Mosiah 6
There’s not a lot in here tonight, there are only 7 verses in chapter 6 and of those, there are only a few references, so let’s go through and see what we can glean, see why Mormon included this chapter in the record.
6:1-2 – After the people accept the covenant to be willing to take upon them the name of Christ KB decides “that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments.” In the Book of Mormon teaching manual, lesson 16 asks “King Benjamin saw that all his people (except those who were too young) had entered into the covenant to obey God’s commandments. Why was it important to record their names?” Now it doesn’t give an answer but I’m going to go out on my own here and say that a major reason is to make a deep permanent commitment. Its one thing to say “oh yeah, I’ll do that,” but it takes the agreement to a much deeper level when you have your name recorded for all to see and to be stored in the records of the church. It reminds me of when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. I had never considered it at the time, but when they signed that document the revolutionary war wasn’t even close to being over, and I don’t think that the King of England knew all that were involved. It’s one thing to talk about revolution and governmental overthrow in your neighborhoods and wish for it, but it’s another matter entirely to sign your name on a piece of paper that out right declares “we’re done and at war.” It was basically signing their death warrant, and that of their family and all their friends. So very dangerous, a big, yes I support this and will give my life for this cause. KB taking the names of those who made the commitment is not the same exact thing here, but it is in spirit. They weren’t signing their physical death warrant, but they were signing a commitment for blessings and obedience and spiritual growth. In verse 2 Mormon tells us that everyone who was old enough “entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ.” In Moroni, he teaches specifically against infant baptism, but here is another example of the need to be the age of accountability. Just another reference, very interesting.
6:3-7 – Once KB handed everything over to his son Mosiah, they set up the organization of teachers and preachers so that the word could be taught and explained to all those who had entered into the covenant so that the people could continue to grow strong in belief and obedience. In an April 2000 general conference address entitled “Thou Shalt Give Heed unto All His Words” by Elder L. Tom Perry, he teaches that KB appointed the priests that they could hear and know the commandments of God, and that “in many ways, king Benjamin used all the technologies available to him in his day to gather his people, spread the good word of God, and to reinforce the word.” I had never considered that they were making use of every means necessary to ensure the spiritual survival of the people. Elder Perry continues “like King Benjamin, President Grant began by bearing his testimony of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he went on to emphasize some of the great scientific knowledge, inventions, and industrial developments that have harnessed the forces of the universe and been adapted for the comfort and convenience of men.” There must have been a development among the people of the ability to create and disperse records more easily, because he had his words “written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice,” so we could see that there was ease of writing and mass distribution of information, but also that there was societal literacy, so KB really did use everything possible to teach the word and remind the people of the covenant that they had made. In the Book of Mormon teaching manual, lesson 16 asks us “why was it important to appoint teachers and priests over the people? How do our teachers and Church leaders help us remember the covenants and promises we have made?’ This question made me think, what would happen if we didn’t have any teachers of priests or church leaders to help us remember our covenants? Human beings are so easy to forget and rationalize and justify all types of crazy things. I think that having no church leadership would have the same outcome as the Christian church in general after the death of Christ and the apostles. There was no continuity of doctrine, no authorized priesthood bearer to communicate with God and provide modern day revelations, and so eventually there was an apostasy, and without the appointment of such leadership, apostasy would follow KB’s people, even after making such an important covenant. Then our final reference for this section is from the most recent conference, October 2013 by Elder Robert D. Hales entitled “Strengthening Faith and Testimony.” In it, Elder Hales cited the example of KB, King Limhi, and the Savior himself when they all taught the people then told them “go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name that ye may understand.” He tells us “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. Remember President Spencer W. Kimball’s words: ‘I have made up my mind that when I go home from this (general) conference… there are many, many areas in my lie that I can perfect. I have made a mental list of them, and I expect to go to work as soon as we get through.’ President Monson recently said: ‘I encourage you to read the talks… and to ponder the messages contained therein. I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth.’” If the prophets have need of constant study, prayerful pondering and consideration, then how much greater need have we to “ponder and pray” for understanding. After KB dies, his son 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.” This is an excellent example of what a righteous leader can do for their people, whereas a wicked leader can have the exact opposite effect on their people. Our church leaders, though already righteous, ponder and pray about the teachings of modern day prophets and the scriptures, this is their legacy, and our opportunity.
