Mosiah 4:9-11

9 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.

10 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.

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering 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.

12 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.

13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

Mosiah 4:9-13

If you are looking for a brief summary of Benjamin’s sermon, verse 9 provides it.  Believe in God, Benjamin tells us.  He created the heavens and the earth.  God has all wisdom. 

Paul wrote to the Romans:

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  or who hath been his counsellor?

“Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.  Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).

Benjamin tells us we cannot comprehend all things.  Only the Lord can comprehend all things.  Isaiah also made the same point.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

“Can you see that King Benjamin is not just telling us that we don’t know everything; he is asking us to believe it, to make it a matter of faith. It is so easy to forget that we must make it an article of faith, something we need to keep reminding ourselves of. Believe that you don’t comprehend everything the Lord comprehends. Make that belief a cornerstone of your life, bringing its insights to bear on the problems you encounter. I don’t have it all figured out right now. There are some things that still don’t fit in, but I have a witness that the Lord understands and knows the answers to those things and that they do fit in, so I can be satisfied with where I am in my progress right now. Although it sounds paradoxical, I would like to suggest that if we can get a witness of this point, a testimony that we don’t know (along with our testimonies of the things that we do know), our progress in this line-upon-line test will be much smoother.”[1]

We must believe that we must repent of and forsake our sins.  We must humble ourselves before God.  When we ask for his forgiveness, we must be sincere in our request and believe.  David wrote, “I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee” (Psalms 41:4).  The Lord commanded the elder of the church “who are assembled upon this spot, whose sins are now forgiven you, for I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts” (D&C 61:2).  “Does that sound authoritarian? We seem to forget that these words were handed not only to Benjamin but also to Joseph Smith by an angel from another sphere. Their purpose is to help prepare us for that other sphere. Do not expect the words of the angel to be like other texts, conservative or liberal.”^[2]

The Savior taught the same thing with His parable of the wise and foolish man.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto [GR he will resemble] a wise man, which built his house upon a rock [GR the rock].

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a ^crock.

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).

No doubt King Benjamin was aware of the words of Nephi.

“And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a ^clove of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.  And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end” (2 Nephi 31:19-21).

Benjamin gives us a series of steps to follow.

·        “He says that they have come to the “knowledge of the glory of God,’ as they have ‘tasted of his love’ (Mosiah 4:11). The Lord connects being born again with being a partaker of the glory of God. He says, ‘All those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn’ (D&C 93:22).”[3]

·        “[Ye] have tasted of God’s love.” David wrote about tasting God’s love. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalms 34:8).  Alma₂ could be confirming Benjamin’s words in his advice to his son, Helaman.

“Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

“Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors;

“For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God” (Alma 36:24-26).

·        “[Ye] have received a remission of your sins

o   “[Ye] have exceedingly great joy in your souls”

·        “[Ye] should remember and always retain a remembrance of the greatness of God”

·        “[Ye] should remember and always retain a remembrance of … your own nothingness” 

Writing to the Romans, Paul said,

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

“An individual would be presumptuous to claim to be a saint, because such a declaration implies a claim to purity that is not in keeping with acknowledging our nothingness before the Lord (see Mosiah 4:11).”^[4]

“After having received the great joy that comes from knowing the goodness of God and having tasted of His love, King Benjamin taught his people three basic principles that would help them retain a remission of their sins: first, to remain humble; second, to call upon the Lord daily; and third, to stand steadfast in the faith of that which was to come (see Mosiah 4:11).”[5]

·        “[Ye] should remember his goodness and long-suffering towards you”

·        “[Ye] should humble yourselves even in the depths of humility”

·        “[Ye] should call on the name of the Lord daily”

·        “[Ye] should stand steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come”

If we do all these things, we will rejoice and obtain a remission of our sins.  Alma₂ described this rejoicing.  “And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26).

