I spoke previously about how the gathering (in Mosiah 2-6) of King Benjamin's people reminded me of General Conference. I grouped Benjamin's talk into two related discussions and loosely "interpreted" them into two sessions of the Benjamin farewell conference.... not to be flip but I think that's a catchy name.
I've gone through these chapters several times in preparation for this post. I've decided the best way to cover the two sessions is to list and group the verses that jumped out at me... the ones that made me think of talks at a general conference.
The first session had to do with several items:
Leadership change:
The people were given official notice of the change of leadership of their society. The outgoing leader - king/prophet - took the opportunity to speak to his people.
"...I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me and 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 unto your view" (Mosiah 2:9). Mosiah wanted them to know that he wasn't going to waste their time or mince words.
"...I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might declare unto you that I can no longer be your teacher, nor your king; 30For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God...hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you. 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...even so if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God which shall be delivered unto you by him, ye shall prosper in the land..." (Mosiah 2:29-31). Benjamin declares to the people that the time is right to change leadership of their country, a change that is blessed by God. If only the leadership changes made in our country could so be blessed! Note the subtle indication of love for his people and for his son in his admonition to them
Benjamin gives an account of his service as king; he uses his life to teach the people:
"I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye should fear me, or that ye should think that I of myself am more than a mortal man. But I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen by this people, and consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand of the Lord that I should be a ruler and a king over this people... I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend my days in your service...and have not sought gold...nor any manner of riches of you; Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor...make slaves one of another, nor murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor ...commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord... And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you... ye yourselves are witnesses this day. Yet... I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day..." (Mosiah 2:10-15). Benjamin wanted to be clear that he did his best to serve his people and to lead them to be a righteous nation.
This leads up to an important truth that Benjamin taught the people:
"Behold, I say unto you that because I said that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God. 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. Behold, if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?" (Mosiah 2:16-18). This truth, taught by the aged king Benjamin, is an eternal truth that is eternal and must be learned by all who wish to be called God's children. Benjamin said these words in his old age; however, he lived these words throughout his whole life. What better way to teach than by example?
Benjamin admonishes his people to do righteously.
"I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning...with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land... if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you. And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?" (Mosiah 2:21-24). King Benjamin tells the people that they need to thank God in all things and serve Him willingly. He points out that God has given them all things, including the dust they are made of:
King Benjamin enjoins his people to beware of contention and apostasy:
"But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit, For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge. And now, I say unto you that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths... I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God... therefore, the Lord has no place in him... Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord... And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment. O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression." (Mosiah 2:32-40). Mosiah, true to his promise, does not trifle with his words, telling it "like it is". With his people, at least with this generation, his words worked.
Mosiah ends this session on a more hopeful note:
"...I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God...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" (Mosiah 2:41). This presents a stark contrast to those who have gone astray, sinned or apostatized and have not repented. It is interesting to me that the description of those unhappy souls who fall into the former category is much, much longer than the description of those who fit in the latter group. Simplicity is often elegant, as seen here.
These are nuggets of pure spiritual gold, with more to come; hopefully in the next "session" I can be more concise in my thoughts; however, as I said before, this is my favorite part of the Book of Mormon. Benjamin's address to his people - his General Conference - to me is one of the most uplifting and enlightening addresses I have ever heard, seen or read about. I hope this part of the Book of Mormon uplifts you as well.
Don
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