Mosiah 2:20-41
2:20-26 – I love the concept here that King Benjamin teaches, I think there are many different lessons here that can be over looked sometimes. First is the lesson on humility. This was a difficult lesson for me to learn in Young Women’s because I equated humility = I am worthless. I guess I’ve never had a really firm teaching on a lot of things, cooking, taking care of myself, self-esteem, gospel concepts, there are a lot of life lessons that I either don’t know at all, or have learned the hard way, that’s why yesterday’s lesson with my daughter was such a big deal for me because that’s a life lesson that I learned the hard way and I want her to have that before it really devastates her. And I’ve always equated having humility with being humiliated, not standing up for yourself, being the victim all the time. I know it’s crazy, but when you have no one to teach you these lessons, satan takes the opportunity to be of influence, and that’s where I learned that I am worthless, I am unwanted, and that God is a monster. It’s been a long and painful road back but here I am and I’ve found the best way to describe humility now is, as the saying goes “humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s just thinking of yourself less.” That’s how I’ve come to understand it. As King Benjamin says in verse 25 “I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth.” Now I’ve heard this before, but the explanation that I’ve heard the best is that we are lower than the dust of the earth, not because we are worth less than the dust, but because when God speaks, all the elements of the earth immediately obey Him, whereas we are disobedient, we make mistakes, none of us are perfect, whereas the elements of the earth are perfectly obedient. The second lesson here is that of God’s mercy and generosity. King Benjamin teaches that “God… has created you, and has kept and preserved you… and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another... preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another,” after all that he has given us all we can do to repay him is “render thanks and praise… rejoice…serve him with all your whole souls” if we dedicated our every thought and action toward serving, loving and praising God, “if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.” I love that phrase, unprofitable servants. That’s how I consider myself most of the time, no matter how much effort I put into it, I am still in the red, I am still an “unprofitable servant,” and that’s not taken in a demeaning way, it’s just a way to keep perspective and reference this sermon, when I think that I am an unprofitable servant I am able to remember that I have been commanded to be obedient, and when I am He blesses me. I am not commanded to be a profitable servant, “all that he requires of (me) is to keep his commandments.” I think about this in terms of my children. I love my children, but they are a lot of work, especially as a single mother, all the work that I put into raising them and caring for them, will they ever be able to repay me for that, and if so, what would be the currency? How would it be possible for them to repay me in any fashion, it doesn’t make sense. So how could I ever ask them for repayment, how could I ever ask them to be “profitable” to me? It sounds to me like the only way to have a profitable servant is slavery. No real effort is put into sustaining or training them, there is currency there as far as actual servitude goes, the purpose is for your own gain, and their welfare is not tended to. Interesting that the only thing that I can think to equate being a profitable servant to is being a slave, and what did satan want us to be? That’s right, slaves. The purpose of having children is not to be repaid in servitude, but in immeasurable fulfillment. Our purpose here on earth is not be “profitable servants” but to be obedient. King Benjamin explains this quiet clearly when he says “and now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.” We didn’t come up with the great Plan of Happiness, He did. It was his idea to create us and a place for us to learn and grow, it is HIS work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men, not ours. Our being concerned with whether or not we are profitable servants to God is like my daughter being concerned with whether or not I like her brown eyes. It is what it is, I can never be profitable and she can never change her eye color, embrace it and move on. In both cases we should be focused on being obedient, that is our duty. King Benjamin continues “(God) doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which is ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore of what have ye to boast?” When we are humble we are ready to observe and serve, but when we are prideful, we start to have negative feelings about ourselves and others and there is no happiness or progress there. By acknowledging that no matter what we do, we “are still indebted unto him” gives us the opportunity to look past ourselves and be mindful of others, but by not demanding repayment, only obedience, he also grants us the ability to live fully covered by the atonement if we choose to partake of it. There are commandments for safety and happiness and blessings for compensation for being obedient. In the IM President Joseph F. Smith teaches “we are extremely ungrateful to our Father and to his Beloved Son when is all humility with ‘broken hearts and contrite spirits’ we are unwilling to keep the commandments. The violation of any divine commandment is a most ungrateful act, considering all that has been accomplished for us through the atonement of our Savior.” To be honest, when I read this yesterday I thought “you know, only now am I in a place where I can read this.” Like I said many times before, I’m a totally different person than I was even a few years ago. As a youth, when I was at the peak of my “childhood suffering” I would tell God “I never asked to be born, so you can’t tell me how to live a life I never wanted.” Oh how thick that veil was, oh how deeply I believed the lies that satan fed me. If someone had told me 10 or 15 years ago that my disobedience was a sign of my ingratitude for all God had done for me, I would have gone crazy, MY ingratitude?! But I’m in a different place now, I know different truths now, my heart has been softened and I am grateful. I don’t know a lot, in fact for my age, I should know a lot more, but here I am and I’m grateful and am able to learn the truths that the prophets teach and understand and embrace them. He’s right; disobedience is a sign of ingratitude. He finishes off by saying “we will never be able to pay the debt. The gratitude of our hearts should be filled to overflowing in love and obedience for his great and tender mercy. He bought us with a price, the price of his great suffering and the spilling of his blood in sacrifice on the cross.”
