What the Priests Should Teach

"19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

 20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people." (Mosiah 18:19-20)

Alma was one of King Noah's wicked priests. However, hearing Abinadi's words touched Alma, even to the point of Alma sticking up for Abinadi when King Noah commanded that he be put to death. This made Noah mad, and he sent people after Alma, but he was able to escape.

Alma repented, and also wrote down everything he could about what Abinadi talked about. Then he started to preach the gospel. Once he had a following, he eventually baptized them, and organized a church. He appointed priests to help lead and teach the people, and he told them what to teach.

He told them to teach people faith in Christ, as well as repentance. These are the first principles of the gospel. He gave them other directions, such as keeping the Sabbath day holy, and helping the needy, but they were to only teach about faith and repentance.

I think sometimes we get caught up in details when teaching the gospel, and this is a good reminder to stick to the basics. This is great advice, especially since he was teaching people that didn't have a lot of experience in the gospel.

This can be true of what we do today. When we think about what and how to teach, I hope it's always the basic principles.

Influence of Those Around Us

"11 And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him.

 12 But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain." (Mosiah 17:11-12)

This is sad to me.

Abinadi almost was set free instead of burned to death.

One thing that I felt as I was reading this chapter was that we need to choose carefully who we associate with. I know King Noah was a wicked man. However, in this crucial moment, it sounds like he was on the fence, and could have chosen either side. Had his associates been good, righteous people, encouraging him to do the right thing instead of wicked people inciting anger and hatred, it seems to me that this would have been a turning point in his life, let alone the fact that Abinadi would have survived.

While it may not be a life or death situation we might be facing, we all get to the point sometimes when we are on the fence. When we could choose either good or evil. Which way we choose is often heavily influenced by who is around us, and who we have chosen to associate with. If we have chosen to associate with people who hold to our standards, or at least respect them, it will be more likely that they will help tip us over onto the side of the fence that we want to be on.

So choose your friends carefully.

They Would Not

"Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent." (Mosiah 16:12)

I feel like this describes me sometimes.

The phrase "they would not". It's kind of poignant. It doesn't mean they didn't see the arms of mercy extended. They saw them and wouldn't allow themselves to be encircled by them. It doesn't mean they didn't realize their iniquities, it means they knew about them and chose not to depart from them. It doesn't mean they didn't realize they should repent, they just decided not to.

I feel like I'm not alone in feeling like this describes me sometimes. This seems like a good description of what it's like to be the "natural man". That we sometimes give in to these things. It's different than being unaware of a certain principle or truth. It's different than not recognizing the Spirit when he tells us to make a certain choice. It's more willful, as in we just choose that path sometimes.

I feel like the goal of this life is to learn how to not make that choice. To (as I talked about in my previous post) turn our will over to God and do what He would want us to do.

Hopefully I can replace "they would not" with "they would" in my own life, and take every opportunity to do God's will, even until it becomes my will.

Will Swallowed Up

"Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father." (Mosiah 15:7)

There are a lot of good scriptures in this chapter. Again, Abinadi is explaining to them about what will take place in the future, basically as if it had already happened. He talks about the Atonement, and how Christ suffered a lot, and how He overcame both spiritual and physical death for us.

The thing that stuck out to me about this scripture is I think the hardest part about following God. Allowing your will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father is difficult. He is not taking away your free will, you are giving it to Him, and that distinction makes all the difference in the world. When I choose to do something to serve God, it is me making that decision.

I am grateful for a Father in Heaven that allowed me to keep my agency, and allow me to choose my path for myself. I'm sure it causes Him great pain to see all the times that His children choose paths other than His. Yet, a crucial part of His plan for my growth and development is my agency -- the ability for me to choose. This life wouldn't be that instructive if I was forced to only choose His path. I wouldn't come out of it learning much of anything. But my Heavenly Father loves and cares about me, and wants me to grow and learn. He wants me to improve, and prepare ultimately to become like Him.

I hope someday I can learn to allow my will to be swallowed up in His will. It is a life long pursuit.

