. All of them have a choice, either to follow the power of good or the power of evil. Life on this earth may be unjust, but there is a future existence—even a new world—where justice and mercy will reign, and where we will be judged with mercy and righteousness by our Savior.

"Instead of contempt for people, I have come to see that we need to help them overcome their weaknesses and temptations. The gospel helped me to understand the reason for the actions of people. Now I am sorry for the rich man who spends his life concerned only for his wealth. I am sorry for my neighbor who killed a cat that had scratched his new car by accident. I began to care for wicked people, flatterers, and impudent fellows—not condoning their actions, but feeling concern for their welfare. They are all unhappy people, alienated from God, and I need to help them find him.

"Since my baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, I have committed to our Heavenly Father that I will always try to help lift others throughout the rest of my life. As Alma explained [see Mosiah 18:8-10], when I accepted baptism I promised to be a comfort and a strength to others. And I will."

Sasha is a dedicated servant of the Lord who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is a man who shows great love to others. He now manages a new private company in his city.

(Howard L. Biddulph, Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996].)

Activity:

All titles to the books of the Bible can be found among these letters. Those books which are prefixed with Roman numerals appear only once and so there are fifty-seven titles to be found. Draw a circle around each title as you find it. the titles are written forward, backward, up, down, or diagonally in any direction. Work together as a family or give each person their own copy.

(Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1968], p.37.)

Refreshment

Fruit Pizza Dessert

4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1⁄2 cup butter or margarine

1 1⁄4 cups flour

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

1 recipe Cream Cheese Topping

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

3 fresh peaches, sliced, or 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Cream Cheese Topping

12 ounces cream cheese

1⁄3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 cup non-dairy frozen whipped topping

In a large bowl combine cream cheese and butter or margarine. Mix until well blended. Add flour and salt. Mix well. Form into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to form a 12-inch circle. Place in a 12-inch greased tart or pizza pan. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork. Bake at 425° F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.

Meanwhile, prepare the Cream Cheese Topping by combining cream cheese, sugar, and lemon juice. Mix until well blended. Fold in whipped topping.

Spoon over crust. Arrange fruits in circles atop the filling, working toward the center of the tart— arrange strawberries around outer edge of pan, then kiwi fruit slices, fresh peach slices or mandarin oranges, and more strawberries in the center. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

(Julie Badger Jensen, The Essential Mormon Cookbook, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2004], p. 18.)

To access the PDF version of this lesson, click here.

Book of Mormon Lesson 17: "A Seer . . . Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings"

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: In this lesson, we will look at part of Abinadi's ministry. How can we better tune our spiritual lenses to see the "Noahs" and "Abinadis" in our own lives and thus avoid making our own mistakes?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Behold what wonders God hath wrought! Truth springs out of the earth; the gold plates are translated by the gift and power of God; and the voice we hear is one that whispers from the dust. It is the voice of all the Nephis, of Alma and Amulek and Abinadi, of Ether and Mormon and Moroni of all the Nephite and Jaredite prophets. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who ministered among the Nephites, inviting them to feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet and to thrust their hands into his riven side. It is the voice of doctrine and testimony and miracles. It is the voice of God speaking to men through the Book of Mormon.

Knowing beforehand what should come to pass in the last days, the Lord Jehovah spoke by the mouth of Isaiah relative to the Nephite peoples who should "be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." Because they forsook the Lord and fought against Zion, it should be with them "as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite." Because they rejected the gospel and fought against the truth, they should be destroyed.

But a record would be preserved, and through it the great things revealed to their prophets would be known again. "And thou shalt be brought down," the prophetic word intones, "and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust." The spirit and tone and tenor of the message shall be familiar. A like account, one dealing with the same truths, the same laws, and the same ordinances, is found in the Bible. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p.151 p.152)

INTRODUCTION:

In the book of Mosiah, there are people all over the place. Groups of Nephites among the Lamanites; groups of Lamanites wandering around lost in the wilderness. Wicked kings and wonderful kings. Wicked priests and seers and martyrs and fashbacks within flashbacks. The doctrine of Mosiah is wonderful, but without some understanding of the history, the book can be most confusing.

The following are the most significant movements of people in the book of Mosiah:

-A group of Nephites attempts to return to the Land of Nephi from Zarahemla to live there (Omni 1:27,28; Mosiah 9:1,2).

-A second group, under the leadership of Zeniff returns to the land of Nephi and settles there (Omni 1:29,30; Mosiah 9:3-7,ff).

-Alma and a group of believers flee into the wilderness. They finally settle in Helam (Mosiah 18; 23:1-5,18).

-Noah's wicked priests under the leadership of Amulon flee into the wilderness (Mosiah 19:20,21). -They steal Lamanite wives (Mosiah 20:1-5), and settle in a place called Amulon (Mosiah 23:31).

-Limhi sends men to search for the land of Zarahemla. They become lost in the wilderness, wander for many days, and find Jaredite ruins and 24 gold plates. (Mosiah 21:25-27; Ether 1:1,2).

