Mosiah 1

(All of my own thoughts are in red type.5/20 Green 3/21 Orange 6/22  Brown 2023)

The Book of Mosiah

Chapter 1

King Benjamin teaches his sons the language and prophecies of their fathers—Their religion and civilization have been preserved because of the records kept on the various plates—Mosiah is chosen as king and is given custody of the records and other things. About 130–124 B.C.

  1 And now there was no more contention in all the ^aland of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days. Zion! This is what a "mighty change" brings - no contention because of the love of God that filled their hearts. This statement is made before King Benjamin's preaching that brought the mighty change, so I don't know if this statement includes this event or the people were like this preceding it. Either way, it sounds like they were in a condition to receive the heavenly gift that comes in Chapter 2. Are we as prepared?
  2 And it came to pass that he had three ^asons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused taught by other teachers? that they should be ^btaught in all the ^clanguage of his fathers, temporal and spiritual that thereby they might become men of understanding; education is important! and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord. Do you know the prophecies delivered by the hand of the Lord - past and present?
  3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the ^aplates of brass, this distinction shows that the prophecies of their fathers were from Lehi to their present saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these ^bplates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ^cignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. Like the Mulekites who brought no records. Their language became corrupted and they lost the teachings of God. In this context he seems to be saying the "mysteries of God" are the teachings revealed in the scriptures. Is it the literal teachings? Or are the scriptures the door to further mysteries?  
  4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; hard enough to remember things in your own lifetime, let alone things that happened hundreds of years ago for he having been taught in the ^alanguage of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time. If you rely on memory alone, through each generation you would probably lose more and more information.
  5 I say unto you, my sons, ^awere it not for these things, which have been kept and ^bpreserved by the hand of God, that we might ^cread and understand of his ^dmysteries, and have his ^ecommandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the ^ftraditions of their fathers, which are not correct. The scriptures contain mysteries, which are the truths unknown to others who don't have them. It doesn't have to mean things that we don't know who do have the scriptures... If my own children "know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught to them"...is it because of the "traditions" I have passed on? the traditions of the world they live in? No matter how righteous you are, this seems to be saying, you will "dwindle in unbelief" if you don't read and understand the scriptures and have them "always before your eyes". How many things have we "gradually" become more unbelieving about because we don't have the scriptures "always before our eyes"? What traditions have been passed down that are not correct? 
  6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are ^atrue. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes. They cannot doubt them, for they have them physically with them.
  7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to ^asearch them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should ^bkeep the commandments of God, that ye may ^cprosper in the land according to the ^dpromises which the Lord made unto our fathers . It's not enough to read. You must 'search'. What are you searching for? Also, we must trust that we can prosper in the land if we keep the commandments no matter what is going on in the world otherwise
  8 And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book. These are adult children, I think. We should never stop teaching our children. I have been guilty of that to some degree.
  9 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of teaching his sons, that he waxed ^aold, and he saw that he must very soon go the way of all the earth; therefore, he thought it expedient that he should confer the kingdom upon one of his sons.
 10 Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying: My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this ^apeople, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine own mouth This is one gathering you would not want to miss, for what is about to happen to them. It is also important that the people witness the transfer of authority personally that thou art a ^bking and a ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God hath given us. Is he saying the Lord has given the people to the king? If so, it's a great responsibility for their sins are on their heads if they do not lead them in the paths of righteousness. I think this puts them under the "Davidic Covenant" where the people answer to the king and the king answers to God.
 11 And moreover, I shall give this people a ^aname, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a ^bdiligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord. Whenever we 'ascend' to a different level of progression, we get a new name. Is this one of those times? He could even be saying that he knows they are ready for the "Born Again" experience they are about to have because of their righteousness.
 12 And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through ^atransgression. sounds like it...
 13 Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this highly favored people of the Lord should fall into ^atransgression, and become a wicked and an adulterous people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that thereby they become ^bweak like unto their brethren; and he will no more ^cpreserve them by his matchless and marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our fathers.
 14 For I say unto you, that if he had not extended his arm in the preservation of our fathers they must have fallen into the hands of the Lamanites, and become victims to their hatred. As we head in to coming persecution, we must remember that the Lord can deliver us from the hatred of others through his matchless and marvelous power IF we keep His commandments. He preserved them first by removing them, and then by helping them win their battles when attacked. \
 15 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of these sayings to his son, that he gave him ^acharge concerning all the affairs of the kingdom.
 16 And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the ^aplates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the ^bsword of Laban, and the ^cball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him. Remember the scriptures are our "ball" which was prepared by the hand of the Lord to lead us according to the heed and diligence we give it.  Did they still use the Liahona? Did it still give them "new writings" and direction?
 17 Therefore, as they were ^aunfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey, but were ^bdriven back, and incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and therefore they were smitten with famine and sore ^cafflictions, to stir them up in ^dremembrance of their duty. Clearly we are headed for this divine reminder and opportunity to repent.  Maybe the "broken bow" incident was their "famine" test.
 18 And now, it came to pass that Mosiah went and did as his father had commanded him, and proclaimed unto all the people who were in the land of Zarahemla that thereby they might gather themselves together, to go up to the ^atemple to hear the words which his father should speak unto them. Did they just go to the temple, or go inside the temple and worship/serve/sacrifice there? Still not sure if they did animal sacrifice and if they did, who were the Levites that had authority to administer? It may have been allowed because they possessed the Melchizedek Priesthood, which includes all the authority of the Aaronic.