2:27-41 – Here King Benjamin hands the kingdom over to his son Mosiah in the eyes of all his people, just like is discussed in the IM about it mimicking an ancient Israelite coronation ceremony. Interestingly in verse 31, he teaches that part of “prosper(ing) in the land” is being victorious over your enemies. How very interesting. When I hear “prosper” I think of bountiful harvests, thriving trade, abundant animals and sturdy shelter, but it would make sense that safety and security would be part of prospering as well. King Benjamin says “if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God which shall be delivered unto you by him, ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have no power over you.” He then goes into the concept of willfully disobeying the commandments of God, and in verse 36 and 37 he teaches that “if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved – I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God, therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness, therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples.” A few interesting points here, first listen to the language that King Benjamin uses, the words and speech patterns are very unique to him and haven’t been seen so far in the Book of Mormon. Words like “listeth” or “doth” “I say unto you,” “indebted” lots of “eth” words “dieth,” “doeth,” “remaineth,” “repenteth,” “ascendeth,” very different language specific to King Benjamin, clearly a very knowledgeable man, clearly a man separate in his own writings and teachings. Second point, he says very specifically, twice, that when we rebel, we remove OURSELVES from God, he doesn’t move, but we do. We withdraw from the blessings, the protection, he’s still offering but we aren’t partaking. The IM teaches “when a person knows what is right and does not do it, he or she only violates the actual law, but puts himself or herself in a state of opposition to God – a serious offense in and of itself.” I can testify to the truthfulness of this statement. Back last year when I first filed for divorce I went through a few months were I “rebelled” against what I knew to be true, and I knew I was wrong, but I didn’t believe the Spirit when he told me that “there is only heartache waiting for you down this path.” But once I started walking it, it wasn’t just heart ache waiting for me, it was terror. I had not realized how much the Lord sheltered me, physically and spiritually, and the amount of protection that he gave my children, sometimes from my bad influence. When I walked out of the sphere of the Lord’s influence and security, it was literally a snake pit. So so scary, I remember feeling vulnerable and exposed spiritually, there is darkness surrounding the safety God provides just waiting for us to stick our noses out. I remember feeling like a part of me had died, it was awful. This is when I started to learn of the depth of the Savior’s mercy toward us. I knew after I had willfully rebelled that I did not deserve forgiveness or blessings, I had basically given God the finger, and he STILL took me back, even after all I had done. This is when it all started, the softening of the heart started. Nothing seals loyalty like a betrayal. He was so generous in his forgiveness, he wanted me to come back so badly, how could a man who says “I don’t care what you did, come back and repent, come home,” how could a man like that be bad. That was truly the first time I learned of God’s goodness. I’m clinging to the Iron Rod now and I’m not ever letting go. There’s a story in the IM from President Gordon B. Hinckley that demonstrates the concept of us removing ourselves from God by disobedience that I thought was good. He says “I recall a bishop’s telling me of a woman who came to get a recommend. When asked if she observed the Word of Wisdom, she said that she occasionally drank a cup of coffee. She said, ‘Now, bishop, you’re not going to let that keep me from going to the temple, are you?’ To which he replied, ‘Sister, surely YOU will not let a cup of coffee stand between you and the house of the Lord.” Very well put, great example of how we hold the cards to our own standing with God. And in the last few verses King Benjamin sheds some light on the whole “fire and brimstone” thing, saying “therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flames ascendeth up forever and ever. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.” Making the connection here from spiritual pain to bodily pain is a nice way to see how the “fire and brimstone” analogy is actually played out. I also like that it says that if we don’t repent, “mercy hath no claim” on us. If we are ransomed from justice through the atonement and are told we are saved if we keep the commandments, then it is up to us whether or not we want to be saved. It’s like being given a huge college scholarship and being told that we can have it as long as we attend class, then when our alarm goes off and we decide to skip class that day, we are choosing to give up that gift. I guess that’s the whole point here, we are the ones who decide our fate, we are the ones who decide to keep the commandments and be safe and blessed, or to disobey and be on our own. He won’t force us to obey, he’s just not going to follow us around with the umbrella while we wander. Brilliant, and what a commentary on parenting styles. But here at the end is the heart and soul, the inspiration “I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may swell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.” I can also testify that this is true. I have lived on both sides, there is no happiness or safety on the other side. There’s a reason why I gave that up and not only do I now follow Jesus Christ, but I cling to him like my life depends on it, and it does, and I’m grateful that he will let me hold on for dear life.
