Monday, July 21, 2014

Mosiah 5 and 6

Mosiah 5:  Faith brings us to a knowledge of the infinite goodness of God and our glorious future in the eternities with Him.  And that knowledge, born of faith, brings us overwhelming happiness and joy.  We are admonished to be "steadfast and immoveable, always abounding in good works" that we may be sealed up to salvation and eternal life with Christ.
APPLICATION: Have I felt the joy of the gospel and experienced the gift of revelation?  If not I must work to strengthen my faith for it is though faith that they are given.


Mosiah 6:  Everyone has his name officially recorded on the records of the church as having entered into a covenant with Christ.  Mosiah is made king, priests are appointed to teach and lead the people (wards made) Mosiah is a righteous man and king and there was no contentions among the people for 3 years.
APPLICATION:  If given a position of power and authority (ie king) would I remain humble and continue to labor alongside my fellow men?  Do I dream of or seek to move to a better neighborhood, bigger house, newer car in order to get involved with a "better class" of people? Or am I able to see each and all as a daughter or son of God no better or worse than myself?

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Mosiah 2,3,&4

Mosiah 2: King Benjamin addresses his people: A few of his main points- "when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God" "If ye should serve Him (God) with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants"  "If ye keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you"  "Beware lest there be contentions among you and ye list to obey the evil spirit" "Consider the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God, for behold they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual: and if they hold out to the end they are received...into a state of never ending happiness."
APPLICATION: Do I acknowledge God's hand in all of my life?  Am I grateful and obedient?


Mosiah 3:  King Benjamin continues: Jesus will come down and do many miracles and he will suffer temptations, pain, hunger, thirst and fatigue.  Even after all the miracles many will still consider him just a man and will scourge and crucify him.  But he will rise on the third day! He can now stand in righteous judgment and also his blood will atone for Adam's transgression and for those who have never heard the gospel or those who have ignorantly sinned (also children).  Salvation comes to those who have knowingly sinned ONLY through repentance and faith in Christ.  "there is no other way or name given".  The natural man is an enemy to God.  There will be a time when the gospel will spread though out every nation, kindred, tongue and people and then those words will stand as a testimony at the judgment day.  Where the people will be judged by their works. Their own guilt is what separates them from God and creates their torment.
APPLICATION:  Have I put off the natural man becoming like a child--submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all thing which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon me.    Also if Christ was at my door today--would I shrink to invite him in...or would my heart soar with love and acceptance as I flew to the door to embrace him?


Mosiah 4:  More of King Benjamin's address:  The Lord provides all to us and we are mandated to give to the poor, sick,  and widowed both temporally and spiritually.  If we deny a petition we sin the sin of covetness.  We must continually watch our thoughts, word, and deeds continuing in forth and enduring to the end for the ways and means to fall into sin are many.  He gives advice on how to raise our children---Caring for them physically and teaching them to love one another and not to quarrel and fight.  We can't judge others or justify ourselves in rejecting someone's plea for assistance for we are all beggars and all dependent on God. 
APP:ICATION.: Do I turn my eyes from the poor or homeless?  Do I justify myself in not giving because "they'll just buy drugs/alcohol/cigarettes?