Eternally Indebted to your Heavenly Father Mosiah 1

Eternally Indebted to your Heavenly Father Mosiah 1 -3

o The book of Mosiah begins about 130 B. C. and ends about 91 B. C. It is not, however, one continuous story. In his abridgment, Mormon wove together the accounts of three related groups of Nephites.

What did King Benjamin teach his sons? Mosiah 1: 2– 7 o o Taught concerning the records, they help us to: Remember How have the scriptures Teach helped you remember, obey and teach the things of God? Obey

Mosiah 1: 5 What was the difference between those who studied the scriptures and those who did not? Those who studied Those who did not study • Understand mysteries • Know not the mysteries • A spiritual truth once • Dwindle in unbelief hidden but now know by • Don’t believe when they are special revelation taught because they rely on • Have his commandments traditions of fathers always before our eyes • Won’t dwindle in unbelief

Mosiah 1: 5 Swim lanes Searched and ‘likened’ to ourselves effectively, the scriptures can thereby ‘enlarge the memory of this people’ (Alma 37: 8), emancipating us from the limitations of our own time and place; the spiritual database is expanded. If we are meek, the case studies in the scriptures help us to see our own case more clearly. Robert Eaton, Digging Deeper, 67 -73 Neal A Maxwell, One More Strain of Praise, 111

It is easy to underestimate our need for the constant guidance that comes from daily studying the word of God. Feeling that past scripture study has pointed us in the right direction already, we may believe that we can continue our swim without the further aid of lanes or standards. My swimming analogy would be even more fitting, however, if I’d been swimming across a saltwater harbor, which would have added swirling undercurrents and ebbing and flowing tides to my naturally erratic stroke. In real life, we battle not only the natural man, but powerful tides of temptation. To combat these ongoing problems, past scripture study simply isn’t sufficient to give us the strength we need to combat current challenges. As President Ezra Raft Benson put it, “Yesterday’s meal is not enough to sustain today’s needs. ” Robert Eaton, Digging Deeper, 67 -73

What effective ways have you found for helping others/yourself develop a love for the scriptures? o o Some of these suggestions are found in Brother Covey's book, The Divine Center) Learn to ask good questions. n n n o o o Questions serve as catalysts when meditating, pondering, and discussing the scriptures. They spark off exciting meanings and applications. They can link the ideal with the real, the eternal with the present. Ask, then ponder. One of the most useful questions: "What useful principle can I learn from these doings of the Lord? " Correlate with the Church curriculum. Adult and youth classes base their study on the same volume of scripture. Develop a list of family favorite stories and passages for future reference and memorization. Memorize a scripture a month. Have scripture chases. Read a scripture before family prayer or dinner hour.

Mosiah 1: 10 -11, 18 o o o Who? What? Where?

Mosiah 1: 10 -11 The audience o Remember that this sermon was not given to unfaithful members, but to people living in peace. King Benjamin’s people were faithful members who were ready to take the next step in their progression toward being spiritually reborn (see Mosiah 1: 11; 5: 7).

Mosiah 6: 1 -2 What happened as a result of this sermon? o o “That this sermon carried a spiritual power beyond the clarity of the written word is undeniable, for following the close of the discourse and wishing to take ‘the names of all those who had entered into a covenant, ’ this mighty servant of God realized ‘there was not one soul, except it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ’ [Mosiah 6: 1– 2]. Oh that we might have more such sermons, and, even more important, that all who hear them might make such honest and binding covenants as a result” Jeffrey R Holland, (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 99, 103).

Mosiah 1: 18 Temple sermon/Temple themes

Mosiah 2: 1 -8 If you build it they will come… o How did the people organize themselves once they arrived at the temple to hear King Benjamin? Mosiah 2: 5– 6;

Lot’s Tent o o o Gen 13: 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly Gen 14: 12 And they took Lot…who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed

“pitched their tents… towards the temple” o o o What things might we do that are the equivalent of pitching our tents toward Sodom? What things might we do that are the equivalent of pitching our tents toward the temple? How can we point our homes more toward the temple instead of toward worldly places?

