Mosiah 28

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 6/20 Green 4/21 orange 6/22 Brown 2023)

Chapter 28

The sons of Mosiah go to preach to the Lamanites—Using the two seer stones, Mosiah translates the Jaredite plates. About 92 B.C. This will be our latter day experience as we gather in the Lamanites to fulfil God's covenant with them, if we serve as the 'spiritual kings and queens' prophesied in the scriptures.

  1 Now it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites—I’m wondering if their thinking was influenced by their own past. They used to want to destroy the church and didn’t believe their fathers, like the Lamanites didn’t believe Lehi. Maybe they thought the Lamanites might receive them better because they used to be like them in some ways. I guess since they were all descendants of Lehi, that was the most important thing in common. Maybe those they “selected” also had to be direct descendants of Lehi, for this reason. Just a thought... As we look at this experience as a type for our day, it's comforting to know that these special missionaries were former sinners and had repented. Isn't that us too? But look what we can do if we repent!
  2 That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure  Interesting word, “cure”...like their hatred is best described as a disease that has spread from generation to generation, but could be changed/cured with the truth them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them. Who wouldn’t want that? Why do we have to war because of something that happened between brothers so long ago? The restoration of the House of Israel will surely end contentions with others!
  3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble. Sometimes I think you can only have this kind of compassion if you have seen hell yourself. Otherwise, it's too easy to want our enemies to suffer for the evil they have perpetrated on others. Just yesterday when I heard Anthony Fauci got Covid for a second time, I found myself hoping he falls into the pit he has digged for others...I believe this kind of compassion only come from the "mighty change of heart" 
  4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever. We are being given a sense of how much they understood hell, even though we don’t. We also see, considering how they used to be so convinced they were they were right in their sins, that they now knew if they could change so could the Lamanites.  What does it mean when the Lord says "he saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them"? Does that mean there are those He does not see fit to spare? What determines if we merit the Lord's mercy? I assume that the "mercy" part is that they didn't "deserve" the divine intervention and mercy. Perhaps the "saw fit" part is that in His omniscience He knew they would respond and repent. Or...because of the faith and prayers of others, He saw fit to give them the chance.
  5 And it came to pass that they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi. Why did it take Mosiah so long to tell them yes? Was their faith greater than Mosiah's? 
  6 And king Mosiah went and inquired of the Lord if he should let his sons go up among the Lamanites to preach the word. Here is leadership by direct revelation:
| 7 And the Lord said unto Mosiah: Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites. Who shall have eternal life? The sons of Mosiah or those that believe on their words? If Mosiah shared this revelation with his sons, how this would strengthen their faith as they went forward. They could have faith they wouldn’t be killed and they would have some success. To their credit, they were willing to go NOT knowing this. It also may reveal this was Mosiah’s fear...that they might not return alive. Notice how easy it was for Mosiah to answer them with "And the Lord said". The sons of Mosiah didn't have to wonder or pray about whether it was Mosiah's words or the Lord's. Mosiah didn't say, "I prayed about it, and now I feel good about it, so you can go." No, it was "and the Lord said: "let them go...and I will deliver them". We need that so much in our day!
  8 And it came to pass that Mosiah granted that they might go and do according to their request. Why did they need Mosiah's permission? 
  9 And they took their journey into the wilderness to go up to preach the word among the Lamanites; and I shall give an account of their proceedings hereafter.
 10 Now king Mosiah had no one to confer the kingdom upon, for there was not any of his sons who would accept of the kingdom.
 11 Therefore he took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which he had kept and preserved according to the commandments of God, after having translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi;
 12 And this he did because of the great anxiety of his people; for they were desirous beyond measure to know concerning those people who had been destroyed. What were they so anxious about? Some unknown enemy that could destroy them too?
 13 And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow. Not sure if these are the same thing as "seer stones" that they say JS used, but the concept is the same...
 14 Now these things were prepared from the beginning, a  nd were handed down from generation to generation, for the purpose of interpreting languages; I wonder why God chose this method for translating?
 15 And they have been kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he should discover to every creature who should possess the land the iniquities and abominations of his people; because...you don’t get to stay on this land if you are wicked and he wants all the inhabitants to know that! We live on this same land and these same things have been discovered by us through this record.
 16 And whosoever has these things is called seer, If you take this literally, you have to possess them to be a seer; maybe never using them... after the manner of old times.
 17 Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.
 18 Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.
 19 And this account shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account. ‘expedient’ means; suitable for achieving a particular end in a given circumstance which sounds like, if you read their account, you can know quickly and sufficiently to be convinced that the wicked on this land will be destroyed if they become the majority. Perhaps we should share this part of the Book of Mormon with our neighbors...When we get the "sealed portion" we'll have all things to the end as well - the "whole" story...
 20 And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. This tradition never died or diminished through the years with them.