King Benjamin

Wise Counsel

Mosiah Ch 2

HEARKEN!
-open your ears that ye may hear
-open your hearts that ye may understand
-open your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view

I have been a good king, not imposing taxes or building prisons or allowing wickedness. 
I have taught you all to keep the commandments of the Lord.
I have supported myself and have served you.
"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that
WHEN YE ARE IN THE SERVICE OF YOUR FELLOW BEINGS YE ARE ONLY IN THE SERVICE OF YOUR GOD."  (17)
--How you ought to thank your heavenly King!!
-you are all indebted to God--unprofitable servants (21)
"all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments and then he will immediately bless you with prosperity in the land.
and he never doth vary from that which he hath said."  (22-24)
I am your equal, and no better than you

I have assembled you:
-that I might be found blameless
-that I might rid my garments of your blood
-that I might declare that I can no longer be your teacher or king
"And now, my brethren, I would that ye should do as ye have hitherto done.  As ye have kept my commandments, and also the commandments of my father, and have prospered, and have been kept from falling into the hands of your enemies, even so if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God which shall be delivered you by him, ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have no power over you."  (31)

BEWARE:
-contentions,
-obeying the evil spirit--
        thereby damning your soul
-coming out in open rebellion against God-becoming an enemy to all righteousness
     --you have been taught the commandments
-transgressing and going contrary to that which has been spoken
      -that ye draw yourselves away from the Spirit
              that it hath no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that you may be
              blessed, prospered and preserved
(THE LORD) DWELLETH NOT IN UNHOLY TEMPLES  (37)
--if you don't repent while on earth:
       -the demands of justice will claim you
       -guilt, pain and anguish like an unquenchable fire will keep you from the Lord
       -endure this never-ending torment

--Awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those who have fallen into transgression--(learn from others' mistakes) 

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those who 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 dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.  O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."   (41)


Mosiah Ch 3

An angel came to me and commanded me to repeat this to you:

**REJOICE!!**
--Jesus Christ will come to the earth to perform his mission of healing and teaching, and then
   suffer his atonement for us.
     (his mother shall be called Mary)
"And lo, he cometh unto his own that salvation might come unto the children of men even
  through faith on his name..."   (7)
       --he also atoned for:
             -those who fall by the transgression of Adam  (everyone)
             -those who died not knowing God's will for them
             -those who sinned ignorantly
      --ALL can receive a remission for their sins

WO unto them who knowingly rebel against God!!  No salvation for them unless they repent and have faith in Christ.

God has sent prophets to declare these glad tidings to everyone--all should rejoice.
He has sent many signs and wonders.

"And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be NO OTHER NAME nor any other way nor means WHEREBY SALVATION COMETH unto the children of men, ONLY IN and through THE NAME OF CHRIST, the Lord Omnipotent.
For behold he judgeth, and his judgement is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drinketh damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth of the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."    (17-19)

The time will come when this knowledge will be worldwide--all will know of Christ
--none will be found blameless at that time unless they use the atonement.

These words will stand as a testimony against you at the judgement day:
-if you have been evil, you will have your guilt and misery to torment you and make you shrink
  away from God forever, where mercy is over and justice will have its claim.

Mosiah Ch 4

(The people realized their sinful and lowly state, then cried out for mercy and Christ's atonement to clean them.  The Spirit cam upon them and they were filled with peace and joy.)

Benjamin:  HEAR AND UNDERSTAND:
if you continue in this new and righteous path, relying on and trusting in Christ, and continue in faith until the end, you will receive salvation.  This is the only salvation, and the only way to receive it!

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
And again, believe that he must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you;
and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them."                                       (9-10)

ALWAYS REMEMBER 
-the taste of God's love 
-the joy of the remission of your sins
-the greatness of God 
-your nothingness before God
*humble yourselves before Him
*call on His name daily
*stand steadfast in your faith
THEN
-you will always rejoice
-and be filled with His love
-and retain a remission of your sins
-and grow in the knowledge of His glory
-you won't want to injure others, but to serve them
-you will desire to live peaceably
--you won't neglect your children
  -or let them transgress
  -or allow them to fight or quarrel
--you will teach your children to walk in truth ans soberness
   -and to love and serve each other
--you will succor and administer to those in need

"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 riches..?
And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins.  And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain?  Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask him that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another."
(19-21)

-if you judge and condemn beggars, you are condemned even more
-if you don't give because you have none to give, say in your hearts "I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give."--otherwise you are condemned for coveting which you have not

In order to walk GUILTLESS BEFORE GOD:
-impart of your substance to the poor
-visit and administer to the sick
-return what you have borrowed

"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."       (27)

--I cannot tell you all the ways there are to sin, for there are so many, 

"But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish.  And now, O man, remember, and perish not."    (30) 

Mosiah Ch 5

(King Benjamin inquired as to who believed his words.  All the people replied that they did believe his words and had been changed and cleansed because of their faith and they were filled with joy and wanted to enter into a covenant with God to do his will.  King Benjamin was happy.)