We “shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that crated you.”  “And what is that glory? Intelligence, the greatest fun of all, with no room for invidious comparison, rivalry, and jealousy that characterize the competitive business and professionalism, since truth alone is the object (Mosiah 4:13—16).”[6]

M. Catherine Thomas explains, “Is it possible that it was not just the news that the Savior will minister on the earth in a hundred years or so that was intended to fill them with joy—because they already knew all the prophecies of the holy prophets with respect to the Savior’s ministry—but that the atonement was about to become very personal to them? Was their faith in the Lord about to become knowledge? This joy announced by the angel was not to be just a momentary experience. If they were diligent unto prayer (see Moroni 8:26) and obedient to the other instructions their king would give them, they could retain this perfect love and joy in their hearts and even ‘grow in the knowledge of the glory of [God]’ (Mosiah 4:12).”[7]

Should the people follow King Benjamin’s counsel, they will “not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably and to render to every man according to that which is his due”

“No doubt Benjamin faced several crises during his lifetime. As has been discussed above, one of his most urgent needs was to promote unity among his people. The first and last things said in reference to Benjamin in the Book of Mormon are about contentions. Judging by Benjamin’s comments to the rich and the poor, class stratification was a problem that had developed among these people. To strengthen his community, Benjamin’s first covenantal stipulation for the people was that parents should teach the youth that they should ‘not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably’ one with another (Mosiah 4:13).”[8]

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[1] “We Have Received, and We Need No More,” Dilworth B. Parkinson, Maxell Institute.

[2] Assembly and Atonement – Public and Private, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[3] King Benjamin and the Mysteries of God, M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute website.

[4] Romans 1 – Verses 1–7, Maxwell Institute.

[5] Retaining a Remission of Sin, Elder Keith Crockett, October 2000 General Conference.

[6] Last Call: An Apocalyptic Warning from the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[7] King Benjamin and the Mysteries of God, M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute.

[8] Benjamin’s Speech: A Masterful Oration, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute.

Mosiah 3:1-8

Chapter 4

King Benjamin continues his address—Salvation comes because of the Atonement—Believe in God to be saved—Retain a remission of your sins through faithfulness—Impart of your substance to the poor—Do all things in wisdom and order. About 124 B.C.

1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.

2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: 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.

3 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.

4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you.

5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—

6 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 long-suffering 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 body—

7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.

8 And 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 4:1-8)

King Benjamin continued speaking the message which had been delivered to him by an angel.

Hearing King Benjamin’s words, they people had fallen to the earth. The fear of the Lord had come upon them.

As used in the scriptures, fear has different meanings. The Bible Dictionary gives us the definition of fear as it is used in verse 1. “Care should be taken to distinguish between two different uses of this word. The ‘fear of the Lord’ is frequently spoken of as part of man’s duty (Ps. 111:10; Eccl. 12:13; Isa. 11:2–3; Luke 1:50); it is also described as ‘godly fear’ (Heb. 12:28). In such passages fear is equivalent to reverence, awe, worship, and is therefore an essential part of the attitude of mind in which we ought to stand toward the All-holy God.”

Why did they fall to the earth?

“Bowing down—or more dramatically, full prostration—is not only an instinctive response when coming into the presence of a superior being, but it is also a common element of ritual. Collective group prostration, particularly in a temple context, was more than simply a reaction of people being overcome. It had long been a customary part of the Nephite covenant-making ceremony (see Mosiah 4:1).”^[1]

So, we see the falling to the earth was an important part of the ritual.

Benjamin’s words made the people aware of their carnal state.  They were “less than the dust of the earth.”  The people cried, saying, “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).

Hugh Nibley explains the people crying together.

