Mosiah 29

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 6/20 Orange 7/22 Brown 2023)

Chapter 29

Mosiah proposes that judges be chosen in place of a king—Unrighteous kings lead their people into sin—Alma the younger is chosen chief judge by the voice of the people—He is also the high priest over the Church—Alma the elder and Mosiah die. About 92–91 B.C.

  1 Now when Mosiah had done this he sent out throughout all the land, among all the people, desiring to know their will concerning who should be their king. Government should be asking the people their will. Not just a handful of selected leaders who haven't asked the people who they represent. So easy in our day to gather the "voice of the people" with the internet...Mosiah decided who should have the plates but he let the people have a voice in who would be their political leader. 
  2 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came, saying: We are desirous that Aaron thy son should be our king and our ruler.
  3 Now Aaron had gone up to the land of Nephi, therefore the king could not confer the kingdom upon him; neither would Aaron take upon him the kingdom; neither were any of the sons of Mosiah willing to take upon them the kingdom. Sounds like they already had this conversation before they left...
  4 Therefore king Mosiah sent again among the people; yea, even a written word sent he among the people. And these were the words that were written, saying:
  5 Behold, O ye my people, or my brethren, This is significant. People in leadership, political or church, should esteem the people they lead as their brothers, not anything less than their equal for I esteem "to regard with respect" you as such, I desire that ye should consider the cause which ye are called to consider—for ye are desirous to have a king.
  6 Now I declare unto you that he to whom the kingdom doth rightly belong has declined, and will not take upon him the kingdom.
  7 And now if there should be another appointed in his stead, behold I fear there would rise contentions among you. And who knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth belong, Interesting that even after Aaron refused to be king, Mosiah thinks he could still claim it later... should turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people after him, which would cause wars and contentions among you, which would be the cause of shedding much blood and perverting the way of the Lord, yea, and destroy the souls of many people. 
  8 Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these things, being wise is exploring the future possible consequences for your choices for we have no right to destroy my son, neither should we have any right to destroy another if he should be appointed in his stead.
  9 And if my son should turn again to his pride and vain things History shows that people can go from wicked to righteous to wicked. We do not know the hearts of other people and their future and perhaps Mosiah does know his son Aaron...he would recall the things which he had said, and claim his right to the kingdom, which would cause him and also this people to commit much sin. Here Mosiah explains why Aaron could claim right to be king later...he would take back his saying he didn't want it if he turns back to his pride and vain things. We are all tempted by Satan to do the same, no matter our conversion experiences.
 10 And now let us be wise and look forward to these things, and do that which will make for the peace of this people. Second call to "be wise and look to the future".
 11 Therefore I will be your king the remainder of my days; nevertheless, let us appoint judges, to judge this people according to our law; and we will newly arrange the affairs of this people, for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will judge this people according to the commandments of God. Kings to judges. A new system of government. We need to go back to our "old" system of government, which would be a "new" system for us as far as what we've experienced for decades. Notice the laws were based on the commandments of God. Our country/constitution has the same moral founding. We need to elect judges who will judge according to this divine document!
 12 Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just. This is why we leave final judgment to God. Also teaches the fallibility of all men, even righteous ones.
 13 Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments, This would be good, because just kings are a type of the Savior who will rule and reign as king of kings.  yea, if ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you. Less risk with one man than many judges, if the one man is fully converted and righteous.
 14 And even I myself have labored with all the power and faculties which I have possessed, he doesn't just sit there on his throne (probably doesn't have one either...) to teach you the commandments of God, and to establish peace throughout the land, that there should be no wars nor contentions, no stealing, nor plundering, nor murdering, nor any manner of iniquity;
 15 And whosoever has committed iniquity, him have I punished according to the crime which he has committed, according to the law which has been given to us by our fathers. He was prophet and king
 16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you. Fallen world
 17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
 18 Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his people. Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage. If we are in bondage, it is because of iniquity. We really are in bondage right now with the illusion of freedom. Our elections are rigged; elites and corporations control and run everything; we are subject to unjust judges and lawless mobs and mandates - all because of our collective iniquity. Isaiah prophesies that we are in bondage and that an end time servant leads the repentant righteous in an exodus to Zion. Look for the same story in the Book of Mormon. Mormon tries to teach us about our day through the things he chose to include in his record.
 19 And were it not for the interposition of their all-wise Creator, and this because of their sincere repentance, they must unavoidably remain in bondage until now. Sincere repentance is the only way out of bondage. I believe we are still in this COVID bondage because we have not repented...sincerely enough. And the rest of the reasons for bondage we don't even acknowledge or see. For sure, it has to do with ignoring the Proclamation on the Family and its warning about the destruction of the family. The LGBTQ movement is bent on it.
 20 But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him. This is the way out. Humility; repentance; trust in God Notice they had to cry mightily. This is not a simple prayer. And notice this is how the Lord works with his power in ALL cases. So it works EVERY time. You are delivered through sincere repentance, mighty prayer, humility, trust and faith. WE need to know this formula!
 21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood. You also cannot win back freedom lost without bloodshed. Oh man...is this what we’re headed for?
 22 For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God; DOES THIS DESCRIBE OUR DAY OR WHAT!!!!
