Mosiah 12 17 God HimselfShall Redeem His People

Mosiah 12 -17 God Himself…Shall Redeem His People

Difficult missions…Why were they willing to do it?

Mosiah 11 What were the sins of Noah’s people?

Reference Sins of Noah and His People Mosiah 11: 2 selfishness, polygamy, whoredoms Mosiah 11: 3– 4, 6 greed, laziness, idolatry Mosiah 11: 5 pride Mosiah 11: 7, 11 vanity, deceitfulness Mosiah 11: 14 setting hearts on riches, sexual immorality Mosiah 11: 15 drunkenness Mosiah 11: 18– 19 boasting in their own strength Mosiah 11: 20, 26 rejecting the prophet Mosiah 11: 27– 28 anger, desiring murder Mosiah 11: 29 hardening their hearts, refusing to repent

Abinadi warns twice Mosiah 11: 26 -29; 12: 8 -16 How is he received? n How do we receive the prophets? n Why did they defend Noah? n

Pattern for avoiding repentance Mosiah 11: 26 -29; 12: 8 -16 Anger n Discredit the messenger n Destroy the messenger n Blind to the need for repentance n

Mosiah 12: 13 -16 What are the many ways the priests are wrong in these verses? How can people as corrupt as Noah and his priests come to believe that they have not sinned? n How can we be sure that we do not deceive ourselves about sin? n X Ether 12: 27 n

Mosiah 12: 13 -16 What are the dangers of believing that strength and prosperity are always a sign of God’s favor? n How can we keep strength and prosperity (or a lack thereof) in proper perspective? n

Mosiah 12: 19 Why did the wicked priests want to question Abinadi? n Why did they quote Isaiah 52: 7 -10?

If we don’t want to hear the words of the prophet, what do we do? Question n Try to cross him n Find something to accuse him n

Why this Question? Mosiah 12: 20 -24 Beauty n good tidings n Publisheth salvation n Sing n See eye to eye n Break forth in joy n Comfort n Sing together n

The Question: Mosiah 12: 20 -24 n n n In the day in which Isaiah wrote this passage, messages were often carried by runners, men who sprinted from place to place with documents of importance. Carrying a message of victory–a message of good tidings–was a great honor. Consider the following example: In 490 BC the Athenians had miraculously defeated a much stronger force of invading Persians on the Plains of Marathon. Pheidippidies was selected to carry the good news back to Athens. The fleet runner ran the grueling 25 miles as fast as he could. Upon reaching the walls of the Acropolis, Pheidippidies cried out, “Rejoice, we conquer!” and promptly fell dead. (Webster’s Word Histories, Mirriam-Webster, Inc. , 1989, p. 291; for an additional example, see 2 Sam. 18, 19 -28) Ted Gibbons, LDS Living

The Answer: The Question: Mosiah 12 Lays the groundwork for the answer The Answer: Mosiah 15

Mosiah 12: 24 -37 n As the trial of Abinadi progressed, who was in charge of the questioning?

Mosiah 12: 25 -27 What were the priests doing wrong? 1. If you have understood these things, you haven’t taught them. 2. So you have perverted the way of the Lord. 3. You haven’t applied your hearts to understanding. 4. So what have you taught?

Mosiah 12: 24 -27 Why were the priests unable to understand this scripture passage? n n What does it mean to apply our Do we an effort to hearts to make understanding? apply our hearts to X D&C 8: 2 -3 Yea, behold, I will tell you inwe understanding or do your mind and in your heart, by the Ghost, which shall try Holy to excessively come upon you and which shall intellectualize dwell in your heart. the Now, behold, this is the spirit of gospel? revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

2 Ne 33: 1 Holy Ghost carries unto the hearts God has, by divine decree, made us the guardians of our own hearts. Each of us is the gatekeeper of our own heart. In life each of us erects a fence around our hearts. This right to control access to our hearts, or our inner selves, is one of the most fundamental and sacred aspects of agency.

