1:1 And now there was no more contention in all the
land of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to
king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had continual peace
all the remainder of his days. |
|
1:2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and
he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman.
And he caused that they should be taught in all the
language of his fathers, that thereby they might become
men of understanding; and that they might know concerning
the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of
their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of
the Lord. |
|
1:3 And he also taught them concerning the records
which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My
sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not
for these plates, which contain these records and these
commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at
this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. |
|
1:4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi,
could have remembered all these things, to have taught
them to his children, except it were for the help of
these plates; for he having been taught in the language
of the Egyptians therefore he could read these
engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby
they could teach them to their children, and so
fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this
present time. |
|
1:5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these
things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of
God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries,
and have his commandments always before our eyes, that
even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we
should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites,
who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not
believe them when they are taught them, because of the
traditions of their fathers, which are not correct. |
|
1:6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that
these sayings are true, and also that these records are
true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain
the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time
they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we
can know of their surety because we have them before our
eyes. |
|
1:7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should
remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit
thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments
of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the
promises which the Lord made unto our fathers. |
|
1:8 And many more things did king Benjamin teach
his sons, which are not written in this book. |
|
1:9 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin
had made an end of teaching his sons, that he waxed old,
and he saw that he must very soon go the way of all the
earth; therefore, he thought it expedient that he should
confer the kingdom upon one of his sons. |
|
1:10 Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him;
and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying:
My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation
throughout all this land among all this people, or the
people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell
in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together;
for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people
out of mine own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler
over this people, whom the Lord our God hath given us. |
|
1:11 And moreover, 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. |
|
1:12 And I give unto them a 1name that never shall be blotted out, except it
be through transgression. |
[1] Revelation 3:5: ...and I will not blot out his
name out of the book of life... |
1:13 Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this
highly favored people of the Lord should fall into
transgression, and become a wicked and an adulterous
people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that thereby
they become weak like unto their brethren; and he will no
more preserve them by his matchless and marvelous power,
as he has hitherto preserved our fathers. |
|
1:14 For I say unto you, that if he had not extended
his arm in the preservation of our fathers they must have
fallen into the hands of the Lamanites, and become
victims to their hatred. |
|
1:15 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin
had made an end of these sayings to his son, that he gave
him charge concerning all the affairs of the kingdom. |
|
1:16 And moreover, he also gave him charge
concerning the records which were engraven on the plates
of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness,
which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby
they might be led, every one according to the heed and
diligence which they gave unto him. |
|
1:17 Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not
prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven
back, and incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and
therefore they were smitten with famine and sore
afflictions, 1to stir them up in remembrance of their duty. |
[1]
II Peter 1:13: ...to stir you up by putting you in
remembrance... |
1:18 And now, it came to pass that Mosiah went and
did as his father had commanded him, and proclaimed unto
all the people who were in the land of Zarahemla that
thereby they might gather themselves together, to go up
to the temple to hear the words which his father should
speak unto them. |
|