-Mosiah II sends 16 men under the leadership of a man named Ammon to look for the colony of Zeniff (Mosiah 7:1-5,ff).

-Ammon leads King Limhi, son of Noah, and his people, out of bondage and back to Zarahemla (Mosiah 22:11-13).

-The Lamanite army that pursues Limhi becomes lost, and then discovers Amulon and his people (Mosiah 23:30-32). Then they stumble upon the land of Helam; Alma and his people are placed in bondage.

-Alma and his people escape from the Lamanites and are led by the Lord to Zarahemla (Mosiah 24:16-25).

The book of Mosiah suggests one other important insight. At one time or another, almost everyone in the book is afflicted with blindness. They cannot see clearly those things that matter most to them. There are solutions for these problems, solutions that come from the scriptures and from seers and from repentance.

1. AMMON AND HIS BRETHREN FIND LIMHI AND HIS PEOPLE. AMMON TEACHES HIS PEOPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A SEER (Mosiah 7,8)

One of the best definitions of a seer found anywhere in the scriptures is given by Ammon. What question did Limhi ask of Ammon that caused Ammon to speak of seers? (Mosiah 8:12)

What other titles are associated with the title of seer according to Ammon? (Mosiah 8:16) Which men do we sustain today as prophets, seers, and revelators?

Can you identify the role of a seer as described by Ammon (Mosiah 8:17,18) How do our present prophets, seers, and revelators fulfill these vital functions? Ponder the following illustration from President Boyd K. Packer.

The ultimate purpose of the adversary . . . is to disrupt, disturb, and destroy the home and the family. Like a ship without a rudder. Without a compass, we drift from the family values that have anchored us in the past. Now we are caught in a current so strong that unless we correct our course, civilization as we know it will surely be wrecked to pieces . . .

This crisis of the family is no surprise to the Church. We have certainly known what was coming . . . .

The scriptures speak of prophets as “watchmen] upon the tower" who see Athe enemy while he [is] yet afar off" (D&C 101:54) and who have Abeheld things which are not visible to the natural eye . . . [for] a seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people." (Moses 6:36)

Thirty-three years ago the brethren warned us of the disintegration of the family and told us to prepare. . . .

The weekly family home evening was introduced by the First Presidency. . . .

Parents [were] provided with excellent materials for teaching their children, with a promise that the faithful will be blessed. . . .

All agencies of the Church have been reshaped in their relationship to one another and to the home. . . .

The entire curriculum of the Church was overhauled, based on scriptures.

And years were spent preparing new editions of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. . . .

We can only imagine where we would be if we were just now reacting to this terrible redefinition of the family. But that is not the case. We are not casting frantically about trying to decide what to do. We know what to do and what to teach.

The course we follow is not of our own making. (Elder Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1994, p. 20)

What Ammon said to Limhi about 200 B.C. is certainly true in our day: “A seer can know of . . . things which are to come." (Mosiah 8:17)

What traits or behaviors does Limhi recognize in people which make a seer a great benefit to them? (Mosiah 8:20,21)

Ponder recent conference addresses based on topics that are concerns for you. Can you think of experiences in which the counsel of a seer has provided a great benefit to you?

2. THE RECORD OF ZENIFF PROVIDES A BRIEF HISTORY OF ZENIFF'S PEOPLE (Mosiah 9,10)

Zeniff encountered difficulties in establishing his colony among the Lamanites. One of the causes of this difficulty was that the Lamanites felt they had been "wronged," were therefore “wroth," and consequently taught their children to "hate" the Nephites (Mosiah 10:12-17)). How do the traditions of the past stir people up to hate each other? Why are such traditions perpetuated? Can you think of examples of similar situations happening in families, communities, nations, or the world in the year 2012?

Note what the record of Zeniff suggests that we do to overcome this problem? (Mosiah 9:1 - “when I saw that which was good among them . . .") How will looking for the good in others help cure the problems of hatred and animosity? How did Zeniff try to end this conflict? (By talking with the King. See Mosiah 8:5,6) What steps could we take in our lives to develop this quality of looking for the good in others? I have noticed that in my own family, when the children arouse me to feelings of frustration and anger, that those feelings can be controlled if I take the time to reflect on all the good things they do.

In what ways was the experience of the sons of Mosiah similar to the experience of Zeniff? (Alma 26:23-26) What suggestion did some Nephites make for dealing with the Lamanites? What action did the sons of Mosiah take to overcome the hatred between the Nephites and Lamanites? (They preached the gospel to them)

3. ABINADI WARNS THE PEOPLE, BUT THEY ARE BLIND TO NOAH'S WICKEDNESS (Mosiah 11; 12:1-18.)

What King Noah do to “change the affairs of the kingdom." (Mosiah 11:1-19) Because of the rapid degeneration of the Nephites under King Noah, the Lord sent a prophet to call them to repentance. Where was Abinadi from? (Mosiah 11:20: he was a “man among them" (emphasis added).

As you reflect on the monarchy of Noah, think of how he compares with Benjamin. Placing these two leaders side by side teaches a great lesson about great leadership.

