- 1Because there were no more conflicts among king Benjamin’s people in Zarahemla, he had continual peace during the rest of his rule. 2He had three sons, whom he named Mosiah, Helorum, and Helaman. He had taught them the written language of his forefathers so they could become men of understanding and comprehend the Lord’s prophecies spoken by their forefathers. 3He also taught them about the records engraved on the brass plates, saying: My sons, I want you to remember if it weren’t for these plates containing these records and commandments, we would have remained ignorant, even now, not knowing God’s mysteries. 4Without the help of these plates, it would have been impossible for our father Lehi to have remembered all these things and taught them to his children. Since he could read the written language of the Egyptians, he was able to read these engravings and teach them to his children so they could teach them to their children, and by this fulfill God’s commandments from then until now. 5I tell you, my sons, if it weren’t for these records that have been kept and preserved by God, so we could read and understand His mysteries and have His commandments always with us, even our forefathers would have fallen away in unbelief. Then we would have been like our Lamanite relatives, who, because of the incorrect traditions of their ancestors, know nothing about these things, and don’t believe them when they’re taught. 6My sons, I want you to remember these words are true and these records are true. The plates of Nephi, containing the records and teachings of our ancestors from the time they left Jerusalem until now, are also true. We have them and can study them to know their value. 7Now my sons, remember to study them carefully, and you’ll benefit from them. I want you to keep God’s commandments so that, according to the promises of the Lord to our fathers, you can prosper in the land. 8King Benjamin taught his sons many other things not written in this book.
- 9After he had finished teaching his sons, he grew old and knew that, like all men, he would soon die. Therefore he thought it advisable to confer the kingdom on one of his sons. 10He had Mosiah brought before him and told him: My son, I want you to make an announcement to all the people throughout this land — the people of Zarahemla and the people of Mosiah — all who live in this land, to gather as a group. Tomorrow I’ll announce to my people, by my own mouth, that you are a king and ruler over this people, which the Lord our God has given us. 11Furthermore, I’ll give the people a name to distinguish them from the other people the Lord God brought from the land of Jerusalem. I’m doing this because they’ve been diligent in keeping the Lord’s commandments. 12I’ll give them a name that can only be erased by transgression. 13In addition, I tell you that if this people, who are greatly blessed by the Lord, fall into transgression and become evil and adulterous, the Lord will hand them over, and they’ll become weak like their Lamanite relatives. He’ll no longer protect them like He preserved our ancestors until now, using His unmatched and almighty power. 14If He hadn’t intervened with His power to preserve our ancestors, they would have been conquered by the Lamanites and become victims of their hatred.
- 15After king Benjamin had finished saying this to his son, he gave him responsibility over the affairs of the kingdom. 16He also gave him responsibility over the records engraved on the brass plates, the plates of Nephi, Laban’s sword, and the ball or director that led our ancestors through the wilderness. To the extent they each gave careful attention and diligence to Him, that instrument was provided by the Lord to lead them. 17Therefore when they were unfaithful, they didn’t prosper or progress in their journey, but were driven back and provoked God’s disapproval upon themselves. In this, they encountered hunger and suffering as a reminder of their responsibility.
- 18Now Mosiah went and did what his father commanded and announced to the people in the land of Zarahemla to gather at the temple to hear his father.
- 2After Mosiah did as his father had commanded and made an announcement throughout the land, people gathered at the temple from all over to hear king Benjamin. 2The population in the land had grown, increasing so much that there was no way to count those who gathered. 3They brought the firstborn of their flocks to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the Law of Moses 4and to give thanks to the Lord who is God. They thanked God for bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem, for keeping them free from their enemies, and for appointing just men to be their teachers and a righteous man to be their king. They were also thankful for the peace in the land of Zarahemla, and that their king taught them to keep the commandments of God so they could rejoice and be filled with love toward God and all mankind.
- 5When they arrived at the temple, they set up their tents around it. Each man had his own family with him, including his wife, sons, daughters, and grandchildren of all ages. Each family gathered in their own separate area. 6Everyone pitched their tents facing the temple, allowing them to hear king Benjamin while remaining inside their tents. 7Due to the large number of people, not all could fit inside the temple walls, so king Benjamin had a tower built so they could hear what he intended to say.
