A Study Guide Companion for The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
MOSIAH CHAPTERS
1 - 15
Chapter 1
King Benjamin taught his sons, Mosiah, Helorum, and Helena as he was taught “all the language of his fathers,” that they might become men of understanding, and might know concerning the prophecies.
King Benjamin gave a “worse case scenario” of what the effect would have been, had not the Nephite nation had the Brass Plates: “were it not for these Plates, which contain these records, and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God”.
The Lord “nourished” the Nephites with prophets and scriptures. King Benjamin bore testimony that the writings on the Brass Plates were true and that the writings on the Plates of Nephi (the Large Plates) were true. He admonished his sons to read and study the scriptures and to keep the commandments of God.
Mormon summarized that King Benjamin also told his sons many more things that were not included in the abridgment, explaining that because so many things were written on these records that he could not write even a hundredth part [Words of Mormon, verse 5].)
As he grew old and knew he would die before many years, King Benjamin wanted all of his people to gather together so he could teach them God’s messages and to verify to them that Mosiah would be the next king; he asked Mosiah to send out a proclamation calling all of the people of the land to assemble by the temple.
Following Jacob’s expedient example, all the people in the land are referred to as Nephites, and those who dissented to Laman and Lemuel are referred to as Lamanites. But at this time in the history of these two groups—the Mulekites of Zarahemla and the Nephites—were evidently referred to separately, although the first King Mosiah had been, and King Benjamin was now, ruler over both groups.
King Benjamin was to give the people a name that true followers of the Savior will always be called. They would be called by the name of Christ.
When people are given the sacred name of Christ to distinguish them—only transgression, or changing from good to evil, will blot out this privilege—or make them unworthy to continue to be known by His name. At this peaceful time in Book of Mormon history, the Nephites lived the commandments of God diligently, so it was appropriate that they were given this honor.
Even as King Benjamin told Mosiah that the people were now highly favored because of their righteousness, he reminded him that it was this righteousness that made them highly favored!
The king and prophets worked hard for this peaceful condition. King Benjamin dreaded the idea of the people falling into evil living again. By God’s grace they were protected from the Lamanites—who were much more numerous than they. If the Nephites became wicked, they would lose this holy protection.
The Lamanites, although numerous, were spiritually weak, so up to this time, the Lord had preserved the Nephites. But King Benjamin warned that if the Nephites became wicked “like unto their brethren,” they would have no claim on God to protect them. The king reminded Mosiah that the Nephites would have long since been the Lamanites’ victims without God’s protective power.
King Benjamin impressed on Mosiah’s heart that the scriptures and righteous living among the people would affect them temporally and spiritually. With confidence in Mosiah, he then turned the affairs of the kingdom over to him. What a great responsibility! King Mosiah I, King Benjamin, and now Mosiah II, were chosen to rule the kingdom as a lifetime Church calling. They also worked for their livings; they did not expect their subjects to support them. The kingships were Divine callings of service.
King Benjamin also turned sacred artifacts that had been with the leaders since the time of Lehi, over to Mosiah:
The Brass Plates,
The Plates of Nephi
(the Large Plates and the Small Plates),
The sword of Laban,
The ball or director (later identified as “the Liahona”)
that acted as a compass if the people were obedient
to the Lord.
After King Benjamin reminded Mosiah of important principles of leadership, preparing him for his great task, he commanded him to call all the people of the land to go to the temple grounds where he, King Benjamin, could speak to them.
CHAPTER 2
Mosiah called the people living in the land of Zarahemla to a great conference near the temple.The people came and offered sacrifices, obeying the Law of Moses.
They arranged themselves in family units, with the doors of their tents
facing the temple. They would listen to the king-prophet from their own tents.
There were so many people that there was no way they could all fit within
the temple walls, so King Benjamin had a tower built from which to speak. But, as
the crowd still could not all hear him, everything he said was written and passed among them.
The king expected the people to realize the importance of what he had to
say. They were to “…open your ears
that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that
the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.”
Although his subjects likely esteemed and venerated this king-prophet, he
reminded them he was a mortal as were they. He reminded them that he was
chosen by the people, and then he was consecrated by his father, King Mosiah,
to be a ruler and king, and he had been kept safe by God to fulfill this calling with
his “might, mind, and power.” But he was subject to physical problems like
anyone else.