Use the following verses to compare King Benjamin and King Noah:

NOAH BENJAMIN

Reference Subject Reference

Mosiah 11:2 Wickedness Mosiah 2:13

Mosiah 11:3,4 Riches Mosiah 2:12,14

Mosiah 11:5,7 Religion W of M 1:15,16

Mosiah 11:6 Service Mosiah 2:11

Mosiah 11:14 Motives Mosiah 2:15

Long years ago I was living in Logan, Utah, going to school, working full time, raising a family. I always had too much to do and too little time to do it. One day as I raced west on 10th North from USU to my home, I flew past a policeman with his radar running. He was after me in a heartbeat and I pulled over and waited for him. I was exceeding the speed limit by a large margin, and expected to be hit with a financial liability of federal proportions. But for some reason he gave me a warning only, enjoined me to go easy on gas pedal, and drove away. I offered a quiet prayer of gratitude and went home to tell my wife how good the Lord had been.

Notice the nature of Abinadi's first warning to the people of Noah. He mentions judgments that will come upon them “except they repent” (Mosiah 11:20,21,23,25). Abinadi is giving the people of Noah a warning ticket, warning them to change their ways. What was the response of the people to this warning of Abinadi? (Mosiah 11:26; 12:9) Why were the people angry with Abinadi but not with Noah? (Mosiah 11:29) What parallels can you see today? How do wicked people react to the words of a prophet? Why would so many rather follow the example of a man who leads them in wickedness? Consider the teaching of Samuel the Lamanite about this matter.

As the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desirethand if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him. (Helaman 13:26-28))

After two years, Abinadi came again among the people, this time in disguise, to deliver a second message (Mosiah 12:1). Notice that the nature of his message has changed rather dramatically. The judgments he enumerates are not conditional. Again and again Abinadi employs phrases like, “I will visit them in mine anger",or “it shall come to pass" or “they shall be smitten." (See Mosiah 12:1-7) The only conditional warning of this message is the final one:

And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth . . . (Mosiah 12:8).

Just one week after my first meeting with the policeman on 10th North in Logan, I met him again, in the same place and for precisely the same reason. He remembered me, and I am quite confident that the thought of a warning ticket never crossed his mind on this second occasion. He wrote me up and he wrote me up hard! And I deserved a significant pain in my pocketbook because I had utterly ignored the first warning.

For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul. (2 Nephi 26:11)

Sooner or later, the Lord will stop writing warning tickets, as he did with the Nephite colony in the land of Nephi.

When Abinadi gave his second warning, what did the people say in defense of Noah? (Mosiah 12:13-15)

What would cause a person to reject an Abinadi in favor of a Noah? Who are the Noahs in our lives? Who are the Abinadis of our lives? How might one justify rejecting an Abinadi to follow a Noah?

Since we are in the season of General Conference [I am writing this about one month before April Conference, but most of you will read it after conference], perhaps you will pardon one additional observation on this matter.

When Jehoshaphat, king of Judah traveled to visit Ahab, king of Israel, Ahab invited Jehoshaphat to join him in a campaign against Syria to retake Israelite possessions that had been captured by the Syrians (1 Kings 22:2-4) Jehoshaphat was willing, but he wanted to know that the Lord thought about it and asked Ahab to enquire of God before the battle. Ahab brought in 400 false prophets who encouraged the battle and predicted success (1 K. 22:6).

Jehoshaphat was still not satisfied: “Is there not here a [true] prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?" (1 K. 22:7). The answer of Ahab to this question teaches a wonderful lesson about prophets.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil (1 K. 22:8).

Consider why Ahab and Noah hated the prophets that spoke to them and of them, and then consider the lesson. How ought we to react when the prophets say things we do not like to hear? It seems to me that if a message comes to us from the prophets and seers that we do not want to hear, that message is probably one we desperately need to hear. At least that was true for Noah and his people.

Ahab rejected the words of Micaiah, and died as Micaiah had prophesied. Noah rejected the words of Abinadi, and died as Abinadi had prophesied. What statement did the Lord inspire Abinadi to make about the way in which Noah would eventually be valued? (Mosiah 12:3) Who would place that value on him? (Mosiah 19:18-20: the same people who earlier defended him)

Conclusion

Find a pair of glasses and take a look at them and through them. Glasses correct physical problems with vision. Even so, we sometimes need spiritual lenses in order to see the good in others as did Zeniff, and in order to distinguish between the Noahs and Abinadis that we meet in our lives.

Missionary preparation: Pruning our olive trees

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:39:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Zenos’ allegory about olive trees blossomed with new life when our youth Sunday School class read from the perspective of preparing for missionary service.

Book of Mormon prophet Jacob used the allegory to preface a powerful plea to know the importance of repentance and make wise decisions.

I imagine Jacob gathering his extended family for a lesson, maybe around a fire or nestled inside a crude building on a cool jungle night. I imagine him sitting with the brass plates on his knees — the same ancient record full of family history and prophetic writings that his older brothers retrieved from Jerusalem and carried across the ocean to the new world.

