thoughts and impression during scripture studying Mosiah chapt. 1

Mosiah

Chapter 1:1-8 King Benjamin teaches his three sons.

King Benjamin taught his sons spiritual things from the scriptures and an education for life. I find it interesting that Mormon took some time in explaining that King Benjamin taught his sons. Education is important. We will not be saved in ignorance. If a person dies with out hearing the gospel, they will be taught in the spirit world. Our learning and education must be life long pursuit. Church leaders have always taught the value of an education both temporally and spiritually.

Parents have a duty to be like King Benjamin and educate their children. Even at an early age children can begin learning from the scriptures. I remember learning scripture stories when I was very young. I don’t know how many sets of tapes and simple scripture story books we went through as a kid. A favorite game in the car was “name that prophet”. A description of a prophet’s life and example would bit by bit come out until some one else playing could tell who the prophet’s was.

Kids can also share in reading from the scriptures. They can read with parents by repeating phrases one at a time that is read out loud. This way they can read verses from the scriptures. For parents to teach children the scriptures need to be reading and learning as well. You can’t teach what you don’t know. Parents also need to be aware when a teaching moment comes around. They will not always be planned for. Parents need to be confident in sharing their testimonies with their children. This comes through words and actions. Again testimonies can be shared in the quiet and teachable moments.

Chapter 1: 13-14 highly favored people

King Benjamin tells Mosiah that the people are highly favored of the Lord. The Lord has through his power preserved them from enemies because of their righteousness. If he had not extended his arm to preserve the people they would have fallen. He also gives a warning. If the people turn to wickedness, then they are on their own. This seems to be a reoccurring them through out the Book of Mormon. If you are righteous you will be preserved if you are wicked will fall.

The same is true for us. We are a highly favored people. We have been told that we are a chosen generation. It is interesting to note that the word used is preserve. King Benjamin does not say save. We will still have trials and struggles. They will not be taken away from us. But we can be carried through the trials and struggles if we stay true to the Lord and his gospel. I am reminded of the canning process. To preserve the food in the jars, they first have to go through a lot of heat and pressure. Only when they have gone through what is required are they preserved. The same is true for us. When we are going through our heat and pressure the Lord will extended his arm and preserve us if we stay true and faithful.

The question then is: How do we stay true and faithful? It is rather simple but many times we lose focus and try to make it hard. Any primary child can tell us the answer: read the scriptures, pray and fast, attend church meetings, serve others, and share your testimony. We could probably think of more things we could do. We need to do the basics daily in our lives. Everything we need to do is taught in primary. Simple things that we can make complicated in our lives. We need to take stock of our lives from time to time. Really take a good honest look of our lives and take steps to do these things. It is interesting that when taught the gospel the convert’s first commitments are to read the Book of Mormon, pray to Heavenly Father, and attend church. Everything else is built upon that foundation. The same is true in our lives as well. Everything else is built on this foundation. If we are keeping the foundation strong, then we will not fall but be preserved by the arm of the Lord.