Because of the covenant you have made with God, you shall be called the 
CHILDREN OF CHRIST.
-He is the only way you are made free--none other
--take upon yourselves His name
   -you shall be found on the right hand of God
   -make sure to not transgress
   -retain this name written in your hearts so you can hear and know the name by which
    you are called

"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, the ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all.  Amen."          (15)


**Post Note:
Every single one of King Benjamin's people (of accountable age) entered into a covenant with God!!!   EVERYONE!!!    (Mosiah 6:2)
How great would it be to have everyone with their hearts turned to God!?!?!?!?!













I

Charity

"Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever;

...and charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

Moroni recorded a sermon that his father Mormon, the prophet, gave to the people of Christ's church:

Mormon speaks to "the peaceable followers of Christ, (who) have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord." 

 "Remember God's word "by their works ye shall know them." This is how I have judged you.  Good men will do good works.  Evil men cannot do good works, because it is only counted good if a man does his works with real intent of heart.

Followers of the devil can't be followers of Christ, and followers of Christ can't be followers of the devil.

All good comes from God; all evil comes from the devil.  Everything that makes you want to do good is inspired of God.  No good comes from the devil, and no evil comes form God.  Make sure that you don't judge wrongfully between from where good and evil things come.  

 'For behold.. it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge as the daylight is from the dark night.  For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good form evil.'

Do not judge wrongfully, or condemn good, because how you judge is how you will be judged.

 'Search diligently in the light of Christ' to know good from evil.

 'Lay hold upon every good thing' by having faith in Christ, and then cleave unto those good things.

 'Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me...repent..come unto me..be baptized in my name..have faith in me, that ye may be saved.'

--God will show you if all of this is true.

Miracles still abound and angels still minister to men as long as men have faith in Christ, because these operate on faith.

*No person can be saved without having faith in Christ--one must hope for eternal life through Christ's atonement--need faith in Christ first--can't have faith and hope unless one is meek and lowly of heart--if one has all these things, this person has charity--one must have charity or amount to nothing.

**CHARITY NEVER FAILETH, so CLEAVE UNTO CHARITY!!

--'whoso is found to be possessed of (charity) at the last day, it shall be well with him.'

*Pray to our Heavenly Father 'with all the energy of heart,' that you can be filled with charity."

My take:

I must have good works if I want to return to God.  

I've been given the way (it's as plain as light and dark!!) and ability to properly judge good from evil, so I have the responsibility to do so.  

I need to seek and embrace good and shun and condemn evil, and be sure not to turn that around; because I know: good will always be good and come from God, and evil will always be evil and come from the devil, despite what society says.  

So, If I will "lay hold" on every good thing, through faith in Christ, and cleave unto those good things,

-If I have faith in Christ so miracles can abound and angels can minister to

 me and others and share the gospel through the power of the Holy Ghost,

-If I have faith in Christ so I can have "power to do whatsoever thing is

 expedient,"

-If I repent, come unto Christ, get baptized in his name, have faith in him, 

-If I have hope to gain eternal life through the atonement of Christ, and faith

 in Christ's atonement, and meekness and lowliness of heart, 

-If I earnestly pray to God and seek for charity, and cleave unto it, 

--Then I will be saved through Christ's atonement, and will enjoy eternal life 

   in God's kingdom, and become like Him.

Seems like a good deal to me, especially if I get charity in the process!

Commandment # 4: Keep the Sabbath day holy

Isaiah 58:13-14
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing they pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
See also:  Ex. 31: 13, 16-17; Matt. 12: 12; Mark 2: 27; Moses 3: 3

Why is this Sabbath observance a commandment?  We read in Exodus 31:13 "it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you."  So, the Sabbath was sanctified and made for us (Mark 2:27) to thank and worship our God.