- 8He began speaking from the tower, but because so many had gathered, they couldn’t all hear him. Therefore he had his words written down and sent out to those beyond his voice so all could receive his words. 9This is what he said and had written: My people, all who have gathered and can hear the words I speak to you today, I haven’t called you here to trifle with what I will say. Rather, I want you to listen carefully and not just with your ears, but also with your hearts. By doing so, you’ll be able to comprehend God’s mysteries, and I can help you see His grace. 10I haven’t commanded you to come up here to threaten you, or to have you think that I’m more than a mortal man. 11I’m like you, dealing with all kinds of infirmities in body and mind. Nevertheless, I’ve been chosen by this people, consecrated by my father, and allowed by the Lord to be a ruler and king over this people. I’ve been watched over and helped by His unmatched power to serve you with all the power, mind, and strength the Lord has granted to me. 12I tell you that I’ve been permitted, up to now, to spend my days in your service. I haven’t wanted gold, silver, or anything of value from you. 13I haven’t allowed you to be imprisoned in dungeons or to enslave each other or to murder, plunder, steal, or commit adultery. I haven’t allowed you to commit any kind of wickedness. I’ve taught you to keep the Lord’s commandments in everything He’s commanded you. 14I’ve even worked with my own hands to serve you so you wouldn’t be burdened with taxes, and so nothing difficult or distressing to bear would be imposed upon you — and today you know everything I’ve said to be true. 15But, my people, I haven’t done these things to boast, nor do I tell you this to complain about you. I tell you this so you know I can answer before God today with a clear conscience. 16Now I told you I had spent my days in your service, but I don’t say that to brag, for I’ve only been in the service of God.
- 17I tell you this so you can learn wisdom, and so you can learn that when you’re in the service of your fellow man, you’re only in the service of God. 18You’ve called me your king, and if I, whom you call your king, work to serve you, then shouldn’t you also work to serve each other? 19As your king, I’ve served both you and God. If you feel grateful towards me, direct your gratitude towards our heavenly King instead. 20My dear people, I want to remind you that if you used all your energy to thank God and praise Him to the fullest, acknowledging He has created you, watched over and preserved you, filled you with joy, and given you the ability to live in peace with one another, 21you would still not be able to repay Him for all He’s done for you. God is the one who created you from the very beginning, and He’s the one who continues to preserve you day by day by giving you breath so that you can live, move, and act according to your own will. He’s even supporting you from one moment to the next. Therefore I urge you to serve Him with your entire soul. Even if you do this, you’ll still be unprofitable servants. 22All that He requires of you is to keep His commandments. He’s promised you that if you would keep His commandments, you would prosper in the land. He never deviates from what He has said, therefore if you keep His commandments, He blesses you and causes you to prosper.
- 23First, remember God has created you and given you your life, and for that, you’re indebted to Him. 24Second, He has given you commandments to follow, and when you do so, He blesses you immediately, which is His reward for your obedience. However, despite receiving His blessings, you remain in debt to Him from the beginning of time till the end. Therefore there’s nothing to brag about. 25So I ask: Can you say anything of yourselves? I answer you: No. You can’t say you’re even as much as the dust of the earth, because you were created from the dust of the earth, and it belongs to Him who created you. 26Even I whom you call your king am no better than you are, because I’m also made from dust. You can see that I’m old, and my life is about to end and my body about to return to dust of the earth. 27I told you that I’ve served you with a clear conscience before God. I’ve asked you to gather here today so I can be found innocent, and your blood won’t be upon me when I stand to be judged by God. He’s commanded me to tell you some things, 28and I want to rid my clothes of your blood before I enter my grave. I wish to die in peace so my immortal spirit can join the choirs above in singing the praises of a righteous God. 29Furthermore, I’ve asked you to come today so I can announce that I can no longer be your teacher or your king. 30Even at this moment my whole body trembles as I address you, but the Lord God supports me. He’s let me talk to you and has commanded me to now announce that my son Mosiah is a king and ruler over you.
- 31My people, continue living your lives as you’ve been doing until now. You’ve been successful thus far because you’ve followed my commandments and those of my father. If you continue to obey the commandments of my son or the commandments of God that will be communicated to you through him, you’ll continue to prosper in the land and your enemies won’t have any power over you. 32My people, please make sure you don’t let any conflicts arise among yourselves, and that you don’t follow the evil spirit mentioned by my father Mosiah. 33A woe is pronounced on anyone who chooses to obey that spirit, and if they remain and die in their sins, that person drinks damnation to their own soul. By disobeying God’s law, they’ll receive an everlasting punishment as their wages, and nothing else. Therefore it’s crucial to stay on the right path and avoid the ways of evil spirits. 34I want to remind you that every one of you, except for your little children, has been taught about our indebtedness to our Heavenly Father. We know we must give Him everything we have and are. We’ve also learned about the records that contain the prophecies spoken by the holy prophets. These records go all the way back to the time when our father Lehi left Jerusalem. 35The records include everything our ancestors have spoken, and they also teach what the Lord has commanded them. Because of this, we can trust that their records are reliable and true.
- 36Now, my people, I tell you that after you’ve been taught and therefore know all this, if you’re disobedient to what I’ve taught you, you’ll withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord. By not allowing the Spirit of the Lord to guide you towards Wisdom, you’re hindering your own chances of being blessed, prospered, and preserved. 37This behavior is in open rebellion against God, as it shows that you choose to obey the evil spirit and become an enemy of all righteousness. Consequently, the Lord has no place in you, as He doesn’t dwell in unholy temples. 38Then if that person chooses not to repent and instead dies as God’s enemy, divine justice demands that their immortal soul feel the weight of their own guilt. This causes them to recoil from the Lord’s presence, leading to intense regret, pain, and anguish. This state is like an unquenchable fire whose flames rise from eternity to eternity. 39Sadly, mercy doesn’t provide any relief for such a person, and their final fate is to endure never-ending torment.
