Latest / Scripture Central / Mosiah 1-3 | Book of Mormon Insights: Revisited

Transcript

Mosiah 1-3 | Book of Mormon Insights: Revisited · Scripture Central

0:00
So. Today we in in this scripture
0:03
block that we're going to be covering, we're going to be
0:04
focusing on what it means to become a true Christian and why
0:09
we why that's important, especially in today's world to
0:12
become a true Christian and and how you become this.
0:15
True follower of Christ, Which? Involves taking his name upon
0:18
you, obtaining a remission of your sins, retaining that
0:21
remission of your sins, the. Quick overview of what?
0:25
We're going to be covering in Mosiah's chapters, Mosiah
0:28
chapters 1-2 and. Three is chapter.
0:31
One, he's teaching his children, his sons and preparing them.
0:35
Because Benjamin's right at the end of his life and.
0:37
He's going to pass away three years after this speech.
0:40
And so he's preparing them, teaching them.
0:42
About the scriptures and the importance of the brass plates.
0:45
And about passing on these. Prophetic traditions to the
0:48
people. Then in chapter two, he begins
0:50
his speech at the temple and addresses some really important
0:54
concepts that we're going to discuss briefly.
0:57
And then chapter 3 is a message. That he receives.
1:00
From an Angel. To deliver to the people.
1:03
And then in next week's lesson, we'll finish with chapter. 4
1:06
which is? The conclusion of the speech.
1:08
Chapter 5 the. Outcome of the speech and we
1:11
were talk about becoming true Christians.
1:13
It turns out in English words that begin with B, that word
1:18
there actually means fully or completely 100%.
1:23
And we have lots of words in our language that do that.
1:26
For example, the word beware means to be 100% and fully
1:30
aware. Or Jesus is the beloved, that
1:33
means he's 100% fully loved by God.
1:36
And so becoming literally means to have fully arrived, and we
1:42
only do that through Jesus Christ.
1:44
So as we are becoming, it actually is, we're on this path,
1:47
this plan of salvation. The plan of salvation is the
1:50
covenant path. And as we hold to the rod, as
1:52
we've talked about in previous videos, and we are becoming true
1:57
Christians with our focus on Jesus Christ.
2:00
So let's just give a brief overview of what's going on with
2:03
King Benjamin's speech and actually how it helps us become
2:06
true Christians and gets us focused on the covenant path.
2:09
Previous videos we talked about, there's two major covenants of
2:13
the covenant path. There's the Abrahamic covenant.
2:16
We find that in the Old Testament, primarily Genesis
2:18
chapter 12, one through 3, where God comes to Abraham and says
2:22
I'm going to give you property, posterity, and prosperity.
2:27
Again, prosperity means to have God's presence with you, and God
2:32
puts himself under covenant obligation to provide these
2:35
things for Abraham. So the Abrahamic covenant is
2:38
God's duties to us. On the other side, the other
2:42
covenant is the Mosaic covenant. When God saved his people from
2:46
Egyptian bondage, he brought them to Mount Sinai and through
2:50
Moses delivered to them a whole set of covenantal instructions
2:54
laying out for them how they could show their love, their
2:57
loyalty to him, and be bound to him in covenantal relationship.
3:02
If you go to the chapter 20 of Exodus, that's where we find the
3:05
10 commandments. And the 10 commandments are
3:08
essentially the summary instructions for how to be
3:11
covenantly faithful and true to God.
3:14
That is the covenant path, and you can summarize the Mosaic
3:18
covenant, our duties to God. If you keep my commandments, ye
3:22
shall prosper in the land. Now, how does this fit in to us
3:26
and to King Benjamin's speech? It turns out that King
3:29
Benjamin's speech is actually essentially modeled on the
3:33
Mosaic covenant. And what we'll hear is
3:37
instructions about how we can be more like God, how we can be
3:42
more service to those around us, how we can be more loving and
3:45
kind. In fact, much of what happens in
3:48
King Benjamin's speech are instructions for us to be on the
3:52
covenant path. And King Benjamin also spends
3:55
time explaining God's roles and duties to provide prosperity.
3:59
And that actually is about the atonement of Jesus Christ.
4:02
So let's jump in and talk more about what King Benjamin is
4:06
doing for us and modeling for us often when you when you find.
4:11
Scripture stories. And you you understand what's
4:15
going on in their historical context, you can use them as a
4:17
lens to. View certain.
4:20
Things in the in the eternal nature of of God's plan of
4:24
salvation for us, no lens is going to.
4:27
Perfectly reveal every. Element of the plan.
4:30
But you see little, little. Insights.
4:32
In this case, there's a a microcosm that we can.
4:36
Picture. Where you have a king.