 23 And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness. Part of the reason a wicked king causes his people to do so much iniquity is because of these evil laws he makes. The “go along to get along crowd” is usually the majority. Gotta keep my job and pay my bills, so I’ll do it... this is coming too (here, actually)
 24 And now behold I say unto you, it is not expedient that such abominations should come upon you.
 25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord. We need to do a much better job choosing. And if no righteous have decided to run, then someone righteous has to step up to the plate. We have sinned greatly in this area...And now we can't even choose righteously because the elections are rigged
 26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people. We are making laws by the voice of the lesser part of the people because they are louder and the greater part of the people fear them because they have no problem using force. And...now the ‘lesser’ part of the people are CHEATING!
 27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land. I think the majority of the people still support the constitution, but I don’t know if the majority aren’t choosing iniquity in their personal lives...apparently 62% of Americans favor abortion...so that's a majority choosing evil!
 28 And now if ye have judges, and they do not judge you according to the law which has been given, ye can cause that they may be judged of a higher judge.
 29 If your higher judges do not judge righteous judgments, ye shall cause that a small number of your lower judges should be gathered together, and they shall judge your higher judges, according to the voice of the people. Checks and balances...
 30 And I command you to do these things in the fear of the Lord; because He is the Supreme Judge and can ‘outvote’ ALL of you with one glance of His eye! and I command you to do these things, and that ye have no king; that if these people commit sins and iniquities they shall be answered upon their own heads. Yep This has something to do with ending the Davidic covenant where the king answers for the sins of the people. What covenant are they under then? 
 31 For behold I say unto you, the sins of many people have been caused by the iniquities of their kings; therefore their iniquities are answered upon the heads of their kings. This goes for the prophet as well...”On the other hand, “if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, … his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”⁴” (Elder Christofferson)  Would not want to be a prophet...
 32 And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we may live and inherit the land, yea, even as long as any of our posterity remains upon the face of the land. This is what we are trying to get back to.
 33 And many more things did king Mosiah write unto them, unfolding unto them all the trials and troubles of a righteous king, yea, all the travails of soul for their people, and also all the murmurings of the people to their king; and he explained it all unto them. in writing, no less Why did he feel the need to let them know all this? That it’s not easy to be a king, let alone a righteous king and to have all that responsibility...So they wouldn’t desire kings or to even be a king anymore? So they’d see how hard it is to maintain righteous kings? 
 34 And he told them that these things ought not to be; but that the burden should come upon all the people, that every man might bear his part. Here’s his big “why”.
 35 And he also unfolded unto them all the disadvantages they labored under, by having an unrighteous king to rule over them;
 36 Yea, all his iniquities and abominations, and all the wars, and contentions, and bloodshed, and the stealing, and the plundering, and the committing of whoredoms, and all manner of iniquities which cannot be enumerated—telling them that these things ought not to be, that they were expressly repugnant to the commandments of God.
 37 And now it came to pass, after king Mosiah had sent these things forth among the people they were convinced of the truth of his words. mission accomplished
 38 Therefore they relinquished their desires for a king, and became exceedingly anxious that every man should have an equal chance throughout all the land; yea, and every man expressed a willingness to answer for his own sins. This has been my ‘cry’ during this pandemic. Let me be responsible for my own health and you be responsible for yours!
 39 Therefore, it came to pass that they assembled themselves together in bodies throughout the land, to cast in their voices concerning who should be their judges, to judge them according to the law which had been given them; and they were exceedingly rejoiced because of the liberty which had been granted unto them. Sounds like they are admitting that having a king is not full liberty. Did people "run" for office, or did they just "write in" who they thought would be good?
 40 And they did wax strong in love towards Mosiah; yea, they did esteem him more than any other man; for they did not look upon him as a tyrant who was seeking for gain, yea, for that lucre which doth corrupt the soul; for he had not exacted riches of them, neither had he delighted in the shedding of blood; but he had established peace in the land, and he had granted unto his people that they should be delivered from all manner of bondage; therefore they did esteem him, yea, exceedingly, beyond measure. I think to "esteem" and love him is different than worshiping or idolizing him or blindly following him. I think they had great respect for him because they saw the fruits of his righteousness and love for them.
 41 And it came to pass that they did appoint judges to rule over them, or to judge them according to the law; and this they did throughout all the land.
 42 And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be the first chief judge, he being also the high priest, his father having conferred the office upon him, and having given him the charge concerning all the affairs of the church. No separation of church and state here. Not in conflict. Mosiah said he'd be king for the rest of his life, but he transitions them to the judges system while he is still king. Wonder how that worked...
 43 And now it came to pass that Alma did walk in the ways of the Lord, and he did keep his commandments, and he did judge righteous judgments; and there was continual peace through the land.
 44 And thus commenced the reign of the judges throughout all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who were called the Nephites; and Alma was the first and chief judge. or president
 45 And now it came to pass that his father died, being eighty and two years old, having lived to fulfil the commandments of God. We should all want that said of us after we die... 82 doesn't seem that old
46 And it came to pass that Mosiah died also, in the thirty and third year of his reign, being sixty and three years old; king for 27 years, since the age of 36. That’s pretty short life span in our reckoning...making in the whole, five hundred and nine years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem.
 47 And thus ended the reign of the kings over the people of Nephi; and thus ended the days of Alma, who was the founder of their church. Was he kind of seen as their “Joseph Smith”?