THE BOOK OF MOSIAH
CHAPTER 1.
King Benjamin’s exhortation to his sons — Mosiah chosen to succeed his father — Mosiah receives the records, etc.
1. And now there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days.
2. And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his ancestors, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their mothers and fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Divine Parents.
3. And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of Godde.
4. For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, and our mother, Sariah, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to their children, except it were for the help of these plates; for they having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore they could read these engravings, and teach them to their children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of Godde, even down to this present time.
5. I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of Godde, that we might read and understand of their mysteries, and have their commandments always before our eyes, that even our ancestors would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our sisters and brothers, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their ancestors, which are not correct.
6. O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our ancestors from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.
7. And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of Godde, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which our Heavenly Parents made unto our ancestors.
8. And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book.
9. And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of teaching his sons, that he waxed old, and he saw that he must very soon go the way of all the earth; therefore, he thought it expedient that he should confer the kingdom upon one of his sons.
10. Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying: My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler over this people, whom the Divine Parents, our Godde, hath given us.
11. And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Eternal Godde hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Divine Parents.
12. And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression.
13. Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this highly favored people of the Eternal Godde should fall into transgression, and become a wicked and an adulterous people, that Godde will deliver them up, that thereby they become weak like unto their sisters and brothers; and Godde will no more preserve them by their matchless and marvelous power, as they have hitherto preserved our ancestors.
14. For I say unto you, that if Godde had not extended their arm in the preservation of our mothers and fathers they must have fallen into the hands of the Lamanites, and become victims to their hatred.
15. And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of these sayings to his son, that he gave him charge concerning all the affairs of the kingdom.
16. And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our ancestors through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto our Heavenly Parents.
17. Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven back, and incurred the displeasure of Godde upon them; and therefore they were smitten with famine and sore afflictions, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty.
18. And now, it came to pass that Mosiah went and did as his father had commanded him, and proclaimed unto all the people who were in the land of Zarahemla that thereby they might gather themselves together, to go up to the temple to hear the words which his father should speak unto them.
CHAPTER 2.
King Benjamin builds a tower from which he addresses his people — The righteous reign of a Godde-fearing king.
1. And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.
2. And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.
3. And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses;
4. And also that they might give thanks to the Eternal Godde, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just people to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of Godde, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards Godde and all women and men.
5. And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents about, every family consisting of parents, and their sons, and their daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.
6. And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every family having their tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;
7. For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.
8. And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.
9. And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My sisters and brothers, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of Godde may be unfolded to your view.
10. I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye should fear me, or that ye should think that I of myself am more than a mortal man.
11. But I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen by this people, and consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand of Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father that I should be a ruler and a king over this people; and have been kept and preserved by their matchless power, to serve you with all the might, mind, and strength which the Divine Parents have granted unto me.
12. I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend my days in your service, even up to this time, and have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you;
13. Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of our Heavenly Parents, in all things which they have commanded you -
14. And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne — and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.
15. Yet, my sisters and brothers, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before Godde this day.
16. Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of Godde.
17. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your Godde.
18. Behold, ye have called me your kin; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?
19. And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of Godde, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King and Queen!
20. I say unto you, my sisters and brothers, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that Godde who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another -
21. I say unto you that if ye should serve them who have created you from the beginning, and are preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another — I say, if ye should serve them with ail your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
22. And behold, all that they require of you is to keep their commandments; and they have promised you that if ye would keep their commandments ye should prosper in the land; and they never do vary from that which they have said; therefore, if ye do keep their commandments they do bless you and prosper you.
23. And now, in the first place, they have created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto them.
24. And secondly, they doth require that ye should do as they have commanded you; for which if ye do, they do immediately bless you; and therefore they have paid you. And ye are still indebted unto them, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?
25. And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to them who created you.
26. And I, even I, whom ye call your king, am no better than ye yourselves are; for I am also of the dust. And ye behold that I am old, and am about to yield up this mortal frame to its mother earth.
27. Therefore, as I said unto you that I had served you, walking with a clear conscience before Godde, even so I at this time have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might be found blameless, and that your blood should not come upon me, when I shall stand to be judged of Godde of the things whereof they have commanded me concerning you.
28. I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together that I might
rid my garments of your blood, at this period of time when I am about to go down to my grave, that I might go down in peace, and my immortal spirit may join the choirs above in singing the praises of a just Godde.
29. And moreover, I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might declare unto you that I can no longer be your teacher, nor your king;
30. For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Eternal Godde doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you.
31. And now, my sisters and brothers, I would that ye should do as ye have hitherto done. As ye have kept my commandments, and also the commandments of my father, and have prospered, and have been kept from falling into the hands of your enemies, even so if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of Godde which shall be delivered unto you by my son, ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have no power over you.
32. But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit, which was spoken of by my father Mosiah.
33. For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon the person who listeth to obey that spirit; for if they listeth to obey that spirit, and remaineth and dieth in their sins, the same drinketh damnation to their own soul; for they receiveth for their wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of Godde contrary to their own knowledge.
34. I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to your Heavenly Mother and Father, to render to them all that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets and prophetesses, even down to the time our father, Lehi, and mother, Sariah, left Jerusalem;
35. And also, all that has been spoken by our mothers and fathers until now. And behold, also, they spake that which was commanded them of the Eternal Godde; therefore, they are just and true.
36. And now, I say unto you, my sisters and brothers, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of Godde, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved -
37. I say unto you, that a person that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against Godde; therefore they listeth to obey the evil spirit, and become an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, Godde has no place in them, for Godde dwells not in unholy temples.
38. Therefore if that person repent not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to Godde, the demands of divine justice do awaken their immortal soul to a lively sense of their own guilt, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of Godde, and doth fill their breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.
39. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that person; therefore their final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.
40. O, all ye old men and women, and also ye young men and women, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.
41. And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of Godde. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with Godde in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Eternal Godde hath spoken it.
CHAPTER 3.
King Benjamin’s address continued — Another prophecy of the Christ — More concerning the atonement.
1. And again my sisters and brothers, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.
2. And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from Godde. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.
3. And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.
4. For the Divine Parents have heard thy prayers, and have judged of thy righteousness, and have sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy.
5. For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of humanity, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men and women, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
6. And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of humanity.
7. And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than mortals can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
8. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of Godde, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
9. And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of humanity even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.
10. And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of humanity.
11. For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Eve and Adam, who have died not knowing the will of Godde concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.
12. But wo, wo unto those who know that they rebel against Godde! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
13. And the Eternal Godde hath sent their holy prophets and prophetesses among all the children of humanity, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, even as though he had already come among them.
14. Yet the Eternal Godde saw that their people were a stiff-necked people, and they appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses.
15. And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed Godde unto them, concerning the coming of Christ; and also holy prophets and prophetesses spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.
16. And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam and Eve, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.
17. And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of humanity, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
18. For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in infancy; but women and men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
19. For the natural woman or man is an enemy to Godde, and has been from the fall of Eve and Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless they yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural woman or man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which Godde seeth fit to inflict upon them, even as a child doth submit to their parents.
20. And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
21. And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before Godde, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord Omnipotent.
22. And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things which the Eternal Godde hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of Godde, only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee.
23. And now I have spoken the words which the Eternal Godde hath commanded me.
24. And thus saith the Divine Parents: They shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every person according to their works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.
25. And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of our Heavenly Parents into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.
26. Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of Godde, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Eve and Adam should fall because of their partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever.
27. And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever. Thus hath the Divine Parents commanded me. Amen.
