Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Mosiah 1:6-8


6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.
7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.
8 And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book. (Mosiah 1:6-18)

King  Benjamin continues speaking to his sons.

Benjamin testifies to his sons his sayings and the record is true. “And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge” (1 Nephi 1:3).

“And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God.
“And behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work;
“And unto three shall they be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true” (Ether 5:1-3).

They can know this because they have the records before them.

Benjamin told his sons they needed to search the scriptures diligently. They would profit by doing this.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable[GR beneficial or useful for instruction] for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

He told them to keep God’s commandments. “And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you” (Mosiah 2:22).

Doing this, they would prosper in the land. “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands” (1 Nephi 2:20).

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:7).

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful
“But his delight is in the law [HEB teaching, direction, doctrine] of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).

These are the promises the Lord made to their fathers.

“For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land” (Omni 1:6).

“Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord” (Alma 9:13).

King Benjamin continued teaching his sons, but Mormon chose not to write them in “this book.”

“Due both to the difficulty in engraving plates (Jacob 4: 1) and to the fact that writers of the Book of Mormon were trying to summarize countless records from a long and complex history, we constantly find phrases indicating editorial condensations and omissions. One such phrase is ‘And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book’ (Mosiah 1:8) and ‘many more things did Mosiah write unto them’ (Mosiah 29:33). Nevertheless, the Book of Mormon is an inspired book. In its final form it is thoughtfully structured and written, and it is evident that conscious planning, not chance, went into its composition”[1]


[1] Mosiah: The Complex Symbolism and Symbolic Complex of Kingship in the Book of Mormon,  Gordon C. Thomasson, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2/1 (1993): (22-23).

No comments:

Post a Comment