Abinadi Testifies of the Atonement

"4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all." (Mosiah 14:4-6)

This is Abinadi quoting Isaiah. He was a prophet and he was testifying of what he knew to be true, even though it hadn't physically happened yet. Christ wouldn't come to earth for another 150 years or so, but Abinadi was so confident that it was going to happen, that he speaks as if it had already occurred.

I think that this just lays out the Atonement as it was. Christ went through what He went through in the garden and on the cross not because He needed it at all, but because we did.

I love that it talks about our griefs and sorrows as part of the Atonement. The Atonement is not just a sin-cleansing thing. It's amazing! It is anything that we can think of. It is for sickness, sorrows, and frustrations. It is for us when we are lonely, or sad. It helps us in everything we might need help.

A focus of the Atonement is that we are not perfect and we need an Atonement in order to return to Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father demands perfection, but understands that we can't do it alone. His plan included sending a Savior to perform an Atonement.

I testify that the Atonement is real. It has helped me in my life as I have sinned and also as I have struggled. I feel as though the Savior really knows me and my struggles and my weaknesses, and He is there for me to help me...if I ask for His help.

That's the key. The Atonement is there for all to call upon and make effective in our lives, but we must call upon it. As with everything else, God has given us the freedom to choose.

Choose the Atonement. Choose to need the Savior. It will make a difference in your life. It has in mine.

Abinadi had a Mission

"3 Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time.

4 But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad." (Mosiah 13:3-4)

King Noah commanded his men to take Abinadi and slay him. He didn't want to hear about how he and his people would be destroyed. He was angry. The truth is, he probably didn't like that little stirring of guilt inside when he heard the words of Abinadi.

But when they tried to take him, Abinadi flat out told them that he hadn't delivered his message yet, and they would be destroyed if they touched him. They believed him and backed off. It probably helped that his face started shining with exceeding luster. The spirit was upon him like Moses' experience when he spoke face to face with God. He went on to continue his message.

"7 Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I finish my message. Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities.

8 Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger.

9 But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved." (Mosiah 13:7-9)

One thing that I really like about Abinadi is that he knew what he was supposed to do, and he even knew the possibility that they might end up killing him. He wasn't trying to use God's power to escape or protect himself. He just wanted to share the message that he was sent to share. He even says that it didn't matter what they did to him afterwards, as long as he got to share his message, and that he is saved.

Eventually, they do kill Abinadi, which is sad to me. Someone as righteous and determined to do God's will as him certainly will be saved (as he desired when he said it didn't matter what happened to him after he got to share his message.)

 This attitude of Abinadi makes me wonder a bit about my own willingness to serve the Lord. I know that I love Him and I've got a testimony. However, if I recognized the very real possibility that I might die in the middle of serving God, I'm not entirely sure I would be as willing.

Something to work on, for sure.

Practice What You Preach

Abinadi preached and prophesied for 2 years after King Noah decided he wanted to kill him. He would disguise himself and everything, just so he could preach without getting pulled into the King to answer to him.

Finally, though, Abinadi was brought before the King. King Noah and his wicked priests were there to question him. They had a discussion about the meaning of a scripture, which caused Abinadi to start asking the questions. First, he asked them what they taught the people as priests if they had questions about this. They told him that they teach the Law of Moses (which was appropriate at the time because this was before Christ came to the earth and fulfilled that law).

"And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil against this people?" (Mosiah 12:29)

He points out that they themselves don't keep the Law of Moses, and even mentions some of the things they do that is not in keeping with that law. I assume that they don't actually teach the Law of Moses to the people, just because of how wicked they were.

I think this is a good question to go through my mind as I prepare lessons on Sunday for my class. I should have a little introspection whenever I teach a principle or commandment. I should be living them. If I expect the people I teach (my kids, the kids in my class, or anyone) to learn about and live these principles, I should be willing to as well.

If I find, upon thinking about this, that I'm not keeping it as well as I should, I need to repent and make a plan of action to keep that law. I need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. I want to be a good, living example of how to live these laws. Moreover, as Abinadi points out, the priests sins actually caused the people to sin. I don't want to cause anyone to sin because of my personal choices. Being a good example is the best teacher of all.