4:39
He has blessed, He has served, He has provided for, he has
4:44
protected his people. For many, many years.
4:47
And he's gotten his people to a certain point now in this.
4:51
Case he realizes he's. He's old.
4:54
He's going to be passing on and for.
4:57
His people to progress, they're. Going to have to accept his son
5:02
as their new king. That son is going to take them
5:06
to to new heights as they move. Forward as a people culturally.
5:10
And so it's a beautiful overlay to say Heavenly Father.
5:17
Even though Heavenly Father doesn't wax old, he doesn't he.
5:21
It doesn't apply on that level at all.
5:23
But it's the idea. Of Heavenly Father saying to the
5:26
people His children, whom he has loved and served and blessed so
5:30
beautifully that he says, if you want to progress, you need to
5:35
accept my son as your new king. And the analogy stops there.
5:39
It's nothing else beyond that. But it's this idea of.
5:43
King Benjamin telling his people and his sons, I'm going to give
5:48
you a new name, A name whereby you're going to be called.
5:51
And the new name is going to be the name of Christ that they
5:55
take upon themselves in Chapter 5 at the very very end of the.
5:58
Speech. It's a beautiful overlay for us
6:00
to consider. As we seek to become true
6:04
Christians truly converted to Jesus.
6:07
Christ that we have to accept all of the the.
6:12
Teachings that he has offered us and the covenants and the
6:17
obligations associated with with what it means to be a true
6:21
Christian. To be able to really progress.
6:24
And in chapter one, Benjamin begins first with his family.
6:29
Before he teaches all the. People in chapter two, he
6:31
begins. First with his children.
6:33
And he's going to spend this time that.
6:34
Is precious. Parents sitting down taking
6:38
time. To teach their.
6:40
Children the the Gospel to teach them how to.
6:44
Read scriptures. And in this case, he's teaching
6:47
them the importance. Of these brass plates.
6:50
That are written in Egyptian, so there's.
6:52
Great effort. Put into these children to teach
6:56
them how to not only read, but then continue to.
6:59
Produce. And write scripture moving
7:01
forward. And that pattern is the same for
7:03
us today as far as understanding the scriptures.
7:07
The best teachings in the scriptures are probably going to
7:12
come for most in the home between family members.
7:17
As they seek revelation from God for their family.
7:21
As they open up the scriptures and do the best they can to
7:24
unlock meaning. There's great.
7:26
Power in that and we see that. Throughout as you go through
7:29
chapter. One, pay attention to the types
7:32
of things that King Benjamin is teaching his sons.
7:35
So before we jump into chapter 2, I just want to read just two
7:38
verses in Mosiah. One, And what's fascinating here
7:42
is, as Tyler's been talking, King Benjamin in some ways
7:46
models for us. Like what it God the Father does
7:48
is he teaches us truth and he teaches that to his sons and his
7:52
daughters. The word Benjamin, and then
7:56
we'll read a couple of verses here comes from 2 Hebrew words.
7:59
The word for son is Ben. And Yamin actually means the
8:03
right hand. In fact, if you've ever heard of
8:06
the country Yemen, it actually means the South because you face
8:11
east and your right hand is where the South is.
8:13
And so Yemen is the southernmost, like Arab speaking
8:16
country, so son of the right hand.
8:20
So Benjamin's name actually is a signal to even think about Jesus
8:24
Christ, because Jesus Christ is the son of God's right hand.
8:28
And then later we're going to be talking about the chosen King
8:32
Mosiah. And we're not absolutely sure
8:35
what his name means, but there's been some strong suggestions
8:38
that his name is related to the Hebrew word Messiah.
8:44
And so King Benjamin, in some ways acting as God the Father
8:49
symbolically, as Tyler talked about, has appointed A Messiah
8:53
who will be the king who will lead the people on the covenant
8:56
path. That's kind of what's going on
8:58
symbolically here. But let's talk about as family
9:01
members, why talking about the scriptures matter so much.
9:05
Let's take a look just briefly at 2 verses here, Verse 7, King
9:08
Benjamin says, and now my sons, I would that you should
9:10
remember. It's an important word in
9:12
Scripture. Whenever you see remember means
9:14
pay attention to search them diligently.
9:18
That's the scriptures. Because the scriptures are the
9:20
covenantal instructions that God has preserved for us so that we
9:23
can know how to be on the covenant path that ye may profit
9:26
thereby. And I would that you should keep
9:28
the commandments of God the covenantal instructions that ye
9:31
may prosper in the land have God's presence with you.
9:34
That's what we at sacrament we want.