He told the people that they were “witnesses this day” of
the things he did and did not do in his stewardship as king and prophet:
Although king Benjamin reviewed his policies and philosophy of service,
he had not called the large population together so they would honor him. There
were four main reasons why he reminded them of his service to them.
1. Since he, as king, was willing to work hard to serve them, how much more
the Heavenly King, the Lord, did for them. We would have
nothing, including life as spirits or as mortals, were it not for God our
Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. (No matter what we do, we can
never repay our holy Lord for all He has done and still does for us.)
He mentioned abilities to do according to “your own will,” touching on the
wonderful God-given gift of agency—that which the devil sought and
seeks to destroy. God always gives much more than He could possibly get
back. Every time we serve God, we get blessed so much—that we are even more in His debt.
King Benjamin said that God “created you from the beginning.” This
phrase could have a duel meaning. God, our Father, created us as His
spirit children from pure intelligence before we were born on Earth. Thus
the pre-mortal world is often referred to as “the beginning,” although there
is actually no beginning and no end of pure intelligence.
The beginning of Earth life from the creation of the world is also referred to as “the beginning” (Genesis 1:1) and Jesus Christ, who is also our God, created
our bodies under the direction of God, the Eternal Father.
When he asked if they had “done anything of themselves,” he meant,
“Have they created life so they could live?” No. God breathed life into each
of us. When he said they were not even “as much as the dust of the
Earth,” it reminds us that our bodies were created from elements of the
Earth, which Earth God created. (He organized the Earth from Eternal
unorganized matter). Earth is fulfilling her mission, and the “dust,” or the
elements of Earth, obey all of God’s commands. We also need to keep
God’s commandments to fulfill our destinations.
Gratitude to God for His matchless blessings is one of the most important
admonitions King Benjamin gave his people.
2. King Benjamin wanted his people to keep God’s commandments and
serve others as he, their king, had served them, because that is how they
could serve God.
3. He wanted his people to know he had a clear conscience before God. He had fulfilled his duty as prophet and leader by teaching them correct principles in word and deed.
It was the symbolic practice of prophets to demonstrate that they had
fulfilled their own callings in warning people by telling them frankly that
now they had been warned, their “blood” (a metaphor for their sins),
would be on their own “heads” (a metaphor for their souls).
If those God entrusts to teach others do not fulfill their callings, they
will be responsible for the blood (sins) of people they should have taught
right, such as Laman and Lemuel’s descendants’ transgressions would be
on the heads of the parents because their children were being taught false
traditions (2 Nephi 4:3-6).
4. He wanted to let them know his son, Mosiah, would be the next king and
their religious leader, and then he admonished them to follow Mosiah’s
commandments.
We are responsible for our own sins if we have been taught the truth; that
is why the Nephites were often in more spiritual danger than the Lamanites. The
Nephites were given Light and truth. When they sinned, they sinned in spite of
this Light.
The retiring King Benjamin recognized the people’s loyalty in obeying both
him and his father. He assured them the commandments from Mosiah would be
God’s commandments, and if they faithfully obeyed them, they would continue to prosper in the land, and they would be safe from the Lamanites.
King Benjamin loved his people; he was glad they were living righteously
and prospering; king Benjamin was also prophet, and as God’s messenger, he
understood the Eternal laws of consequences—there were rewards for
righteousness and punishment for wickedness. He knew that God promised
peace and prosperity based on keeping His commandments.
It is important to know good from evil so that we can choose to shun evil.
A major task of prophets and God’s other messengers is to teach the difference
between good and evil and the consequences of making bad choices.
King Benjamin warned of the awful pitfalls caused when people choose wickedness.
He reminded his people that they had all been taught the scriptures both
from the Brass Plates and from the Plates of Nephi.
King Benjamin observed that because all but the little children (1) had been told
the truth directly by prophets; (2) had been taught from the scriptures; (3) know
the truth and Light:
If they rebelled and went opposite of what they knew, and did not repent…the Spirit of the Lord would leave them because they would have joined
the evil spirit and live wickedly, and God does not dwell in unholy temples.They woud have to answer for their sins and suffer their own punishment
at the Day of Judgment.
King Benjamin said they withdraw themselves from God’s Holy Spirit by their wickedness; they do it by their own choices.The Atonement of the Lord brings mercy to the repentant person, but to the unrepentant, mercy has no claim.
God is never-ending and everlasting.
