Chapter 6
King Benjamin records the names of the people and
appoints priests to teach them—Mosiah reigns as a righteous king. About
124–121 B.C.
1 And now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient, after
having finished speaking to the people, that he should take the names of all
those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments.
2 And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except
it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken
upon them the name of Christ.
3 And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had
made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son Mosiah to be a
ruler and a king over his people, and had given him all the charges concerning
the kingdom, and also had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby
they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in
remembrance of the oath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and
they returned, every one, according to their families, to their own houses.
4 And Mosiah began to reign in his father’s stead. And he
began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about
four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.
5 And king Benjamin lived three years and he died.
6 And it came to pass that king Mosiah did walk in the
ways of the Lord, and did observe his judgments and his statutes, and did keep
his commandments in all things whatsoever he commanded him.
7 And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should
till the earth. And he also, himself, did till the earth, that thereby he might
not become burdensome to his people, that he might do according to that which
his father had done in all things. And there was no contention among all his
people for the space of three years. (Mosiah 6:1-7)
Having finished his
sermon, Benjamin had the names of those who made the covenant recorded. With the exception of young children, all in
the congregation added their names to the list.
This was similar to
the Day of Atonement activities.
“On many occasions
in Jewish life, but especially on this day, blessings were pronounced. In
Benjamin’s case, several blessings were mentioned: ‘he doth bless and prosper
you’ (Mosiah 2:22); ‘ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have
no power over you’ (Mosiah 2:31); and remember “the blessed and happy state of
those that keep the commandments” (Mosiah 2:41). At the end of the Day of
Atonement, Jewish people exchange blessings such as ‘May you be inscribed for
life [in the book of life] and merit many years.’ Likewise, at the
conclusion of his speech, Benjamin took ‘the names of all those who had entered
into a covenant with God to keep his commandments’ (Mosiah 6:1). In some cases
the Israelites immediately began constructing their booths (sukkot) in
preparation for the next phase of this season’s celebrations.”[1]
The recording of
names was important.
“[T]he first thing
done after a covenant ceremony is, likewise, to appoint priests to exhort the
people to remember their promises so they may withstand God’s day of judgment
(e.g., Mosiah 6:1—3; 2 Nephi 9:52). The disciple’s salvation turns
upon remembering and doing the things taught in the Sermon. Therefore, one
should not think of the standards set forth in the Sermon as unreachable
ideals. Observing this specific set of requirements is essential to eternal
exaltation, for only thereby can the Lord raise us up at the last day. In this
way, the speech embraces both this-worldly and other-worldly concerns.”[2]
Excepting children, everyone made the covenant and take upon
themselves the name of Christ.
“And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to
do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall
command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves
a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink
out of the cup of the wrath of God” (Mosiah 5:5).
Benjamin than consecrated Mosiah to be the ruler over the
people. He also appointed priests to teach the people.
He then dismissed the multitude and they returned to their
homes.
“The greatest blessings of general conference come to us
after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in
scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes
to live them … We accept the Savior’s invitation when we ponder and pray to
understand what we have been taught and then go forward and do His will.”[3]
Benjamin died three
years after Mosiah became king.
Mosiah was a
righteous king. He “did walk in the ways
of the Lord.” He kept the commandments
in all thing and did whatsoever the Lord commanded him.
“The book of Mosiah
is possibly the most carefully composed book in the Book of Mormon concerning a
single period of history. Parts of it were written by Mosiah, son of Benjamin,
and he incorporated the records of others (Limhi, Alma, et al.) in his work.
Others later condensed the record and wrote certain things Mosiah was unlikely
to have said about himself, putting such comments in the third person (Mosiah
6:6–7), and adding details such as the death of Mosiah (Mosiah 29:46–47).”[4]
Mosiah had his
people begin tilling the ground and planting their crops. Like his father, Mosiah took care of himself
and provided for himself. He was never a
burden on the people. The apostle Paul
similarly provided for himself. “And
when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that
which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in
all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep
myself” (2 Corinthians 11:9).
“Nephi taught his
people to be industrious and to work with their hands (2 Nephi 5:17). After
hearing the gospel taught by Ammon and his brothers, the converted Lamanites,
the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, became a very industrious people (Alma 23:18). Moreover,
the righteous leaders of the Book of Mormon taught through example to till the
earth and to support themselves so they would not be a burden for others
(Mosiah 6:7).”[5]
[1]
King Benjamin’s Speech in the Context of Ancient Israelite Festivals, Terrence
L. Szink and John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute website.
[2]
The Temple Context and Unity of the Sermon at the Temple, Maxwell Institute
website.
[3] General
Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, Elder Robert D. Hales,
October 2013 General Conference.
[4]
Mosiah: The Complex Symbolism and Symbolic Complex of Kingship in the Book of
Mormon, Gordon C. Thomasson, Maxwell Institute website.
[5]
Economic Insights from the Book of Mormon, Lindon J. Robison, Maxwell Institute
website.
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