Mosiah 5

 King Benjamin describes the spirit of prophecy saying - 

"...we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy."  (Mosiah 5:3–4)

It is the Holy Ghost that brings "great views"

Mosiah 4

In his closing remarks, king Benjamin taught - 

"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."  (Mosiah 4:9)

Over the years, I've heard individuals declare that they cannot believe in a God when certain events have happened.  I believe king Benjamin is correct.  Man does not comprehend the meaning and purposes of God in all things.  That is why He demands faith.

Mosiah 3

 King Benjamin taught - 

"...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, 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 men, 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 his infancy; but 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 man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural 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 the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."  (Mosiah 3:16–19)

I think the just of this is the children are not born in sin or sinful.  They are not the natural man at birth, but become so.  Thus the natural needs to become a saint though the atonement.  He cannot do it on his own.

Mosiah 3

 Over a century before the Savior's birth, king Benjamin testifies that an angel told him - 

"...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 men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, 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 men.

7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man 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 God, 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 men 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 men."  (Mosiah 3:5–10)

This is tidings of great joy to me.

President Jeffrey R. Holland - Motions of a Hidden Fire

 What caught most listeners of President Hollands remarks was - 

"...I cannot speak fully of that experience here..."

But what I caught, he said directly to me was - 

"Our prayers ought to be vocal when we have the privacy to so offer them."

Referencing - 

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."  (Psalms 55:17)

Mosiah 2

King Benjamin mentions - 

"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."  (Mosiah 2:14)

I think that statement is interesting.  Were his people not taxed in any manner?  How did they make any common improvements?  Or, is the emphasis on "laden" suggesting less burdensome.  Jus my thoughts this morning.

Mosiah 1

 King Benjamin instructs his son, Mosiah, to gather the people for he wanted to talk with them.  One reason - 

"...I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God 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 Lord.

12 And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression."  (Mosiah 1:11–12)

We learn later that the name is "Christ".  Because Christ become the Father of Eternal Life, you would have to believe that those who obtain exaltation, their surnames may be considered His.

Words of Mormon

 Mormon writes - 

"...behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for 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)

I have experienced that in giving blessings that I don't know all things but it worketh in me to be His will.

Omni 1

 Though we learn in the book of Omni that - 

"...Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon."  (Omni 1:15)

...that we didn't know of Mulek or his name until later in the book of Mosiah.  There is no mention in The Book of Mormon of mulekites.  It's a modern developed name.

Jarom 1

 Jarom again reiterates - 

"...we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.

9 And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land."  (Jarom 1:8–9)

I believe this promise still holds today.

Enos 1

 As Enos prays for his fellow brethren, -

"...while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have given unto them this land, and it is a holy land; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their transgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads."  (Enos 1:10)

Even though we pray for family members and others, the Lord may provide opportunities for them, but he still allow agency.

Jacob 7

 I find it interesting that Sherem finally confessed before he died - 

"...he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.

18 And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.

19 And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God."  (Jacob 7:17–19)

Who knows what he suffered many days after the sign was given.  His words suggest repentance.  It will be interesting to learn of his final state.

Jacob 5

 Just for reference sake, David, J. Rigdes provided the following interpretation of the elements of Zenos's "The Allegory of the Olive Tree" - 

Item Interpretation 1. The vineyard 1. The world 

2. Master of the vineyard 2. Jesus Christ 

3. The servant 3. The Lord's prophets 

4. Tame olive tree 4. The house of Israel, the Lord's covenant people

5. Wild olive tree 5. Gentiles, or non-Israel (later in the parable, wild branches are apostate Israel) 

6. Branches 6. Groups of people 

7. The roots of the tame olive tree 7. The gospel covenant and promises made by God that constantly give life and sustenance to the tree 

8. Fruit of the tree 8. The lives or works of men 

9. Digging, pruning, fertilizing 9. The Lord's work with his children, which seeks to persuade them to be obedient and produce good fruit 

10. Transplanting the various branches 10. The scattering of groups throughout the world, or restoring them to their original position 

11. Grafting 11. The process of spiritual rebirth wherein one is joined to the covenant 

12. Decaying branches 12. Wickedness and apostasy 

13. Casting the branches into the fire 13. The judgment of God

Ridges, David J.. The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part 1: 1 Nephi to Words of Mormon (Your Study of The Standard Works Made Easier by David Ridges) (pp. 375-376). Cedar Fort, Inc. Kindle Edition. 

Jacob 5

 Much like Isaiah, I don't think all the allegory of Zenos is all necessarily chronological.  Zenos taught - 

"And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt."  (Jacob 5:39)

Much like Isaiah where his prophesies had double meaning, this could also mean much of this country in our day, for He asked - 

"...what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?

48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?"  (Jacob 5:47–48)

Jacob 4

 Jacob writes - 

"Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh."  (Jacob 4:11)

Obviously, that "ye may obtain a resurrection" is in reference to a Celestial resurrection being the "first-fruits" of Christ.

Jacob 3

 With general conference coming up, I thought the words of Jacob were very relevant in our day - 

"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."  (Jacob 3:2)