King Benjamin spoke of never-
ending torment, referring to God’s torment…the terrible torment
Christ went through in His infinite atoning Sacrifice. Unrepentant sinners,
rejecting Christ’s Atonement, must suffer for their own sins just as God, Jesus
Christ, suffered torment for all of our sins and pains.
King Benjamin contrasted the final “blessed and happy state” of those
who do repent and obey the word of God.
CHAPTER 3
The night before King Benjamin’s speech, an angel visited him with a wonderful message to share with his people.
King Benjamin was blessed to hear the most glorious information of all time—the message that brings hope and joy to all believers: Jesus Christ our Savior was coming to redeem the world. The king was instructed to share this wonderful news with his people that they also would be filled with joy.
Although Jesus lived in humble worldly circumstances on Earth, King Benjamin prophesied that the Lord would come with power. The angel referred to the power within Jesus Christ to perform the Atonement and His power of resurrection from the dead. The Savior brought Resurrection to everyone—and to all of us the opportunity for salvation and exaltation.
No wonder the angel said that King Benjamin and his people would rejoice! Jesus Christ had already used His great power—the power of living active faith and the power of His Priesthood to create worlds without number. He used power within Himself to perform miracles.
In addition to Eternal miracles already performed, the angel said that while on Earth the Lord would also perform other compassionate miracles.
Although His life on earth would be the means of our salvation, much of it would be anguish for Jesus “even more than and can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore...”
When we lived with Jesus Christ in the pre-mortal life, we knew Him as our older spirit Brother, the great God, Jehovah. When He was born on Earth, He became known as Jesus Christ, meaning Messiah, or Savior.
Jesus Christ was the first born of Heavenly Father’s children in the spirit and was perfect forever in the pre-mortal life. He was God’s physical Son on Earth, with Godly attributes and Power; He inherited mortal attributes from His mortal mother, Mary.
“Christ’s Fatherhood is expressed in three distinct ways. First, He is the Father by divine investiture of authority [“For it pleased the Father that in Him [Christ] should all fullness dwell”, Col. 1:19]…Second, Christ is the Father of creative and quickening life within all things…Third, Christ [through His atoning Sacrifice] is the Father of the regenerating and sanctifying life that leads ultimately, by means of the Gospel, to Eternal Life or glory.
The Lord would be born among His chosen people—but would bring Salvation to all mankind who believed in and followed Him.
Jesus Christ used His great power to accomplish Heavenly Father’s will. Christ fulfilled His mission through the infinite anguish of the Atonement when He accepted our pains and sins and suffered the infinite punishment for all of the sins—so we could have the blessing of being allowed to repent of our sins, and after He suffered, hanging on the cross, He finally, lifted up His spirit which He later joined with His body in Resurrection—so we could all then be spared the awful fate of being subjected to Satan—since we will all also be resurrected.
The Atonement offers us the opportunity to repent and to return to Heavenly Father, and the Resurrection overcame the “transgression of Adam” which, although letting us be born, setting us on the path to Eternal Life, also caused our bodies to be separated from our spirits at temporal death.
With Jesus Christ’s life, Atonement, death, and Resurrection, He completed the circle for our Salvation. He experienced everything—all physical, mental, and emotional pain of every soul who ever lived or will live.
As the only completely pure and perfect One among us, He took upon Himself all sins, no matter how vile, of every soul who ever lived or who will ever live. We cannot begin to fathom the pain this caused Him. And then He suffered the consequences or punishment for all of these sins. Only He could possibly have the right to judge us all in absolute fairness and righteousness.
Our Savior paid for the sins of all mankind. Those who have not had the opportunity to know the will of the Lord and those who have ignorantly sinned will be covered under His Atonement. But those who are taught God’s will are responsible for obeying Him.
God gives us every chance to know and live His holy word that we may rejoice.
Because the Israelites in general were stubborn and unyielding, they would not accept the Gospel in its fullness. God primed them for the Lord’s coming by giving them the “preparatory” Law of Moses as well as any signs, types, and shadows.
The angel then spoke of little children—of little children who die before growing old enough to become accountable for sins—and of the wonderful child-like qualities all people should retain or renew.
Because of the “fall” of Adam and Eve, everyone, including little children, would be lost were it not for the Atonement of the Lord. But because of Christ’s Atonement, all little children who die will be saved.
Salvation comes only through Christ’s Atonement.
The Lord will bless with salvation little children who die, but those who reach the age of accountability must humble themselves as little children to be blessed by the blood of Christ’s Atonement.
