Mosiah 25

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

Chapter 25

The descendants of Mulek at Zarahemla become Nephites—They learn of the people of Alma and of Zeniff—Alma baptizes Limhi and all his people—Mosiah authorizes Alma to organize the Church of God. About 120 B.C.

  1 And now king Mosiah caused that all the people should be gathered together.
  2 Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi, or so many of those who were descendants of Nephi, as there were of the ^apeople of Zarahemla, who was a descendant of ^bMulek, I sometimes forget this... and those who came with him into the wilderness.
  3 And there were not so many of the people of Nephi and of the people of Zarahemla as there were of the Lamanites; yea, they were not half so numerous. Why were there so many more Lamanites?  Was it just how they were spread out or were there really twice as many Lamanites? Could be that there were more to start with: Laman, Lemuel, Children of Ishmael vs. Nephi, Sam, Zoram. Then add the dissenters over the years which is more than those that stay faithful...?
  4 And now all the people of Nephi were assembled together, and also all the people of Zarahemla, and they were gathered together in two bodies. divided by heritage or just split in 2 groups? Did they split on their own because of how they identified? Labels are a problem in our day...
  5 And it came to pass that Mosiah did read, and caused to be read, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of the people of Zeniff, from the time they ^aleft the land of Zarahemla until they ^breturned again.
  6 And he also read the account of Alma and his brethren, and all their afflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time they returned again.
  7 And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people who tarried does this mean some left? took too long? in the land were struck with wonder and amazement. Know your history and God's dealings with man Was this a long session? 
  8 For they knew not what to think; Follow the yo-yo emotions here... for when they beheld those that had been delivered ^aout of bondage they were filled with exceedingly great joy.
  9 And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been ^aslain by the Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow.
 10 And again, when they thought of the immediate interesting expression goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of ^abondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.
 11 And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and ^apolluted state, they were filled with ^bpain and anguish for the ^cwelfare of their souls. Always so impressed that generationally they see the Lamanites as their brothers; and that they are generationally so concerned for their souls and not filled with vengeance. This had to have been taught to them just as clearly as the Lamanites taught their children to hate the Nephites.
 12 And it came to pass that those who ^awere the children of Amulon and his brethren, who had taken to wife the ^bdaughters of the Lamanites, were displeased with the conduct of their fathers, true history can change the hearts of the youth and they would no longer be called by the names of their fathers, therefore they took upon themselves the name of Nephi, that they might be called the children of Nephi and be numbered among those who were ^ccalled Nephites. I’m thinking these were children who had been abandoned by their fathers.
 13 And now all the people of Zarahemla were ^anumbered with the Nephites, and this because the kingdom had been conferred upon none but those who were descendants of Nephi. Interesting that the majority group in their home town gave up so much authority and identity to the newcomers. Much humility going on here...They must have recognized priesthood authority or something like that.
 14 And now it came to pass that when Mosiah had made an end of speaking and reading to the people, he desired that Alma should also speak to the people.
 15 And Alma did speak unto them, when they were assembled together in large bodies, and he went from one body to another, preaching unto the people repentance and faith on the Lord. Looks like they transitioned from one body to smaller groups.
 16 And he did exhort the people of Limhi and his brethren, all those that had been delivered out of bondage, that they should remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them.
 17 And it came to pass that after Alma had taught the people many things, and had made an end of speaking to them, that king Limhi was desirous that he might be baptized; and all his people were desirous that they might be baptized also.
 18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did ^abaptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner he did his brethren in the ^bwaters of Mormon; yea, and as many as he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their belief on the words of Alma. There is an "idea" going around out there, that you don't need to be anything but a believer in God to belong to the Church of God. They cite "where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am also" and "there are two churches only, the church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil". Jesus example and this verse clarify the doctrine.
 19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish ^achurches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to ^bordain ^cpriests and ^dteachers over every church.
 20 Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly;
 21 Therefore they did ^aassemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma. First example of church correlation department:)
 22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one ^achurch, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God. Have we diluted this core message? And it is repentance and faith unto receiving the full remission of sins and faith to receive the baptism by fire. This sounds simplistic, but really, it all comes down to these two things. Repentance, because we live in a fallen world with fallen natures, so we'll be constantly repenting. And faith in God, because it takes faith to keep every commandment and follow every prompting. Without faith, we can do nothing. When we repent, it is really for a lack of faith. We would not sin if we had enough faith. We mostly sin out of fear or blindness. Our task in this life is to "rend the veil of unbelief" and increase our faith in Jesus Christ. 
 23 And now there were seven churches in the land of Zarahemla. And it came to pass that whosoever were desirous to take upon them the ^aname of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches of God; Is it a coincidence that there were seven churches in the Book of Revelations? 
 24 And they were called the ^apeople of God. And the Lord did pour out his ^bSpirit upon them, and they were blessed, and prospered in the land. Do we really see ourselves as “the people of God”? If so, do we live and act as such? Isaiah says God requires righteousness from His people. Do we repent daily to remain worthy to be called His people?