“As in Mosiah, there were frequent exchanges between the king and the people, the latter reciting in unison. This explains the odd circumstance in which the people ‘all cried aloud with one voice’ (Mosiah 4:2) and proceeded to recite in unison an ecstatic statement of some fifty words. How could they do it spontaneously ‘with one voice’? Throughout the world such acclamations were led by a special cheerleader, sometimes called a stasiarch, who stood before the crowd and received notes from important people or shouts from the audience requesting particular cheers. He would recite a sentence to the people and wave a flag to lead them in a uniform chant (compare Deuteronomy 27:14–26). Sometimes the king himself chose to lead the cheering, and some Roman emperors enjoyed it. There was no limit to what could be shouted in unison, and it could go on for hours.”[2]

Asking the Lord to apply the “atoning blood of Christ” is important.  Hugh Nibley explains we are given choice.

“If we would have God ‘apply the atoning blood of Christ’ (Mosiah 4:2) to our case, we can also reject it. We can take advantage of it or we can refuse it. The Atonement is either dead to us or it is in full effect. It is the supreme sacrifice made for us, and to receive it we must live up to every promise and covenant related to it—the Day of Atonement was the day of covenants, and the place was the temple.”[3]

The Lord heard their plea.  The Spirit of the Lord came upon the people.  They rejoiced because they had received a remission of their sins.  Their conscience was at peace.  This was all don through their faith in Christ and their acceptance of what King Benjamin had told them.

King Benjamin continues his sermon.  The people understand they are more than just subjects to him.  He refers to them as his “friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people.” 

Through their humbling themselves and accepting Benjamin’s words, “God as awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and you worthless and fallen state.”  After seeing God’s creations, Moses realized our nothingness.  “And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (Moses 1:10).

James Faulconer explains salvation requires us to realize we are nothing.

“That we cannot reveal God, make an image of him, takes us back to a point in Jacob's sermon: theology is not only a matter of going beyond learning through testimony and covenant, though it is that. It is also a matter of remaining a fool before God in knowledge. The fool is not empty-headed merely because there is some fact he does not yet know. To be a fool is to be silly in the old sense of that word; it is to be weak, to be deficient in judgment and sense. It is to be nothing (and King Benjamin reminds us that salvation requires that we recognize our nothingness; Mosiah 4:5, 8–9, 11).”^[4]

The people have accepted God’s goodness and power; his wisdom, patience and long suffering. 

Christ’s atonement was “prepared from the foundation of the world.”  The atonement was the essential part of the plan of salvation.  We all sin and fall short during our lives.  Justice must have its demands met; only mercy can intervene between man, the sinner, and the justice of God. 

We are to put our trust and faith in Christ to obtain salvation.  About the same time Benjamin was speaking, Abinadi was confronting Noah and his priests.  “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” (Mosiah 15:19).

When Alma1 began baptizing his followers, he cried unto the Lord, “And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world” (Mosiah 18:13).

Ultimately, we must place our trust in Christ.  David wrote, “How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God!  therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.  They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.” (Psalms 36:7-8).

Nephi, quoting Isaiah wrote, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation” (2 Nephi 22:2).  When preaching to the wicked in Zarahemla, Nephi₂ told them, “And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him” (Helaman 12:1). “Benjamin stressed knowing God's attributes. Again, he touched firmly though subtly on a profound point. As we come to know the attributes of God, this can awaken us, as King Benjamin said, to our comparative fallen state (see Mosiah 4:5—6).”^[5]

The person who humbles himself before God, accepts his nothingness, is the person who received salvation.  We must remember, that this was prepared for us before the foundation of the world. We are all subject to sin through the fall of Adam.  The atonement is for us all.

Only Christ brings salvation.  It had to be Christ.  No one else could save mankind.  Before the foundation of our world, Christ was the Chosen Son of God.  The Nephites knew and understood Christ’s role. 

“Benjamin knew and also referred to several concepts that were found on the small plates or were traditional in Nephite culture … [An] example appears in Mosiah 4:8 (see also Mosiah 3:17), in which Benjamin says, ‘there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of,’ which seems to quote 2 Nephi 31:21: ‘this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.’”[6] 

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[1] Toward an Understanding of the Sermon as an Ancient Temple Text, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute.

