Chapter 4
King Benjamin continues his address—Salvation comes because of the Atonement—Believe in God to be saved—Retain a remission of your sins through faithfulness—Impart of your substance to the poor—Do all things in wisdom and order. About 124 B.C.
1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the aangel of the Lord, See how clear he is that these words word delivered by an angel of the Lord? King Benjamin testified of that and Mormon testified of that. I would like more of that clarity from our prophets/apostles. Did they get that witness because they were more righteous and would not rebel against such a clear witness? Is it an act from a merciful God that we don't hear that and at the same time a condemnation of our hearts? that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had bfallen to the earth, for the cfear of the Lord had come upon them. King Benjamin's "fear porn" had a righteous effect on them. This is what preaching with the power and Spirit and authority of God can do for people.
2 And they had aviewed themselves in their own bcarnal state, even cless than the dust of the earth. Sounds like the key to humility...And they all cried aloud with one voice, how do you get so many people to feel the same thing all at once? I can't see any other explanation other than the power of God I hope we have an experience like this in the church, with large groups receiving their baptism by fire together! Somehow his words were delivered to the this large crowd quickly; or he waited until they had all heard? saying: O have mercy, and apply the datoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be epurified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who fcreated heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. Remember, these people had repented and offered sacrifice before the conference began. But here they are learning about true repentance. Perhaps they were going through the motions before, but now they really understood the need for repentance. The “line upon line” principle is that we begin as preschoolers with the belief that you draw a mountain with a triangle and then you grow into more and more advanced images. Where are you in the process of understanding true repentance? I had the thought that when Jesus visited the Nephites that among the things that could not be written were more advanced teachings about repentance that opened the door to so much more for them. It seems that "daily repentance" and "remission of sins" are different things. I think the latter comes with Baptism by Fire by the Holy Ghost. These were good people who clearly had already been repenting, but now they ask for forgiveness of sins.
3 And
it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of
the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a
aremission of their sins, and having peace of bconscience, because of the exceeding cfaith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the dwords which king Benjamin had spoken unto them. Does this 'exceeding faith in Jesus Christ' always bring this born again experience? Is there a one-time complete remission of sins (as in calling and election) or do you receive a remission of your sins each time you repent. Was the peace of conscience from receiving their C & E or from being declared clean at that moment? We are often taught being Born Again is a process, but so often in the scriptures it appears to be more of an experience... I believe now that it is an event. There may be a process of preparation for it (like the 9 months a baby takes to prepare for the event of being born). I think you receive a remission of sins and then are charged with "retaining" it...not so much receiving it again. I think this verse describes being Born Again. You will know you have been baptized by fire and the Holy Spirit when: the Spirit of the Lord comes upon you; you are filled with joy; you are told you have received a remission of your sins; you have peace of conscience. You receive this when you have demonstrated exceeding faith in Jesus Christ by crying out for mercy and for His atoning blood to be applied for a complete remission of your sins; and for your heart to be purified. You will cry out for this miracle and blessing after you see yourself in your own carnal state and the awful condition that awaits your soul if you remain in that carnal state. 4 And
king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them,
saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would
again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you. Did he purposely keep these words from them until he knew they had been born again? Or was this information conditioned on that happening?
5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your anothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—notice it was the knowledge of the "goodness" of God - not the wrath or justice of God - that awakens them to their own nothingness. How does that correlate? Do we see the choice by the Savior to atone for the sins we commit in our 'nothingness' because we are literally incapable of saving ourselves by our own righteousness? Also, if they had to be 'awakened' to it, then then were previously 'asleep' to it, even though they were a very righteous people. What are we still 'asleep' to?
6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a aknowledge 'information x experience = knowledge' - so information the had, added to by what King Benjamin taught x their Born Again experience = new knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and
his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and
also, the batonement which has been prepared from the cfoundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his dtrust
in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and
continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of
the mortal body— This heavenly gift gives you the following knowledge:
1. Know the goodness of God; His matchless power, wisdom, patience, long-suffering (FAITH)
2. Know the atonement was prepared from the foundation of the world that thereby salvation might come to you so that you can... (REPENTANCE)
3. Put your trust in the Lord (BAPTISM/COMMIT)
4. Be diligent in keeping His commandments (FOLLOW THROUGH)
5. Continue in the faith even unto the end of your mortal life (ENDURE TO THE END)
7 I
say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the
atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all
mankind, which ever were since the afall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world. He just taught them the Doctrine of Christ which leads to salvation. This has been, is, and will always be “THE WAY”. Every person is eligible for this heavenly gift and MUST enter this gate to receive salvation. THIS is the complete doctrine. "Baptism by water only is only half a baptism" said Joseph Smith!