When Adam and Eve ate the “forbidden” fruit, the very nature of their bodies changed. Our souls consist of our bodies and our spirits. Our bodies are demanding, clamoring for gratification of all our desires. If we give in to all these insistent wants, the natural or physical body will be stronger than the spirit.
We will fulfill our intended missions on earth only if we submit our bodies to our spirits, or harness our physical desires. When we do that, we can tune in to the Holy Spirit and attain qualities to bring our souls close to God.
One becomes a true “saint” through the Atonement of Christ by retaining or acquiring a little child’s pure and innocent qualities.
The time will come when the whole world will know the word of God; then each person at or above the age of accountability will be responsible for his or her own repentance and obedience.
The angel told King Benjamin that once the king delivered the Lord’s word to the people, it would not be only the people who lived in the last days who would be held accountable. The Nephites would then know the Lord’s commandments and they would be responsible for living according to as much of His holy word as they were taught.
The angel told king Benjamin that the things being told him were straight from God. When God’s spoken and written words are given to people, those are the words from which they will be judged.
They shall stand as a bright testimony
against this people, at the Judgment Day; whereof they shall be judged,
every man according to his works,
whether they be good, or whether they be evil. The bright testimony will be against people does not mean it will be held, in a negative sense, against righteous people.
While it is a divine law that we use our agency when we choose good or evil, if we choose evil, we reap very different consequences than consequences we reap if we choose good.
There is an Eternal law which includes both justice and mercy. When Adam and Eve “fell,” it was a law that their bodies would change and become corruptible, or that they would sometime die. That genetic seed of corruptibility was passed to all mortals (remembering always that was part of God’s Plan for our Eternal progression). When the Lord was resurrected, He paid the price for the fall and, in taking up His Body, compensated for the fall, assuring that all mortals would be resurrected.
It is also justice that our sins forever keep us from the eternal presence of our God. Christ is our Redeemer, and His Atonement compensated for this awful state on condition that we repent of our sins and follow His commandments to our best ability. Mercy allows Christ to stretch forth His hand to us. Justice requires us to do our part and take hold of the stretched-out hand.
CHAPTER 4
King Benjamin’s people needed humility, according to the message given to the king by the angel. They needed to become like little children. When they heard these inspired words, they recognized their sins and called upon God so that they could be saved through the Atonement of Christ; they demonstrated that they believed in the Savior and that they were willing to be humble.
King Benjamin wanted to be sure they understood the depth of their great spiritual experience and what their responsibilities would be for the rest of their lives. His people still had more time to live in their mortal bodies and would yet be subject to temptations.
King Benjamin’s words summarized life’s true priorities, and they also remind us of these sacred truths. King Benjamin taught that there is only one Salvation.
The goodness of God,
His matchless Power,
His wisdom,
His patience,
His long-suffering towards the children of men;
Christ’s Atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that Salvation might come to him who puts his trust in the Lord, and is:
a. diligent in keeping His commandments,
b. and continues in the faith even unto the
end of his life—life of the mortal body
Believe that we must repent of our sins
Forsake our sins.
Humble ourselves before God.
Ask in sincerity of our hearts that He will forgive us.
King Benjamin also talked about responsibilities to the poor. He cautioned against being judgmental of those in need. We are all beggars before God and He graciously gives to us everything we have and are—therefore we should certainly impart of our substance to others—everything we have is actually God’s.
Impart of your substance to the poor,
Every man according to that which he hath
Feed the hungry
Clothe the naked
Visit the sick and administer to their relief
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is and always has been perfect—even from the foundation of the world, or in the pre-mortal existence. He had noble generals and workers among our spirit brothers and sisters. He loved them as He loved us and He called them to be mortal leaders, to help Him in His great cause, but no spirit child of Heavenly Father, except our Lord, the great Jehovah, Jesus Christ, was perfect.
CHAPTER 5
Upon hearing King Benjamin's message from the Lord, the great multitude cried with “one voice,” or unanimously, that they did believe and understand; they were willing to make a commitment to Christ.The Spirit of the Lord God had changed their hearts so they had no desire to do evil.
The hearts of the people changed to the extent that they were filled with the Spirit of prophesy. John says (Revelations 19:10) that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy. The Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost Himself, testifies of Christ to willing hearts.