In some cases the fence erected around the heart is a low picket fence with daisies growing along it. On the gate is a welcome sign, and the gate swings open easily. Other hearts are surrounded by an eight foot high chain link fence with a padlocked gate. Instead of daisies, the fence is topped with razor wire and patrolled by guard dogs. Sometimes such formidable defenses develop because of years of hurt and betrayal In other cases, the high fence is the result of sin and transgression. Gerald Lund, Hearing the Voice of the Lord, 264

Elder Bednar I find it most interesting in these and many other verses that understanding is linked primarily to the heart. Note that we are not explicitly counseled to apply our minds to understanding. Obviously, we must use our minds and our rational capacity to obtain and evaluate information and to reach appropriate conclusions and judgments. But perhaps the scriptures are suggesting to us that reason and “the arm of flesh” are not sufficient to produce true understanding. Thus, understanding, as the word is used in the scriptures, does not refer solely or even primarily to intellectual or cognitive comprehension. Rather, understanding occurs when what we know in our minds is confirmed as true in our hearts by the witness of the Holy Ghost. … And as testimony and conviction move from our heads to our hearts, we no longer just have information or knowledge—but we begin to understand seek after the mighty change of heart. Understanding, then, is the result of revelation… This revealed insight about the relationship between the heart and understanding has greatly influenced my approach to gospel learning and study, has affected positively the way Sister Bednar and I teach our children and grandchildren, and has impacted my priesthood service. BYU Fireside, 2007

What King Noah and His Priests Pretended to Believe Laws Including the Ten Commandments 1. “No other gods before me. ” 2. No “graven image. ” 3. Don’t “take the name of the Lord. . . in vain. ” 4. Keep the “sabbath day” holy. 5. “Honour thy father and thy mother. ” 6. “Thou shalt not kill. ” 7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery. ” 8. “Thou shalt not steal. ” 9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness. ” 10. “Thou shalt not covet. ” + Ordinances Including Animal Sacrifice = S a n Mosiah 12: 31 -32

Mosiah 12: 29, 37 n Abinadi reveals a problem with the priests’ claim that they taught the law of Moses?

Mosiah 13: 11 Why did Abinadi read the Ten Commandments? What does it mean to have the commandments “written in [our] hearts”? n How might having the commandments written in our hearts affect our efforts to obey them? n

Write commandments in your heart n n n When your heart tells you things that your mind does not know, then the Spirit is guiding you… The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you are having the most difficulty keeping today. If it is one of dishonesty, if it is one of unchastity, if it is one of falsifying, not telling the truth, today is the day for you to work on that until you have been able to conquer that weakness. Put that aright and then you start on the next one that is most difficult for you to keep. That’s the way to sanctify yourself by keeping the commandments of God. Teachings of Harold B Lee, 82, 509

Mosiah 13: 28, 30 -35 What did Noah and his priests leave out of the formula? n According to Abinadi, why was the law of Moses given? (see Mosiah 13: 30– 31). n

What Abinadi Taught Laws Including the Ten Commandments + Ordinances Including Baptism Sacrament Can How we could understand they know “the Church” Law”. . . But not but understand not the Atonement? the+Savior? The Atonement = Salvation

Mosiah 13: 28, 14, 32 -35 How does salvation come? n Suppose we have the scriptures, the gospel, the priesthood, the Church, the ordinances, the organization, even the keys of the kingdom – everything… down to the last jot and tittle – and yet there is no atonement of Christ. What then? Can we be saved? . . . Most assuredly we will not… We are saved by the blood of Christ. n Bruce R Mc. Conkie, Sermons and Writings, 76

Mosiah 14: 1 -5 Abinadi quotes Isaiah n What are some things we learn about the Savior from the prophecy quoted in Mosiah 14?

Abinadi concentrates on three phrases from the “suffering servant” chapter Vs 8 And who shall declare his generation? Vs 10 When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed Vs 11 He shall see the travail of his soul God the Father shall see the travail/labor of Christ’s soul, and shall be satisfied

Mosiah 15: 10 -11 Who shall be his seed? n n Whosoever has heard the words of the prophets All those who have hearkened unto their words All those who have believed that the Lord would redeem his people All those who have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins

He shall see His seed n n n The prophet Abinadi further states that “when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed” (Mosiah 15: 10). Abinadi then identifies the Savior’s seed as the prophets and those who follow them. For many years I thought of the Savior’s experience in the garden and on the cross as places where a large mass of sin was heaped upon Him. Through the words of Alma, Abinadi, Isaiah, and other prophets, however, my view has changed. Instead of an impersonal mass of sin, there was a long line of people, as Jesus felt “our infirmities” (Heb. 4: 15), “[bore] our griefs, … carried our sorrows … [and] was bruised for our iniquities” (Isa. 53: 4– 5). The Atonement was an intimate, personal experience in which Jesus came to know how to help each of us. Merrill J. Bateman, “A Pattern for All, ” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 74

The Answer: The Question: Mosiah 12 Lays the groundwork for the answer The Answer: Mosiah 15

Mosiah 15: 13 -18 Who are those with beautiful feet? The prophets n All those who publish peace n ¨ Past ¨ Present ¨ Future n Christ

Abinadi’s Words King Noah’s Reaction • Didn’t believe • Was angry • Wanted to kill the prophet • Wanted to kill those who believed Alma’s Reaction • Believed • Spoke in favor of the prophet • Was willing to risk his life to obey

Mosiah 17: 2 -4 Was Abinadi successful in his mission? 23, 707 people united with the Church, and, in addition to this, thirteen other large groups of people (whose numbers are not specified) were converted. -Andrew Horton

n n Sadly, in today’s world, a person’s importance is often judged by the size of the audience before which he or she performs. That is how media and sports programs are rated, how corporate prominence is sometimes determined, and often how governmental rank is obtained. That may be why roles such as father, mother, and missionary seldom receive standing ovations. Fathers, mothers, and missionaries “play” before very small audiences. Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, there may be only one size of audience that is of lasting importance – and that is just one, each one, you and me, and each one of the children of God. The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time. M Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 2004, 87

Mosiah 17: 8 -9 How could Abinadi have avoided death? "The gospel is a pill I have swallowed, and it is already working its good in me. Do not worry about me. I will always be faithful. " -Faustina Haizel Sandra Rogers, BYU Women’s Conf, 2005

Mosiah 17: 8 -9 How could Abinadi have avoided death? President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world. Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. … Men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ. … Their will is swallowed up in His will. (See John 5: 30. ) They do always those things that please the Lord. (See John 8: 29. ) Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to live for Him” Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6 Sandra Rogers, BYU Women’s Conf, 2005

n n Be strong – in standing for the right. We live in an age of compromise and acquiescence. In situations with which we are daily confronted, we know what is right, but under pressure from our peers and the beguiling voices of those who would persuade us, we capitulate. We compromise… We must cultivate the strength to follow our convictions Gordon B Hinckley, Teachings, 135

Abinadi And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying… Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to take him… And it came to pass that after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them… And it came to pass that they were angry with him; and they took him and carried him bound before the king, and said unto the king: Behold, we have brought a man before thee who has prophesied evil concerning thy people, and saith that God will destroy them. And it came to pass that king Noah caused that Abinadi should be cast into prison; and he commanded that the priests should gather themselves together that he might hold a council with them what he should do with him. I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! … Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people? Can How we could understand they know “the Church” Law” But not but understand not the Atonement? the Savior?

n Abinadi said that the Savior “satisfied the demands of justice” (Mosiah 15: 9). What are the demands of justice? (See Alma 42: 11, 14. ) What did the Savior do to satisfy the demands of justice? (See Mosiah 15: 9; Alma 42: 12– 13, 15. )

n Abinadi spoke of the seed, or the sons and daughters, of Jesus Christ (Mosiah 15: 10; see also Mosiah 14: 10). What does it mean to be the Savior’s sons and daughters? (See Mosiah 15: 11– 14; see also Mosiah 5: 5– 7. Explain that Jesus Christ is the author of salvation. There is a Father-child relationship between Him and those who accept His gospel. We become His seed, or His sons and daughters, when we believe in Him, repent of our sins, and covenant to do His will and obey His commandments. )

The Father and The Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency and The Twelve. n Issued June 30, 1916. n ¨ Published in Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage (pp 465 -473).

n Abinadi said that Jesus was called the Son “because he dwelleth in flesh” and the Father “because he was conceived by the power of God” (Mosiah 15: 2– 3; see also D&C 93: 3– 4). When Abinadi spoke of “the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father” (Mosiah 15: 7), he referred to Jesus subjecting His flesh to His spirit (Mosiah 15: 2– 5; see also 3 Nephi 1: 14). When Jesus subjected His flesh to His spirit, He also subjected His will to the will of Heavenly Father (Matthew 26: 39; D&C 19: 16– 19).