How Quickly the People Fall, and Why

Zeniff passed the kingdom on to his son, Noah.

"1 And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.

 2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart." (Mosiah 11:1-2)

Noah turned out to be a pretty different leader from his father. He was wicked. He placed a burdensome tax on the people to support himself. He "fired" all the priests that Zeniff had put in place, and appointed wicked priests.

Because of this wickedness in the leadership of the kingdom, the people began to be wicked as well. They were convinced to be this way by the cunning and crafty words of King Noah and his priests.

"And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches" (Mosiah 11:14)

This is a profound statement. Zeniff had placed his heart on the Lord, and we will serve whom we love. Noah, it is mentioned, had his heart on the things of the world.

Slowly, small bands of Lamanites started attacking them and things from outside, and the people no longer had the strength of the Lord to protect them, because they had become wicked.

"thus the Lamanites began to destroy them, and to exercise their hatred upon them." (Mosiah 11:17)

They tried to do battle, and they sometimes won, so they got prideful. They also became bloodthirsty.

As always happens when the people become wicked, the Lord tries to give them opportunities, by sending people to proclaim the gospel.

"And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy" (Mosiah 11:20)

Abinidi was a man who boldly spoke the truth: that if the people didn't repent, they would be visited in the Lord's anger. He warns them that the people will be brought into bondage if they didn't repent. He tells them that the Lord would be slow to hear their cries if they didn't repent, just as they were slow to hear his words.

"Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said: Who is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?" (Mosiah 11:27)

King Noah was so wicked, that he gave no second thought to the fact that maybe, just maybe, Abinidi knew what he was talking about. He was just angry at Abinidi and wanted to kill him. 

"Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent of his evil doings." (Mosiah 11:29)

I think this is the key of the peoples' wickedness. Noah taught his people to harden their hearts. He taught them to focus on the vain things of this world, and this never leads to righteous living.

The people became very wicked in a single generation, and a lot of that wickedness can be attributed to the wickedness of a single king. Someone who should be able to be trusted to lead the people.

We must be careful of who we follow and that we choose the right leader. Ultimately, it was up to the people to keep the faith, whether they had a righteous king or not. It certainly makes it more difficult when you go against the leader, but we are still each free to make our own choices and live the way we know to be best.

Abinidi shows us that.

The Strength of the Lord

"And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle.

 11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men." (Mosiah 10:10-11)

After the Nephites won the previous battle, they had peace for a number of years. The Lamanite king died and his son started going up against the people of Zeniff, but it was an uneven fight, simply because of the above verses. Zeniff's people relied on the Lord, while the Lamanites depended on their own strength. And no matter how strong the people are, if they don't rely on the Lord, they will fall.

Zeniff goes on to tell his people about why the Lamanites are trying to come to battle against them. He tells about how Laman and Lemuel taught their descendants that Nephi (and his followers) tried to usurp the right to leadership from them, the older brothers. They claim they were treated wrongfully, and that when Nephi left with his people, he robbed them (because he took with him the brass plates). And they passed this tradition down from generation to generation.

It almost reads like Zeniff is trying to excuse the Lamanites' hatred (or at least help his people understand it). I almost read it as if Zeniff is saying, "Of course we will go to battle to defend ourselves, but they don't know any different than to treat us with contempt and try to slay us."

Zeniff goes on to remind his people to put their trust in God, and here is the result:

"And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them." (Mosiah 10:20)

They won the battle, even though the Lamanites were strong as to the strength of men, because they relied on the Lord's strength to carry them through.

I feel like this is a great metaphor for life. We often aren't called to an actual physical battle, but we are constantly in a battle with Satan. He tempts us and tries to get us to forget God and His strength. These temptations are very strong. However, if we rely on the strength of the Lord, like the people of Zeniff, He will not let us down, and we will win our battles.

I've seen it happen in my own life.

