What Do We Learn from Mosiah 9-22?

For the last 10 weeks or so, we've been looking at the Record of Zeniff. Why did Mormon include this account?  Let's look at the contents of Mosiah.

• Chapter 1 - Introduction to King Benjamin. (around 124 B.C.)
• Chapters 2-5 - King Benjamin's sermon. (around 124 B.C.)
• Chapters 6 - Death of King Benjamin; the beginning of the reign of King Mosiah(2). (around 124 B.C. to 121 B.C.)
• Chapters 7-8 - Ammon's discovery and teaching of the people of Limhi. (around 121 B.C.)
• Chapters 9-22 - The record of Zeniff. (around 200 B.C. to 120 B.C.)
• Chapters 23-24 - Account of Alma(1) and his people (around 145 B.C. to 121 B.C.)
• Chapter 25 - The people of Limhi and Alma(1) become a part of Zarahmela; Alma(1) organizes the Church. (around 120 B.C.)
• Chapter 26 - Wickedness enters society (around 120 B.C. - 100 B.C.)
• Chapter 27 - Alma(2) and the sons of Mosiah attempt to destroy the church; their miraculous conversion. (around 100 B.C. to 92 B.C.)
• Chapter 28 - Sons of Mosiah go on mission to the Lamanites. (around 92 B.C.)
• Chapter 29 - Mosiah(2) establishes judges; Alma(2) becomes head of church.

We learn nothing about Nephite society from 200 B.C. until 124 B.C., a period of 76 years.  From all appearances, this must have been a relative time of peace and prosperity.

A common theme throughout Mormon's abridgement is the constant rise and fall of Nephite civilization.  When they are righteous, they prosper.  When they are wicked, they fall.  The period of peace and prosperity in Nephite society was of little interest to Mormon, especially when he had the record of Zeniff.  

Through Zeniff's record, we see a time of righteousness and wickedness.  A prophet is called to preach to the people.  One small group accepts the prophet's teachings and separate from their society and live in the wilderness.  The rest of the people are eventually taken into bondage; the king dies a fiery death.  They suffer massive defeats before the finally turn to the Lord.  Then, and only then, are they freed from their bondage.

I am convinced that Mormon saw this as a marvelous morality tale of the consequences of our choices.  Mosiah(2)'s society did not offer this.  This is why we have this account, an account that takes up almost half of the book of Mosiah.

We also learn many great and powerful gospel principles; we are indebted to both Abinadi and Alma(1) for their teachings.  Let's look at a few of them.

• Salvation came to the people through the Law of Moses.  The priests claimed that this is what they taught. (Mosiah 12:31-32)
• God protects his prophets until their message is delivered.  (Mosiah 13:3).
• Ultimately, it will be through the atonement that we will be saved.  (Mosiah 13:28)
• The Law of Moses was given to the Israelites because they were a wicked and stiff-necked people. (Mosiah 13:29-30)
• The Law of Moses was a type (the atonement) of things to come. (Mosiah 13:31)
• All prophets prophesied of Christ. (Mosiah 13:33)
• God himself (Christ) would make the atonement. (Mosiah 13:28, 34-35)
• How Christ is both the Father and the Son (Mosiah 14:1-5)
• Aspects of the ministry of Christ. (Mosiah 14:6-7)
• Christ will break the bonds of death. (Mosiah 14:8-9)
• If we accept Christ and his mission, we become his seed. (Mosiah 14:12-13)
• Christ will bring forth the resurrection of the dead. (Mosiah 14:20)
• Christ redeems us  from our fallen state. (Mosiah 15:5-6)
• We will be judged by our works.  (Mosiah 15:10)
• The evil will face the resurrection of endless damnation. (Mosiah 15:11)
• We have one of the best lists of what it takes to be a true Christian: this must be the desire of your heart - willing to bear each others burdens, mourn with those that mourn, comfort those who need comforting, and stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places until death. (Mosiah 18:8-9)

This is a powerful list of gospel principles, all  found within about five chapters in this group of thirteen chapters.

I am so grateful that Mormon was inspired to write about these great principles and make them available to us today.