IF/THEN of Mosiah 2, King Benjamin's sermon

King Benjamin's people had a deep response to his relaying of the message from the angel of the Lord.  This post is a general summary of this chapter, in list form.  As described in Mosiah 2 (Simple Edition), the people hearing his message:

• Fell to the earth (Quite dramatic, in my opinion.  How often do I fall to the earth willingly, at a message or sermon?)
• Fear of the Lord came upon them
• They viewed themselves in their own, personal, carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth
• They cried aloud in one voice, begging for 1) mercy, 2) atoning blood of Christ, that they might 3) receive forgiveness of sins and 4) that hearts may be purified
• They expressed belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God who created heaven and earth and all things who will come down among the children of men

After they had done this, what happened: 

• The spirit of the Lord came upon them
• They were filled with joy
• having received a remission of their sins
• having peace of conscience because of their exceeding faith in Jesus - who HAD NOT YET COME - but they believed Benjamin's account

After all this, Benjamin their king begins to speak to them again, in this very interesting sermon.  He's not yet done.  He gives many important if/then statements, worth pondering.

IF:   

• IF the knowledge of the goodness of God has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, worthlessness, and fallen state
• IF you have come to the knowledge of the goodness of God and his matchless power, wisdom, patience and long suffering towards you, and the knowledge of the atonement prepared from the foundation of the world
• IF you know that salvation might come to you that will put your trust in the Lord
• IF you will be diligent in keeping his commandments
• IF you will continue in the faith, even unto the end of your life (mortal body)

THEN:

• THEN you receive SALVATION through the atonement prepared from the foundation of the world, which is available for ALL mankind - who ever were since the fall of Adam, who are or who will be until the end of the world.  

These are the keys of salvation.  Keys of knowledge which open doors of information.  Benjamin just told you.  He underscores even more: 

• There is NONE other salvation except this one
• There are NO other conditions whereby man can be saved
• BELIEVE in God, that he is, that he (this "Jesus Christ", as explained above) created all things in heaven AND earth
• Believe that he has all WISDOM in heaven and earth
• Believe that he has all POWER in heaven and earth
• Believe that man does not COMPREHEND all the things which the Lord can comprehend
• Believe that you must repent of your sins, forsake them, and humble yourself before God
• Believe that you must ask in sincerity of heart that he will forgive you

Can you do this?  Is this possible?  Is this believe attainable?  

IF: 

• You believe these things? 

THEN: 

• Do them

IF: 

• IF you come to the knowledge of the glory of God
• IF you have known of his goodness
• IF you have tasted of his love
• IF you have received a remission of your sins which causes exceedingly great joy

(Have you?  These people did.)

THEN REMEMBER: 

• Remember the greatness of God
• Remember your own nothingness
• Remember his goodness and long suffering towards you unworthy creatures (lol! Don't mince words Ben!)
• Remember to humble yourselves even in the DEPTHS of humility
• Remember to call on the Lord daily
• Remember to stand steadfast in the faith of what is to come (or what came, meaning Jesus)

IF:

• You do this

THEN: 

• You will ALWAYS rejoice!
• You will be FILLED with the LOVE of God
• You will ALWAYS  retain a remission of your sins (because it can be lost)
• You will grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you
• You will grow in the knowledge of that which is just and true
• You will not have a mind to injure one another
• You will have a mind to live peaceably
• You will have a mind to render to every man according to that which is his due
• You will not suffer your children that they go hungry or naked
• You will not suffer that your children transgress the laws of God, fighting and quarreling one with another
• You will not serve the devil, the master of sin, the evil spirit enemy of all righteousness
• You will teach your children to walk in the ways of truth and soberness
• You will teach your children to love one another
• You will teach your children to serve one another
• You yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor
• You will administer of your substance to those in need
• You will not suffer the beggar to put their petition to you in vain

[What stuck out to me dramatically, was an understanding that the blessing of being capable of teaching my children to have love for each other was part of the "then" section.  It is a byproduct of the remembering listed above.  I try so exceedingly hard to teach my children these things, but it ought not be difficult.  If I take care of the remembering above, I am virtually promised, per this message, that the mind to live peaceably among my family will be a consequence.  This would not have dawned on me had I not printed out this section, and begun circling "if" and "then", and underlining what appeared to be connected.]  

IF:

• You impart of your substance to the poor, diligently

THEN:

• You win the prize

[Again, imparting of my substance to the poor is a byproduct of the remembering section above.  It ought not be difficult.]   

