I Will Not Succor My People in the Day of Their Transgression

 Mosiah 7:29 For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not ^asuccor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a ^bstumbling block before them.

The people of Limhi had gone through a lot of trials, which they brought upon themselves through transgression.  Sometimes people think they can break the commandments and the Lord is supposed to still grant their every wish and help them along. People think God is some kind of good fairy who only wants them to be happy.  Well, He does want us to be happy, but not like spoiled children who get so much candy they get a tummy-ache.  He wants us to be happy because we're being obedient and growing to be responsible adults.

The people of Limhi had been very wicked under King Noah's reign and when they tried to throw off the yoke of the Lamanites the Lord was slow to hear their cries.  They had to repent and truly humble themselves and prove their obedience before he came to their assistance.

However, I've observed that even when people are really in the depths of sin that the Lord sends promptings and nudges to their minds and hearts to tell them that they need to change.  He never gives up on us or abandons us.  There is always a way back.

 

Looking Back at King Benjamin's Great Sermon

I'm a little sad to be finished studying King Benjamin's speech.  There are so many life-changing teachings there.  I've tried to visualize what it was like to be there, and really can't imagine it.  But we do know that the people truly repented and were born again; that they fell to the earth because they were so overcome by the Spirit; that they entered into a covenant to take Christ's name upon them.

We also know that when an exploration party returned to the land of Nephi to find the Nephites who had returned to that land, one of the first things Ammon did as he greeted King Limhi and addressed the people was to tell them about the teachings of Benjamin.

 Mosiah 8:3 And he also rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had ^ataught them, and explained them to the people of king Limhi, so that they might understand all the words which he spake.

That tells me two things.  First, the sermon was one of the major events in the time the groups were separated.  Second, Ammon had studied and pondered the sermon enough that he could rehearse and explain it to the people.  If someone asked me what our President Monson said in our last conference, I might be able to discuss it for a couple of minutes and give a few highlights, but not rehearse and explain the whole sermon.  It surely changed those people.

One more piece of evidence of the impact of the sermon.  Chapter 26 of Mosiah tells us this:

1 Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the ^awords of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did ^bnot believe the tradition of their fathers.

2 They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.

 3 And now because of their ^aunbelief they could not ^bunderstand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.

So these of the rising generation did not believe and their hearts were hardened because they were too small at the time of the sermon to understand his words.  This tells me that for almost an entire generation, all of the people DID believe and it changed their entire lives.  That was the impact of Benjamin's great sermon.  

The Name Can Be Blotted Out Through Transgression

Mosiah 5:11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the ^aname that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

Benjamin wanted to teach his people to be born again in Christ, and he used a lot of symbolism that we find in the temple.  The name that he gave them is an example of that.  He promises that it would never be blotted out, except through transgression.

We've all seen it.  Someone whose light shines brightly, who radiates the Gospel in their lives.  And then something happens.  Benjamin says it's sin.  Perhaps they take offense at something someone says.  Perhaps they start missing church.  I don't know what causes it.  Maybe they start criticizing their leaders.  But the light goes out and they find fault with the church and lose their way.

In Sri Lanka we were introduced to a man who used to be a Catholic priest.  He told us the story of how he found the Gospel and was converted.  Then, of course, he had to leave the Catholic church and find a new job.  It was a very difficult time, but he did it because he knew the Gospel was true.  But somehow, he lost his grip on that truth.  At the time we met him, he was almost totally inactive.  He still seemed to hold on to his testimony, because as he related his story, he was still very moved, but it was not enough to keep him attending church.  

It was so sad to think that he had given up everything in his life for the Church because he found that pearl of great price.  But then he let go of the pearl.

I guess the parable of the sower is a good description of what happens.  Some seeds fall onto stony places and bloom for a while, and then cares of the world come and choke them out and the plants wither and die.

It grieves my heart to think of these people!  I guess we just need to keep loving them and praying for them and hope that they will come back in the Lord's time.

Faith is a Gift and a Commandment

Mosiah 5:4 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.

The people had faith on the teachings of King Benjamin and because of that faith, they were blessed with great knowledge which gave them exceedingly great joy.

We know that faith is the first principle of the Gospel, according to the 4th Article of Faith.  Ponder on this statement from the Church website:  In order for faith to lead to salvation, it must be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:10-12; Mosiah 3:17; Moroni 7:24-26; Articles of Faith 1:4). We can exercise faith in Christ when we have an assurance that He exists, a correct idea of His character, and a knowledge that we are striving to live according to His will. 