9:36
We we partake in the sacrament, and we promise to remember Jesus
9:39
Christ, keep the commandments, and in return have God's
9:42
presence according to the promises with the Lord made unto
9:46
our fathers like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
9:48
These great promises that we would all have posterity,
9:52
property, and prosperity, And then again in verse 11.
9:55
And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they
9:59
may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God
10:01
hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem.
10:03
And this I do because they have been a diligent people in
10:06
keeping the commandments of the Lord.
10:08
As we make and keep covenants, we receive a special name.
10:14
In fact, all of you who've been baptized have received that
10:17
name. It's the name of Christ that
10:20
makes you a Christian. And as we mentioned earlier,
10:23
becoming true Christians is an ongoing process of continually
10:27
reaffirming that covenant, covenantal, community,
10:30
covenantal relationship we have with God.
10:32
And that's what King Benjamin is setting up here.
10:35
He's going to give a speech about how to stay faithful to
10:39
God and what it means to accept the real King who is Jesus.
10:43
So on the day of King Benjamin's.
10:46
Address all of the people. Gather together, and I love the
10:49
fact that they didn't gather in. Social.
10:51
Groups. They didn't gather in clubs.
10:53
They didn't gather as as a congregation, so to speak.
10:58
The gathering point for his speech in verse.
11:02
Five of chapter 2 is. Every man according to his
11:05
family. And then it lists off the family
11:08
and you'll notice it says every family being separate one from
11:13
another. They worship.
11:15
In families, they don't split up according to their ages.
11:19
In this context here they're worshipping as families and the
11:24
whole Come follow Me program is intended to bring families.
11:29
Together to sit at the feet of prophets.
11:33
Both ancient and modern to study.
11:36
The words of God that are. Coming to us from those
11:41
prophetic sources and to make sense of them as a family, and
11:45
you'll notice a lot has been written and spoken about the
11:48
fact that their tent doors were facing the.
11:51
Tower that was built there a lot of beautiful.
11:54
Insights into what direction our family's tent doors are facing.
12:01
You generally go the direction you're facing.
12:04
You generally move the the in the direction that.
12:08
Your your eyes are looking. And I love the fact that these
12:12
families together jointly are facing the prophet of God
12:17
standing there on that tower, delivering the words.
12:20
And if you look at the opening part of his speech, there's some
12:26
really powerful insights. For what it would what?
12:29
What it means? To to go.
12:32
To general conference or go to Sacre meeting, or go to any
12:35
meeting in the church or in a family setting, a family home
12:39
evening or a family scripture study.
12:40
Look at some of the verbs in verse 9.
12:42
Chapter 2 verse 9. So these are the words which he.
12:45
Spake, and he caused to be written saying, Notice this, my
12:49
brethren, now just right out out of the.
12:53
Chute here. That's interesting language
12:56
coming from a king, because kings in antiquity.
12:59
Are usually powerful rulers. It's all.
13:02
About them, it's all about building their Kingdom.
13:06
King Benjamin is one of the most Christ like kings you're going
13:10
to ever find. Christ like leaders Where?
13:13
Because he has so much power. He.
13:15
Serves so much, and he treats people as equals.
13:21
And he opens a speech. My brethren.
13:23
Instead of my people or my subjects or my servants, it's my
13:28
brethren. So that's really powerful.
13:30
In in our own family and in our own teaching settings in the
13:33
Church that we don't create layers of talking down to
13:37
people, Benjamin showed us a beautiful what it means to.
13:40
Be a true Christ like leader or teacher is to breathe the air,
13:46
walk the soil that the people. We're we're loving and serving,
13:50
are walking and breathing and then he says.
13:53
All ye. That have assembled yourselves
13:54
together, you that can hear my words, which I shall speak unto
13:57
you this day. Now here's the part I have not
13:59
commanded you to come up hit her to.
14:01
Trifle with the words which I shall speak.
14:04
But that you should hearken unto me, open your ears that you may.
14:08
Hear your hearts. That you may understand and your
14:11
minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded.
14:14
To your view, I love the fact. That he's hitting so many
14:18
different aspects. It's not just look at me or
14:20
listen to me. It's open your eyes, your ears,
14:24
your mind, your heart. I want everything you've got
14:28
focused on what I'm about to. Teach because he's he's.
14:31
Confident that God has inspired him with some things.
14:35
And then in chapter 3, the the angelic message.
14:38
This is going to be a life changing experience for them.
14:42
But they have to be. Open to it.
14:44
They have to be receptive. To it.
14:46
And it means they have to have all their communication channels
14:50
open or they're going to miss some things.
14:52
King Benjamin is one of those rare leaders throughout history,
14:56
and it's actually the kind of leader God wants.
14:59
Few videos ago we talked about Deuteronomy chapter 17, where
15:05
God's expectations of kingship, a bunch of things he didn't want
15:08
kings to do. Don't seek after wives.