If we accept Christ following His example, obeying His commandments, He will also be our Father, as we spiritually become His sons and daughters—part of His Eternal family. Under these sacred conditions, we are sons and daughters of Christ, Heavenly Father’s Heir—the Creator and God of our world and countless other worlds.
We take upon ourselves the name of Christ when we have faith in Him, repent, and are baptized. We make a covenant at that time, witnessing to the Father that we will follow and obey His Son. We renew that covenant each time we take His holy sacrament. Then the Holy Spirit will sanctify our souls as He did the souls of those sincere believers who listened and hearkened to King Benjamin.
The Lord always blesses us when we obey Him. If we keep our covenant to be obedient “unto the end of our lives,” our reward will be great indeed.
The Lord always blesses us when we obey Him. If we keep our covenant to be obedient “unto the end of our lives,” our reward will be great indeed.
CHAPTER 6
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keeps records showing the membership of those who have been baptized—who have “entered into the covenant” being baptized in Jesus Christ’s name, promising to keep His commandments. This is similar to the “roll call of the righteous” that King Benjamin took in his day.
After this great conference session, King Benjamin consecrated his son, Mosiah, as king, and to help the people keep their covenants, he ordained priests to teach them.
King Mosiah reigned for three years, living his father’s—and therefore God’s—teachings spiritually and temporally, setting the example for his people. He obeyed God’s commandments, he promoted a strong work ethic, and he worked hard to earn his own living.
CHAPTER 7
Previously, Amaleki (Omni 27-30) wrote of a large group of people from the land of Zarahemla who, under the leadership of a man named Zeniff, went south to find the original land of Nephi, or Lehi-Nephi—the intent—to repossess what they considered their inheritance.
It was now decades later, and the people in Zarahemla had not heard from this group since they left. Many of the adventurers were recent ancestors of those living in Zarahemla.
King Mosiah was “desirous” to know about the group of people, so he organized a scouting party to find answers.
A prophet, seer, and revelator as well as king, king Mosiah was certainly inspired by the Lord—to send what turned out to be help to the lost Nephites in Lehi-Nephi.
The leader of the party was Ammon, a “strong and mighty” man, a descendant of Zarahemla.
They wandered in the wilderness for forty days. Sometimes the Lord gives specific directions, but often He lets each of us prove our fortitude and determination rather than telling us exactly what to do and where to go.
Although close to their destination, they decided to proceed with caution going into the land. Ammon, and three others, Helem, Hem, and Amaleki, went into the land of Nephi, leaving the others camping on the hill. It was a wise decision, because these four were captured and thrown into prison!
Nephite guards with their king were outside of the city walls in the land of Shilom in the land of Nephi. The guards found the four scouts. Not knowing who they were, but thinking they may be trying to harm the king, the guards surrounded them and captured them.
King Limhi immediately released Ammon, Amaleki, Helem, and Hem, and invited them to bring the rest of the scouting party into the city. The sixteen men were treated as heroes. King Limhi seemed to have been given “heart” to have the fellow-Nephites appear—as though in answer to his prayer.
Ammon’s party surely had many questions regarding the history and lives of this newly found Nephite branch.
King Limhi, following centuries of tradition, called the people to the temple to hear him. He basically told them that they would soon be delivered, but because of their past sins, it wouldn’t be easy. Many of the questions of Ammon’s party were answered as king Limhi delivered his speech to the people. But those answers must have prompted other questions and concerns.
These Nephites knew the scriptures from the Brass Plates and the king referred to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt. He reviewed for his subjects new information for the scouting party. He said his grandfather, Zeniff, was deceived by the Lamanite king when his group of Nephites got back into the land of Nephi where the Lamanites were then living.
The king plainly laid out the horrible way the people in general had lived—including the killing of a prophet.These people had killed God’s prophet because he testified of Christ.
King Limhi was not surprised that the people were suffering after they killed a prophet who was testifying of the Lord.
The Lord will gladly prosper and protect His people when they obey His commandments and live righteously. But He will not “succor” them in their wickedness. He recited scriptures wherein the Lord warned that He would help them if they were righteous, but they would reap punishment if they were wicked.
As King Limhi spoke to the scouting party, the tax burden was fifty per cent of everything they produced. He acknowledged a great lesson of cause and effect or people’s actions and the consequences of those actions. He elaborated on the theme of how actions bring their own consequences. He told the people the situation they were in now was the result or effect—caused by wickedness of those among them who did abominable things.