How should we read King Benjamin’s message? Mosiah 2: 9 o Do not trifle with his words

Mosiah 2: 9 Don’t trifle with the words of the prophets o o What did he counsel them to do as they listened to his teachings? What does it mean to open our ears, hearts, and minds to the teachings of living prophets?

Mosiah 2: 9 -16 Gives an accounting Leadership qualities o o o Vs 9 Called people together to teach truth, not honor himself Vs 11 -12 Humility Vs 13 He is a champion of obedience to God and freedom Vs 14 Integrity and industry, he provided for himself through his own labor = vs 15“I can answer a clear conscience before God this day”

Mosiah 2: 11 -21 A form of what word is used 13 times? o King Benjamin uses the word “serve” to describe his love for his neighbors

What did King Benjamin teach about service? o o What are the first and second great commandments and how do they relate to each other? XMatthew 22: 36– 40; Matthew 25: 40; and Mosiah 2: 17 If you made a list of the important requirements for entering heaven, where would you place “loving your neighbor”? How can knowing the importance of the commandments affect the way we live?

Mosiah 2: 16 -17 Why does God require us to serve one another? o o o “Service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom. Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made. “Knowing that service is what gives our Father in Heaven fulfillment, and knowing that we want to be where He is and as He is, why must we be commanded to serve one another? Oh, for the glorious day when these things all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts. In that day there will be no need for a commandment because we will have experienced for ourselves that we are truly happy only when we are engaged in unselfish service Marion G Romney, (in Conference Report, Oct. 1982, 135; or Ensign, Nov. 1982, 93).

Unprofitable servant Mosiah 2: 20 -24, 34 God’s Blessings: What does it mean to be an unprofitable servant? Created Kept and preserved you Caused that you should rejoice Live according to own will Prosper in land Immediately blessed Our Offerings: Render thanks and praise Serve Him with our whole soul Keep the commandments

Why? o o o Benjamin, ”studiously throws cold water over every spark of national pride… Only those who are aware of their lost and fallen state can take the mission of the Savior seriously, and before one can embrace it in terms of the eternities it must be grasped on the level of common, everyday reality… -Hugh Nibley

Eternally indebted… Do we appreciate all that He does for us? o o “I believe that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude. . God is not pleased with the inhabitants of the earth but is angry with them because they will not acknowledge his hand in all things [see D&C 59: 21]” Joseph F Smith (Gospel Doctrine, 5 th ed. [1939], 270– 71).

Two Stories o The Dress Rex Mission Digging Deeper, Robert Eaton, 34

Mosiah 2: 24 Of what have ye to boast? o o God is quick to give us large blessings for our small obedience! Geometrically, if little gears were to represent our obedience and large gears God’s generous blessings for us all, as they do, we could grasp even further insights into God’s character! Neal A Maxwell, One More Strain of Praise, 111

The Flaw… o Understanding that righteousness triggers blessings is important because it can motivate us to be righteous. But unfortunately, like the little girl, we sometimes assume that if some conduct on our part triggers a particular result, we can then claim complete credit for the result: Digging Deeper, Robert Eaton, 35 -36

The Flaw: You produced the light in this church class room The janitor who installed the light The Book of Mormon helps bulb o Thomas Edison and those who us recognize this helped him invent the light bulb infrastructure of grace in o The electricians who wired the room our lives – the mercy o The utility workers who laid the inherent in each of the power lines to the church o The workers who built and blessings we receive, even maintain the dam that generates the electricity that flows through those blessings may the power lines be triggered by o The Lord, who inspired Edison and provides the water for the dam and righteousness. They teach prospers His people so they are able to pay the tithing that pays that we are eternally the electric bill indebted to God. o Digging Deeper, Robert Eaton, 35 -36

Mercy o o Every blessing you receive is an act of mercy, more than you could ever merit on your own. Although all such blessings come as results of your obedience, you could never receive them through your efforts alone. They are merciful gifts from a loving and compassionate Father. True to the Faith, 103

o o “Do you think it will ever be possible for any one of us, no matter how hard we labor, … to pay our Father and Jesus Christ for the blessings we have received from them? The great love, with its accompanying blessings, extended to us through the crucifixion, suffering, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is beyond our mortal comprehension. We never could repay” Joseph Fielding Smith , Improvement Era, June 1966, 538).