Why has it become so hard for people to follow this simple commandment?
I get that lots of sports are played on Sunday, and community events often times land on that day. Participation in these things is up to individuals and families, I suppose.
However, what happened to no working on the Sabbath?  It seems that very few stores are closed on Sundays anymore.  They even look to this day as a major moneymaker, because so many people choose to shop on this day.  But why?  Why can't we all fit our errands and chores into the other days, so we can truly take Sunday off?  Is it so difficult to completely take a day off from work?  Have we molded our lives such that we can't, or don't know how, to take a break?  We have plenty of family time to spend, and countless acts of service to provide.  Sunday should be reserved for these things only!

I know that many people speculate on how we should really interpret "keeping the Sabbath holy."  The answer is in the above scriptures.  "Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure" on the Sabbath means doing things that would please our Heavenly Father and benefit his kingdom.
We have been told by prophets that shopping and recreational activities are out.  We've also been told to use the day for service and study.  Some would argue that doing service can be harder work than what we usually do.  However, service is for someone else, and thus done for God rather than self.  Service can be exhausting, but somehow, one feels recharged afterward, rather than depleted.  We feel good!  (Because we are being blessed for the act!!)  Service is selfless, and selflessness is service!
Some even choose to keep Sunday an electronics-free day, other than for the use of studying or contacting people.  We can live a day without facebook/twitter/instagram, the news, shows, games, texting, etc.
Many other worthy things can fill our Sundays: studying, journalling, letter writing (especially to missionaries who are away from their families), phone calls to family members, listening to beautiful and uplifting music, one-on-one time with children, board games, treat making, and the list goes on!
And don't forget that Sunday is meant to be a day of rest, so fit a nap in there!  Have some good snuggle time with your loved ones!
Do only activities that you can do together!  Have a testimony meeting.  Have a gratitude share.  Tell each other about the ups and downs of the week. Study together.  Plan something you can do for a neighbor or elderly person. Make a family bucket list.  
Play together and pray together!

Ultimately, saving a whole day for just worship and service and family time can only bless us and make us better!  We will reap the rewards for strengthening relationships and supporting others.  Our families will grow closer as we serve together and spend quality time together.  And we desperately need that in this crazy, distracting, fast-paced world that we live in!!

So, we are promised blessings when we are obedient.  What are we promised for sabbath observance?  That Isaiah scripture tells us this, too!  We will ride upon the high places of the earth and be fed of Jacob's heritage.  What does this mean?   I had to study it out.. To me, it means that we will be a favored people of the Lord, and we will receive the same inheritance as Jacob, or Israel.  The Lord will guide us and provide for us as long as we make the sacrifice of our time in honoring Him.

So, here's a challenge:
Just for one day, this coming Sunday, choose to engage in god-centered acts all day long.  See if you can involve family members in everything you do for one day only.  Try it, and wait for the outcome.  It may be foreign and awkward and weird at first, but keep it up.  It'll be worth it, I promise.  You may find that you learn new things about family members, and you enjoy their company more!  And then, you may choose to do the challenge the next week, and the next.  Then you may find your family looking forward to Sunday and thriving on that time and attention. You'll find that your little family unit will be strengthened, because you all feel loved and happy.  God's spirit will fill your home, and peace will reside therein.  Wins all around!

WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING "YOUR BEST SELF?"

