After hearing the words of the angel, Benjamin’s people spontaneously fell to the ground and prayed for a remission of their sins. Their prayers were answered, and they were filled with joy and peace. King Benjamin then continued his sermon, teaching them what they must do to “retain a remission of [their] sins” (Mosiah 4:12).
Chapter Outline
- The people pray and receive a remission of their sins (v. 1-3)
- A recognition of God’s goodness has led you to repent (v. 4-10)
- How to retain a remission of your sins (v. 11-12)
- Give to those in need (v. 13-27)
- If you borrow something, return it (v. 28)
- There are many ways to sin, so watch yourselves (v. 29-30)
My Takeaways
- God can apply the atoning blood of Christ to purify you.
- You can retain a remission of your sins by remembering God, humbling yourself, praying daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith.
- Give to those who need your help.
- Pace yourself so that you can make sustainable progress.
- Return what you borrow.
- Watch your thoughts, words, and actions.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ The people receive a remission of their sins – Mosiah 4:1-3
They Were Filled with Joy – Mosiah 4:2-3
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe…
They Had Viewed Themselves in Their Own Carnal State – Mosiah 4:1-3
1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord…
What Does It Mean to “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ?”
Near the end of his life, King Benjamin gathered his people to the temple. They came to hear his words and also “that they might give thanks to the Lord their God.” To that end, they brought animals with them: “the firstlings of their flocks.” They were following the law of Moses, and this was…
❖ Believe in God – Mosiah 4:4-10
The Greatness and Goodness of God
There are two things we need to know about God. The first is that He is capable of doing “great and marvelous works,” far beyond our abilities, and even beyond our comprehension (Jacob 4:8). The second is that He loves us and is kind and merciful (Moroni 8:3). In the first chapter of the Book…
Believe
What can we learn from King Benjamin’s invitation to believe? 1. Belief can mature over time as we nourish it. 2. It’s important to convert our belief into action. 3. Acknowledged uncertainty creates space for belief. Be willing to say, “I don’t know.”
“See That Ye Do Them”
King Benjamin said, “If you believe all these things, see that ye do them.” Belief is wonderful but insufficient. We need to find ways to convert our beliefs into action, to express our faith not only through words but also through works.
❖ How to retain a remission of your sins – Mosiah 4:11-12
Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins – Mosiah 4:11-12
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your…
As Ye Have Come to the Knowledge of the Glory of God – Mosiah 4:11-12
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your…
❖ Give to those in need – Mosiah 4:13-27
What Should I Teach My Children?
In the Book of Mormon we read what fathers like Lehi and Alma taught their children. We also read about men and women—including Enos, Alma, and Abish—benefitting from things they had learned years before from their parents. Today, I pondered some instructions from a prophet about what parents should teach their children. After the people…
Should We Always Give to Beggars?
What do you do when someone approaches you on the street and asks you for money? Because of the location where I work, I have that experience fairly regularly, and I must admit that my response is inconsistent. Sometimes, I give them money. Sometimes, I politely decline to give. And sometimes, I ignore them completely.…
Are We Not All Beggars? – Mosiah 4:19-21
19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? 20 And behold, even at this time,…
What Does It Mean to Serve Others “According to Their Wants?”
After King Benjamin’s people received a forgiveness of their sins, he taught them what they should do to retain that forgiveness: I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to…
“In Wisdom and Order” – Mosiah 4:27
After teaching his people to care for the poor and the needy, King Benjamin added a caution: “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order,” he said, “for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” He added that it is important to be diligent, “that…
It Is Expedient that He Should Be Diligent – Mosiah 4:27
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order. (Mosiah 4:27)…
How Can I Manage Stress More Effectively?
Near the end of King Benjamin’s life, he gathered his people to teach them about the Savior. After they received a remission of their sins, he gave them a list of things they should do to retain that remission over time: continue to believe in God, pray to Him, repent, teach their children to love…
❖ Return what you borrow – Mosiah 4:28
“Whosoever Among You Borroweth”
King Benjamin taught several principles of money management: 1. Help those in need to the degree that you can. 2. Don’t help more than you are able. 3. If you have to borrow money, pay it back. We can apply these principles in our families and communities
❖ Watch yourselves – Mosiah 4:29-30
Watch Your Thoughts
King Benjamin urged his people to watch their thoughts. We can do this by observing our natural thought patterns, avoiding unwholesome influences, redirecting negative thoughts early, and focusing on where we want our thoughts to go.
What Should I Think About?