Come Thou Fount Mosiah 2: 34, D&C 84: 38 O to grace how great a D&C 84: 38 debtor daily I'm constrained to be! And he that receiveth o Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering my Father receiveth my heart to thee. kingdom; o Father’s Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave therefore God I love; all that my o Here's my heart, O take and Father hath shall be seal it, seal it for thy courts given unto him above. o

o o Most of us clearly understand that the atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the atonement is also for saints – for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. I frankly do not think many of us “get it” concerning this enabling and strengthening aspect of the atonement, and I wonder if we mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities… There is help from the Savior for the entire journey of life – from bad to good to better and to change our very nature. Dave A Bednar, BYU Dev, Jan 8, 2002

Mosiah 3: 1 -11 Angel’s message: glad tidings of great joy Why?

o o o “What we must remember about the Savior is that He and He alone had the power to lay down His life and take it up again. He had the ability to die from His mortal mother, Mary, and the ability to overcome death from His immortal Father. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, went willingly and deliberately to His death, having told His followers that this would happen. Why? one might ask. The answer: to give immortality to all mankind and the promise of eternal life to those who believed in Him (see John 3: 15), to give His own life for a ransom for others (see Matthew 20: 28), to overcome Satan’s power, and to make it possible for sins to be forgiven. Without Jesus’ Atonement, there would be an impassable barrier between God and mortal men and women. When we comprehend the Atonement, we remember Him with awe and gratitude” Robert D Hales, (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 34; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 26).

According to the angel, who will receive salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Mosiah 3: 11 People “who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned” Doctrine and Covenants 137: 7– 9 we learn that people who die without a knowledge of the gospel but who would have received the gospel with all their hearts will be heirs of the celestial kingdom. Moshiah 3: 12 -13 People with a knowledge of the gospel who repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ Mosiah 3: 16 Little children who die in infancy (D&C 137: 10)

o Mosiah 2: 41 Blessed and happy The world defines happiness as pleasure or fun, not the inner peace and joy that come from partaking of the fruit of the tree of life.

True Happiness o o “Happiness includes all that is really desirable and of true worth in pleasure, and much beside. Happiness is genuine gold, pleasure but gilded brass. … Happiness is as the genuine diamond, which, rough or polished, shines with its own inimitable luster; pleasure is as the paste imitation that glows only when artificially embellished. … Happiness leaves no bad after-taste, it is followed by no depressing reaction; it calls for no repentance, brings no regret, entails no remorse; pleasure too often makes necessary repentance, contrition, and suffering; and, if indulged to the extreme, it brings degradation and destruction. ” –James E Talmage, “A Greeting to the Missionaries, ” Improvement Era, Dec. 1913, 173 Steven E. Snow, “Book of Mormon Principles: The Sweet Fruits of Obedience, ” Ensign, Jan. 2004, 24

Mosiah 3: 18 -19 Natural Man o o What is the natural man? How do we “put off” the natural man?

Natural Man: The part of us that sins and wants to follow the world o o “The phrase ‘natural man’ is understood by Latter-day Saints to be an unrepentant person; it does not imply that mortals are by nature depraved or evil, but only that they are in a fallen condition. Natural man describes persons who are ‘without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God’ (Alma 41: 11). The Lord declared to Joseph Smith: ‘Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God’ (D&C 93: 38)” (in Daniel H. Ludlow, ed. , Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5 vols. [1992], 3: 985).

Why would the natural man be an enemy to God? o Because sin and worldliness keep us from being worthy to be in His presence.

Mosiah 3: 19 n n n “yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” “becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ” “becometh as a child”

“becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ” o o What does it mean to become a saint? Saint implies sanctification, or holiness. In the Book of Mormon, the word is used to refer to devoted members of the Lord’s Church. ( 1 Nephi 14: 12 and 2 Nephi 9: 18. )

“becometh as a child” o What adjectives does King Benjamin use to describe this process of becoming as a child? n n n Submissive Meek Humble Patient Full of love Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit

o “Becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love. ” We are not asked to be childish, but to become like a child—willing to submit to a righteous Father, doing His will instead of our own (see 3 Nephi 11: 37– 38).