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is anone
other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there
any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I
have told you. I think Satan deceives those who follow him because he tells them there IS another way... and we are deceived thinking "all is well in Zion" because we prosper. We think salvation comes to us because we have been baptized and received temple ordinances. But these only represent our covenant to enter into the real covenant with Christ once we fully surrender and consecrate our lives and receive the heavenly gift of knowledge.
9 Believe in aGod; believe that he is, and that he bcreated all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all cwisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not dcomprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. He’s going to restate the Doctrine of Christ. Here is FAITH
10 And again, believe that ye must arepent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in bsincerity of heart that he would cforgive you; and now, if you dbelieve all these things see that ye edo them. Action is the true measure of one's belief. That is not the same as perfection in those actions. But there is only repentance when you fail - not justification or pride. Here is REPENTANCE We say we believe all these things and yet we do not "do" the doctrine of Christ. We do not seek this baptism by fire that is what gives us a remission of our sins.
11 And
again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the
knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and
have atasted of his love, and have received a bremission
of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls,
even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in
remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own cnothingness, and his dgoodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of ehumility, fcalling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. Gratitude, humility, prayer, faith, repentance This helps you to sustain your BAPTISMAL covenant. He's talking about the Baptism of Fire, not the water baptism...
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the alove of God, and always bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. Here are the fruits of ENDURING TO THE END: rejoicing, filled with the love of God, retain a remission of sins, grow in knowledge of God and truth. Also, it sounds like you receive a remission of your sins (event) and then after that you retain that remission through repentance. YES!
13 And ye will not have a amind to injure one another, but to live bpeaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due. Here are the things you will do to walk in the covenant: no desire to hurt others; desire to live in peace; give others what is fair Fruits of the heavenly gift!"
14 And ye will not suffer your achildren that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye bsuffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and cquarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the devil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness. This is important parenting advice. The world at times has taught some things different... You won’t allow your kids to go hungry, not have clothes, or break the commandments without your intervention (minor children and maybe continue to counsel adult children) and fight and argue with each other and serve the devil (yield to his temptation without correction and repentance)
15 But ye will ateach them to bwalk in the ways of truth and csoberness; ye will teach them to dlove one another, and to serve one another. Teach them how to live a life governed by truth; teach them to be sober (use common sense; rational); teach them how to love others and to serve each other (notice it goes both ways).
16 And also, ye yourselves will asuccor
those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your
substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that
the bbeggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. Now the counsel for the parents. Adults are to help those who need help; give money or things to those who are in need. (Notice this is separated from the need to succor. So to succor might be more emotional or time related needs); help the beggar. Is this qualified by “that if you turn him out he’ll perish”? We don’t usually know the real situation of beggars...
17 Perhaps thou shalt asay:
The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my
hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my
substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—Here we are being taught about the “stories” we tell ourselves about what other people’s intentions are. Story 1: He made his bed, now he has to lay in it. This is what he gets for making the choices he did. It’s not my fault that he’s suffering now.
18 But
I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause
to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he
perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. What are we to repent of with this story? Isn’t it true? Doesn’t God deal with us in the same way with our choices? Where is the error in this? Do parents not let their children suffer consequences to help them learn? What am I missing?
19 For behold, are we not all abeggars?
Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the
substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and
for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? So is this an attitude sin? If we see that we are beggars too; that we ask God every day as well for what we lack; that all we have comes from Him; - then what will our heart be saying to the beggar? Will it be, “I know what it’s like to lack what you need or want; I know that I receive what I need from God, even though I am/may not deserving either. Do I want to be like Job and have everyone, even me, “get what they/I deserve and never mercy?”