Book of Mormon Lesson 16: "Ye Shall Be Called the Children of Christ"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Every organization requires certain standards of its members, and in the conclusion of King Benjamin's sermon, he teaches us the requirements for becoming part of the family of Christ.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Suppose that in this community there are ten beggars who beg from door to door for something to eat, and that nine of them are impostors who beg to escape work, and with an evil heart practice imposition upon the generous and sympathetic, and that only one of the ten who visit your doors is worthy of your bounty; which is best, to give food to the ten, to make sure of helping the truly needy one, or to repulse the ten because you do not know which is the worthy one? You will all say, Administer charitable gifts to the ten, rather than turn away the only truly worthy and truly needy person among them. If you do this, it will make no difference in your blessings, whether you administer to worthy or unworthy persons, inasmuch as you give alms with a single eye to assist the truly needy. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.8, p.12, March 5, 1860)

INTRODUCTION:

Consider the word qualifications. There seem to be qualifications or requirements for membership in every organization. In order to belong to the Kiwanis, I must meet certain standards. To be a student at any school, I must meet the admission requirements and abide by the established rules. To be a doctor or a lawyer or a real estate agent, I must demonstrate a proficiency and knowledge about the profession in order to obtain a license to practice.

Gaining membership to some organizations is much simpler than others, of course. Joining the student body at Harvard requires a level of expertise and preparation different from the admission requirements at Canyon View Junior High. Brain surgeons and rocket scientists must abide by more rigorous standards of preparation and performance than lumberjacks and street vendors. Even membership in a family requires admittance by birth or adoption. I cannot pick the loveliest home in Orem, walk in off the street with a suitcase, pick a bedroom as my own, and expect to be invited to dinner and to help dispose of the family fortune.

The conclusion of King Benjamin's sermon teaches us that there are qualifications for membership in the family of Christ. That sermon, and the events and explanations which follow it, teach us how to become “the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters . . .” (Mosiah 5:7)

1. KING BENJAMIN'S PEOPLE SEEK AND RECEIVE A REMISSION OF THEIR SINS (Mosiah 4:1-12)

When Benjamin finished delivering the words he received from an angel, “he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth" (Mosiah 4:1). Think back over the most powerful moments of your church experience. You have heard sermons that have moved you deeply. You have felt the burning power of the Spirit bearing witness to you of the truthfulness of things you are hearing and feeling. But have you ever reacted to a sermon like these people reacted? Has the recognition of your “own carnal state" and the realization that you are “even less than the dust of the earth" caused you to lose the ability to stand or sit upright.

I remember a similar moment at the Missionary Home in Salt Lake City. In ancient times (1965), all missionaries spent a week in Salt Lake City at the Missionary Home, in a spot more recently occupied by Deseret Gym, and most recently by the new Conference Center. A parade of general authorities came to speak to us. Day after incredible day they taught us and bore witness to us. In between these moments we sang and prayed and studied and attended the temple. I experienced wonderful moments with the Holy Spirit, but I also remember still the agony I felt from time to time as I confronted my own weaknesses and my lack of preparation for missionary service. I was overwhelmed by the recognition of a mountain of tiny transgressions that had distanced me from the Spirit and added to the suffering of the Savior. Some moments I felt weak and unworthy and even, at times, hopeless. I frequently felt inclined to fall on my face before Him and beg for His forgiveness. The heaviness of my weaknesses seemed of such a magnitude that I could hardly remain upright under the burden. And generally speaking I had been good. I was not guilty of great or malignant sins. Rather, I was rendered almost powerless by a hoard of tiny, suffocating iniquities, and the scope of my procrastination.

I think the people of Zarahemla must have felt like that. They fell to the earth and cried,

O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. (Mosiah 4:2)

The imagery here is taken from the story of the first Passover, when Israel, aware of the impending arrival of the angel of death, literally applied the blood of a lamb, that they might be saved from death. These wonderful, repentant people of Zarahemla, transformed by the Spirit and by the power of Benjamin's sermon, asked that the Blood of the Lamb might be applied to the door posts and lintels of their own lives. Perhaps you will excuse the repetition here of a quote I think I used earlier in this course of study.

The Passover is a type of deliverance . . . It is a deliverance from the doom we deserve for our sins; from the spiritual death that awaits the wicked; from the outer darkness of Egypt and Sodom and Sheol––because the blood of Christ has been applied to us by faith. By sprinkling our Lord's blood upon the doorposts of our hearts and upon the lintels of our souls, we set our dwellings apart from the world: we make open and visible confession of our allegiance to Him whose blood has eternal saving power; we set ourselves apart from the Egyptians, the Sodomites, and the seekers after Sheol; and we place ourselves with the believing portion of mankind. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol.1, p.165 p.166)

And it happened. The 'atoning blood" was applied and they were cleansed and lifted.

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them. (Mosiah 4:3).

