Benjamin's General conference - Mosiah 2-6 Part 2

Continuing with the wonderful address that King Benjamin made to his people...  Previously I talked about how much like a general conference this gathering was.  In this post, I want to explore the messages that were covered in King Benjamin's address... if we are using the general conference theme, the different "talks" that were given. (Let me just say that, although I quote extensively in this post, there is much that I have not included.  For a true feeling of Benjamin's address, please read Mosiah 2-6 carefully).

Benjamin prefaces this part of his remarks by telling his people the source of what he was about to tell them.  "...for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.  And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God..." (Mosiah 3:1,2).  The angel told Benjamin of the importance of his message and emphasized that it was joyous news:  "...for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy" (Mosiah 3:3).

Why did the Lord want Benjamin to know what the angel came to tell him?  Benjamin probably felt that it was so he could share the glad message with his people.  I believe this is correct.  The angel also gave another reason: "...the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayst rejoice..." (Mosiah 3:4).  The last part of this verse confirms what Benjamin felt was the main reason for receiving this message: "...and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy" (ibid).
I learned from this passage the pattern of receiving revelation from the Lord.  That pattern follows these steps:
 --  Pray fervently for the Lord to grant the knowledge needed for your life (calling, relationships, etc.).
 --  Live your life so that you are judged of the Lord to be worthy of receiving the answer to your prayers.
 --  Listen when the answer to your prayers is given; be ready to share the message; share the message as directed.
These steps are not always easy to follow; sometimes one or more of the steps may require patience, endurance and long suffering.  I believe that ultimately, though, that the Lord, in His loving wisdom, will respond to us when we diligently follow this pattern.

The joyous message that Benjamin was instructed to share was this:  "...the time cometh...that with power, the Lord Omnipotent ...shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay...[he] shall go forth working mighty miracles...he shall cast out devils...he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body...for behold blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish...  And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God..." (Mosiah 3:5-9).  The angel emphasized the purpose of Jesus' mission among men:  "...he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might com upon the children of men.  For behold...His blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God...or who have ignorantly sinned." (Mosiah 3:10-11).  The great, joyous message that the angel shared with Benjamin was that God the Father prepared a way for the children of the earth to be able to return to His presence.  God prepared a way that involved the coming of a Savior - His Son - to the earth.  Joyous is this message; we all have the opportunity to be able to be reconciled with God, in spite of any sins we have committed.


Benjamin continued with the angel's words.  He emphasized the importance of understanding the need for a Savior and the effect His coming would have on mankind.  "....salvation cometh to none...except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ...whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins.   I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ..." (Mosiah 3:12-13).  The old king also admonished his people to live Godly lives:  "...men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become little children, and believe that salvation is...  For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be...unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ..." (Mosiah 3:18-19).  Benjamin defines Christ-like attributes as he continues:  "...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..." (ibid).


These great verses in the book of Mosiah, uttered by the aged King Benjamin, give us hope.  They give us a roadmap by which we can plan the journey of our lives, and by following these simple directions, we have the true road to our Father's kingdom.


Benjamin then indicated that this was the end of the message that the angel declared to him. Benjamin told his people: "[these words] shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man according to his works..." (Mosiah 3:24).   When each of us are given the message that King Benjamin gave his people, we also will each be given the opportunity to choose... whether to follow God's commandments or not.  We each will be held accountable for the choices we have made in this life.


Apparently Benjamin's words - his conveyance of the angel's joyous message - overcame the people who were in attendance.  "...he cast his eyes round about on the multitude and behold they had fallen to the earth...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..." (Mosiah 4:1-2).  Imagine hearing a conference talk that moved you so greatly that you fell to the ground, and cried out to the Lord for forgiveness.  That would be one great conference talk!  Benjamin heard their cries and told them: "...if the knowledge of the goodness of God has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness...if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God... and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared...this is the means whereby salvation cometh...  Believe in God...Believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them...ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; if you believe all these things,see that ye do them... always retain in remembrance the greatness of God...humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come..." (Mosiah 4:5-11). 

Benjamin promises his people (and us as well) that by living up to the message and admonishments he has given: "...I say unto you that if ye do this, ye shall always rejoice and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins...ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably...ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God... But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth an dsoberness...to love one another and to serve one another... and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain..." (Mosiah 4:12-16).  These are the signs that follow them that believe (which are also spoken of in the New Testament).  Are such signs evident in our lives?  (Along these lines, I recently went to Temple Square in Salt Lake City; as I entered into the gates I was approached by a person who was asking for money.  Having been there several times in the past couple months I recognized this person as having been there each time I had visited. Each time the person was begging for money from those entering into the temple grounds.  I know what my response was (and I'm not inferring that I did the right thing); I am curious what others - you, the reader - would do when approached regularly at this place by a person who is constantly there begging for money each time.  Please comment!)

Benjamin counsels his people to be wise in integrating their new found knowledge and faith into their lives:  "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..." (Mosiah 4:27).  In our lives we must use wisdom in how we introduce and implement changes for good.  For instance, it would do no good to vow that we will read the scriptures for 2 hours a night only to give up after only a week because it was too hard to keep up.  On the other hand, we can't justify not self-improving our lives by saying that we're "easing into it".  "All things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27).   I love Benjamin's final words on the matter:  "...I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.  But this much I can tell  you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds...ye must perish.  And now, O man, remember, and perish not" (Mosiah 4:29).

In my next post, I will talk about the conclusion and the results of Benjamin's address.  Meanwhile, let us all follow the admonitions that Benjamin gave his people.  If we can do this, we will indeed be able to rejoice.

Don