Many books have been written about faith, but I'm not sure I really comprehend it.  I believe faith is a gift that God gives to us when we seek Him and are obedient.  It starts as a small seedling, as Alma described in Alma 32, but it is our responsibility to nurture it and feed it and exercise it.  We do those things as we study His Gospel and ponder on His teachings and continue to be obedient.  We must be "anxiously engaged" in many good works.

Exercising faith doesn't sound like a spectator sport.  We can't be lazy and complacent to exercise our faith.  We must be proactive in doing good things.  But it doesn't take much faith to travel along a smooth road.  It's when the road gets bumpy and hilly that things get hard.

Boyd K. Packer gave a talk called Candle of the Lord.  He's talking here about how to gain a testimony.  "Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that “leap of faith,” as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two. “The spirit of man,” as the scripture says, indeed “is the candle of the Lord.” (Prov. 20:27.)"

I believe this applies to exercising our faith.  We must sometimes "step into the darkness"  in our obedience in order for our faith to grow.  Then the Lord will bless us with more faith, and the cycle will continue.

According to Their Wants

We have a problem with service.  We want to give what is convenient and easy for us to give.  We want to give a meal or a dollar, but find it hard to give time or anything that really inconveniences us.

Don't get me wrong.  Sacrificing our money or our time to make a meal for someone else is noble and admirable.  But what if the person needs help in training for a job, or a ride to the doctor?  Somehow we need to learn to find out from the person and from inspiration from the Lord what they need and want.

I remember reading about some immigrants from an Asian country who arrived with practically nothing but the clothes on their backs.   The ward welcomed them and stocked their pantry with food.. But the newcomers were only used to fish and rice and didn't know how to prepare the American food.  They needed friends who spoke their language who could teach and guide them and who would find out what they WANTED.

We can only know these things through inspiration.  Sometimes even the people themselves don't know what they need.  What they think they want may be different than what they really need.  Only the Lord knows that.

I was thinking this morning about Christ's Atonement.  If you were writing a fiction story about a god who had to save a world, you would imagine that an immortal and all-powerful being could save a world by waving his hand or writing a proclamation or something easy.  Maybe call down his minions or something.   You wouldn't imagine that an all-powerful being would have to SUFFER for the world he was saving.  Or that He would be WILLING to suffer for those lowly people in His world.  But He was willing, and He did suffer for us.  Because He loves us.  And He wants us to be like Him and to sacrifice, maybe even suffer a little, for those around us.  Because we love them as He loves us.

Both Spiritually and Temporally

Mosiah 4:26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may ^awalk guiltless before God—I would that ye should ^bimpart of your substance to the ^cpoor, every man according to that which he hath, such as ^dfeeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

There's so much to ponder in this verse. Benjamin is kind of summarizing the previous section here.  He reminds us that we are doing these things to retain a remission of our sins and walk guiltless before God.  He counsels us to give of our substance to the poor, according to our resources.  Some things we can do are feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and administer to their relief, both spiritually and temporally.  

Up to now we've mostly been talking about their temporal needs, but here he reminds us to look after their spiritual needs as well. Emotional needs must also be met.  As Alma counseled, we need to succor those in need of succor, comfort those in need of comfort.  We need to put our arms around them and support and comfort them, to cheer them on.

And we should never forget that the best way to bless others is to share the Gospel with them.  We should bear our testimony to them when we are prompted to do so. The Gospel has the ability to lift people out of the slums, to help them improve their own situation. The Gospel teaches people to be industrious and to work hard.  And payment of tithing blesses people in many ways, some of which are financial.

Even those who already have a testimony will appreciate the spiritual reminder that the Lord loves them and is aware of their suffering.  Many times the best gift is a hug and a reminder that we are praying for them.

Judge Not

Mosiah 4:22 And if ye ^ajudge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, 

King Benjamin tells us in verse 22 that if we look at the beggar and judge him and condemn him, we will be in big trouble.  We're setting ourselves up as judges, but we only look on the outward appearance.  We can't see another's heart.  We don't know what brought him to this point.  Does he have health problems which prevent him from working?  Does he battle depression?  Sometimes a series of disasters in someone's life have brought him to this.  We can't know.  We can't judge.  It isn't our place to judge.  And Benjamin tells that if we withhold our substance, it isn't ours at all, but His who gave it to us. 

This also brings us back to the basic premise which Benjamin taught us earlier that if we are truly converted and have true charity, or the pure love of Christ, we will have no desire to judge.  We will see the beggar as Christ sees him and love him and have compassion for him and desire all that is best for him.

King Benjamin Teaches Us How to Treat Beggars.

It's such a joy to study King Benjamin's mighty speech.  In chapter 4, verses 16-25 he talks about our treatment of those less fortunate than ourselves, specifically beggars.  Remember that this is assuming we have been truly converted to Christ and have obtained a remission for our sins.  Now we see people differently than we did as a "natural man".  Now we have love and charity and see those around us as fellow children of God.