Mosiah 15 Role as the Father n n Jesus’ roles as Father include (a) His work as “the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning” (Mosiah 3: 8); (b) His mission as the Father of those who accept His gospel and follow Him (Mosiah 5: 7; 15: 10– 13; Ether 3: 14); and (c) His authority to speak and act in behalf of Heavenly Father, which has been termed “divine investiture of authority. ”

Jesus’ roles as the Son of God include n (a) His Atonement for the sins of the world (Mosiah 15: 6– 9) and n (b) His service as our Mediator and Advocate with Heavenly Father (Jacob 4: 10– 11; D&C 45: 3– 5). n

n Remind class members that one of Noah’s priests asked Abinadi to interpret Isaiah’s statement “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings” (Mosiah 12: 20– 24). What are these good tidings? (See Mosiah 15: 19– 25; D&C 76: 40– 42. ) Who are the messengers who share these good tidings? (See Mosiah 15: 13– 18. The Savior Himself, the prophets, and others who share the gospel. ) How can we help bring these good tidings to others?

n How will we be blessed after we die if we have believed in Christ, followed Him, and accepted His Atonement? (See Mosiah 15: 21– 23; 16: 8– 11. ) What will happen to us if we have rejected Christ and His Atonement? (See Mosiah 15: 26– 27; 16: 2– 3, 5, 10– 12. )

Mosiah 16: 13 -15 Abinadi exhorts Noah and priests How can we apply this counsel in our lives? n Repent n Teach the Law n Teach the shadow of things to come n Teach that redemption comes through Christ n

Abinadi Jesus Christ Similarities Mosiah 11: 20– 25; 12: 9 Matthew 4: 17; Luke 4: 28 Both called the people to repentance. In both cases, the people became angry at their preaching. Mosiah 11: 26 Luke 4: 29– 30 The people they taught tried to kill them, but they were delivered out of their hands. Mosiah 12: 9 John 18: 12; Luke 23: 7 Both were bound and taken to the king. Mosiah 12: 17– 18 Matthew 26: 57 Abinadi was judged by a council of priests. Jesus was judged by a council of chief priests, scribes, and elders. Mosiah 12: 19 Mark 14: 55– 59; Luke 20: 19– 20 The priests tried to catch them in their words. Mosiah 12: 26 Matthew 23: 13– 26 Both rebuked the religious leaders. Mosiah 13: 1 John 10: 20 King Noah said Abinadi was crazy. Many of the people said Jesus was crazy. Mosiah 14; 17: 1 Luke 4: 16– 21, 28– 30 Abinadi quoted from Isaiah’s prophecies of the Savior, and then Noah had him killed. Jesus quoted from Isaiah’s prophecies of the

Mosiah 17: 5– 6 Acts 10: 40; 1 Peter 3: 18– 19 Abinadi spent three days in prison. Jesus spent three days in the tomb, during which He preached to the spirits in prison. Mosiah 17: 7– 8 Matthew 26: 63– 66 Both taught that Christ was God. Mosiah 17: 9 John 18: 1– 8 Both allowed themselves to be arrested. Mosiah 17: 9– 10 John 10: 17– 18 Both willingly suffered death. Mosiah 17: 10 Matthew 27: 22– 24 Both were innocent of wrongdoing. Mosiah 17: 11 Matthew 27: 15– 18 In both cases the political leader was willing to release them.

