Mosiah 5

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

Chapter 5

The Saints become the sons and daughters of Christ through faith—They are then called by the name of Christ—King Benjamin exhorts them to be steadfast and immovable in good works. About 124 B.C.

  1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they ^abelieved the words which he had spoken unto them. No point in asking if they believe if they aren't going to act on what they heard. I kind of think if the people had all collectively had this massive born again experience that the Spirit would have told King Benjamin that they DID believe. So why did he still ask? To confirm? To hold them accountable for having testified of it? God asked Adam and Eve where they were, even though he knew the answer. I think King Benjamin is making them accountable. 
  2 And they all cried with one voice, Since he had to have it "sent", it makes me think that the "one voice" reference is meaning they all agreed, not that they said it all at the very same moment, like a choir. saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, they had an immediate "witness"  because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty ^achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do ^bevil, but to do good continually. This is the "fruit" of a sure witness: our hearts are changed There are a few quite miraculous things right here. First, we know that there were a LOT of people gathered here. So imagine the conference center. With all the different personalities and levels of understanding and experiences, how do you get THAT many people to IN UNISON, may not have been "choir" unison, just that they all said it at that gathering to say they believe ALL the words that were spoken? Their answer...the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent bore witness to ALL of them AND gave them a collective "born again" experience. Second, was there one voice that spoke for all of them (and how long would it take to find out that all these people believed) or did they all spontaneously speak out loud that they believed and why they believed. It's harder to imagine the latter, but we know the words were written down and shared with groups farther away who couldn't hear, so I guess those same runners could convey their reaction back to King Benjamin. The take away for me is that they had a collective experience gifted to them from God. Was it given in mercy or did they somehow merit it because of their level of faith? The Book of Mosiah starts out by stating "there was no disputations in all the land" and King Benjamin says he going to give them a "new name" because they were "diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord" and that they were "highly favored of the Lord. Can we ask for this in our day? Will it need to happen before we can create a true Zion society? I'm beginning to believe that in this fallen world and with the veil, we can't create Zion without heavenly intervention. The Lord said “He” will bring Zion. He was there to personally establish it with the Nephites and the city of Enoch. Why not the New Jerusalem? It’s probably the most important Zion society every created since it will endure into the millennium...Also, it came after some mighty powerful preaching that was given to King Benjamin by an angel. Those words were delivered with great power. It wasn't just a regular General Conference talk. Will the prophet, or the end-time servant give such a speech that will bring this kind of group conversion? We need to collectively do as they did to merit this same blessing. The first things was "no contention". We just had three conference talks in the same session about this. Do you think the Lord is trying to prepare us?
  3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite ^agoodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; This may the "view" that Christ would come to atone for the sins of all mankind. and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. What effect does the veil being lifted have on agency? Does it come after God knows that you will use your agency to choose Him even if it were never lifted so your agency isn’t affected by knowing more? This is another part of the heavenly gift - the gift of prophecy. Specifically the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ.
  4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy. There is faith and then there is ‘this’ faith. I have faith in the things King Benjamin said too. Or do I? Think about his “beggar” speech. If you have faith in that, then you will live by it. How many people really give all their excess to the poor? Do you have that kind of faith? These people didn’t even have a chance to exercise their faith, but were given the manifestation in advance. Why? Maybe because they had already shown their faith by not contending with one another and by diligently keeping the commandments...
  5 And we are willing to enter into a ^acovenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a ^bnever-ending torment, as has been spoken by the ^cangel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God. Notice they hadn't entered a covenant of obedience before they received this great manifestation. They say it came because they had faith in the words of the king. It sounds like the order was: gather - listen - faith to believe the words - repentant heart - Spirit confirms - remission of sins - new heart - spiritual manifestations - covenant - joy.  I think with the Baptism by Fire you make a new covenant to follow all the words of God through the Holy Spirit that will now be your constant companion and "tell you all things what you should do". 
  6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
  7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the ^achildren of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day event he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are ^bchanged through faith on his name; therefore, ye are ^cborn of him baptized by the Spirit and have become his ^dsons and his daughters. I would think that this would be a clear sign of being born again. You actually know that your heart has been changed. 
  8 And under this head ye are made ^afree, and there is ^bno other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other ^cname given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should ^dtake upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. Notice this is when we take upon ourselves the name of Christ. At water baptism we only covenant that we are "willing" to do so at some future day. This was "the day" for them.
  9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ. Maybe think of this like your last name/family name
 10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some ^aother name; therefore, he findeth himself on the ^bleft hand of God. This hearkens to the sheep and goat division. Which means that if you take upon you the name of Christ, then you would do as he would do, specifically caring for the poor and the needy and bringing souls to Him. Another part of the heavenly gift is the gift of charity, which makes you want to take care of your brothers and sisters. Notice there is Christ's way and some other way - doesn't matter what you call the other way; they are all not His way, which is the only way back to the Father. 
 11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the ^aname that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts. Notice the name is written in your heart. Your heart is where you act from because it is where your beliefs are stored. This makes it sound like he's making clear this is not a "calling and election made sure" moment. They can still fall from their converted status.
 12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to ^aretain the name written always in your hearts, remember the way to retain it - "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. that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you .Part of knowing the voice by which ye are called is hearing the voice of the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, calling you each day to do good and think good and believe good. If you can't hear that voice, then you are not responding to the voice that is calling you.
 13 For how ^aknoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
 14 And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called. If we do not belong to Christ then we belong to the devil and the Lord will not allow us to stay with His flocks. Though, for now, the tares are allowed to pasture with the sheep. But soon He will call His sheep to His right hand. Be one of them.
 15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in ^agood works, Evidence of your faith that Christ, the ^bLord God Omnipotent, may ^cseal you his, calling and election? that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who ^dcreated all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.