Mosiah 3

As an introduction to my thoughts this morning, I have recently heard several saints complain about changes in Church traditions.  King Benjamin taught his people -

"...the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses."  (Mosiah 3:14)

Why? For with  -

"...many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets 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."  (Mosiah 3:15)

But the Jews couldn't deal with change and used the law of Moses to -

"...consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him."  (Mosiah 3:9)

Changes are made by the prophet to teach us a more holier way, or the Lord's way.

Mosiah 2

I was struck this morning as I read King Benjamin's warning to  his people -

"...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 him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge."  (Mosiah 2:32–33)

Adding -

"I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples."  (Mosiah 2:37)

"Listeth to obey" suggests willingness to obey or in this case wills to obey the evil spirit.  King Benjamin pleads that of those, they need to repent...we all need to repent.

Words of Mormon 1

I like how Mormon describes his reasoning for including the small plates of Nephi -

"...they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."  (Words of Mormon 1:6–7)

Obviously, Mormon did not receive some marvelous revelation, just that he followed the promptings of the Spirit.

Omni 1

Considering some of his forefathers, Amaleki seems to have bought into the teachings of Mosiah and the prophets as is final writings say -

"...I shall deliver up these plates unto him [king Benjamin], exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."  (Omni 1:25–26)

Jarom 1

Jarom wrote -

"Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance."  (Jarom 1:11–12)

Apparent the work of priesthood leaders.

Enos 1

Enos records -

"And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world."  (Enos 1:26)

As I get older, I relate with the words "and have rejoiced in it above that of the world".

Jacob 6

After teaching Zenos's Allegory of the Olive Tree, Jacob pleads -

"O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.
12 O be wise; what can I say more?"  (Jacob 6:11–12)

The wisdom of the world may disagree, but this is true wisdom.

Jacob 4

With the conditions today with the coronavirus, Jacob taught -

"Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God."  (Jacob 4:8)

Adding -

"Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand..."  (Jacob 4:10)

I acknowledge God's hand in all things.  I believe He knows what the reason and purpose is of all things.

Jacob 3

Jacob promises and warns his people -

"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
3 But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes..."  (Jacob 3:2–3)

Adding

"O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death."
(Jacob 3:11)

This is all about pure in heart...and for "husbands love their wives."  (Jacob 3:7)

Jacob 2

Jacob speaks of a tendency of the rich -

"...because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they."  (Jacob 2:13)

He warns -

"...he can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!"  (Jacob 2:15)

Jacob counsels -

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God."  (Jacob 2:17–18)

Jacob 1

Jacob stated - 

"...we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in..."  (Jacob 1:7)

I think this especially applies to family.

2 Nephi 33

In closing his record, Nephi pleads -

"...ye must pray always, and not faint..."  (2 Nephi 32:9)

He even adds this great truth -

",,,For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people."  (2 Nephi 33:3–4)

As Nephi teaches that our prayers for other will be for their gain.

2 Nephi 30

Nephi warns -

"...the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire."  (2 Nephi 30:10)

In modern day, the Lord said -

"And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour cometh an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked; and in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire."  (Doctrine and Covenants 63:54)

This division will be between the foolish and the wise.  It is difficult to determine either but it is may opinion the "believers" that are striving to live what they have been taught may be considered the wise.

2 Nephi 28

When it comes to modern revelation, Nephi warns -

"Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!"  (2 Nephi 28:29)

I believe this can also refer to general conference and personal revelation.  The Lord explains -

"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."  (2 Nephi 28:30)

Is it any wonder the Prophet has encouraged us to seek and experience the Holy Ghost.