Sunday, June 22, 2014

Mosiah 1:1-4

The Book of Mosiah

Chapter 1

King Benjamin teaches his sons the language and prophecies of their fathers—Their religion and civilization have been preserved because of the records kept on the various plates—Mosiah is chosen as king and is given custody of the records and other things. About 130–124 B.C.

1 AND now there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days.
2 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.
3  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.
4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
Mosiah 1:1-4

As we begin the record called the Book of Mosiah, we read that after the wars mentioned in Words of Mormon, peace reigned in the land during the remainder of King Benjamin’s reign.

Before we begin studying the Book of Mosiah, we should look at its contents.  The first thing to note is that we don’t learn that much about Mosiah2 and his reign.  It begins with an introduction to King Benjamin and his sons.  We learn that his son, Mosiah2 will become king.  King Benjamin’s great sermon follows.  Then we read about the people of Zeniff and their trials.  Mosiah2 doesn’t enter the record again until Chapter 25. 

Gary Sturgess gives us an overview and background of the Book of Mosiah.

In its present form, the book of Mosiah takes up the history of Mosiah1's dynasty: "And now there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla among all the people which belonged to king Benjamin" (Mosiah 1:1). The beginnings of this history are now to be found in the Words of Mormon, which, according to Joseph Smith, was located not in its present position but right at the end of the plates. This suggests either that the 116 lost pages contained an introduction to the Mosiac dynasty similar to that portion now found in the Words of Mormon, or that an introduction to the book of Mosiah existed but was omitted either by Mormon or Joseph Smith.

What, then, is the book of Mosiah? Does it deserve to be treated as a distinct work of literature? Who was its original author or compiler? And, given the paucity of material therein directly relating to Mosiah himself, does the book deserve its present title?

My thesis is that the book of Mosiah had a separate identity long before Mormon engraved an abridged version of it onto his gold plates. And, while Mormon may have interfered somewhat with the book during the process of transcription, the structure of the original book of Mosiah is largely intact and can still be detected in the pages of the Book of Mormon.

As for compiling the book, the candidate most likely to be involved seems to be Alma the Younger. Other possible authors or compilers include Alma the Elder, Mosiah2, or perhaps one of the sons of Mosiah2, or several working in collaboration. The book of Mosiah concludes with King Mosiah's death and the appointment of Alma the Younger as the first chief judge of the united Nephite nation. If, as suggested herein, the book was written according to a deliberate pattern, then this would suggest a date of compilation after Mosiah's death in 91 BC It is possible, of course, that it was substantially written in the final years of Mosiah's life and only completed after his death, but other reasons exist for associating this book with Alma the Younger.[1]

Benjamin had three sons, Mosiah2, Helorum, and Helaman1.  As they grew, Benjamin saw to it that they were “taught in the languages of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding.”  What is mean when we read that someone was taught in the language of their fathers?

John Welch shares his insight.

Benjamin's concerns about language extended beyond public education and official record keeping. The record gives Benjamin particular credit—more than any other Nephite leader—for having taught his three sons "all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding" (Mosiah 1:2). He taught them Hebrew, the language of his fathers, as well as Egyptian, which he himself knew (see Mosiah 1:4). One can assume that he knew and taught them not only vocabulary words, but also grammar, syntax, style, form, composition, and literary appreciation, for he taught them "all the language of his fathers."[2]

John Sorenson continues.

The lack of clarity stemming from the script that the Nephites used for their key sacred and historical documents is implied also by the difficulty of learning the system. King Benjamin wanted his three sons to become "men of understanding," so he "caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers . . . that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers" (Mosiah 1:2). The expression "in all the language" conveys that degrees of learning were possible. He wanted them to have mastery of the system, not a superficial knowledge only.[3]

One of the main reasons that Benjamin taught his sons the language of their fathers was this was the language in which the brass plates were written.  As we saw with the Mulekites, the brass plates and the language of the brass plates was essential to pass on the Mosaic Law as well as the culture of the Nephites.  This helped keep them together as a society culture, unlike the Mulekites having lost their language, culture and traditions.

Benjamin, speaking to his sons about the importance of the brass plates and the records, told them that Lehi could not have remembered all the things in the brass plates.  He was able to read the engravings on the brass plates. 

John S. Thompson writes:

In the opening verses of that portion of the abridged large plates of Nephi of which we have a translation, Mormon informs us that Lehi was taught "in the language of the Egyptians" (Mosiah 1:4). We also learn in this passage that at least a part, if not all, of the brass plates that Laban possessed and Lehi later obtained were written in Egyptian, for Lehi had to use his knowledge of the Egyptian language to read them.[4]

Lehi taught his sons the language of the Egyptians so they would be able to read the record. 

Hugh Nibley points out that some critic mock the emphasis on Egyptian in the Book of Mormon.

The world has always cast a superior and mocking eye on the inordinate concern of the Book of Mormon for things Egyptian. With surprise and incredulity it is now learning that Egyptian culture counted for far more in Palestine in 600 B.C. than anyone had ever supposed. It is significant that the Book of Mormon concern with Egypt is strictly cultural—it never mentions Pharaoh or speaks of Egyptian government, but only of Egyptian culture and especially language. It makes it perfectly clear, however, that Egyptian was for Lehi a second language, "for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children" (Mosiah 1:4).[5]


[1] The Book of Mosiah: Thoughts about Its Structure, Purposes, Themes, and Authorship, Gary L. Sturgess, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 22, 2014.
[2] Benjamin, the Man: His Place in Nephite History, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 22, 2014.
[3] The Book of Mormon as a Mesoamerican Record, John L. Sorenson, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 22, 2014.
[4] Lehi and Egypt, John S.  Thompson, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 22, 2014.
[5] Lehi in the Desert, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 22, 2014.

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