IF:

• You do not watch yourself
• You do not watch your thoughts
• You do not watch your words
• You do not watch your deeds
• You do not observe the commandments (which Benjamin admits there are so many ways to sin, he cannot number them)
• You do not continue in the faith of what you have heard

THEN: 

• You must perish

Sell all that Thou Hast

Dear Josten,

I've been thinking A LOT lately about a few verses of scripture.  They have been hot on my mind, and I frequently hear these verses recited of late:  

“Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:22-25)

These words have left a strong impression on me, and I have been trying to "lighten the load" of "stuff" I have in my home.  The other day, as I was de-cluttering, pondering these verses yet again, something dawned on me, and I want to share it with you so I don't forget.

I often wondered why Jesus didn't just tell this rich man to just donate his stuff to the Goodwill, Jubilee, or Deseret Industries?  Why does he tell him to "sell" all that he had?  Should I be selling what I have, and giving the money to the poor?  Attempting to sell what I have would not be worth the time to sell.  It's not worth anything, and if it is, my time is more valuable than to try to sell it.

This is where bells went off in my head.  As far as material possessions, while I have enough for my needs, when it comes to selling anything in the area in which I live, I am poor!  Aha!!!  hahaha!!!  After months and months of pondering these verses, I realized it.  I am poor, at least in terms of financial wealth.  There are only a few items that would garner more than a few dollars at a yard sale, and that is my bed and my electric piano.  Everything else would be chump change!  For this scenario, the instruction is clear.

If I had money, I would give.  King Benjamin reports:

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 give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.  (Mosiah 4:24)

I would love to give anything I had to the poor, if I knew what was needed.  I am quite positive that there is great room for improvement here, and am by no means perfect.  For the time being, I donate what I feel I should to our local thrift store.  We don't have many visibly homeless in our town, but I would gladly give as needed.  After so much time pondering these verses, I am grateful to have had an "aha" moment.  And I look forward to the day in which I can have more to give!

Hugs!
~Mom<3 

Mosiah 3:17 - saved by Christ

Often times I'll get thinking about what I'm going to read in the scriptures, and a book, chapter and verse will come distinctly into my head.  That's what just happened with this one.  I hope this post helps someone, besides myself. :)

Mosiah 3:17:

 17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be ^ano other name given nor any other way nor means whereby ^bsalvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the ^cLord Omnipotent. 

Yesterday I read an online news article (dated back from 4/26/12) about a man who went into a grocery store in Utah, and began stabbing random people with a knife.  After he had harmed many people, a man who was carrying a gun pointed it at the stabber and yelled for him to stop, which he did.  I commented on a friend's Nerdbook wall that that guy likely saved lots of lives by having a gun with him.  It occurred to me that it was not proper to write that he "saved lives", but I did it anyways.  How else would you phrase that?

It's funny/cool that this verse is what came to mind when I sat down at my computer to write.  I had started editing a post on 1 Nephi 1:16, (which is long overdue), but Mosiah 3:17 came to mind.  When I read the verse, it all made sense.  

The man prepared with the gun did not save those lives.  God did.  

I'd like to know what passed through the gun carrier's mind that day.  Does he always carry a gun?  What prompted him to be certified to carry?  Did the Spirit lead him in years of preparation, to take proper classes on how to hold, safely carry, and properly NOT use it?  He clearly used self restraint, as my friend who passed the story (and is a cop) said he would have shot the man if it had been him.  (And in his state, he would have been legally allowed to do so.)  The gun carrier clearly listened to the Spirit that day.  He was well prepared, well controlled, and no doubt inspired by God.  I don't care what god he may or may not serve; I know God was the "salvation" of those lives.  

It also makes me wonder what the shoppers in the store were thinking.  Were they praying for their safety, once they realized what was going on?  Will they survive their wounds?  Were the prayers of parents, brothers, and sisters answered?  Are those wounded now drawing closer to God, or instead blaming him for the madman's use of agency?

It's interesting that in Mosiah 3:17, King Benjamin tells us ever so clearly, that salvation is the Lord Omnipotent's.  We can choose to believe in him, or rely on our own "arm" for our safety.  I believe the gun carrier was prepared by God, as the Nephites so often were.  This story is simply referring to a temporal salvation of the grocery shopper's mortal lives.  But in an eternal sense, it is only in and through Christ that we are saved. 

xo