CHAPTER 8
Ammon undoubtedly had had a long talk with King Limhi, telling him of the recent history of Zarahemla. The king summarized this history for his people, and then he turned the time over to Ammon to fill in details.
Then Ammon not only filled in historical gaps, he told them of the wonderful words of the angel that King Benjamin had given at his last great conference. Surely realizing the people of Limhi came from a spiritually barren position, rejecting divine guidance for so long, Ammon explained the great concepts of the Plan of Salvation.
After the end of the gathering and the people had gone home, King Limhi gave Ammon the record of his people to read. It included their history from when they left Zarahemla.
King Limhi was so overjoyed when Ammon and the others from Zarahemla showed up. Although there were only sixteen men, King Limhi seemed certain that they would be able to help. He definitely showed himself to be a righteous king, concerned about his people and well-versed in the scriptures.
When the first King Mosiah and his people arrived in the land of Zarahemla, a large stone with engravings on it was brought to him to interpret. The account of Coriantumr and “the slain of his people” was written on the stone (Omni, verses 20-22).
Ammon learned of a record that was discovered of a fallen civilization. The bones discovered by the scouting party of King Limhi were the bones of Coriantumr’s fallen civilization.
It was not surprising that King Limhi wanted to know more about this destroyed civilization.
Although Ammon could not translate, he knew that King Mosiah could; the king had the Urim and Thummin (stones through which seers may look to translate) and he was blessed by the power of God to be a seer.
The combination of being a prophet, a seer, and a revelator is the greatest gift a man can have. We are blessed in this latter-day to have men who have been called by God and are given the gift of God to be prophets, seers, and revelators.
Next Ammon told King Limhi the characteristics of the gift of seers and that the reason for seers was to benefit their fellow beings. King Limhi was thrilled to learn these things, and he rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God for them.
CHAPTER 9
Ammon read the record of king Limhi’s people from the time the king’s grandfather, Zeniff, with a multitude of people, left Zarahemla.
An earlier army had left Zarahemla to find the land of Nephi; they broke out in a war among themselves, and then the ones who were not killed returned to Zarahemla. After a while more people assembled and left for the land of Nephi again, this time under Zeniff’s leadership.
The first expedition toward the land of Nephi ended in disaster, but Zeniff described himself as yet being “over-zealous” to possess that land. Since they ended up colonizing rather than returning to Zarahemla, it is reasonable to assume that families were part of the group. They were also confident enough that they would end up settling in the land that they took seeds to plant as well as their flocks and herds.
Zeniff admitted that the company did not stay close to the Lord. The Lord makes no promise to bless those who do not worship Him and keep His holy commandments “We were slow to remember the Lord our God; we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions..” (verse 3).
Finally the group did remember their Lord, and they reached the battlefield near Nephi where so many Nephites had previously killed each other.
When the Nephites had lived in the land about thirteen years, the Lamanites started surprise attacks. Without warning, they began to slaughter peaceful Nephite farmers who were working their land.
The survivors headed to the city of Nephi for protection. In the city, Zeniff began to prepare the people for battle.
Although the Lamanites were a “scourge” to the Nephites, to stir them up in remembrance of their Lord, the Lord aided those who called upon Him.
Zeniff and his people remembered times the Lord had delivered Nephites and other Israelites in the past when they put their trust in Him.
CHAPTER 10
As Ammon read Zeniff’s journal, he realized that although there was peace after the battle between the attacking Lamanites and the people of Zeniff, Zeniff had lost his naïveté regarding the Lamanites’ intentions. Through hard experience, he was wiser; he prepared for war with weapons, guards, and spies. He sent spies around Shemlon to guard against the enemy.
The most important preparation methods the Nephites needed to protect themselves against the Lamanites were faith and trust in God and obedience to His commandments.
During the time of “continual peace,” as well as having the men build up farms and cities, Zeniff had the women of the land spin flax for linen and weave fine quality cloth of all types.
Because of vigilant intelligence gathering, Zeniff knew about the Lamanites’ preparations for war, but they were still a formidable force. As they came rushing forward to attack Nephites, the Nephites were armed with many weapons while the Lamanites were naked, except leather loin cloths, and their heads were shaved.
Zeniff sent the women and children to hide in the wilderness and placed the men, armed, in ranks—according to their ages. Although Zeniff considered himself an old man, he also joined the battle.