[2] Assembly and Atonement – Public and Private, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[3] The Meaning of the Atonement, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[4] Rethinking Theology: The Shadow of the Apocalypse, James E. Faulconer, Maxwell Institute.

[5] King Benjamin's Sermon: A Manual for Discipleship, Elder Neal Maxwell, Maxwell Institute.

[6] Benjamin, the Man: His Place in Nephite History, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute.

Mosiah 3:20-27

20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

21 And behold, when that time cometh, 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.

22 And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee.

23 And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me.

24 And thus saith the Lord: They shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.

25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever.

27 And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever. Thus hath the Lord commanded me. Amen.

(Mosiah 3:20-27)

King Benjamin continues to teach his people about the Savior.

The time will come when the knowledge of the Savior will spread. “Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people” (D&C 3:16).

This knowledge will spread through the world to all people. “And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: 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” (Mosiah 16:1).

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42).

“Again I say, hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit” (D&C 43:15).

“[R]emain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you” (D&C 84:61).

“Ancient prophets foresaw a day ‘when the knowledge of a Savior [would] spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.’ That day has come. And it is our turn to thrust in our sickles and help with the harvest. That we are here now is no accident. For aeons of time our Father watched us and knew He could trust us when so much would be at stake. We have been held in reserve for this very hour. We need to understand not just who we are but who we have always been.”[1]

When the time comes, with the exception of little children, the only way we can found blameless before God is through faith in Christ and repentance.

After having taught his people these things, they are “found no more blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee” (Mosiah 3:22).

What King Benjamin taught them, he taught them because the Lord commanded him to teach these things.

His words will stand as a testimony of this people. They will be judged according to their works, be they good or evil.

“Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work” (Psalm 62:12).

“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10).

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

“For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Romans 2:13).

“[E]ventually you (and I) are going to die, be resurrected, be judged, and be awarded a place in eternal realms. With each passing sunset, you are closer to that inevitable day of judgment. Then you will be asked to account for your faith, your hopes, and your works. The Lord said:

‘Every man may act in doctrine and principle … according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.’

“As all will be resurrected, your physical body will then be restored to its proper and perfect frame. The day of your resurrection will be a day of judgment that will determine the kind of life you shall have hereafter.

“That judgment will consider not only your actions, but also your innermost intent and heartfelt desires. Your everyday thoughts have not been lost. Scriptures speak of the ‘bright recollection’ and ‘perfect remembrance’ that your mind will provide in times of divine judgment.

“The Lord knows the desires of our hearts.”[2]

Those who are evil will know their guilt and abominations.

“Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness…

“Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery” (2 Nephi 9:14, 46).

They will shrink from the Lord’s presence into a state of misery and endless torment.

“O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world” (Mormon 8:38).

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:9).

“Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all-searching eye” (Mosiah 27:31).

“For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

“Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

“Endless punishment is God’s punishment…

“Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit” (D&C 19:10-12, 20).

They will never return from their state of misery and torment. “[T]hey have drunk damnation to their own souls” (Mosiah 3:25).

“The Fall has separated us from our heavenly home. We must choose which way we will go. Satan, who was separated from God and permanently lost, would like to see our separation become permanent also … Those who yield to his enticings are on the way to the same miserable destiny as he. Shut out from the presence of God, they will be in ‘a state of misery and endless torment.’ As the Lord said about the wicked, ‘misery shall be their doom.’”[3]

The wicked will have drunk of the cup of the wrath of God. “For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them” (Psalm 75:8).

“Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out” (Isaiah 51:17).

“And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not” (D&C 29:17).

Having drunk of the cup, justice cannot deny them any more than it could deny Adam for taking of the forbidden fruit.

 “Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man” (Mormon 9:12).

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant [Hebrew idiom meaning “a desirable thing”] to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise [OR desirable as a means to wisdom], she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6).