Benjamin spends a good deal of his time trying to teach us how to deal with beggars.  He makes the following points:  (I know, I'm sorry that I always feel the need to summarize things, to create an outline.  It helps me see more clearly.)

• We need to succor those who are in need.
• We have no right to judge their condition and if we do we are called to repentance, and except we repent, we will lose our eternal reward.
• We are all beggars, because we must beg our God for everything we have.
• We also beg Him to forgive us for our sins.
• He is generous with us and forgives us and blesses us with an abundance of the Spirit.
• If God blesses us even though we haven't earned the blessings, we ought to bless others of His children.
• If we judge others and condemn them, our condemnation from God will be great and our substance will perish with us.
• Those poor who do not give to the beggar but would if they could, are not condemned; but if they withhold out of greed, they are coveting that which they do not have and are condemned.

I found this quote from President Joseph F. Smith:
"I have seen men go away from my door with good bread and butter in their hands (good enough for any king to eat, for my folks make good bread and good butter, as good as I ever ate on earth) and when out of the gate they have thrown it into the street. It was not food they wanted. They wanted money. For what? That they might go to some gambling [hall] or to some drinking saloon. Of course they are responsible for that. We can only judge by appearances and by the promptings of the good spirit within us; and it is better to give to a dozen that are unworthy than to turn away empty one worthy person." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, Pr/RS Manual, p. 194)

As I approached Walmart the other day, I saw someone at the parking lot entrance/exit standing in the cold, holding up a sign.  A beggar.  My first thought was my usual one:  Oh no, I guess I'll use the other exit.  But on the way out, I forgot and found myself at the stop sign by the beggar.  King Benjamin's words came into my mind, so I found some money in my wallet and gave it to the woman.  Her sign said that her family was in need.  I don't know what she did with the money, whether she bought drugs for herself or food for her family, but obviously it's not my place to judge.  And I felt the Spirit telling me that I had done the right thing.

The Cart Before the Horse

King Benjamin has given some instructions in Mosiah 4:9-11; a key to retaining the repentance and forgiveness and testimony they had just received, which testimony had caused them to fall to the earth in humility.

So in verses 9 through 11, he gives a list of things that they can do to keep this testimony bright.  Following these guidelines, he gives them a list of blessings that will follow, since blessings always follow obedience.  These blessings are great and wondrous, but often we mistake these for commandments themselves.  Actually, they are the natural consequences of being guided by the Spirit, of being humble, of trying to emulate the Savior.

I'm going to try to give a very capsulized list of the guidelines and then the blessings that follow obedience to those guidelines.

Guidelines: 

1. Believe in God.  Know about Him.  Learn His true nature.  Know Him.
2. Repent of your sins, forsake them, ask in humility to be forgiven for them.
3. Do it.
4. Call upon God continually in humility.
5. Be faithful.

Blessings:

1. Rejoice
2. Be filled with the love of God
3. Retain a remission of your sins
4. Grow in the knowledge of the glory of God
5. Have love and respect for your fellow man
6. Be guided in parenting your children
7. Bless and serve those around you.

 If we get the cart before the horse, we might think that we can be good parents (this is the one most often quoted as a commandment rather than a blessing) just by trying harder.  We view Benjamin's words as instructions rather than a logical consequence of being a disciple of Christ.

As a natural man (or natural woman), I can try to overcome those tendencies and try to be a good parent.  I can search out experts and follow lists of advice on how to raise good children.  But worldly advice may vary or change with the times, and children are all different.

But if I am truly converted and am led by the Spirit and am trying to be more Christlike in all I do, my motivation and my instructions will come from the Spirit.  The Lord knows what each child needs and will inspire me in how to meet that child's needs, because they are all His children first.

The same principle applies for all of the other blessings that Benjamin lists.  We have love for our fellow men because we first love Christ.  We help the beggar because the love of God fills our hearts.  This is what Benjamin was telling us.  If we get it backwards, we struggle.  It's still possible to be a good parent and an upright, honest and caring person, but it's much harder!

See That Ye Do Them

" . . . and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them."   (Mosiah 4:10)

How often do we say,  "I know I shouldn't do this, but . . ."  or "I know I should (something), but . . ."

We know we should eat better; we know we should help our neighbor; we know we shouldn't drive too fast; we know we shouldn't spend so much time on Facebook.

It's unfortunate when we make mistakes when we don't know any better.  But most of the time we know what we should be doing and what we should avoid doing, and we consciously decide to go against a prompting and do it anyway.

I once saw a quote that says, "If we know what we know, then why do we do what we do?"

Good question.