One test of integrity is what you choose to do when no one is watching. So a powerful indication of our character is what we choose to think about. We generally assume that our thoughts are private, that no one else knows what we’re thinking unless we tell them. Of course that may not be…
Old Testament Foundations
Train Up a Child
Several passages in the book of Proverbs are directed to parents, reminding them of their responsibilities toward their children. Here is my favorite one: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 There is so much hope and optimism in that statement—parents’ efforts…
My Ebenezer
Near the end of Joshua’s life, he called his people together and challenged them to commit to follow God. They made a covenant to obey and serve God. In order to remind them of their covenant, Joshua “took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.” He told…
“Keep Thy Soul Diligently”
Remembering spiritual experiences and staying faithful to them doesn’t just happen. It requires intentional effort on our part. As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses gave them a warning: Take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy…
Thou Shalt Not Covet
The first nine commandments are all about our behavior, but the tenth commandment is about our desires. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. Exodus 20:17, Mosiah 13:24 The word “covet” can mean simply…
Nothingness
Moses stood in God’s presence. He was only able to survive the experience because God’s glory strengthened Him. When God departed, Moses fell to the earth, too weak to stand. He learned an important lesson from that experience. “For this cause,” he said, “I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed”…
“Set Thine House in Order”
King Hezekiah provided steady, fearless leadership to his people during the invasion of the Assyrian army, the same army which had destroyed their northern neighbors. After the Assyrians withdrew, Hezekiah faced a more personal challenge: He became ill and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, who had fortified Hezekiah’s faith throughout the invasion, now…
New Testament Parallels
The Fruit of the Spirit
How can we recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost? Paul provides two contrasting lists to help us identify the Spirit of the Lord: “the works of the flesh” vs. “the fruit of the Spirit.” These lists can help us invite God’s Spirit into our hearts.
“He Hath Dispersed”
God will never run out of blessings, so why do we cling to the blessings we have already received? There comes a point when we are struggling to retain things we can’t keep, to the detriment of people who need those things right now.
Running the Race
We can learn a lot about the race of life from the more localized races we run. We need to keep going even it gets hard. We need to pace ourselves. We need to set aside unnecessary burdens. And we need to keep our eye on the goal.
“Ye Visited Me”
Jesus taught that we should provide what others lack where possible: food for the hungry, clothing for the naked, etc. When we can’t remove their challenges, such as when they are sick or in prison, we can visit them.
“Freely Ye Have Received, Freely Give”
One reason Jesus sent His apostles without “purse or scrip” was to help them be generous. When we are the recipients of unmerited blessings, we are more inclined to be generous. As King Benjamin said, we are all beggars, so we should freely give.
“Exact No More…”
John the Baptist answered the same question asked by three groups of people: “What shall we do.” All three of his answers are based on the same underlying principle, a principle which King Benjamin also exemplified and taught: Don’t take more than you should. Discipline yourself to not abuse the power you have.
Church History Connections
Borrowing
To borrow something is to make a commitment. Inherent in borrowing is a promise to return the object to the owner in good condition. In the law of Moses, the Lord decreed that if someone borrowed an animal, “and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he [the borrower] shall…
A House of Order
I’ve been listening to Supreme Court arguments the past couple of weeks. In each case, the attorneys are seeking a favorable outcome for their client. But because Supreme Court decisions influence outcomes in lower courts, the justices are focused on the broader implications of their decisions. What principles are they applying in this case, and…
“Seek Diligently to Take Away Incumbrances”