- 40Now, whether you’re old, young, or a little child, I’ve spoken plainly so you can understand my words. I pray that you’ll wake up and remember the awful position of those who’ve fallen into transgression. 41In contrast, consider the blessed and happy state of those who keep God’s commandments — they’re blessed in all things, both physical and spiritual. If they’re faithful to the end, they’re received into heaven, and they can live with God in a state of never-ending happiness. Remember, remember these things are true, because the Lord God has spoken it.
- 3My dear people, I have more news to share with you about coming events. 2These revelations were given to me by an angel sent from God. He commanded me to wake up, and as I did, he appeared before me. 3The angel said: Wake up. And then he proceeded to declare to me the good news of great joy, 4saying that the Lord has heard your prayers, judged you to be righteous, and sent me to make this announcement. You can rejoice and share this news with your loved ones.
- 5In the near future, the Lord Omnipotent, who reigns from eternity to eternity, will come down from heaven and dwell among mankind in a tabernacle of clay. He’ll perform impressive miracles such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, restoring sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and curing all kinds of diseases. 6He’ll also rebuke the evil spirits that influence the hearts of the people. 7Amazingly, He’ll suffer temptations, bodily pain, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, to a greater extent than any person could bear without dying. His anguish for His people’s wickedness and abominations will be so great that blood will come from every pore. 8Know that He’ll be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father of heaven and earth, and the Creator of all things from the beginning. His Mother will be called Mary. 9It’s amazing that He’ll come into His own creation so that salvation can come to mankind through faith in His name. However, even after all this, people will consider Him a man, say He’s possessed by a devil, and ultimately whip and crucify Him. 10But He’ll rise from the dead on the third day.
- And then He’ll judge the world. All these things will happen so that a righteous judgment can come upon mankind. 11His blood atones for the sins of those who have fallen due to Adam’s transgression, and for those who have died without knowing God’s will or have sinned ignorantly. 12However, woe, woe to anyone who knowingly rebels against God, as salvation can only be attained through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. 13God has sent His holy prophets to all people, every tribe, nation, and language. The prophets announce that everyone who believes in the coming of Christ can receive a remission of their sins, and rejoice with immense joy, as if Christ had already come among them.
- 14Because the Lord God saw that His people were stubborn, He gave them the Law of Moses. 15Many signs, wonders, types, and symbols foreshadowed His coming. Additionally, holy prophets also spoke to them about His coming. However, the people hardened their hearts and failed to understand that the Law of Moses alone couldn’t provide forgiveness. Forgiveness comes exclusively through the atonement of Jesus Christ’s blood. 16Even if it were possible for children to sin, they couldn’t be saved. However, I tell you that they’re blessed. Even though by Adam or by nature they fall, Christ’s blood is sufficient to atone for their sins. 17I want to share with you that there’s no other way for mankind to attain salvation except through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. 18He’ll be the righteous judge. While infants who pass away won’t be lost, mankind must humble themselves and believe in the atoning blood of Christ to avoid damnation. This belief is necessary for salvation and must be held steadfastly. 19Men and women, in their natural state, are out of harmony with God and have been since the Fall of Adam. This disharmony will continue from eternity to eternity, unless they yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, abandon their fallen nature, and become holy through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. They should strive to become like a child, humble, meek, patient, and full of love, willing to accept everything that the Lord deems appropriate for them, as a child obeys their parents.
- 20Furthermore, I tell you there will come a time when the knowledge of a Savior will be spread among people of every nation, tribe, and language. 21At that time, men and women can only be declared innocent before God — with the exception of little children — through repentance and faith in the name of the Lord God Omnipotent. 22Even now, when you’ve taught your people what the Lord God has commanded you, they can only be deemed innocent in God’s sight according to the words I’ve taught you.
- 23I’ve now taught the words the Lord God has commanded me to say. 24The Lord God says my words will be a bright testimony against the people at judgment day. Each person will be judged based on their works, whether they’re good or evil. 25Those who have done evil will be condemned to suffer terrible regret and guilt because of their abominations, making them recoil from the Lord’s presence into a state of misery and endless torment. They’ve chosen to drink from the cup of God’s wrath, damning their souls, 26something that justice can’t deny any more than it could deny that Adam had to fall because he ate the forbidden fruit. Therefore mercy won’t be available to them any longer, forever. 27Their punishment will be like a fiery lake of lava, whose flames are unquenchable and whose smoke ascends from eternity to eternity. This is what the Lord has commanded me to say. Amen.
The Book of Mosiah
Chapter 1