Next Week:

The dress story o o o o I once complimented a little girl at church on her lovely dress. “I bought it myself”, replied the girl, with more than a twinge of satisfaction. “Really? How did you get the money? ” I asked, perhaps inappropriately. “By doing chores, ” she answered without hesitation. “What are you chores? ” I pried. “I make my bed every day, ” she boasted. “And how much do you get paid for that? ” I inquired, unquestionably venturing into inappropriately nosy territory. But she freely told me the amount, which was on the high end for allowances and was several times more than even an adult could have earned working as a maid making beds. Yet these facts were lost on my young friend, who seemed to believe that she was simply being paid the market rate for her wages. In her mind, she’d earned the money for the dress all on her own; there was no need to mention her parents, since they’d simply paid her what she was due. Robert Eaton, Digging Deeper, 34

David A. Bednar The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” ( Mosiah 5: 2), as did King Benjamin’s people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin. “Clean Hands and a Pure Heart, ” Ensign, Nov 2007, 80– 83

David A. Bednar Let me suggest that hands are made clean through the process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil influences in our lives through the Savior’s Atonement. Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better. All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are, can never produce clean hands and a pure heart. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a cleansing and redeeming power that helps us to overcome sin and a sanctifying and strengthening power that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us. “Clean Hands and a Pure Heart, ” Ensign, Nov 2007, 80– 83

Mosiah 2: 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that 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.

o Have a class member read Mosiah 2: 20– 21 aloud. What does it mean to be an unprofitable servant? Why are we unprofitable servants to God even if we praise and serve Him with all our souls? (See Mosiah 2: 22– 25; see also the quotation below and the second additional teaching idea. ) What does this teach about Heavenly Father’s love for us?

Mosiah 2: 36 -39 o o What are the consequences of refusing to obey the commandments after having been taught them? (See Mosiah 2: 36– 39. ) According to King Benjamin, what is the cause of the torment that is often likened to a lake of fire? (See Mosiah 2: 38; see also Mosiah 3: 23– 27. )

Mosiah 2: 41 X Matthew 5: 45 o “One of the challenges of the faithful is to realize that sometimes those who are not obedient and worthy seem to receive as many or more of the temporal blessings of life as do those who sacrifice and serve. . The Saints are to be faithful to the end without too many sidelong glances at their neighbors. . Undoubtedly the unfaithful will also have the sun shine upon them, perhaps at times even more abundantly than on the righteous. But the faith and devotion of the faithful is recorded in the Lamb’s book of life, and the day will come when they will be included among God’s jewels. In that day it will matter very much who was righteous and who was wicked, who served God and who did not. In the meantime, all must remember that God does not settle his end-of-year accounts in September” (Christ and the New Covenant, 296– 97).

Mosiah 3: 16, 21; Moroni 8: 12; D&C 29: 46 Why are little children “blameless before God”? o Although “by nature, they fall, ” they are “blameless before God” because they are “alive in Christ” through the Atonement.

o o The angel said that “the natural man is an enemy to God” (Mosiah 3: 19). What is the meaning of the phrase “natural man”? Alma 42: 6– 10

Mosiah 3; 19 o An understanding of the concept of the natural man is crucial in order to understand the mission of the Savior and our indebtedness to Him. Read Mosiah 3: 19 with the class.

What does ‘natural man’ mean? o Elder Bruce R. Mc. Conkie said: “After the fall of Adam, man became carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature; he became fallen man. … All accountable persons on earth inherit this fallen state, this probationary state, this state in which worldly things seem desirable to the carnal nature. Being in this state, ‘the natural man is an enemy to God, ’ until he conforms to the great plan of redemption and is born again to righteousness. (Mosiah 3: 19. ) Thus all mankind would remain lost and fallen forever were it not for the atonement of our Lord. (Alma 42: 4– 14. )” (Mormon Doctrine, 2 nd ed. [1966], 267– 68).

