Mosiah 29

It's interesting to read about how a government is set up. Especially a peaceful change from a monarchy to a republic and the reasons for such a change.

In literature you hear of the prince that doesn't want to be a king, but is "forced" to. King Mosiah's eldest son Aaron didn't want to become king though the people wished him to be. King Mosiah wrote a proclamation to the people which said:

"Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these things, 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" (8).

Mosiah 28

The sons of Mosiah desired to be missionaries. They desired to be missionaries because "they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thought that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble" (3). They didn't want to be missionaries because they were told to be. They wanted to become missionaries and declare the gospel because they wished to share the rejoicing in the Lord their God (2).

In the Book of Mormon Institute Manuel is says:

President Howard W. Hunter described how desire to share the gospel is a natural result of personal conversion: “A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others. For this reason the Lord gave an obligation to every member of the Church to be missionaries” (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1997], 249).

Being truly converted, you are happy and joyful. You enjoy life. You are more charitable, humble, meek, obedient, faithful. Being converted truly changes you. And you really wish to share it with everyone. You want everyone to be just as happy as you are. Because you know that the gospel can give people peace, joy and comfort. If they just accept it.

Mosiah 27

I have a brother on a mission, as many of you may know because I keep his blog for him. In reading Chapter 27, I was keeping him in mind. As Alma and the sons of Mosiah were counted among those that were unbelievers and persecuted the church and tried to weaken it, but then changed and became some of the greatest missionaries mentioned in the Book of Mormon. I kept my brother in mind and tried to think of how do you become a great missionary? I'm sure I'll be more fully answering that later, especially as we cover each of their missions.

But Alma and the sons of Mosiah, after their change of heart and repentance, became missionaries and shared the gospel, though they were greatly persecuted themselves. Members of the church often are. But especially the missionaries. My brother is in South Carolina and I worry about the opposition he is facing, especially as Mitt Romney is running for election. He faces unique challenges. However, verse 33 reads:

But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God.

This is so true. Members and missionaries that are persecuted for what they share, stand for and live build the testimonies of the members around them. We strengthen each other to continue moving forward through difficulties. To stay firm in the gospel and not give way.

Mosiah 26

"For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand."

Mosiah 26:24

How do we learn of God?

Mosiah 25

King Mosiah had the records, or scriptures, of the different groups of people read to them all. The people's reaction to reading the scriptures was:

1. They were “struck with wonder and amazement” (7).
2. They “were filled with exceedingly great joy” (8).
3. They felt “sorrow” for the deaths of so many (9).
4. They recognized the “goodness of God” (10).
5. They felt the need to “give thanks to God” (10).
6. The sins of others “filled [them] with pain and anguish” (11).

When I read the scriptures, does it effect me the same way? It should.

Mosiah 24

When I pray, I need to be conscious of that I should be praying like Alma and his people where they did "pour out their hearts to him" (12). It doesn't matter if it is silent or vocal; I should be praying unto God with all my heart.

I should also work on submitting cheerfully and with patience to the will of the Lord (15). Sometimes the will of the Lord isn't what I had in mind for my life. But he knows everything; he knows what would make me the best person I can be. When God's will is different from mine own, I should submit cheerfully because I know things will turn out the best for me in the long run. But I have to be patient for it.

Gender

"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

In my Family Relations class, we listed a few of the stereotypical masculine and feminine traits:

How could these characteristics benefit a family?

Mosiah 23

"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

"Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people."

Mosiah 23:21-22

Sometimes we are in difficult situations. Situations that can be hard to bear. But if we put our trust in the Lord and are patient, enduring, and faithful through the hardship, we will be lifted up at the last day. We will find comfort, peace and joy.

Elder Orson F. Whitney taught that everything we experience teaches us valuable lessons:

No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven (cited in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 98).

Mosiah 22

Gideon approaches the King respectfully and says:

And now O king, if thou hast not found me to be an unprofitable servant, or if thou hast hitherto listened to my words in any degree, and they have been of service to thee, even so I desire that thou wouldst listen to my words at this time, and I will be thy servant and deliver this people out of bondage (Mosiah 22:4).

He was the one who came up with the plan of how to escape their bondage and servitude. There is an Article of Faith, number 12, that reads:

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Gideon was a perfect example of that.

Mosiah 21

Being humble is something we should always strive to be no matter our circumstances; rich or poor. Sometimes we may be humbled by our circumstances like Limhi's people.

And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies. 

And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions (Mosiah 21:13-14).

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Humility, of course, is not a sign of weakness. Humility does not mean timidity. A person can be humble, powerful, and courageous. The Prophet Joseph is a good example. Humility is an acknowledged recognition of our dependence on a higher power” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 369).