Mercy could no longer claim them.

Their torment is a lake of fire and brimstone with unquenchable flames. “And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end” (2 Nephi 9:16).

“And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment” (Jacob 6:10).

“Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them according to his will” (Alma 12:17).

“Thus hath the Lord commanded me. Amen.” (Mosiah 3:27).

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[1] Stand Tall and Stand Together, Sister Sheri L. Dew, October 2000 General Conference.

[2] Choices, President Russell M. Nelson, October 1990 General Conference.

[3] Joy and Mercy, President Dallin H. Oaks, October 1991 General Conference.

Mosiah 3:17-19

17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

18 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.

19 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 3:17-19)

King Benjamin has been teaching his people about Christ’s atonement.

Benjamin has made it clear that there is no other name given for us to be saved save it is that  of Jesus Christ.

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen” (2 Nephi 31:21).

“And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled” (3 Nephi 9:17).

Salvation only comes through Christ.

“Enter ye in at the strait [GR narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

“The question is sometimes asked, ‘Are Mormons Christians?’ We declare the divinity of Jesus Christ. We look to Him as the only source of our salvation. We strive to live His teachings, and we look forward to the time that He shall come again on this earth to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the words of a Book of Mormon prophet, we say to men today, ‘There [is] no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”[1]

God’s judgment’s are just. Should men not humble themselves and be as little children, they drink damnation to their souls.

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation [GR condemnation, judgement] to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29).

They must believe salvation comes through the atoning blood of Christ.

“Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people” (Psalm 3:8).

“The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14).

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

“If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation” (D&C 6:13).

“Now, my brothers and sisters, let not Jesus’ redemption for us stop at the immortalizing dimension of the Atonement, ‘the loosing of the bands of death’ (Alma 11:41). Let us grasp the proffered gift of eternal life! We will end up either choosing Christ’s manner of living or His manner of suffering! It is either ‘suffer even as I’ ( D&C 19:16–17) or overcome ‘even as [He] … overcame’ (Rev 3:21). His beckoning command is to become ‘even as I am’ (3 Nephi 27:27). The spiritually settled accept that invitation, and ‘through the atonement of Christ,’ they become and overcome!” (emphasis in original)[2]

The natural man is an enemy to God.

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [GR examined, tried, judged]” (1 Corinthians 2:11-14).

“And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness” (Alma 41:11).

He has been since the fall. He will be forever unless he yields to the Holy Spirit.

“Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the Lord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you” (2 Chronicles 30:8).

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments [GR weapons] of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace[3]” (Romans 6:12-14).

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

“For they that are after the flesh do mind [GR watch, guard] the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-5).

We must put off the natural man. “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).

“Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind” (D&C 67:12).

We can become saints through Christ’s atonement.

We are to be like a child.

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere [GR pure, genuine] milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

“If so be ye have tasted [GR experienced] that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3).

We must be submissive to the Lord.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

“And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive” (Alma 7:23).

We are to be meek, humble, patient, full of love. We must submit to the things the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us. We should be as a child – submit to the Lord as the child submits to the parent.

“King Benjamin seems to teach that becoming like a child is a gradual process of spiritual development in which we are aided by the Holy Ghost and our reliance on Christ’s Atonement. Through this process, we will eventually acquire the childlike attributes of meekness, humility, patience, love, and spiritual submissiveness. True humility will inevitably lead us to say to God, ‘Thy will be done.’ And because what we are does affect what we do, our submissiveness will be reflected in our reverence, gratitude, and willingness to accept callings, counsel, and correction.”[4]

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[1] The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988, p. 10.

[2] “Overcome … Even As I Also Overcame,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell, April 1987 General Conference.

[3] For in so doing sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (JST Romans 6:14).

[4] “To Walk Humbly with Thy God,” Elder Marlin K. Jensen, April 2001 General Conference.