Mosiah 17: 12 Luke 23: 2 Both were accused of treason. Mosiah 17: 13 John 19: 1 Both were scourged. Mosiah 17: 19 Luke 23: 46 Both died while praying for the reception of their soul. Mosiah 17: 20 John 19: 30; see also Hebrews 9: 15– 16 Both sealed their testimony with their blood

Apollo 13

Elder Bruce Hafen Satanic Seduction Believing Heart Broken Heart Belonging Heart At-One-Ment Divine Gravity

Elder Busche When someone understands the full meaning of [God’s love] it is as if the arms of heaven have come to pull out of the mire and darkness of the world, and we begin to see the light. Suddenly we cannot question [who we are] anymore. God’s creations are perfect…and all of us have the innate potential to become like God. The deeper understanding of this reality will continue to grow inside of us and lead us to the security of belonging —not only to the Creator but also to every other child of God. Religious Educator, Spring 2008, p. 5, 6

Abinadi And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying…

Reminder… [Abinadi] prophesied of many things which are to come, yea, even the coming of Christ. 27 And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of Nephi all things… and that God should among Ithe “…the angelcome spake down unto me…and sawchildren that [theof men, Redeemer] wasand liftedgo upforth upon the cross for earth the and take upon him flesh and blood, the and faceslain of the sins of the world. ” (1 Nephi 11: 32, 33) — King Benjamin “ I shall tell you [the things] made known unto me by an angel of God…that the Lord Omnipotent shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay…and he shall be called Jesus Christ” (Mosiah 3: 2) Jacob “In the last night, the angel spake unto me that. . [Christ] should be his name…and they should crucify him” (2 Nephi 10: 3) Alma “…the spirit hath said this to me…he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem…and he will take upon him death. ” (Alma 7: 10, 12) Samuel “the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people, and behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it unto me. ” (Helaman 13: 7)

Priests of Noah After Abinadi had condemned their sins, what did the Priests ask him? “And it came to pass that one of them said unto him: What meaneth the words which are written, and which have been taught by our fathers, saying: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth; ” Why this question?

Elder Maxwell In today's society, at the mere mention of the words obedience and submissiveness hackles rise and people are put on nervous alert. . People promptly furnish examples from secular history to illustrate how obedience to unwise authority and servility to bad leaders have caused much human misery and suffering. It is difficult, therefore, to get a hearing for what the words obedience and submissiveness really mean--even when the clarifying phrase, "to God, " is attached. ["Not My Will, But Thine" (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988), p. 1]

Elder Holland Let me use an example from what is often considered by foes, and even by some friends, as the most unsavory moment in the entire Book of Mormon. I choose it precisely because there is so much in it that has given offense to many. It is pretty much a bitter cup all the way around. I speak of Nephi's obligation to slay Laban in order to preserve a record, save a people, and ultimately lead to the restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fulness of times. How much is hanging in the balance as Nephi stands over the drunken and adversarial Laban I cannot say, but it is a very great deal indeed. The only problem is that we know this, but Nephi does not. And regardless of how much is at stake, how can. he do this thing? He is a good person, perhaps even a well-educated person. He has been taught from the very summit of Sinai "Thou shalt not kill. " And he has made gospel covenants. "1 was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but. . . I shrunk and would that I might not slay him". A bitter test? A desire to shrink? Sound familiar? We don't know why those plates could not have been obtained some other way--perhaps accidentally left at the plate polishers one night or maybe falling out the back of Laban's chariot on a Sabbath afternoon. For that matter, why didn't Nephi just leave this story out of the book altogether? Why didn't he say something like, "And after much effort and anguish of spirit, I did obtain the plates of Laban and did depart into the wilderness unto the tent of my father? " At the very least he might have buried the account somewhere in the Isaiah chapters, thus guaranteeing that it would have gone undiscovered up to this very day. But there it is, squarely in the beginning of the book--page 8 --where even the most casual reader will see it and must deal with it. It is not intended that either Nephi or we be spared the struggle of this account. I believe that story was placed in the very opening verses of a 531 -page book and then told in painfully specific detail in order to focus every reader of that record on the absolutely fundamental gospel issue of obedience and submission to the communicated will of the Lord. If Nephi cannot yield to this terribly painful command, if he cannot bring himself to obey, then it is entirely probable that he can never succeed or survive in the tasks that lie just ahead. (BYU Devotional, Jan, 1989)

Jesus Christ in the Roles of Son and Father Son Father He dwelt on the earth in the flesh He subjected His flesh to the will of (see v. 2). the Father (see v. 2). He was born into mortality (see v. 3). He was conceived by the power of Heavenly Father (see v. 3). He subjected the flesh and was slain (see v. 7). He triumphed over death (see v. 8). (Adapted from Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 192. )