6:1-2 – After the people accept the covenant to be willing to take upon them the name of Christ KB decides “that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments.” In the Book of Mormon teaching manual, lesson 16 asks “King Benjamin saw that all his people (except those who were too young) had entered into the covenant to obey God’s commandments. Why was it important to record their names?” Now it doesn’t give an answer but I’m going to go out on my own here and say that a major reason is to make a deep permanent commitment. Its one thing to say “oh yeah, I’ll do that,” but it takes the agreement to a much deeper level when you have your name recorded for all to see and to be stored in the records of the church. It reminds me of when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. I had never considered it at the time, but when they signed that document the revolutionary war wasn’t even close to being over, and I don’t think that the King of England knew all that were involved. It’s one thing to talk about revolution and governmental overthrow in your neighborhoods and wish for it, but it’s another matter entirely to sign your name on a piece of paper that out right declares “we’re done and at war.” It was basically signing their death warrant, and that of their family and all their friends. So very dangerous, a big, yes I support this and will give my life for this cause. KB taking the names of those who made the commitment is not the same exact thing here, but it is in spirit. They weren’t signing their physical death warrant, but they were signing a commitment for blessings and obedience and spiritual growth. In verse 2 Mormon tells us that everyone who was old enough “entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ.” In Moroni, he teaches specifically against infant baptism, but here is another example of the need to be the age of accountability. Just another reference, very interesting.
6:3-7 – Once KB handed everything over to his son Mosiah, they set up the organization of teachers and preachers so that the word could be taught and explained to all those who had entered into the covenant so that the people could continue to grow strong in belief and obedience. In an April 2000 general conference address entitled “Thou Shalt Give Heed unto All His Words” by Elder L. Tom Perry, he teaches that KB appointed the priests that they could hear and know the commandments of God, and that “in many ways, king Benjamin used all the technologies available to him in his day to gather his people, spread the good word of God, and to reinforce the word.” I had never considered that they were making use of every means necessary to ensure the spiritual survival of the people. Elder Perry continues “like King Benjamin, President Grant began by bearing his testimony of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he went on to emphasize some of the great scientific knowledge, inventions, and industrial developments that have harnessed the forces of the universe and been adapted for the comfort and convenience of men.” There must have been a development among the people of the ability to create and disperse records more easily, because he had his words “written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice,” so we could see that there was ease of writing and mass distribution of information, but also that there was societal literacy, so KB really did use everything possible to teach the word and remind the people of the covenant that they had made. In the Book of Mormon teaching manual, lesson 16 asks us “why was it important to appoint teachers and priests over the people? How do our teachers and Church leaders help us remember the covenants and promises we have made?’ This question made me think, what would happen if we didn’t have any teachers of priests or church leaders to help us remember our covenants? Human beings are so easy to forget and rationalize and justify all types of crazy things. I think that having no church leadership would have the same outcome as the Christian church in general after the death of Christ and the apostles. There was no continuity of doctrine, no authorized priesthood bearer to communicate with God and provide modern day revelations, and so eventually there was an apostasy, and without the appointment of such leadership, apostasy would follow KB’s people, even after making such an important covenant. Then our final reference for this section is from the most recent conference, October 2013 by Elder Robert D. Hales entitled “Strengthening Faith and Testimony.” In it, Elder Hales cited the example of KB, King Limhi, and the Savior himself when they all taught the people then told them “go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name that ye may understand.” He tells us “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. Remember President Spencer W. Kimball’s words: ‘I have made up my mind that when I go home from this (general) conference… there are many, many areas in my lie that I can perfect. I have made a mental list of them, and I expect to go to work as soon as we get through.’ President Monson recently said: ‘I encourage you to read the talks… and to ponder the messages contained therein. I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth.’” If the prophets have need of constant study, prayerful pondering and consideration, then how much greater need have we to “ponder and pray” for understanding. After KB dies, his son 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.” This is an excellent example of what a righteous leader can do for their people, whereas a wicked leader can have the exact opposite effect on their people. Our church leaders, though already righteous, ponder and pray about the teachings of modern day prophets and the scriptures, this is their legacy, and our opportunity.
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