What Does the Prophet Say?

The Book of Mosiah

Chapters 1-6
 

"King Benjamin teaches his sons the language and prophecies of their fathers—Their religion and civilization have been preserved because of the records kept on the various plates—Mosiah is chosen as king and is given custody of the records and other things. About 130–124 B.C."-Introduction to Mosiah Chapter 1

"King Benjamin addresses his people—He recounts the equity, fairness, and spirituality of his reign—He counsels them to serve their Heavenly King—Those who rebel against God will suffer anguish like unquenchable fire. About 124 B.C."-Introduction to Mosiah Chapter 2

"King Benjamin continues his address—The Lord Omnipotent will minister among men in a tabernacle of clay—Blood will come from every pore as He atones for the sins of the world—His is the only name whereby salvation comes—Men can put off the natural man and become Saints through the Atonement—The torment of the wicked will be as a lake of fire and brimstone. About 124 B.C."-Introduction to Mosiah Chapter 3

"King Benjamin continues his address—Salvation comes because of the Atonement—Believe in God to be saved—Retain a remission of your sins through faithfulness—Impart of your substance to the poor—Do all things in wisdom and order. About 124 B.C."-Introduction to Mosiah Chapter 4

"The Saints become the sons and daughters of Christ through faith—They are then called by the name of Christ—King Benjamin exhorts them to be steadfast and immovable in good works. About 124 B.C."-Introduction to Mosiah Chapter 5

"King Benjamin records the names of the people and appoints priests to teach them—Mosiah reigns as a righteous king. About 124–121 B.C."-Introduction to Mosiah Chapter 6

Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice

The plates were passed down from father to son to brother over several decades, until the small plates of Nephi were filled.

This record was then given to King Benjamin, a righteous man. He was starting to grow old, and he was going to pass down his crown to one of his sons, Mosiah. He also has a desire to speak to his people, and Mosiah calls together all the people.

So many people came to the city that there were tents set up all around. The plan was to speak to the people inside the temple, but Benjamin knew that he needed a better way to speak to his people, and so he had a tower built.

King Benjamin speaking from his tower

Benjamin climbed his tower, and looked out over the sea of tents, with the doors open and facing him.  He was pleased with how many of his people had come to hear him speak, and he started into the words that the Lord had commanded him to share.  He went on for a while before his son Mosiah climbed the tower to speak with him.

"Not everyone can hear you, Father," he let him know. "The ones on the very edge did not even know you were speaking."

"Ah, well that is very easily remedied," King Benjamin replied with a smile, and he then commanded his words to be written down as he spoke so that everyone, not just those very near to him, or the ones that had come, but all of his people, would be able to read it.

He spoke to the people about serving others, about keeping the commandments. He testified of Jesus Christ and His mission. He told his people that they must cast off the natural man. The people felt the Spirit of God as he spoke, and they knew that what he was saying was true. They knew that they were saved by Christ's atonement. They desired to make covenants with God to become born again, and many people were baptized that day.

As he finished his words, he consecrated Mosiah to be the king over the people.  Mosiah reigned as king, and he strived to be a king as his father had been.

So What?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Kay, we have this story of this old king who wanted to talk to his people before he died.  Big whoop.  We don't have kings anymore.  Even so, we're not going to go camp out on the White House lawn in tents, waiting for the president to speak to us.  We have TV and internet and radio, and we don't even have to get out of our PJs to hear our leaders speak.

 

What in the world does this have to do with me?  We live in 2014.  So outdated, right?

 

Well, yeah, we're not going to be put in this position unless there's an apocalyptic disaster, and we decide to go back to a monarch style of government, but this scenario actually does apply to us in technologically advanced 2014.

 

So, not every country has a king, but there is one thing that we all do have.  We have a prophet.  And guess what's happening this weekend?  General Conference!  For those who don't know, General Conference is when the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints cancel church for a weekend, and for 4 two-hour sessions over Saturday and Sunday, they speak to the world about topics that they have been inspired to talk on.  Among these speakers are those leaders over the women, the children, the youth, the men, and the apostles and prophets. 

 

There is a prophet of God speaking this weekend! 

 

President Thomas S. Monson
The Prophet

 

Now would you camp out in a tent in the prophet's back yard to hear him speak?  Please don't.  That's creepy, and he'll probably call the police. 

 

But he will love for you to come to General Conference in Salt Lake City Utah!  It is an incredible experience!  Except, there's only seating for 21,000 people in the Conference Center.  And I don't know how close you are to Utah.  And airplane tickets are pretty pricey. 

 

So, there's the same situation we've got with King Benjamin.  We've got a ton of people to come hear him talk, and there's just not enough room.

 

We're in the technological age, though!  So, the prophet doesn't climb up on a tower.  The conference is video taped and recorded and then broadcast to TVs, radios, church buildings all over the world, and the internet!  And you don't even have to watch it live, you can watch it after the fact online, and you can watch conferences from years and years ago! 

 

Well, what about everyone else that doesn't have a TV or a radio or a computer?  The conference is written down, and it is distributed in the November and May issues of the church magazines, the Ensign and the Liahona.

 

There is no reason for you to miss getting to know what the prophet and apostles have said. 

 

The Conference Center in Salt Lake City

So, if God came down and wanted to talk to you, just to you, what would He say?  I don't know, but I do know that if you wanted to know, you would listen to the modern day prophet, because God answers prayers, and you will receive an answer through your prayers by listening to General Conference. 

 

 

 

 

 

To read the actual scriptural account, you can find them here: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6.

 

To watch/read/listen to conference, you can go to LDS.org

(extra laugh from quotes from last general conference ;) )