What did King Benjamin most want for his people as he neared the end of his reign? He wanted them to be saved, and he had learned from an angel that there was no other way to achieve this except “through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17). When he gathered his people to give them an accounting of his service and to name his son as the new king, he taught them important principles intended to motivate them to adopt the name of Christ. (See Mosiah 1:11-12.) Some of those principles were the importance of serving others (Mosiah 2:17), avoiding contention (Mosiah 2:32-33), and keeping the commandments of God (Mosiah 2:41).
Here are some highlights from these chapters, with links to relevant blog posts:
Outline
- Mosiah 1 – King Benjamin and His Sons – Benjamin taught his sons the importance of the scriptures, and he asked Mosiah to gather the people.
- Mosiah 2 – King Benjamin’s Sermon, Part 1: Service – Benjamin gave an accounting of his service as king and named Mosiah as the new king.
- Mosiah 3 – King Benjamin’s Sermon, Part 2: “No Other Name” – Benjamin shared truths about Jesus Christ which he had learned from an angel.
Key Themes
- Scripture helps us learn to hear and recognize the voice of the Lord.
- Loving God and loving His children are interconnected. When we serve other people, we are serving God.
- The temporary aspects of life contribute to our eternal journey. When we keep God’s commandments, He blesses us temporally and spiritually.
- There is power in a name, when that name represents the One who can save us.
Connections
- King Josiah, who reigned over Judah just before the Babylonian captivity, gathered his people to the temple in Jerusalem and led them in making a covenant with God. (See 2 Kings 23:1-3.) King Benjamin was probably aware of this event and may have been influenced by it.
- This gathering is also similar to Shemini Atzeret, which falls at the end of the festival of Sukkor.
- Peter testified, “There is none other name…whereby we must be saved” except the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). An angel declared the same truth to King Benjamin.
Applications
- Recommit to the temporal and spiritual education of your children.
- Prepare yourself to receive revelation from God.
- Be grateful for the ways that God sustains you from day to day, including with physical health, financial stability, and spiritual sustenance.
- Strive to become like a little child—submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love—so that God can help you overcome your natural self through the Savior’s atonement.
Recommended Posts
- What Does It Mean to “Render” Thanks?
- King Benjamin and Contention
- What Is the Significance of the Phrase “a Tabernacle of Clay?”
- Why Would God “Inflict” Things on Us?
Blog Posts: April 23-28
Unprofitable
We can never pay God back for what He has done for us and is doing for us. This may seem discouraging, but it is actually liberating and ennobling. If we let go of the illusion of control, we can grow and progress in an environment of His sustaining grace
Service, Joy, and the Love of God
King Benjamin taught that when we are serving others, we are serving God. Elder Dieter F. Uchtorf added that serving others brings joy, and Elder Alexander Dushku added that we can feel the love God has for others as we serve them.
Overcoming the Natural Man
Paul taught that the natural man doesn’t understand the things of God. King Benjamin added that the natural man is an enemy to God. He taught that God can help us not only understand spiritual things, but also to become holy.
Blessed in All Things
King Benjamin taught that those who keep God’s commandments are “blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual.” President Nelson has explained that understanding and obeying divine laws produces positive outcomes, both in this life and in eternity.
Language and Understanding
Following in the footsteps of his father, King Benjamin taught his sons “in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding.” To understand people better, we need to notice how they convert thoughts into words.
His Name
An angel taught King Benjamin that we are saved through faith in the Savior’s name. Why His name? Because names represent our essence, and the way we treat people’s names reflects our relationship with them.
Leave a Reply