Most members are familiar with these verses. But there are some elements of this experience that we often miss. For example, Benjamin explains that what caused them to see themselves as they really were. “was the knowledge of the goodness of God [which has] at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state . . ." (Mosiah 4:5) Benjamin spent some time in Mosiah 2 (see lesson #15) explaining all that God has done for his children, and how little he requires of them in return. This message has penetrated the hearts of the those who have heard or read the words of their King. Benjamin continues:

I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his longsuffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal bodyI say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world. (Mosiah 4:6,7)

This is the beginning and end of the reality of salvation. For

this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you. (Mosiah 4:8)

Those conditions are precisely the qualifications that will make it possible to become a member of the family of Christ. They involve believing and doing.

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. (Mosiah 4:9,10)

You will have noticed that these people received a remission of their sins (see 4:3). I used to spend my summers working on a pig farm in Arizona. I spent long, sweaty days in an environment saturated by the smell of tens of thousands of pigs. How I loved to go home and shower at the end of a work-day. It felt so good to be clean! These people, cleansed and filled with joy must have had an experience a hundred times more grand. But my experience with filth had not ended with a single shower. I had to go back to the pigs day after day. And Benjamin knew that his listeners would again confront temptation and sin in an infinite variety of costumes. Having been cleansed once was not sufficient to guarantee a permanent place in the family of Christ. Benjamin wanted them to understand that certain things would be required of them if they wanted to stay clean.

I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and longsuffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. (Mosiah 4:11,12, emphasis added)

2. KING BENJAMIN TEACHES HIS PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE CHRISTLIKE LIVES (Mosiah 4:13-30)

Benjamin continues to give the prescription for admission into the family of Christ. Here is a list of additional requirements:

-“Ye will not have a mind to injure one another" (4:13)

-You will “live peaceably" (4:13)

-You will “render to every man according to that which is his due" (4:13)

-“Ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked" (4:14)

-“Neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil" (4:14)

-“Ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness" (4:15)

-“Ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another" (4:15)

-“Ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor" (4:16)

This matter of helping those in need of our succor occupies most of the remainder of the chapter. What is it that Benjamin is saying a member of Christ's family will do when confronted with someone who is naked or hungry? Benjamin seems to be saying that there is only one acceptable excuse for not imparting of our substance to another in need. That excuse is that we do not have any to give (see 4:24). Any other rationalization constitutes sin.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. (Mosiah 4:17)

In this context, re-read the Quote of the Week at the beginning of this lesson. We have all had this experience, or we will have. Someone will stop us and ask us to give a little or a lot to assist in a temporary or continuous time of need and want.

When I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, I lived in the small farming community of Pomerene. Much of the labor in the fields was performed by young and middle-aged men who had crossed the border from Mexico and come north looking for work. By the time they reached the farmlands of Pomerene, they had generally been walking in the desert for at least 30 miles. They arrived hungry and thirsty. Pomerene was located astride Interstate 10, about 40-50 miles east of Tucson. Actually, only two houses were located on the south of the freeway. The others were all on the north.

One day in a Sunday School class we discussed these chapters from Mosiah and Benjamin's counsel about dealing with the poor. After a few moments a lady raised her hand. She and her husband lived in one of the houses south of the highway. She spoke of the plight of these illegal aliens, of their poverty and of their hunger. “But," she concluded, “I don't feed any of them. If I do they will mark my house in some way, and then they will all stop. If I feed one, I will have to feed them all."

The discussion continued for a few moments, and then the wife of the bishop raised her hand. She and her family lived in the other house south of I-10. She seemed almost reluctant to speak, but finally she said something like this. “I do not mean to find fault, and I am not being critical, but I want you to know how my husband and I feel about this matter. No one leaves our house hungry. And if my husband and I are not home, the children know. Anyone who comes to our door hungry will be fed."

Like the bishop's wife, I do not intend to judge or be critical. It may be that the first lady who spoke refused these visitors because she did not have enough for them and for her own family. Benjamin spoke to people like that:

And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give. And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received. (Mosiah 4:24,25)

But I also know what I felt as I listened to the bishop's wife. I understood quite clearly what is expected of the members of the family of Christ. I have a wife who understands also. She could no more ignore someone in such desperate circumstances than she could ignore the need to breathe. It is a part of her being to serve and succor.

Benjamin explains how inconsistent it would be for someone in his audience at Zarahemla or reading the pages of the Book of Mormon to turn away a beggar.

For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. (Mosiah 4:19,20)

This is wonderful doctrine.

And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another. (Mosiah 4:21)

If we, who are always unprofitable servants, receive such undeserved bounty from the Father, we ought to impart to our brothers and sisters in need with that same liberality.

And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done. (Mosiah 4:22)

Remember the purpose behind these teachings of Benjamin.

And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto youthat is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before GodI would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. (Mosiah 4:26, emphasis added)

KING BENJAMIN'S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A AMIGHTY CHANGE" OF HEART AND COVENANT TO DO GOD'S WILL IN ALL THINGS (Mosiah 5,6)

One day about three years ago I was teaching a lesson in Family Home Evening about the experience of the people of Zarahemla. I read the first two verses of Mosiah 5, emphasizing the fact that these people had no more disposition to do evil. They just wanted to do good. I expressed the conviction I felt that this was a description of spiritual rebirth––of being born again. My son, who will be home exactly one month from today from a wonderful mission experience in California, asked, “Is that what that means, Dad?"