15:09
Don't seek after silver and gold.
15:11
Don't oppress the people, don't take them into apostasy.
15:14
What God wants the King to do is to have the scriptures preserve
15:19
them, read them every day and teach them to his people.
15:23
And what does King Benjamin do? That is what he does.
15:26
He is the ideal leader. Let's just draw this triangle
15:29
here. We are in a covenantal
15:33
community. We live in this western world of
15:35
individualism. We all just think we're going to
15:37
save ourselves. But God actually has revealed
15:41
that we are part of a covenantal community.
15:43
So if you see look at the King Benjamin Triangle.
15:48
Tyler pointed out how King Benjamin is not putting himself
15:50
in the place of God. Talking down to the people he
15:53
realizes he's coveted with God. He's also coveted with the
15:57
people to do certain things for them.
15:59
And we listen to the king who's been appointed by God to lead us
16:03
on the covenant path, and these might be prophets as well.
16:06
And we also covenant with God. So there's this triangular
16:09
relationship. And listen to what King Benjamin
16:11
says, verse 14. I myself have labored with my
16:15
own hands. He's not sitting there as a
16:18
king, as many leaders throughout history have done, ingratiating
16:21
themselves with the labor of others so they can just sit
16:24
around. We see that with King Noah.
16:25
It's one of the main reasons King Noah fell.
16:28
King Noah put himself into the place of God, and God's like
16:30
that doesn't work. I'm moving you out further, he
16:33
says. I have not done these things
16:35
that I might boast. Neither do I do these things.
16:38
Tell these things that thereby I might accuse you, but I tell you
16:41
these things that you may know that I can answer clear
16:43
conscience before God this day. Meaning back to Deuteronomy 17 I
16:47
know my job as a king is to teach you the truth and a model
16:51
for you how to follow Jesus Christ.
16:54
Verses 16 and 17 Behold, I say unto you, that because I said
16:58
unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not
17:01
desire to boast, for I've only been in service of God.
17:04
Serving others, actually is to serve God.
17:07
And behold, I tell you these things, that ye may learn
17:10
wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of
17:13
your fellow beings, you're only in the service of your God.
17:16
And one more behold, ye have called me your king.
17:19
And if I, whom you call your king, do labor to serve you,
17:22
then aught ye not to labor, serve one another.
17:25
It's just ideal leadership. It's all about loving people as
17:29
God has shown us, and completing this triangle which is all about
17:34
being in this covenant of community, the comparison being
17:37
to Jesus himself when he tells his Apostles he who is greatest
17:41
among you shall be the servant of all, Jesus being the ultimate
17:45
example of the King who serves the people not to take.
17:51
The glory for himself. Anytime anybody tried to give
17:53
him the glory. He would deflect it back.
17:56
To Heavenly Father Beautiful pattern for us.
17:59
Now King Benjamin launches into a a very, very interesting
18:03
little sequence here in verse 20 and 21 when he talks about.
18:07
If you were to give. Everything that you have.
18:10
Notice his wording if you should.
18:11
Render all the things and praise what your.
18:14
Whole soul has power to possess. To that.
18:17
God has created you. Jump down to 21 if you should
18:20
serve him who has created you from the beginning and is
18:23
preserving you from day-to-day by lending you breath that you
18:25
may live and move and do according to your own will, even
18:28
supporting you from one moment to another.
18:30
I say if you should serve him with.
18:33
All your whole souls, those are. Those are 100% words all and
18:38
whole. Yet you would be.
18:41
Unprofitable servants. The word unprofitable is very.
18:44
Simple. If you simply say wow, God's
18:48
putting more in than he's getting out.
18:50
And Benjamin says if we were to give him.
18:53
All of our whole souls we would. We would still be unprofitable
18:56
servants. That's a fascinating concept.
18:59
As we contemplate moving forward on the covenant path, I want to
19:03
share. A really quick story to
19:05
illustrate this a personal. Experience.
19:09
Many years ago I was out in my garage.
19:12
It was Christmas Eve. I was.
19:15
I was doing some last minute things went.
19:17
Out the the garage door. Come my.
19:20
Little 6 year old. Kinley and my. 4 year old
19:24
Jarrett. At the time and they came out
19:26
into the garage and they were all excited and Kinley act as
19:30
acted. As voice.
19:31
For the for the two of them and said Dad, Jared and I have been
19:35
talking and we feel really bad because Santa Claus brings us
19:39
presents every year and all we give him is cookies and milk.
19:42
So this year, we've decided. We want to give Santa.
19:46
Claus A present, I thought. Oh, that's precious.
19:50
I I wonder what it's going to be from a six year old and a four
19:54
year old and, Kinley said. The problem is, is we went.