2:27-41 – Here King Benjamin hands the kingdom over to his son Mosiah in the eyes of all his people, just like is discussed in the IM about it mimicking an ancient Israelite coronation ceremony. Interestingly in verse 31, he teaches that part of “prosper(ing) in the land” is being victorious over your enemies. How very interesting. When I hear “prosper” I think of bountiful harvests, thriving trade, abundant animals and sturdy shelter, but it would make sense that safety and security would be part of prospering as well. King Benjamin says “if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God which shall be delivered unto you by him, ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have no power over you.” He then goes into the concept of willfully disobeying the commandments of God, and in verse 36 and 37 he teaches that “if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved – I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God, therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness, therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples.” A few interesting points here, first listen to the language that King Benjamin uses, the words and speech patterns are very unique to him and haven’t been seen so far in the Book of Mormon. Words like “listeth” or “doth” “I say unto you,” “indebted” lots of “eth” words “dieth,” “doeth,” “remaineth,” “repenteth,” “ascendeth,” very different language specific to King Benjamin, clearly a very knowledgeable man, clearly a man separate in his own writings and teachings. Second point, he says very specifically, twice, that when we rebel, we remove OURSELVES from God, he doesn’t move, but we do. We withdraw from the blessings, the protection, he’s still offering but we aren’t partaking. The IM teaches “when a person knows what is right and does not do it, he or she only violates the actual law, but puts himself or herself in a state of opposition to God – a serious offense in and of itself.” I can testify to the truthfulness of this statement. Back last year when I first filed for divorce I went through a few months were I “rebelled” against what I knew to be true, and I knew I was wrong, but I didn’t believe the Spirit when he told me that “there is only heartache waiting for you down this path.” But once I started walking it, it wasn’t just heart ache waiting for me, it was terror. I had not realized how much the Lord sheltered me, physically and spiritually, and the amount of protection that he gave my children, sometimes from my bad influence. When I walked out of the sphere of the Lord’s influence and security, it was literally a snake pit. So so scary, I remember feeling vulnerable and exposed spiritually, there is darkness surrounding the safety God provides just waiting for us to stick our noses out. I remember feeling like a part of me had died, it was awful. This is when I started to learn of the depth of the Savior’s mercy toward us. I knew after I had willfully rebelled that I did not deserve forgiveness or blessings, I had basically given God the finger, and he STILL took me back, even after all I had done. This is when it all started, the softening of the heart started. Nothing seals loyalty like a betrayal. He was so generous in his forgiveness, he wanted me to come back so badly, how could a man who says “I don’t care what you did, come back and repent, come home,” how could a man like that be bad. That was truly the first time I learned of God’s goodness. I’m clinging to the Iron Rod now and I’m not ever letting go. There’s a story in the IM from President Gordon B. Hinckley that demonstrates the concept of us removing ourselves from God by disobedience that I thought was good. He says “I recall a bishop’s telling me of a woman who came to get a recommend. When asked if she observed the Word of Wisdom, she said that she occasionally drank a cup of coffee. She said, ‘Now, bishop, you’re not going to let that keep me from going to the temple, are you?’ To which he replied, ‘Sister, surely YOU will not let a cup of coffee stand between you and the house of the Lord.” Very well put, great example of how we hold the cards to our own standing with God. And in the last few verses King Benjamin sheds some light on the whole “fire and brimstone” thing, saying “therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flames ascendeth up forever and ever. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.” Making the connection here from spiritual pain to bodily pain is a nice way to see how the “fire and brimstone” analogy is actually played out. I also like that it says that if we don’t repent, “mercy hath no claim” on us. If we are ransomed from justice through the atonement and are told we are saved if we keep the commandments, then it is up to us whether or not we want to be saved. It’s like being given a huge college scholarship and being told that we can have it as long as we attend class, then when our alarm goes off and we decide to skip class that day, we are choosing to give up that gift. I guess that’s the whole point here, we are the ones who decide our fate, we are the ones who decide to keep the commandments and be safe and blessed, or to disobey and be on our own. He won’t force us to obey, he’s just not going to follow us around with the umbrella while we wander. Brilliant, and what a commentary on parenting styles. But here at the end is the heart and soul, the inspiration “I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may swell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.” I can also testify that this is true. I have lived on both sides, there is no happiness or safety on the other side. There’s a reason why I gave that up and not only do I now follow Jesus Christ, but I cling to him like my life depends on it, and it does, and I’m grateful that he will let me hold on for dear life.
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