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CHAPTER 4
King Benjamin continues his address—Salvation comes because of the
atonement—Believe in God to be saved—Retain a remission of your
sins through faithfulness— |
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1 AND now, it came to pass that when king
Benjamin had made an end of
speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the
aangel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on
the multitude, and behold they had bfallen to the earth,
for the cfear of the Lord had come upon them.
2 And they had aviewed themselves in their own bcarnal state, even cless than the dust of the eartha. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the datoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be epurified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who fcreated heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of menb.
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2a viewed themselves in their own carnal
state, even less than the dust of the earth This is what cause
Nephi and the Apostle Paul to exclaim, 'O wretched man that I am!' Not that
they were quilty of great and abminable sin according to the order of sins,
but that they understood that this 'man' of this estate is but a carnal man
made from the dust of the earth and subject unto the failties of this
temporal frame in which our spirit now dwells. And to this extent we are but
dust, a pile of elements but for the gift of God's creation. When we come
to understand a attribute all that is, is in the hands of God, He being the
creator thereof, then we may come to humble ourselves to stand circumspectly
before God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
2b we believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men Here in one sentence we have an astonding issey on the relationship of Jesus Christ, God the Father, the creation and the condescension of God rolled into a single statement. It matches and explains the first verses of the Gospel of John. Jesus Christ as a spirit God, under the direction of God the Father (Eccesastical History of the Church, Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, Book I, Chapter 2, Paragraphs 2-4), did create the heaven and the earth. This is also including the forming of the temporal bodies of Adam and Eve made to house their spirits (Ether 3:14-16), which he created after the image of his spirit, head, shoulders, knees and toes; eyes, ears, mouth and nose. That is our temporal body is in the shape of the spirit body that is was made to house. |
1a
1 Chr. 21:18;
Mosiah 3:2 b Neh. 8:9; Alma 19:17 c Jer. 36:16; Heb. 12:28; TG Reverence 2a TG Poor in Spirit b Neh. 9:1-3; TG Carnal Mind c Gen. 18:27 d Mosiah 3:18; Hel. 5:9 e TG Purification f TG Jesus Christ, Creator
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3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the
Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having
received a aremission of their sins, and having peace of
bconscience, because of the exceeding
cfaith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come,
according to the dwords which king Benjamin had spoken unto
them.
4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you. 5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your anothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
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3a
TG
Remission of Sins b TG Conscience c TG Faith d Neh. 8:12 5a Moses 1:10
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6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a aknowledge
of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his
patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also,
the batonement which has been prepared from the
cfoundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to
him that should put his dtrust in the
Lorda, and should be diligent
in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto
the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal
bodyb—
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the afall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world. 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.
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6a the atonement which has been prepared
from the foundationof the world, that thereby salvation might come to him
that should put his trust in the Lord Some Traditional Christian
thinking is that the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God was an 'after
thought' solution to the fall of Adam. That is, Adam fell, so then it was
contrived that a Savior would be provided. This is not the case. The plan
of redemption was set forth in it entirety from before the foundation of the
world. Jehovah the Firstborn spirit son of the Father was selected and
prepared to be both the Creator and the Redeemer before the very foundation
of the earth. And it was in that premortal existance that God the Father first
set forth that the Salvation of mankind would be in and through Jehovah his
Firstborn in the spirit, and in none else. And as clarified by a fuller
understanding of Zechariah chapter 3, the Father had so anointed the Son,
Jehovah, with the name of 'Jehoshua', that is 'Jehovah Redeemer' or in
other words 'in Jehovah is to be found Salvation'. This name Jehoshua is the
same name as Jesus. It was by that name that Adam, Enoch and Noah knew the
Messiah to be called. And so also the Holy Prophets. Moses himself was so
inspired of God to remain the next Prophet after him who would lead Israel
by that very name of the Messiah to come, that is Jehoshua (Joshua), which is
the same name as Jesus. Thus established from the foundation of the world,
it is in Jesus Christ, the same is Jehovah, in whom we do place our trust
unto our salvation and exaltation.