“I think so," I told him.

“That's just how I feel," he replied. We shared a quiet moment of wonder and joy. We knew it was true. He was a member of our family, be he belonged to another family as well. In Moses 6:59, we are taught this:

. . . inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

Birth and spiritual rebirth both involve at least four steps, three of which are outlined here. We are born into the world “by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul." One of the first signs of the arrival of a baby is the breaking of the water. Following the birth there is a cleansing of the blood––that protective substance that surrounds and insulates the baby in the womb. And sometime between conception and birth, a spirit enters that body, which thereby becomes a living soul. Our rebirth follows that same process.

. . . even so [we] must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten.

There is one other thing that happens following the birth process. The one born is given a name––a family name. In my case it was Gibbons, a name to give some indication of belonging. This baby is ours, the name proclaimed. He belongs to this family. The same thing happens to those who are born again. Benjamin explains it in this way:

And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. (Mosiah 5:7)

Benjamin instructed his son Mosiah to call the conference at which he announced that Mosiah would take his place. Note that Benjamin lived three additional years after leaving government service (see Mosiah 6:5). During that time––during the final three years of his life––Benjamin, like his father before him, worked the land, Athat thereby he might not become burdensome to his people" (Mosiah 6:7)

At that conference, Benjamin had promised to give unto the people a name (see Mosiah 1:11). We have seen here that he did precisely that. Mosiah 5 gives us some interesting insights into the significance of taking the name of Christ. Read the chapter and answer these questions:

-How do you get the name? (5:7)

-Why is the name important? (5:9,10)

-Where is the name written? (5:12)

-How do we lose the name? (5:11)

-What must we know besides the name? (5:12)

-How do we come to know about the man whose name we have taken? (5:13)

-What is the name? (5:9,10)

Those who have taken the name of Christ are called by that name––they are called Christians. But as these questions and Benjamin's teachings show, it is much more than a title, more than a family name, more than a badge or stamp of approval. It is a way of life. Those who belong to this family must follow the head of the family. “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold upthat which ye have seen me do" (3 Nephi 18:24).

CONCLUSION:

While I was suffocating under the weight of my sins at the Missionary Home, I prayed constantly for forgiveness. I wanted to be clean and to feel free. During a meeting late in the week, our Mission President spoke to us. An assigned speaker had encountered a conflict and our President had chosen to fill in at a moment's notice. He spoke by the Spirit. The words were not of his creation nor choosing. My heart burned and I wept and wept as I was taught from on high. Then a miracle happened. Somewhere in his talk he paused for a moment and made this comment: “I know that many of you have been pleading with the Lord for a remission of you sins, and I want you to know that the Lord has forgiven each and every one of you in the spirit of your repentance."

I do not know what happened to anyone else at that moment, but I know what happened to me. I was clean. Suddenly, undeniably, utterly clean. If I had been standing when that revelation came, the weakness of my physical frame would have forced into a seat or onto the floor. As Enos said, “My guilt was swept away." (Enos 1:6) I wish I could say that I have retained that remission. I wish I could feel always as I felt then. But the memory has remained with me. I have remembered how good it feels to belong to his family, and to be clean.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 83: The Book of Mormon as World Literature

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:52:00 -0600

source: fairblog.org

FAIR member Kerry Shirts shares the insights he has gained into the study of the Book of Mormon as world literature as it has been made more possible through the Book of Mormon Critical Text project conducted by Royal Skousen.

This is part of a YouTube series Brother Shirts has posted as The Backyard Professor. Brother Shirts loves to study and was first called the “Backyard Professor” by his wife because he takes his books everywhere with him.

Book of Mormon Lesson 15: "Eternally Indebted to Your Heavenly Father"

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Ted L. Gibbons
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: What we know of King Benjamin suggests he is one of the most righteous civic leaders that has existed. This lesson begins our discussion of his great and last sermon.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

The Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel - the record of the ancient Nephites, translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith, by the gift and power of God in him - that we may come to a knowledge of the principles of the Gospel in simplicity and in purity. It makes clear many dark sayings of the Jewish Scriptures, as they have come down to us. It sheds a flood of light over the Bible; it contains the key of knowledge and understanding; and it is more precious than all the works of modern times, and is worth more. . . . there is more to be learned out of it, my young friends, that is calculated to prove of real worth and blessing to the soul, than can be acquired at all the universities, colleges and schools of science and of modern times. . . . Therefore, study the Scriptures; acquaint yourselves with the Book of Mormon. Read them in your Sunday Schools; read them at your firesides; let them always be found upon your tables, and never permit your families to be without them; and if you are poor sell your coat and buy them; for you are far better without a coat than without the word of God to teach your children. Let our Bishops, and Elders and Teachers attend to it; and enquire whether you are surrounded by those milk-and-water Saints who love fine dress more than the love of God, and who love to furnish their children with musical instruments and toys, and who neglect to furnish them the words of life; if you are, labor with them and teach them in all sincerity the duties of a Latter-day Saint, a Saint of the living God; and God will bless you in your labors, and you will have more joy in doing this than anything else you could do. (Erastus Snow, Journal of Discourses, Vol.23, p.300 p.301)

INTRODUCTION:

Among the great political leaders in the history of the world, King Benjamin shines like the sun. By virtually any standard, he is as good a man and great a king as ever lived. The cursory descriptions given by Amaleki and Mormon show us the intriguing outlines of a life centered in Christ and his service. Here are the things King Benjamin did and did not do as he blessed his people:

• (Words of Mormon 1: 13) he did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban.