Zeniff told his people that false traditions motivated the Lamanites to try to destroy the Nephites; but he reminded them of the truth about Nephi and the truth about Laman and Lemuel. He reminded the people that Nephi was favored of the Lord because he obeyed the Lord’s commandments and put his trust in the Lord. Zeniff “stimulated,” or motivated, his soldiers to put their trust in the Lord as had Nephi.
Again “in the strength of the Lord,” the army of Zeniff drove off the Lamanite army, killing so many that they could not number them.
After that great battle, Zeniff returned with his people to go back to normal life in peace. Zeniff loved his people and felt responsible for their well-being. When he became too old to lead them, he conferred the kingdom on Noah, one of his sons.
Again “in the strength of the Lord,” the army of Zeniff drove off the Lamanite army, killing so many that they could not number them.
After that great battle, Zeniff returned with his people to go back to normal life in peace. Zeniff loved his people and felt responsible for their well-being. When he became too old to lead them, he conferred the kingdom on Noah, one of his sons.
CHAPTER 11
The old priests who had been consecrated by Zeniff tried to “hedge in” the lifestyle of the new king, so Noah got rid of all of them and established his own “priests.” These new priests encouraged Noah in wickedness and lived the same degenerate lifestyle as Noah, aiding and abetting him in his nefarious decisions so they could be supported in a gluttonous and immoral manner by taxing the rest of the people.
When Zeniff was king, the people in the land of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom and Shemlon had become productive. Noah levied taxes on everything that was produced to support the degenerate lifestyle of himself and his priests. He “caused his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord, all manner of wickedness."
The Lamanites, unknowingly fulfilling their destiny to be a scourge to the Nephites, again tried their might against these hated cousins. The Lord began to withdraw His protection as a warning to the people. The king was not used to spending the national treasury for defense, and had relaxed his vigilance of the Lamanites and they begin to come upon small numbers of Nephites and kill them as they worked their fields .
The Lord gave Noah and his armies an opportunity to recognize their follies—by allowing them a victory over the Lamanites; however, Noah and his armies, instead of appreciating their blessings, took the credit for victory themselves.
During Book of Mormon history, as righteous Nephites accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, they had a great desire to share the Gospel with their “brethren,” the Lamanites. But these wicked Nephites, following the example of their king and priests, loved killing the Lamanites.
God does not allow evil to indefinitely perpetuate a society. Nephites had been taught the commandments of God. The people, living under the leadership of Noah were sinning against the Light that they had been given. The Lord sent a prophet, Abinidi, to warn them to repent.
“Except they repent” is a key phrase used by prophets. The Lord does not tell the people what will happen. He offers them the chance to repent, and He warns them what will happen if they do not repent. Repent is the key word for their salvation.
God warned the people, through Abinadi, that unless they repented, they would be put into bondage—this time because of their own wickedness.
When Abinadi said they would have to repent in “sackcloth and ashes” he was referring to an ancient custom of outwardly showing repentance by wearing these things and abasing one’s self to show humility. Here it is used as a metaphor, meaning they would have to humble themselves over a period of time to prove their repentance was sincere.
Not too different from people who are chastised for wickedness today, Noah’s subjects did not like to have their faults pointed out to them. They preferred “flattery and lies” from the priests.
When hearts are more open to the spirit of Satan than the Spirit of God, people are apt to hearken to the devil’s insidious suggestions. The people in the land were sinful and they were angry at Abinadi for pointing out their sins, so they tried to kill him. But the Lord had chosen Abinadi as His prophet to give His message to everyone in the land, including Noah and his priests. When the people told the king what the prophet said, it made Noah extremely angry.
Using a spurious excuse—that Abinadi was stirring up trouble in the kingdom and was causing contentions among the people—Noah ordered an open arrest for Abinadi. Noah and his priests had completely corrupted the society. They and their people had opened their hearts to Satan’s promptings and had hardened their hearts against the Spirit of God.
CHAPTER 12
It had been two years since Abinadi first prophesied to the people in Lehi-Nephi. Now he came again, this time disguised, perhaps to give them the Lord’s message before they tried to arrest him.
The Lord in His mercy sent His prophet, Abinidi, to face King Noah and his wicked priests. to give them the opportunity to repent and avoid the consequences their
actions were bringing upon themselves.
The people were furious with Abinadi for telling the truth, so they bound him and carried him before Noah.
After casting Abinadi into prison, Noah discussed the situation with his priests. The brought Abinidi before them so they could trick him. Instead, as he stood before him full of the Power of the Holy Spirit, he confounded them, making them look foolish.
