Monday, January 26, 2015

Mosiah 18:26 - 18:30

Mosiah 18:26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.

The priest were to work to support themselves. They were not to be supported by the people. This would force them to seek for the spirit with greater effort so they could both support themselves and take care of their assigned people. [If they were paid and did not have to work for a living they would not be pushed to do both things and relax knowing their needs were taken care of. A man who does not worry about where his next meal comes from may not worry too much about others.]

Mosiah 18:27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.

Alma also commanded that the people share in their increase with each other. Equality is the key word among Alma’s people. Each was to be given what he needed for himself and his family by those who had more than they needed. And to him could do little because of infirmity or other reasons was not required to give as much as another who was able bodied or was richer in worldly goods.

Mosiah 18:28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.

This working to making to make sure all had what they needed regardless of ability to produce what they needed was to be done by free will and not by force. One should have such regard for God that they could not stand to see others go without.
[Free will offering is the basis for all charity. If it has to be done through taxation or by force of some kind, it is not how the Lord wants us to react to the needs of others. It is to be given by my desire to help others not because someone else is taking from me by force to be given to another. It is one of the tests of how much charity we have. If we do not want to help others, we have little charity and are not fit for heaven which is a community of folks who are only concern with the welfare of others. If you have no concern, you will not like heaven nor want to live there.]

Mosiah 18:29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

Thus the effect of Alma’s teachings was every person gave of himself to see to it that all had what they needed in this life and they needed to prepare for the life to come.
[Learning to impart freely to others was training for the hereafter. You are here to learn to be charitable to a few so you could be charitable to many in the eternities. Service to others is the only way to happiness. One can never get enough material things to be happy , he will always want more. However, if this is human nature, then let him work for the welfare of others and let his desire for more be channeled into helping others satisfy their needs and wants. Let him never be satisfied in the number of people he helps.]

Mosiah 18:30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

All these baptisms and the organization of the Church under Alma took place in the place call Mormon. All who were part of these events will look back on them with fondness.

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