Protection and Help From the Lord

Zeniff and others went into the land of Nephi, because they wanted to possess the land of their fathers (that they possessed when they first came over from Jerusalem with Lehi and Nephi).  He admits something about this, though:

"I being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers" (Mosiah 9:3)

He admits to being over-zealous. He made a covenant with the Lamanites that he could have some of the land, but it turns out that the Lamanites just wanted to enslave them and exploit them for their labor.

They worked hard, and grew crops and raised animals, and the prospered.

"11 Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by any means my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could not overpower them and bring them into bondage.

12 Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields." (Mosiah 9:11-12)

The people of Zeniff had a number of things working against them. First, the Lamanites wanted to make them work for their gain. Second, the Lamanites saw that they were prospering, and they didn't want them to become so strong that they couldn't overpower them, and take advantage of their labors.

Then it happened. Zeniff's people were attacked and fled to the center of the city, where they were armed with weapons, and they went forth to fight against their attackers. They had one key ingredient that changed the outcome of the battle:

"17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.

18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did slay three thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land." (Mosiah 9:17-18)

The key was that they went forth in the strength of the Lord, crying mightily to Him. They remembered that the Lord had delivered others, which gave them confidence in their faith and confidence that the Lord would deliver them.

To show what happens in a battle when the Lord is on one side, we note that the Lamanites were driven out, and the result was 3043 Lamanites dead vs. 279 Nephites. It's sad to have lost that many, but the sides are not evenly matched at all when the Lord is on one side.

He gives His protection and help to those who ask for it.

Prophet, Seer, and Revelator

Limhi had Ammon tell his people all about what had been happening in Zarahemla for the couple of generations since Zeniff led a group of people from there. After Ammon was finished, Limhi asked Ammon if he could translate records, and was disappointed when he said that he couldn't. However, Ammon got to telling him that Mosiah, back in Zarahemla, could do it, because he had interpreters he could use to look and translate (like with the Urim and Thummim). This led to a discussion about what it means to be a seer. According to Ammon, "a seer is a revelator and a prophet also".

"But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known." (Mosiah 8:17)

In this verse, we see that a seer can know of things that couldn't be known if they weren't a seer. Things that could only be revealed by an all-knowing Father.

"Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." (Mosiah 8:18)

When His church is on the earth, God provides His people with a Prophet, Seer and Revelator, so He can communicate with us and we can understand His will. His will doesn't change, but circumstances do change over time, so it is very nice to have someone who can share with us God's will concerning His people, through all different kinds of circumstances.

I'm grateful that we have a prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson, to fill that crucial role. He is a great man and he talks to God to help us understand God's will for His children at this time.

I echo Limhi's comment:

"O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!" (Mosiah 8:20)

Too often are we blind and impenetrable. Too often we do not seek the wisdom when it is right there in front of us.

How truly marvelous are the works of the Lord!

Consequences

"For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor 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 stumbling block before them." (Mosiah 7:29)

God has promised us that he will protect us and bless us when we keep the commandments. This is a lesson that King Limhi explains to Ammon, through learning the consequences of not keeping the commandments.

These people, from Zeniff to King Noah, then to Limhi, wanted to go live in what they claimed to be the original land of the Nephites. As of this chapter, there isn't a lot of history known yet of these people, but in later readings, we'll remember about wicked King Noah and the problems he brought about by being wicked.

And so by living through that experience, or at least having been taught about it, Limhi and his people have clearly learned (the hard way) that there are consequences if the people don't keep the commandments.

Limhi has a lot of faith, however, that they can be delivered from the bondage that they are in.

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." (Mosiah 7:33)

Limhi just knows that if they are righteous, they will be delivered. He and his people have learned to trust God, because He told them about the negative consequences of wickedness. They were ready to try to be righteous so they could experience the positive consequences of being that way. They knew the promise was true because they had experienced the same thing on the other side of the coin.

Sometimes it takes our own experiences to learn hard lessons. This is one of those, however, that seems like we can learn from without our having to go through the negative consequences.

