I think the core of King Benjamin's sermon to the Nephites is SERVICE. Serving God by serving your fellowmen. He did not only speak to his people, but King Benjamin has been laboring all his life to serve his people and to teach them the commandments of God and the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Mosiah 2:17 "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 God."
King Benjamin went on to elaborate on various stages of service. He talks about a beggar in the street begging either for money or for food. Who are we to judge those beggars? Some stay their hands from giving because they think they are strong enough to go and work and make a living. So true then and still true now. Who are we to judge? Aren't we all beggars before the Lord? Everyday we beg Heavenly Father for the things that we need. It is not ours to judge others and their situations. It is our place however, to share and give to those who are in need.
I have always been one to give whenever I see people with signs on the road. It doesn't matter to me what they use the money for. All I know is that I HAVE, so therefore I GIVE. When I don't have, then I don't give.
King Benjamin taught his people that there is NO other way they can be saved except that is through Christ.
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is anone other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
There were a few other concerns that King Benjamin was prompt to elaborate on:
* Mosiah 4:13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.
It's important that we all learn to get along and to be fair one with another.
* Mosiah 4:14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.
* Mosiah 4:15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.
Parents are obligated to teach their children and provide for them. See that they get along. One of the many flaws in my home is quarreling children. I have the darnest time trying to break up arguments and fights. It drives me berserk when they don't get along and are so rowdy and loud. There is no peace in the home when children don't get along. We have to make sure that our children love one another and serve one another.
16 And also, ye yourselves will succor
those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your
substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that
the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.
He ended Chapter 4 with a reminder:
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.
King Benjamin's teachings were useful then and still useful to us now as parents, hundreds and hundreds of years later. It's wonder Heavenly Father preserved these records for our days so that we many learn from those who walked this earth before us. They were people, parents, individuals just like us.
I am grateful for the Book of Mormon.
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