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!?!?!?!?!
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