6b be deligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body It has been set forth by Elder McConkie, that in order to obtain eternal life, one is to be found in the way of the staight and narrow path which leads to heaven at the time of one's death. He points out that this does not mean that the person need be perfect or totally without sin, but that he must be earnestly,that is diligently, seeking after the kingdom of heaven according to the gospel plan of the fulness of the gospel. That is striving to live and obey the commandments of God and being led by His Spirit in the direction of God's Kingdom. This is what it means to 'continue in the faith'. We are to continue to progress line upon line, doing all that we can do in living the gospel, and if we so die in that process, then our salvation is sure. |
6a
TG
God, Attributes of; TG God, Knowledge about b TG Jesus Christ, Atonement through c Mosiah 15:19; Mosiah 18:13 d Ps. 36:7-8; 2 Ne. 22:2; Hel. 12:1; TG Trust in God 7a TG Fall of Man 8a Acts 4:12; 2 Ne. 31:21; Mosiah 3:17
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9 Believe in aGod; believe that he is, and that he
bcreated all things, both in heaven and in
eartha; believe
that he has all cwisdom, and all power, both in heaven and
in earth; believe that man doth not dcomprehend all the
things which the Lord can comprehend.
10 And again, believe that ye must arepent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in bsincerity of heart that he would cforgive you; and now, if you dbelieve all these things see that ye edo them. 11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have atasted of his love, and have received a bremission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own cnothingness, and his dgoodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of ehumility, fcalling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
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9a Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth To be absolutely clear, this is speaking of a joint effort in that God the Father directed and God the Son, who is the same as Jehovah, even Jesus Christ, who did perform the temporal creation of all things by the power of God invested in him by the Father. And that it is, was and well ever be that all things which God the Son, Jehovah - Jesus Christ, did create—even all that he did create, he has the power to redeem. The Doctrine and Covenants states concerning the temporal creation, " ... there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 130:5) By 'angels' it speaks of all the spirit children of God the Father, which included the Firstborn Son in the spirit, even Jehovah, who is the same as Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah, does pertain unto this earth or temporal creation. Thus he qualifies as being a part of this creation. As a matter of fact, this is why God the Father who stood as a Celestial being of glorified flesh and bone, advanced beyound this present temporal created, did need to select one from among his spirit children to take upon himself the charge of providing a Savior who was 'one among them' to be the temporal creator and redeemer of all those who would pertain unto his generation—all his own spirit brothers and sisters, who would be so deemed 'his people.' |
9a
Deut. 4:39 b TG God, Creator; TG Jesus Christ, Creator c Rom. 11:34 (33-36); Jacob 4:8-13; TG God, Perfection of d Isa. 55:9 10a TG Repentance b TG Sincerity c Ps. 41:4; D&C 61:2 d Matt. 7:24-27; Acts 16:31 (30-31) e 2 Ne. 31:19-21 11a Ps. 34:8; Alma 36:24-26 b TG Remission of Sins c Rom. 5:8 (6-8); Moses 1:10 d Ex. 34:6 (5-7); Moro. 8:3 e TG Humility f TG Prayer g TG Steadfastness
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12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always
rejoice, and be filled with the alove of God, and always
bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the
cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the
knowledge of that which is just and true.
13 And ye will not have a amind to injure one another, but to live bpeaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.
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12a
TG
God, Love of b Mosiah 4:26; Alma 4:14 (13-14); Alma 5:26-35; D&C 20:32 (31-34) c TG God, Knowledge about 13a TG Man, New, Spiritually Reborn b TG Peacemakers
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14 And ye will not suffer your achildren that they
go hungry, or naked; neither will ye bsuffer that they
transgress the laws of God, and fight and cquarrel one with
another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the
devil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he
being an enemy to all righteousness.
15 But ye will ateach them to bwalk in the ways of truth and csoberness; ye will teach them to dlove one another, and to serve one another.
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14a
1 Tim. 5:8;
D&C 83:4; TG Marriage, Fatherhood b Prov. 13:24 c TG Contention d 2 Ne. 32:8; Mosiah 2:32 15a Mosiah 1:2; Moses 6:58-63; TG Family, Children, Responsibilities toward b TG Walking with God c TG Sincere, Sincerity d 1 Sam. 18:1; Mosiah 18:21 TG Family, Love within
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16 And also, ye yourselves will asuccor 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
bbeggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn
him out to perish.
17 Perhaps thou shalt asay: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my handa, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—
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17a The man has brought upon himself his
misery; therefore I will stay my hand I have heard such spoken by
those to whom the petitions of the beggars have been raised, or in similiar
such judgments preceive of themselves such things as what the man would then
use the 'gift' for if it were given. And thus the petition is turned down
with such self justifications for not responding to the beggar's petition.