Ultimately, we choose our path, including our consequences. While we can't just choose any consequence we want, we can choose our consequences by choosing the actions that result in that consequence. The more we learn to walk in faith and righteousness, the better our blessings (positive consequences).

King Mosiah

"6 And it came to pass that king Mosiah did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe his judgments and his statutes, and did keep his commandments in all things whatsoever he commanded him.

7 And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should till the earth. And he also, himself, did till the earth, that thereby he might not become burdensome to his people, that he might do according to that which his father had done in all things. And there was no contention among all his people for the space of three years." (Mosiah 6:6-7)

King Benjamin passed the responsibility of being King on to his son Mosiah. These two verses describe very simply how Mosiah was a great king.

First, Mosiah was righteous. He walked in the ways of the Lord, and observe his judgments and statutes, and kept His commandments. I think that if this were a description given about me, that would make me so happy. I hope I can live up to that expectation some day.

Second, he was king. He could have demanded that his people support him so he could go about his work as king. However, he realized that he didn't want to be a burden on the people, so he did "till the earth". He grew his own food and took care of himself.

This is a great tribute to King Benjamin as well, because Mosiah did what he watched his father do. So in keeping the commandments, and tilling the earth, he was doing what King Benjamin had done before him.

It's easy to let leadership and responsibility go to your head. Clearly, King Benjamin and King Mosiah didn't let that happen. These men are great examples to anyone who wants to be great.

Keeping a record

"And now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient, after having finished speaking to the people, that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments." (Mosiah 6:1)

This is an interesting side note to me. The previous chapter talks all about how the people were converted, and they entered into a covenant with God. Here, it specifically makes mention that King Benjamin decided to write down the names of all those who had covenanted.

We do this same thing today. Saving ordinances, where we enter into a covenant, are recorded diligently in church records. This is actually by mandate from the Lord. He has said that there should be a record kept.

I think this partly has to do with being organized, especially when it comes to performing ordinances for the dead, since there are a lot of people who have died who still need these ordinances performed for them, we need to keep track of those who have had them done so we don't waste time.

Short post, short chapter. Sometimes the short ones make important points. When important events take place, there should be a record of them.

No More Disposition To Do Evil

"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2)

I love this scripture. This is how the people respond after having the conversion experience that they had in the previous chapter, when King Benjamin asks them if they believe his words. 

First, the people knew the words he spoke were true because of the Spirit. This is really the only way to know the truth about something that we can't see or empirically prove. The only empirical evidence we have is inside us. And what does that Spirit do? It makes a change in our hearts, ultimately. It makes us want to be better people, just as they say here, "we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually". Does this mean that they are now perfect and will never sin? No. The dictionary definition of "disposition" is "a person's inherent qualities of mind and character". In other words, the change that these people experienced made them inherently trying to do good rather than evil. This is an important change. But it is just a change of heart. A change of heart must be followed by action as well.

"And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days" (Mosiah 5:5)

So the action they take is to enter into a covenant with God to be obedient. So it wasn't just words they spoke, like "hey, we think we shouldn't sin anymore", but they actually entered into a covenant to obey.

"7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ." (Mosiah 5:7-9)

King Benjamin, a good and wise leader, explained to them what them entering into their covenant meant. The promises given to them if they keep their covenant is to be found at the right hand of God. And these people, to reinforce their covenant, got a new name as well, the children of Christ. King Benjamin then told them that he wanted them to "remember to retain the name written always in [their] hearts."

When we are baptized, we make covenants. We promise that we will keep the commandments, take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, and always remember Him. This is the same covenant that the Nephites made. They promised to keep the commandments for the rest of their lives. They took upon themselves the name of Christ (being called the children of Christ), and King Benjamin exhorted them to always remember Him.

God's promise to us, when we keep our covenants, is to always have His spirit with us, to help us, teach us, comfort us, and guide us. This in turn helps us to keep our covenants even better, and it becomes a positive, uplifting cycle.

This last verse from King Benjamin's address is a great summary verse. I don't think I could add anything to it. It shows his love for his people, and his faith:

"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen." (Mosiah 5:15)