19:59
Through our treasure drawers. And we don't have anything that
20:03
we think Santa Claus would want. And.
20:06
So we we were. Talking about it and we.
20:09
Figured that because he lives. In the North Pole.
20:12
And because he's flying in his sleigh, it's kind of cold.
20:15
We thought maybe he could use another pair of socks to help
20:18
keep his feet warm. My heart was touched.
20:21
As they're as they're talking through this.
20:24
I thought, I wonder, I wonder how they're going to resolve
20:26
this one. And she said to me, the problem
20:29
is, is none of our socks will fit him.
20:32
So Dad, can we can we have a pair?
20:35
Of your. Socks to give to Santa Claus and
20:39
I said yes. That would be that would.
20:41
Be wonderful, at which point Kinley pulls her hand from
20:45
behind her back. They had already gone to my sock
20:47
drawer and picked. Out a pair.
20:49
And they said, can we give him this pair?
20:51
I don't remember the exact sequence of the conversation at
20:54
this point, but I remember the elements were something like
20:57
this. One of them asked, do you think
21:00
he'll like them? I said, yeah, he'll like them.
21:05
Do you think they'll fit him, Fit him?
21:07
And I said, yes, I guarantee they'll fit him.
21:10
Will he actually wear them? I said, I can guarantee he will
21:14
wear them. And they'll warm a lot more than
21:16
just his feet. They'll warm his heart and
21:19
these. 2 little kids excitedly with.
21:22
Huge smiles on their faces ran back into the house to wrap up
21:27
their present to Santa Claus. And by the way, they.
21:32
Wrap those socks. In wrapping paper that that I
21:35
had purchased. They used tape.
21:38
On that wrapping paper. That I had paid for.
21:40
They got a. Card out of a set.
21:42
Of cards that I had. Paid for and they used a pen.
21:45
That I had paid for. And they wrote a little note.
21:48
Dear Santa, we love you. Thank you for always bringing us
21:52
presents. We hope you enjoy.
21:55
These socks love. Kinley and love Jarrett in. 4
22:00
year old and six year olds. Writing that note will.
22:05
Forever be treasured by. Santa Claus.
22:09
In that moment I realized everything I give to God,
22:14
everything I try to place on the altar, everything ioffer to him
22:18
is nothing more, nothing less than me saying can I give these
22:23
socks to Santa Claus, 'cause I I don't have socks that will fit
22:27
him, but can I give him? Your pair of socks.
22:30
My wife and I have 10 children. I've been through this
22:32
experience of birth, watching this process 10 different times,
22:37
and brothers and sisters never once.
22:40
Have have I held a? Brand new baby looked into that
22:45
baby's face and turned to my wife and said, hmm, I wonder
22:50
what we're going to be able to get out of this one.
22:53
You're you owe us big. Time.
22:55
You have to pay us back. I've never once done that.
22:59
Parents don't want to be repaid by their children.
23:04
You don't have children so that you can get something out of
23:08
them. You have children so that you
23:11
can love them. Your heart opens up you, you
23:14
welcome them in and you provide for them.
23:17
If earthly parents can get this, Heavenly parents understand this
23:22
perfectly and completely. King Benjamin is giving us this.
23:26
Perspective of. You're never ever, ever going
23:30
to. Be able to repay.
23:31
Our Heavenly Parents and our Saviour Jesus.
23:34
Christ for all the. Things that they've given us and
23:36
they don't want us to repay them.
23:39
They want us to love them and love each other and serve each
23:43
other. So it's a, it's a.
23:45
Beautiful principle. And it's a.
23:48
It's a good place to be if you feel.
23:51
Like an unprofitable servant, you can now go to God more more
23:55
fully and plead with him to give you things that you can then
24:00
give back to him as Elder Maxwell once.
24:02
Said everything we give to God could rightfully be.
24:05
Stamped return to sender. With a capital S.
24:10
I want you to look at as you're reading these chapters,
24:13
particularly chapter 2. How many times does King
24:15
Benjamin say things about like the phrase Keep my commandments,
24:19
You shall prosper in the land? You might just pause for a
24:22
moment. Just pause the video and look
24:23
through chapter 2, even back into chapter one.
24:26
How often are phrases like that appearing in this speech?
24:31
What is King Benjamin trying to do?
24:34
Remember we talked about the Mosaic covenant, which is all
24:36
about our obligations to stay on the covenant path.
24:39
King Benjamin as a leader on that path, is trying to keep his
24:43
people holding to the rod. And as you go through and mark
24:47
all those passages about where Benjamin is, reminding us how
24:52
and why we should stay on the covenant path by keeping the
24:54
commandments, you might ask yourself what in my life have I
24:57
done recently that's kept me on the path?