Natural man o o o “First of all, the natural man is an ‘enemy to God. ’ (Mosiah 3: 19. ) This means that such individuals would (whether fully understanding the implications of their own resistance or not) oppose the ultimate purpose of God for mankind, which is, as we know, ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. ’ (Moses 1: 39. ) Given our eternal interests, the natural man therefore is not our friend either, even if, at times, we seem quite at home with him. . “Instead of becoming a saint, being childlike and willing to submit to our eternal Father, the natural man is rebellious and insists on walking in his own way. He is childish instead of childlike. “The natural man also stubbornly seeks for happiness in iniquity—an incredibly naive notion about the nature of happiness and the universe. . “Thus it is that the natural man, in attempting to live ‘without God in the world’ and in catering slavishly to his natural instincts, is actually living ‘contrary to the nature of happiness. ’ (Alma 41: 11. )” Neal A maxwell, (Notwithstanding My Weakness [1981], 71– 72).

What is the condition of the natural man? (see Mosiah 16: 3– 5).

Natural man o o President Kimball says that the natural man rejects "God's call to repentance. " (Miracle of Forgiveness, p 136) "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. " (1 Corinthians 2: 14)

Putteth off the natural man o “Putteth off the natural man. ” The ways of the “natural man” are filled with pride, selfishness, and rebellion against God (see Mosiah 16: 5). In order to put off this nature, an individual must repent of his or her sins (see Mosiah 26: 29) and submit to the will of God (see Mosiah 24: 15).

Mosiah 3: 19 How can we ‘put off the natural man’? o o a. Yield to “the enticings of the Holy Spirit. ” How does this help us “[put] off the natural man”? (See 2 Nephi 32: 5; Mosiah 5: 2; 3 Nephi 28: 11. ) “Yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit. ” Yielding to the Spirit can lead us to do what is right or good (see D&C 11: 12). The Spirit can also change our nature so that the desire to sin is replaced with a desire to follow Christ.

Become a saint through the atonement o o Become “a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. ” What does it mean to be a true saint? How does the Atonement help us become true saints?

Becoming a Saint (Mosiah 3) What the Lord Does • Provides the Atonement (see vv. 18– 19). What We Must Do • • • Humble ourselves (see v. 18). Become as little children (see v. 18). Have faith in Jesus Christ (see v. 18). Yield to the promptings of the Holy Ghost (see v. 19). Put off the natural man (see v. 19). Be submissive, meek, patient, full of love, willing to submit to the Lord (see v. 19).

o “Becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. ” As we humbly accept the Atonement of the Savior, He can remove the effects of sin from us (see Alma 34: 8– 16) and we can experience a “mighty change. . . in our hearts” (Mosiah 5: 2) as we change from our fallen state to a state of righteousness (see Mosiah 27: 25).

Becometh as a child o o Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals, their faith. There is always the love of wonder, a childlike appetite for what is next, and the joy of your life. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear or despair. In the center of our heart is a recording chamber, and so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage, and faith, so long are we young. David B Haight, Ensign, Nov 1983, 25

Become as a child o c. Become “as a child. ” How can we become “alive in Christ, ” as little children are? (See Mosiah 3: 17– 19, 21; see also 2 Nephi 25: 23– 26; Moroni 8: 10. )

Care of the Records Mosiah 1: 16; D&C 42: 56 o King Benjamin “gave [Mosiah] charge concerning the records … on the plates of brass” (Mosiah 1: 16). The Lord has commanded today’s prophets, seers, and revelators to see that the scriptures are “preserved in safety” (D&C 42: 56). Why is it important that the scriptures be “preserved in safety”? (See Mosiah 1: 3– 5. )

Service o Robert L. Millet: "Service sanctifies both giver and receiver. Those who involve themselves in the work of the Master receive the approbation of the Master. Peter taught that charity prevents a multitude of sins (JST, 1 Pet. 4: 8). James likewise wrote that 'he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of [his own] sins' (James 5: 20; compare D&C 84: 61). Indeed, it is through searching out (being sensitive to) and seeing to the needs of the poor—both temporally and spiritually—that disciples of Christ are able to maintain their spiritual standing before their Maker, to retain a remission of sins from day to day (Mosiah 4: 1112, 26). " (An Eye Single to the Glory of God, p 27)

Serivce o President Gordon B. Hinckley: "It seems to me that he [the Savior] is saying to each of us that unless we lose ourselves in the service of others our lives are largely lived to no real purpose. . He who lives only unto himself withers and dies, while he who forgets himself in the service of others grows and blossoms in this life and in eternity. " ("Forget Yourself, " in Speeches of the Year, 1977, p 43)