When the Lord invited John Johnson to participate in the United Firm in 1833, He coupled that invitation with an assignment: He shall seek diligently to take away incumbrances that are upon the house named among you, Doctrine and Covenants 96:9 An encumbrance (or incumbrance) is a burden or an impediment to progress. As a legal term,…
Maintenance
In 1832, the Lord clarified some principles of caring for the poor and the needy. One of those principles was that parents have the primary responsibility to provide for the needs of their children. “All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age” (Doctrine and Covenants 83:4). Maintenance refers to financial support, but more broadly…
“Spoken with Care”
Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36). The word “idle” in this passage suggests carelessness or thoughtlessness. The speakers may not have intended to cause harm, but should have known better than to say what they did. A little more caution and restraint could have prevented the damage.…
Family Financial Management and Section 48
As I studied section 48 of the Doctrine and Covenants today, I noticed that the Lord instructed members of the church to do three things in relation to their assets: give generously, save aggressively, and buy carefully. Joseph Smith received this revelation after asking the Lord what to do about the influx of members of…
“In Wisdom and Order” – Mosiah 4:27
After teaching his people to care for the poor and the needy, King Benjamin added a caution: “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order,” he said, “for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” He added that it is important to be diligent, “that…
Daughters of Christ
After King Benjamin taught his people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they fell to the ground and pleaded with the Lord to forgive their sins. In response, they received an assurance from the Holy Ghost that their sins were remitted, and they were filled with peace and joy (Mosiah 4:2-3). They subsequently turned their…
“Faster Than He Has Strength” – Mosiah 4:27
The first movement of Robert Schumann’s Piano Sonata number 2 (Op. 22) is labeled “So rasch wie möglich” (as fast as possible). Near the end of the movement, he writes “Schneller” (faster), followed shortly after by “Noch schneller” (even faster). It’s an exciting piece to listen to (I recommend this performance by pianist Tiffany Poon),…
All Posts Referencing Mosiah 4
- Being Holy (5/2/2026)
- Bezaleel (4/28/2026)
- Applying Our Hearts to Understanding Exodus 21-23 (4/23/2026)
- The Heaven and the Earth (1/12/2026)
- “Take Especial Care of Your Family” (11/6/2025)
- Cheerfully (10/26/2025)
- The Poor (and the Rich) Shall Be Exalted (9/19/2025)
- Seeing the Face of God (8/27/2025)
- “Let Your Families Be Small” (8/21/2025)
- Uzzah, Zerubbabel, and the Priesthood Order in Doctrine and Covenants 85 (8/9/2025)
- Family and Church (7/27/2025)
- The Former Sins (7/23/2025)
- Succor, Lift Up, and Strengthen (7/22/2025)
- From Vision to Practice: The Relationship Between Doctrine and Covenants 76 and 78 (7/17/2025)
- What and How to Teach Your Children (6/27/2025)
- Proactive Steadiness: Anxiously Engaged, but Not in Haste (6/5/2025)
- Staying the Course (5/29/2025)
- Our Emerging Redemption (5/11/2025)
- Caring for the Poor and the Needy: Three Principles from God’s Law (5/4/2025)
- Easter: Peace, Becoming, and Belonging (4/17/2025)
- Grace and Agency in Doctrine and Covenants 20 (3/15/2025)
- Thy Daily Walk (3/9/2025)
- Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829 (2/19/2025)
- A Job Description for Servants of God (1/31/2025)
- “Like the Dog to His Vomit” (9/22/2024)
- Retain the Name (5/5/2024)
- “Whosoever Among You Borroweth” (5/4/2024)
- “See That Ye Do Them” (5/3/2024)
- Watch Your Thoughts (5/1/2024)
- Believe (4/30/2024)
- Unprofitable (4/23/2024)
- Sense and Insensibility (2/10/2024)
- “Worthy Is the Lamb” (12/10/2023)
- Bridling My Tongue (11/17/2023)
- Without the Camp (11/8/2023)
- “Be Careful for Nothing” (10/14/2023)
- The Fruit of the Spirit (10/1/2023)
- “He Hath Dispersed” (9/20/2023)
- Running the Race (8/29/2023)
- Wisdom and Foolishness (8/22/2023)
- Truth and Soberness (8/4/2023)
- Void of Offense (8/2/2023)
- Trimming My Lamp (5/28/2023)
- “Ye Visited Me” (5/27/2023)
- The Sheep and the Wayfaring Man (5/23/2023)
- “The Poor Always Ye Have with You” (5/20/2023)
- Abuse (4/20/2023)
- “Freely Ye Have Received, Freely Give” (3/11/2023)
- Poor in Spirit (2/17/2023)
- “Exact No More…” (1/26/2023)
- Repentance and Resolutions (1/1/2023)
- Train Up a Child (9/3/2022)
- We Love Thy House (8/14/2022)
- “Set Thine House in Order” (7/14/2022)
- My Ebenezer (6/14/2022)
- “Keep Thy Soul Diligently” (5/20/2022)