25:00
How have I followed the commandments of God?
25:03
You might even think about Tyler's story and say what
25:06
things of God have have got, has God-given to me that I've
25:10
actually given to other people, are back to him with love and a
25:14
full gratitude of my heart. And I thought, what you'll see
25:17
is that we aren't perfect, but all of us have been striving and
25:20
all this confined things that we're doing to show that we have
25:24
been committed to God and that we are part of this covenant to
25:27
community. And so I don't think King
25:29
Benjamin is here, trying to make anybody feel like you're evil.
25:33
You're bad, you're destitute, but actually embracing them like
25:37
you have everything before you. Here you are at the temple,
25:40
listening to my word. Take heart that your heart has
25:44
been with God and that he wants to save you.
25:47
And as you stay committed with your heart in the right place,
25:51
you will find the peace that you're looking for.
25:54
OK, now let's shift our focus to Mosiah.
25:56
Chapter 3. As we jump in here.
25:58
This is a very, very unique chapter.
26:01
On on a lot of levels. One King Benjamin gave.
26:06
His words in chapter 2. And then he opens.
26:08
With chapter three, we become. Aware of the fact that these
26:12
aren't just King Benjamin's words alone, an Angel came to
26:15
him and gave him these. Words to deliver to the.
26:18
People the language in. Chapter 3 is just lofty.
26:23
It's exulting, it's elevated, just beautiful on on every
26:27
level. I want to share a a little
26:31
experience with you that I've that I had on a couple of
26:34
occasions with a couple of different.
26:38
Apostles. Sharing this kind of an analogy,
26:41
the Joseph Smith Papers Project has been working to publish all
26:45
of Joseph Smith's writings, speeches, correspondence,
26:49
everything associated with Joseph Smith.
26:52
And it's all free online if you go to Joseph Smith.
26:54
Papers.org. You can look up the journals
26:59
section of Joseph and you can see his very very first journal
27:04
that Joseph ever wrote if you open the the journal number one
27:11
to Page 1. You will see.
27:14
That it has. On the Joe Smith Papers website
27:16
you can see the actual journal writing, and then you've also
27:20
got the transcription so you can read it.
27:24
Notice the date 27th of November 18th, 32 Tuesday.
27:29
Just to put this in the timeline, Joseph Smith did the
27:31
bulk of the translation process in the spring and summer of
27:36
1829, and then it's published and and finished in 1830.
27:41
We're now three years and a little bit after that.
27:45
So he's he's. Had a lot more experience and.
27:48
Here is his first record that that he wrote.
27:51
Notice it says Joseph Smith, Junior.
27:53
'S record book bought for. To note all the minute
27:56
circumstances, that comes under my observation.
27:59
Apparently he looked at that and said that that doesn't read
28:03
right. That doesn't look good.
28:05
So he crosses that. Out and says let me try again,
28:08
Joseph Smith. Junior's book for record.
28:10
Bought on the 27th of November 1830.
28:12
Two for the purpose to. Keep a minute account of all
28:15
things that come under my observation and etcetera.
28:18
Oh my God, grant that I may be directed in all my.
28:20
Thoughts. Oh blessed thy.
28:21
Servant, Amen. We have about 28% of the
28:25
original manuscripts. The Church.
28:27
Does, and we've got the printer's manuscript.
28:31
We don't have large sections that are crossed out and
28:35
rewritten in the original or the printer's manuscripts of the
28:39
Book of Mormon. But his first.
28:41
Effort to write a journal. Three years after he's.
28:45
Done. The Book of Mormon translation.
28:47
He's. Crossing it out.
28:48
It's clunky. It sounds very, shall we say,
28:52
farm. Boyish people will.
28:54
Say a. Lot of really, really bad.
28:56
Things about Joseph. It's easy to to dig up dirt on
29:00
people. The reality is is.
29:03
I have a testimony of Joseph Smith the.
29:07
Prophet, the Seer and Revelator. Of the Lord, the instrument that
29:11
the Lord used to bring forth the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and
29:15
Covenants, the the to restore the gospel and the priesthood
29:18
and the Church to the earth. I absolutely have have a
29:22
testimony. Of Joseph the Seer.
29:26
I don't have a testimony of Joseph the farm boy who's
29:30
writing in his journal in November of. 1832 he he's.
29:34
A man and Emma, late much later in life, said that her husband
29:38
Joseph. Could.
29:39
Barely dictate a coherent letter, let alone write one at
29:44
the time that she married him, which is the same time that he's
29:46
doing the the translation process of the Book Mormon.
29:49
I love the fact. That God uses simple farm boy.
29:55
Type people to do his work to build up the.
