2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.
As Mormon begins the account of King Benjamin, he points out to us that the king took an interest in the education of his sons. Specifically, he wanted his sons to learn about two things:
- Language – This might include reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Benjamin was probably most focused on reading, because his goal was for his sons to become “men of understanding.” Proficiency in language would enable them to be aware of the past, and to tap into the accumulated knowledge of their civilization.
- Prophecy – Benjamin wanted his sons to be aware of the prophecies of their ancestors. This knowledge would enable them to be prepared for the future and would help them to learn how the Lord could communicate with them too.
Today, I will renew my commitment to the temporal and spiritual education of my children. I will take an interest in their schooling and in their ability to learn and teach using language effectively. I will also ensure that they are familiar with the prophetic teachings available through the scriptures and through the words of modern prophets.
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