Ok, I need to rant.  Ignore this post if you don't want to "hear" it.  I know that many people won't agree with my thoughts, and that's ok.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY?!?!?!?!
2 examples:
>At any red carpet or celebrity photo shoot anywhere for anything these days, you see more and more revealing clothing.  Most appalling are the completely sheer dresses that have sewn-in doilies to cover the sweet spots.  Also, what is with so many celebs wearing no more than underwear anymore?  Or for a lot more people, not even dressing up for special occasions/appearances?
>A couple of weeks ago, (before the horrid cold) my family was driving home from the grocery store.  On the corner, we saw a teen-ish looking young lady sitting at the corner, holding a cardboard sign that read: "pregnant and need money to pay for rent and food" (!!).  A couple of corners later, at the off ramp for the freeway, we saw a similar-aged young man holding another cardboard sign, asking for money.
>>WHAT HAPPENED TO HEALTHY PRIDE IN ONESELF?  OR DECORUM, OR ACTING APPROPRIATELY, OR TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS?
>>>WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING "YOUR BEST SELF?"
When did it become ok for porn models to walk around in every day society (or at all)?  When did it become popular to dress down?  Do these celebs (and others) really have no respect for themselves? Because that is what this behavior shows.
When did "pushing the envelope" become more the norm than the exception?
Why would a young lady think it ok to use her pregnancy to seek pity and handouts from people?  Her choices are what put her there!  She should have thought about all of the consequences of her actions, and taken responsibility long ago.  Granted, crap happens.  If she genuinely needs help, why is she sitting on the corner begging for money instead of going to one of the MANY organizations there are for people in her (and other) situation(s)?
What happened to the pride of and desire to be able to completely take care of oneself?  What happened to being embarrassed by the thought of asking for help?  What happened to taking responsibility for one's actions and control of one's life?   What happened to busting your butt to get the job done?  Have we no work ethic anymore?  When did our society start putting the blame and responsibility for individual lives on everyone and everything BUT the individual?
Someone I talked to the other day told me that certain situations just make life hard.  I agree.  Especially in this area where I live, where seasonal work and rural-ness(?) cause a lot of hardships and poverty. However, why can't people start planning ahead in order to be prepared for hard times, instead of waiting for them to come, then complaining about them?  Figure out a long-term plan!  I know plenty of very hard-working people who, after many many years, are still not ahead, but they are getting by, even if barely.  It's because they keep at it, day after day.  It may not be their ideal situation, but they are at least living and working, and can feel great about their efforts!
I get that a lot of this has come from people rebelling against so many societal rules and judgements.  We can all be pretty brutal.  It seems no matter how you portray yourself, you can (and probably will) be faulted in some way or another.  But when did it become more popular to have too-low standards than too-high standards?  Why is it more popular to be "bad?"  A lot of us have that rebellious  desire to throw out all the rules.  But has rebellion really become such a life aspiration?
What happened to the desire for accomplishment?  of succeeding at reaching a difficult goal?  of becoming better and better?  Why has our society succumbed to settling?  And to feeling so much entitlement?  No one "owes" us anything!  We deserve to be happy and be loved, it's true.  However, no one can or should be forced to give either of those things to anyone.
I know that I am a naturally judgy person.  I've realized it's because I recognize my faults and weaknesses, and am really working on trying to better myself, and tend to expect the same from others.  I'm naturally lazy, and I'm passive-aggressive.  I'm working on it.  I'm trying to improve myself.  I've learned that I, and all people, mostly just need love.  There's not enough of the real thing going around in the world today.  But when did forced tolerance get put into the same picture?  If a person does not accept and support everyone and everything, that person is intolerant and hateful.  COME ON, NOW!
We can love people AND choose not to support their attitudes and behaviors.  It happens in families all the time!  Anyone ever heard of siblings fighting?  or troubled marriages?  or estranged children/parents?  People are always going to disagree about one thing or another.  It doesn't mean we don't love each other anymore. It doesn't mean that we are all intolerant narcissists.  It does mean that we should work together for the COMMON good.  We should support things/attitudes/behaviors/fads that will better our society, not make it worse.
There is a scriptural account of a group of people who were so peaceful and happy, that they had no warring for more than a century(!!).  How did this happen?  It's because of "the love of God" which was in their hearts.  To love God is to love self and others.  To love others is to serve them.  To serve others is to learn to love them even more.  And the cycle goes on and on, unless LOVE stops being the motivating factor for living.
Now, there are still many really good people.  Many devote their lives to service and trying to better the lives of others.  I know a lot of them, and I love and admire them.  They are who try to make our world better for the next generation.  This is what it is all about!  True love, true service, true tolerance.
****Our society's lack of love is to blame for the wrongs therein.  WE are our society!!  I think most of realy do want the good, but we have been deceived by a very seductive message of selfishness and mediocrity.  We need to start taking responsibility for our actions, and work to fix the wrongs we've allowed to happen.  We need to start loving more and thinking about ourselves less.  We need to set the example of a higher standard.  We need to show that it is good for us to love ourselves and be proud of ourselves and our accomplishments.  We need to make "good" popular again!!  We need to learn that charity, which is the pure love of Christ, is what will fix all of the wrong and bad and ills of our society.  We also need to learn that love is a verb, not just an emotion. 
LOVE IN ACTION IS SERVICE, AND BOTH LEAD ALL TO TRUE HAPPINESS.