• (1:14) they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance.

• (1:15) after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut . . .

• (1:16) And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes . . .

• (1:16,18) and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites . . . King Benjamin . . . did once more establish peace in the land.

• (1:17) king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness . . .

• (1:18) king Benjamin, [labored] with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul.

• (Mosiah 2:11) I . . . was suffered by the hand of the Lord . . . to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto me.

• (2:12) I . . . have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you

• (2:13) Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons

• (2:13) Neither have I suffered . . . that ye should make slaves one of another

• (2:13) Neither have I suffered . . . that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery

• (2:13) nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness

• (2:13) I . . . have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you

• (2:14) And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne

• (2:15) I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day.

We are in the season of caucuses and primary elections I intend to cast my ballot for the man whom I think to be the best choice among several. But it seems clear that no one like Benjamin is on the ballot.

1. KING BENJAMIN TEACHES HIS SONS AND HAS MOSIAH CALL THE PEOPLE TOGETHER (Mosiah 1)

Mosiah's first description of Benjamin shows him not as a king but as a father. What does Mosiah 1:2,3 tell us that he did for his children?

And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord. And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.

Benjamin desired to provide the best of every benefit and opportunity for his children. And he did, by teaching them the scriptures. Erastus Snow (see Quote of the Week) would have approved. Benjamin teaches us a great lesson about the benefits of the scriptures and gives great counsel about how to take advantage of those benefits:

I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct. (Mosiah 1:5)

What a blessing to have the opportunity to have his commandments always before our eyes . . . Have you taken advantage? Or have you, by reason of neglect of the scriptures, dwindled in unbelief from time to time in your life? Have you sometimes suffered in ignorance, not knowing the mysteries of God? I have heard that Mark Twain once said, A man who wont read is no better off than a man who cant. This is certainly true of reading the scriptures. If we do not read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price and the Bible, what advantage do we have over those who cannot read them for whatever reason?

Have you seen the differences between Lamanites and Nephites, described in these verses by Benjamin, manifested in people in our own culture?

Benjamin gave instructions to his son to call the people together in a great convocation. Mosiah 1 tells us that there were two purposes for this meeting. They are in Mosiah 1: 10,11. What are they?

Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying: My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God hath given us. And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord. (Emphasis added)

What did Benjamin give Mosiah besides the crown?

And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him. (Mosiah 1:16)

2. KING BENJAMIN TEACHES THE PEOPLE OF THEIR ETERNAL INDEBTEDNESS TO GOD (Mosiah 2)

Note where the people pitched their tents when they came to hear the words of their King (see Mosiah 2:6). I have come to believe that it is much easier to hear the words of our King if our tents are pitched towards the temple. Where did Lot pitch his tent in Genesis 13:12? What danger does such a decision pose for people in our own day? When angelic messengers came to destroy the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, where was Lot living (See Genesis 19)? What is the modern equivalent of pitching our tents toward Sodom? If a non-member neighbor visiting your home were asked to make a judgement about where you have pitched your tent on the basis of what is on your walls, on your video shelf, or on your TV, what conclusion would he or she reach?

Benjamin told his people

I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak . . . (Mosiah 2:9, emphasis added)

My dictionary says that the verb trifle means "to talk or act jokingly, mockingly, or lightly. To play or toy with something." The noun refers to "something of little value of importance. A trivial thing or idea." Benjamin does not want his people to trifle with his words. How do you trifle with

• The law of chastity?

• General Conference?

• The scriptures?

• The sacrament?

• The priesthood?

• Church callings?

• Family obligations?

The messages of Mosiah 2 are centered in attitude and service. Benjamin tells us many of the things the Lord has done for us: (see Mosiah 2:20-23)

• He has created us

• He has preserved us

• He has caused that we can rejoice

• He has granted that we can live in peace

• He is preserving us from day to day

• He lends us breath

• He allows us agency - that is, the power to live and move according to our wills

And Benjamin lists the things we can do for God: (see Mosiah 2:20-22) There are only three of them:

• We can be grateful.

• We can serve him (see Mosiah 2:17)

• We can keep his commandments.

Of course, when you do these things,

He doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast? (Mosiah 2:24)

When we look at our meager efforts in this light, we begin to see why Benjamin could call us unprofitable servants” (see Mosiah 2:21). Of course, Gods investment in the welfare of his children and his involvement in their lives is not a business venture from which he hopes to turn a profit. Benjamin's explanation of the goodness of God makes it seem very much as though God pays reverse interest: the more we try to repay him for his goodness and blessings, the more his goodness and blessings upon us increase.