- Thou Shalt Not Covet (4/20/2022)
- There Was Bread (3/11/2022)
- Being Created (1/5/2022)
- Nothingness (12/30/2021)
- Edifying (11/28/2021)
- Borrowing (11/24/2021)
- A House of Order (11/12/2021)
- Spirit (11/10/2021)
- Poured Out (10/3/2021)
- A Solemn Assembly (9/28/2021)
- Impart (9/14/2021)
- “Seek Diligently to Take Away Incumbrances” (9/4/2021)
- Establish a House (8/15/2021)
- Maintenance (7/24/2021)
- Knowledge and Power (7/15/2021)
- “Spoken with Care” (6/12/2021)
- “A Knowledge of the Goodness of God” – Mosiah 4:5-6 (5/28/2021)
- Rich and Poor (5/23/2021)
- Edify (5/15/2021)
- Family Financial Management and Section 48 (5/9/2021)
- “Sanctify Yourselves” (4/25/2021)
- Love One Another and Serve One Another (3/30/2021)
- “In Wisdom and Order” – Mosiah 4:27 (3/16/2021)
- “With One Voice” (3/14/2021)
- Daughters of Christ (3/10/2021)
- “Whosoever…Borroweth” – Mosiah 4:28 (2/24/2021)
- “Temporal and Spiritual” – Mosiah 2:41 (2/20/2021)
- “Faster Than He Has Strength” – Mosiah 4:27 (2/4/2021)
- “Beware Lest There Shall Arise Contentions Among You” – Mosiah 2:32 (1/5/2021)
- Belief and Understanding – Mosiah 26:1-3 (5/20/2020)
- “From Day to Day” – Mosiah 2:21, Mosiah 4:24, 26 (4/28/2020)
- The Greatness and Goodness of God (4/24/2020)
- What Is a “Remission” of Your Sins? (4/23/2020)
- “In Wisdom and Order” – Mosiah 4:27 (4/22/2020)
- King Benjamin and Contention (4/14/2020)
- “He Changed Their Hearts” – Alma 5:7 (4/10/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Refute? (12/29/2019)
- How Does the Savior Bring Us Peace? (12/25/2019)
- How Can I Fully Receive the Forgiveness of God? (12/21/2019)
- What Is Wisdom? (12/13/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Creation of the Earth? (12/8/2019)
- How Can I Manage Stress More Effectively? (12/6/2019)
- How Can I “Always Abound in Good Works?” (11/26/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Sacrifice? (11/17/2019)
- What Is Joy? (10/11/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Serve Others “According to Their Wants?” (10/2/2019)
- What Should I Teach My Children? (9/20/2019)
- What Should I Think About? (8/24/2019)
- How Can I Manage Time More Effectively? (8/21/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Minister? (8/3/2019)
- How Can I Find Peace? (7/23/2019)
- What Should I Do When I Feel Guilty? (6/24/2019)
- How Can I Know If I’ve Been Forgiven? (6/19/2019)
- How Can I Be a Better Father? (6/17/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Being an Effective Parent? (5/15/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Endure to the End? (5/14/2019)
- How Can I Be More Humble? (5/13/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be Steadfast? (4/23/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be Sober? (4/20/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Patience? (4/11/2019)
- Should We Always Give to Beggars? (4/4/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Finances? (4/2/2019)
- What Can We Learn from the Prayers Recorded in the Book of Mormon? (3/28/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Succor” Someone? (2/27/2019)
- What Are Some Examples of People Coming Unto Christ? (2/14/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ?” (1/31/2019)
- How Is the Word “Atonement” Used in the Book of Mormon? (1/30/2019)
- Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins – Mosiah 4:11-12 (6/17/2018)
- They Were Filled with Joy – Mosiah 4:2-3 (3/14/2018)
- Are We Not All Beggars? – Mosiah 4:19-21 (10/20/2017)
- Believe in God – Mosiah 4:9-10 (10/19/2017)
- They Had Viewed Themselves in Their Own Carnal State – Mosiah 4:1-3 (10/18/2017)
- Because of the Exceeding Faith – Mosiah 4:3 (1/4/2017)
- Love One Another – Mosiah 4:15 (12/24/2016)
- Ye Will Not Suffer Your Children… – Mosiah 4:14-15 (11/23/2016)
- Ye Will Teach Them…to Serve One Another – Mosiah 4:14-15 (8/14/2016)
- Whosever Among You Borroweth – Mosiah 4:28 (5/26/2016)
- Ye Will Teach Them – Mosiah 4:14-15 (5/12/2016)
- All Things Must Be Done in Order – Mosiah 4:27 (4/21/2016)
- It Is Expedient that He Should Be Diligent – Mosiah 4:27 (4/14/2016)
- For the Sake of Retaining a Remission of Your Sins – Mosiah 4:26 (4/6/2016)
- Are We Not All Beggars? – Mosiah 4:16-19 (4/5/2016)
- Humble Yourselves Even in the Depths of Humility – Mosiah 4:11 (3/20/2016)
- All The Things Which the Lord Can Comprehend – Mosiah 4:9 (1/6/2016)
- In Wisdom and Order – Mosiah 4:27 (4/22/2015)
- Believe in God – Mosiah 4:9-10 (4/21/2015)
- As Ye Have Come to the Knowledge of the Glory of God – Mosiah 4:11-12 (4/21/2015)
- Mosiah 4:26 Every Man According to That Which He Hath (10/13/2014)