The Lord allows for no such self excuse. Whether the man is a sinner and his
misery deamed justified or whatever, it is not for us to judge. God only is
that judge. When the petition of the beggar is put forth it is but to us to
respond uncontionally, else he that denies the petition 'has great cause to
repent himself, and except he does repent of that which he has done to the
'beggar', then he shall 'perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the
kingdom of God' (see verse 18). This seems to be a stiff penalty to pay for
denying a beggar, but what is actually lacking in such a person is perhaps
the very point of the matter, for if they are not willing to give unto the
beggar according to his petition if they are able, then they do lack the one
great essential requirement for entry into the mansions of God, and that is
charity.
Now I have been down and out myself to a certain degree, and though I have not actually had to beg on the streets, our needs were great; and the judgments against us seemed just as great. Some supposed this and that of us, and perhaps still do. Others seemed to feel that we had brought our contitions upon ourselves and they withheld their help and assistance and they were rather full of criticism and of such 'commanded advise' as what ought to be done. But none were forth coming with any such aid as was needed in and of themselves. Rather they further critizied any who so did help that they ought not do so, and they would rather had let us be turned out and suffer; for in their minds, I would have to suppose, they had determined we deserved what we were getting, and thus they had cleared their consciences of us accordingly. God forgive them, for I have to as it is his commandment to do so. |
16a
Prov. 19:17;
TG
Charity; TG Service; TG Welfare b Prov. 21:13; Isa. 10:2; Luke 3:11; D&C 38:16 17a Prov. 17:5
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18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath
great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he
perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
19 For behold, are we not all abeggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a aremission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with cjoy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
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19a
Prov. 22:2;
1 Cor. 4:7 20a Rom. 2:4 (1-4) b TG God, Spirit of c TG Joy
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21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent
for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you
whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O
then, how ye ought to aimpart of the substance that ye have
one to another.
22 And if ye ajudge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your bcondemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life cbelongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done. 23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are arich as pertaining to the things of this world.
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21a
Dan. 4:27;
TG
Generosity;
TG
Welfare 22a Matt. 7:2 (1-2); John 7:24 b 1 John 3:17 c Mosiah 2:25 23a Luke 21:1-4; D&C 56:16
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24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have
sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the
beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I
agive not because I bhave not, but if I
had I would cgive.
25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are acondemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.
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24a
Deut. 16:17 b Acts 3:6 (5-7) c Mark 12:44 25a D&C 56:17
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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.
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and aorder; for it is not requisite that a man should run bfaster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
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26a
TG
Walking with God b Jacob 2:19 (17-19); Mosiah 21:17; Alma 35:9 c Job 29:12; Zech. 7:10; Luke 18:22; Alma 1:27; TG Almsgiving d Isa. 58:10 (9-11); Alma 4:12-13; 3 Ne. 12:42 27a TG Order b Eccl. 9:11; Alma 1:26; D&C 10:4
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28 And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you
aborroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he
borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and
perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.
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28a
TG
Borrowing;
TG
Debt;
TG
Honesty
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29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may
commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many
that I cannot number thema.
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not awatch yourselves, and your bthoughts, and your cwords, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and dcontinue 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. |
29a even so many that I cannot number them The Jews have 613 rules and commandments which they attempt to keep. That is a limited and finite number. King Benjamin states the truth of the matter. That is, there are numberless ways and means by which sin can be committed. Situations come up and are created daily in the which sin might be committed, which have not been commanded against. So how is it that man might walk in the way of the Lord? There is only one means by which a man may do this, and that is to walk according the light and truth given him by that Spirit of God which may dwell with him, and guide him, and direct him in all things whatsoever. Thus it is the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost, which leads men along the path of life, along the straight and narrow way, that dwells within that doth teach men all that they must do and say along the way unto eternal life. And herein lies the fulness of the Gospel, in that Spirit, which is the Spirit of Revelation, even personal revelation, which revels daily unto men the way that they must go, the things that they must do even in those situtations which have never been nor never incountered before. |
30a
Deut. 4:9;
Alma 12:14;
TG
Watchfulness b Matt. 5:28 (27-28); Mark 7:23 (15-23) c Matt. 15:18-20; TG Gossip d TG Steadfastness
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