29:59
Kingdom of God throughout history.
30:02
It's empowering to us today to say God can take me with all of
30:07
my imperfections and in some parts of my life, it's it's.
30:11
Very, very poor. And I have to keep crossing out
30:14
my work and trying again and again and again.
30:17
But God can work through me to bring forth amazing truths
30:22
because it's God who's doing it, not me.
30:26
Joseph was simply an instrument. He wasn't the source of the
30:29
book. He was the instrument that God
30:32
chose. To do this this latter day work
30:34
of restoration. Now contrast what you read in
30:38
Joseph's journal. Where Joseph is.
30:41
Writing as a man or as a farm boy.
30:44
Contrast that with language that you hear now coming from King
30:48
Benjamin as the words of an Angel.
30:51
Delivered to these people. I'm just going to read a.
30:54
Few of the verses. And listen to the to the the
30:58
flow and the feeling of these words.
31:01
Start in verse. Five of chapter 3 for.
31:04
Behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant.
31:10
That with power. The Lord Omnipotent who
31:13
reigneth, who was and is from all eternity to all eternity,
31:18
shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and
31:22
shall dwell in a Tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst
31:26
men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick,
31:30
raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to
31:34
receive their sights, and the deaf to hear, and curing all
31:38
manner of diseases. Jump down to verse 7 And lo, he
31:42
shall suffer temptations and pain of body, hunger, thirst,
31:47
and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto
31:51
death. For behold, blood cometh from.
31:54
Every poor so. Great shall be his anguish for
31:58
the wickedness and the abominations of his.
32:00
People. And this all culminates then
32:04
with verse 8 and He. Shall be called Jesus Christ.
32:09
The Son of God, the Father of Heaven and.
32:13
Earth, the creator of all. Things from the beginning.
32:18
And his mother shall be called Mary.
32:21
It's not our job to try to convince you that Joseph Smith.
32:24
Is a true prophet or that the? Book of Mormon is true.
32:27
That's the the job or the responsibility of the Holy
32:30
Ghost. All I.
32:32
Would say is as I. Read this book.
32:36
I am drawn in my mind and my heart.
32:40
I'm drawn to. Christ through the power of the
32:43
Holy Ghost. I'm drawn.
32:45
To the Father I. I.
32:48
Want to be better. My thoughts are elevated, my my
32:52
desires are deepened to for discipleship.
32:55
I love Joseph Smith, the the prophet and Seer of our Lord,
33:01
and I have a testimony that He was absolutely inspired, and I
33:06
believe him with all my heart when he.
33:08
Says the book was. Translated by the gift and.
33:11
Power of God, not the. Power of the intellect.
33:15
Or the power of of. Mortal reasoning alone.
33:19
I love the fact that we live in a day with modern day prophets,
33:23
just like King Benjamin. If you look at verse 13, God
33:26
explains why he sends prophets. We have them today, and we can
33:30
listen to the words at General conference or in other settings.
33:32
We also have modern day scripture and ancient scripture.
33:36
All these things were given of God as gifts to us, that we can
33:40
know that Jesus is the Son of God.
33:44
Let me read verse 13. And the Lord God has sent his
33:48
holy prophets among all the children of men to declare these
33:52
things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby
33:56
whosoever should believe that Christ should come the same
34:00
might receive remission of their sins and rejoice with
34:03
exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among
34:07
them. The whole point here is to have
34:09
joy. Yes, they're suffering.
34:11
We've all had difficulty. We can all think of hurts and
34:13
pains. And this is the consequence of
34:16
being alive. Sometimes I wonder really what I
34:18
was thinking when I voted to come down here when I'm having a
34:21
bad day. But then you realize that joy is
34:24
always the possibility of keeping the commandments.
34:28
Yeah, I've had bitter moments, but those bitter moments have
34:31
prepared me to experience greater joy than I could have
34:34
ever known because of the tone of Jesus Christ.
34:37
And I know in my own life, when I have chosen to trust Jesus, to
34:40
believe him, I've had joy. And when I've chosen to be
34:44
focused too much on myself and the things of this world and
34:46
kind of forget who God is, things have not gone well.
34:50
And that's why these things have been revealed, is that we can
34:53
have joy. And we ask you just think to
34:55
yourself, what have you had joy in your life and how is that
34:58
aligned with when you have been connected and focused on God and
35:02
his Son? Verse 19, Chapter 3, verse 19 is
35:06
one of the most famous verses not just in King Benjamin's
35:10
speech, but in the entire Book of Mormon, where he speaks of
35:14
the natural man being an enemy to God and has been from the
35:19
fall of Adam. And will be forever.
35:22
Unless he yields to the Enticings.