Abinadi turned the tables on the inquisition, and he chastised and questioned the priests, pointing out specific ways they needed to repent. They claimed to teach the Law of Moses—and Abinadi asked them why they didn’t live it.
Abinadi censured the priests for their sins and wicked examples. Instead of teaching the Gospel, they taught the people to sin. Then he quizzed them concerning their understanding of the Law of Moses.
The priests and people of Lehi-Nephi were idolatrous; Abinadi knew it; the priests knew it; the people knew it. They were blatantly breaking this commandment and many others specifically stated in the Law of Moses.
CHAPTER 13
Abinidi was full of the Holy Spirit, and he asked the king and priests pointed questions, then he told them what the Lord wanted them to hear. Wicked King Noah, upset at the truth of Abinadi’s words, called for his priests to take Abinadi away and kill him.
They couldn’t touch him. Speaking as a messenger of God, he had not delivered the entire message God required him to give.
The priests claimed they taught the Law of Moses, but they did not live it—so Abinadi reviewed the Ten Commandments.
Abinadi told the priests that even though they had the Law of Moses, they did not live it or teach the people to live it; if they had, the Lord would not have had to send Abinadi to give his warnings. Then Abinadi told them that the Law of Moses was a beginning. There would come a time that ordinances and rituals of the Law of Moses would no longer be necessary; God would fulfill the law by atoning for His people’s sins. The Law of Moses was an expedient tool or teacher, but it could not bring about Salvation. Every facet of the Law of Moses was to teach Israelites of Christ—so that they could accept and understand His great mission when He came.
CHAPTER 14
Abinadi taught about Christ to unbelieving Noah and his priests what they should have been teaching the people.
Jesus Christ suffered the infinite punishment for our sins —every measure of punishment for every sin that could ever possibly be committed—from the beginning of time until forever afterwards. Every physical and emotional pain, misery, sorrow, and heartache that could be experienced by mankind assaulted Christ’s body and spirit.
Jesus Christ, as the pre-mortal Jehovah, already had great glory and had already attained Godhood; He will continue forever to reign triumphant as first and foremost of God’s children. “He shall divide the spoil with the strong” perhaps refers to His promise to us, that if we are strong enough to obey His commandments and follow Him, we will be joint-heirs with Him in our Father’s Kingdom.
CHAPTER 15
Abinidi unequivocally told wicked King Noah and his priests that the law of Moses was given to prepare the people for the Savior and God who was to be born into the world.
Abinadi reviewed what he had quoted from Isaiah, telling them that Jesus Christ, after performing many mighty miracles for the good of mankind, would allow Himself to be brought before wicked men, and be killed.
Although in infinite agony, Jesus Christ fully carried out the Plan of Salvation given to Him by our Heavenly Father. As He completed His task and finally gave up His life, Jesus broke the “bands,” or power, of Earthly temporal death. With completion of His infinitely difficult tasks, came His Power to make intercession for us (verse 8).
Abinadi spoke of Christ’s compassion and mercy. Christ was the only One good enough to pay the price for our sins. Jesus Christ has compassion for us—and He suffered and died for us. With His great mercy, He keeps His Hand stretched out for us to repent and come unto Him. All of us will be resurrected by His holy grace—a free gift, given to reunite our bodies and spirits. Christ’s atoning Sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross and by voluntarily giving up His life, He created the bridge over which we all may pass to Eternal Life with God—by believing in our Savior and obeying His commandments.
Christ took our sins upon Himself; He paid the punishment for them with His own infinite agony. Justice was satisfied.
Abinadi spoke of two Resurrections—the Resurrection of the just and the Resurrection of the unjust. The Resurrection of the just is called the “first Resurrection.”
Abinadi left no doubt that the Lord who would come to Earth to complete the atoning Sacrifice and offer Salvation is Jesus Christ. He said that all those who keep the commandments of the Lord would be coming forth to be resurrected themselves in the first Resurrection,—after Christ was resurrected—and they would dwell with Him. The second Resurrection or the Resurrection of the unjust is for those who willfully rebel against God and His holy commandments. Abinadi spoke to Noah and the priests—who had been taught God’s commandments. Not only did they not keep them personally, but they influenced the whole society to become wicked.
Abinadi reminded the priests, by quoting scriptures they should have known well, that at that Last Day everyone will know the power and purpose of the Lord.