Benjamin uses another interesting word in this chapter--a word that may be worth a lesson of its own:

But, O my people, beware lest . . . ye list to obey the evil spirit . . . (Mosiah 2:32, emphasis added)

My dictionary defines the word list in this way: to incline; to bend toward; to tilt.

For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge. (Mosiah 2:33)

This listing is not the same as the open rebellion in Mosiah 2:37; it is rather a subtle drifting, a slight inclination, a nearly invisible attraction to the enticements of sin, one that might go almost unnoticed without the right tools. This reminds me of a passage in Amos.

Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them [ignore their transgressions] any more . . . (Amos 7:7,8)

The purpose of a plumbline on a wall is to see if the wall is bending or tilting or inclining - to see if it is listing. God told Amos that he meant to measure Israel with a plumbline, to see if they were guilty of the thing Benjamin warned his people about - of listing to obey the evil spirit.

How would you recognize such a dilemma in your own life or in the lives of your children? What signs would you look for that might indicate inclining or bending or tilting? We have been commanded not to list but to walk uprightly before God

And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us. (1 Nephi 16:3, emphasis added)

And we are enabled to do it, according to Nephi, as we hearken to the truth and give heed to it - the truth of the scriptures, the truth of the intimations of the Spirit, the truth of the words of the living prophets. These are the things that will prevent us from listing: from leaning and tilting and bending. And listing is a dangerous pastime, For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey. (Alma 3:27)

Any man who listeth to obey the evil spirit” then “becometh an enemy to all righteousness . . . (Mosiah 2:37) Therefore,

if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. (Mosiah 2:38)

Of this condition of unquenchable fire and ascending flame, Joseph Smith said,

A man is his own tormentor and his own condemner. Hence the saying, They shall go into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstone. I say, so is the torment of man. (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p.8, April 6, 1844)

On the other hand, Benjamin invites this consideration:

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Mosiah 2:41)

3. KING BENJAMIN REPEATS AN ANGEL'S PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS CHRIST AND HIS ATONEMENT (Mosiah 3)

Mosiah 3 is a beautiful prophecy about the ministry and atonement of the Savior, in preparation for which the angel announces that he will declare glad tidings of great joy. (Mosiah 3:3) This phrase, also used by an angelic messenger in Luke 2:10,11 is a wonderful way to describe the overall meaning of any message about the atonement of Jesus Christ: 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. (Mosiah 3:4)

Benjamin gives his people a powerful and descriptive account of the redemptive service of Christ (Mosiah 3:5-10), and even though the sufferings enumerated are anything but joyful, still the message is one of great joy, because the Savior's sacrifice will make eternal life possible for at least three groups of people:

For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned. (Mosiah 3:11)

The blood of Christ atones for the sins of those who do not know the law. This is not a promise of exaltation. We cannot be saved in ignorance (see D&C 131:6).

And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins. (Mosiah 3:16)

The blood of Christ atones for little children. President John Taylor taught:

Without Adam's transgression those children could not have existed. Through the atonement they are placed in a state of salvation without any act of their own. These would embrace, according to the opinion of statisticians, more than one-half of the human family who can attribute their salvation only to the mediation and atonement of the Savior, Thus, as stated elsewhere, in some mysterious, incomprehensible way, Jesus assumed the responsibility which naturally would have devolved upon Adam; but which could only be accomplished through the mediation of himself, and by taking upon himself their sorrows, assuming their responsibilities, and bearing their transgressions or sins. (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p.119, emphasis added)

The finest article on the salvation of children that I have read is in the Ensign, April 1977, pp. 3-7. It was written by Elder Bruce R. McConkie and is called The Salvation of Little Children.

For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. (Mosiah 3:18)

The blood of Christ atones for men who humble themselves and repent. Of course a time will come that "none shall be found blameless before God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God Omnipotent." (Mosiah 3:21) In that day, none will be ignorant of the mission of Christ, because "the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people." (Mosiah 3:20)

CONCLUSION:

The mission of Christ is to make possible our reconciliation to God. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation . . . (2 Cor. 5:18) But why was such a reconciliation necessary at all? If we are his children and his love for us in unblemished and eternal, what is the thing that has divided us from him? Sin has made us his enemies. But it has not made him our enemy! His love remains, and the proof of that love is in the mission of his Son.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10, emphasis added)

When the scriptures describe us as his enemies, they mean to teach us that we are subject to the consequences of the fall unless and until we are regenerated by the atonement.

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19)

King Benjamin teaches us the process of being reconciled as well as it is taught anywhere in the scripture. And certainly the sermon in which he gives us these teachings is one of the finest sermons recorded in the standard works. We will conclude our study of his words in the lesson next week.

Final Note: Dear Friends, If you have recommendations or considerations or questions about these lessons, please email me at tedgibbons@yahoo.com. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks,

T.L.G.

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