35:24
Of the holy. Spirit and put us off the
35:26
natural man and become as a St. through the Atonement of Christ
35:30
the Lord. Now you'll notice.
35:32
How he follows this up? And also be cometh as a child,
35:37
and then he. Lists a whole series of
35:40
attributes of children. Submissive, make humble,
35:43
patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things that.
35:45
The Lord sees fit. To inflict upon him, even as a
35:49
child does submit to his father. The fascinating thing for me is
35:53
to to notice that. Every list of good.
35:57
Attributes in the scriptures. Regardless of who it's.
36:01
Describing in the immediate audience or in the immediate.
36:04
Storyline every good. List is simply a description.
36:10
Of Jesus Christ you. Want to become a true Christian?
36:13
You want to be more like. Christ every.
36:16
Time you come to these. Lists it would be worth your.
36:19
Time to mark each element in whatever way works for you and
36:23
contemplate. Perhaps begin with times in.
36:26
Jesus's life Where he? Demonstrated those different.
36:30
Attributes those characteristics, those
36:32
perfections. So that you can come to
36:35
understand. The character of Christ.
36:38
His. His being.
36:39
So that he becomes more than just a painting on a wall, or a
36:41
statue on your shelf, or a name on a page, but he becomes more
36:46
real to you. He he becomes more relatable,
36:50
more understandable. So for instance, becometh as.
36:54
We could replace the word. Child there with becometh as.
36:57
Christ. Nobody was more submissive than.
37:00
Christ his whole. Life was submitting.
37:03
His will to the Father. Meek, humble, patient.
37:08
You could think of examples and. Stories throughout his life.
37:12
And in the scriptures where he. Modelled those attributes.
37:16
And those perfections and then don't stop there, because it's
37:20
it's not enough for us to just stop at the glorifying Christ
37:25
realm, but to say I want to emulate him.
37:28
That's what the covenant path is all about.
37:31
It's a path. A way.
37:33
To become like him. Not just to return to the
37:37
presence of our Heavenly Parents.
37:38
To be to become more like them. And so we could think of times.
37:44
And unfortunately, every one of us is going to be able to think
37:46
of the negative times where we weren't submissive, where we
37:49
weren't meek, where we weren't humble, we weren't patient.
37:53
But hopefully we can become more intentional, more purposeful in
37:59
our prayers. Going to God saying
38:02
specifically, I need help, I want to be more like Jesus.
38:08
It begins with this desire in our hearts and we.
38:10
Plead with with God. To help us be more.
38:14
Of these attributes. And then be patient with
38:18
ourselves. Be humble with ourselves in the
38:22
process of stumbling along this covenant path, which some of us
38:26
more than others, spend more time on the ground trying to
38:29
figure out how we fell yet again.
38:31
But gratefully that. That rod of iron is there at all
38:34
times to help us get back up and keep moving forward.
38:37
For some of us, this last line is really important, being
38:42
willing to submit to all things which the Lord sees fit to
38:44
inflict upon him, even as a child does submit to his.
38:47
Father, brothers and sisters. Some of the.
38:50
Greatest tests of your discipleship.
38:53
Some of the greatest. Tests of your character are.
38:57
Going to be what you do with things.
39:00
That God has. Given you that aren't pleasant,
39:03
it could be health concerns. It could be family struggles,
39:07
relational issues. It could be emotional, mental,
39:11
financial, spiritual struggles and wrestles that are given to
39:17
you by God and instead of shaking our fists at heaven and
39:22
and cursing the heavens for why is my life so?
39:25
Hard Why do I have to deal with? This one they don't.
39:28
Instead of that to follow Christ's example, which is.
39:32
Perfectly laid out for us. In his phrase, when he goes into
39:35
Gethsemane and falls to the ground.
39:37
His prayer is ABBA Father. All things are possible unto
39:42
thee remove this cup from me. But then he follows it up with
39:47
nevertheless, Not as I will, but as thou will not my will but
39:51
thine be done. You do whatever you.
39:54
Need to do and I will. I will be submissive, I will be
39:58
meek and I will do it. And quite frankly, that is a
40:01
blueprint for all of. Us as we go through life.
40:05
That God gives us things. That are really hard.
40:08
And just like he didn't take the suffering away from Jesus in
40:11
Gethsemane and during the trials and on the cross, often he
40:15
doesn't take them away from us immediately in this life as
40:19
well. Because that's.
40:21
Where we learn the most about God and about ourselves in the
40:26
process. Tyler and I really love spending
40:29
time with you guys. It's just a a joy for us to be
40:32
with you every week. We love God, We love the
40:35
scriptures, and we hope that you feel God's love as you get back
40:39
into the Scriptures and come follow him.