20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a aremission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his bSpirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with cjoy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. This is what the Baptism by the Holy Ghost looks like. Notice God "caused" all these things. It is truly a "gift" from Him.
21 And
now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your
lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever
ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then,
how ye ought to aimpart of the substance that ye have one to another. God’s mercy seems to have lots of qualifications here. God doesn’t let our petitions go unanswered if: we see how dependent we are on Him; if our petition is “right”; if we ask in faith; if we believe we will receive. Does the beggar have to meet these same qualifications for us to help him? Wouldn’t that require us to make a lot of judgments? Or is this more about what our own attitude does to our own hearts when someone comes begging to us....
22 And if ye ajudge
the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he
perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your bcondemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life cbelongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done. Here we are told that we indeed have to have made a judgment if we refuse a request. Notice the beggars petition is such that he’s saying he will perish without your help. Does it need to be that dire? What about lesser requests? We are told not to make final judgments. If your withholding condemns him to a particular final fate, then it would be a final judgment?
23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are arich as pertaining to the things of this world. Is he saying all of the above only applies to the rich? How do you define rich? Would it be those who have more than they need for their own food, clothing and shelter? They have “extra”?
24 And
again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient,
that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I agive not because I bhave not, but if I had I would cgive. Here he defines “poor” as the opposite of rich. You don’t have “extra” but you have enough for what you need. These people are justified in saying no to the beggar, because it would put themselves in a beggar state. If you believe that all you have comes from God, couldn’t you still give and sacrifice and go without to help and trust God will still take care of you? Clearly you can do that, but it seems he’s teaching that you are not condemned if you don’t. Along those lines, why isn’t God providing for the beggar like he is you? Why do some have more than others, just enough or less than enough? Is this Divine favor/blessings or consequences of choices?
25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are acondemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received. He keeps coming back to attitude. The problem for those who are “poor” (have no extra) comes if they “covet that which ye have not received”. Hmm...how does this look? Are they coveting the “extra” they don’t have, saying “even if I had extra I wouldn’t give it to you because.....” If you say, “If I had I would give, then you are not coveting that which you haven’t received yet.
26 And
now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is,
for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day,
that ye may awalk guiltless before God—I would that ye should bimpart of your substance to the cpoor, every man according to that which he hath, such as dfeeding
the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to
their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. They just all received a remission of their sins - the baptism or cleansing by the Spirit. Now...to retain that cleansing, on a daily basis, we are told to impart of our “substance” (is that temporal goods?) to the poor according to what we have and their wants. He adds spiritual relief in this list as well.
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and aorder; for it is not requisite that a man should run bfaster
than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be
diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things
must be done in order. He qualifies our giving with “do it in wisdom and order” and that we “not run faster than we have strength”. We have to be persistent and not rely on bursts of effort with periods of silence in between. This implies that we need to have the help of the Spirit to to know what “wisdom and order” is in our particular situation.
28 And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you aborroweth
of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as
he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt
cause thy neighbor to commit sin also. This presents one of those “what would Jesus do” paradoxes. The person that borrows may say to the loaner, “Jesus would tell you to give this to me because I don’t have one. I’m “poor” as to this thing.” But the giver is protected from abuse by the Lord saying, the borrower doesn’t have a right to say this. The Lord will tell the borrower the right thing to do is to give back what you borrow, because that is what you agreed to. You didn’t “beg” for it. You just “borrowed” it, so you are subject to your agreement.
29 And
finally, 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. This is not a very encouraging statement. It sounds like there are traps and tricks surrounding us on every side. How are we to ever navigate these treacherous waters?
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not awatch yourselves, and your bthoughts, and your cwords, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and dcontinue
in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord,
even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man,
remember, and perish not. Well, here’s how we do it. We watch ourselves (not others) and our own thoughts (temptations) and words (pay attention to what you say) and your deeds (take responsibility for what you do; judge your own actions) and strive always to keep the commandments of God, and continue in the faith/knowledge of the reality of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Stay focused on these things daily until the end of your life. Don’t let up. Daily pray and pray and repent and evaluate and check yourself. If your heart, thoughts, deeds, desires, attitudes are not right, quickly repent and pray for the atonement to cover you and change you. Cast out evil spirits and pray for angels to be with you always.
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