Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Mosiah 28:1 - 28:5

Mosiah 28:1 Now it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites—

After all their efforts among the Nephites to correct their past wrongs, the sons of Mosiah now wanted to go the Lamanites to trying and help them to see the truth. Some of their associates wanted to go with them. They, then, went to their father Mosiah for his permission to go down to the land of Nephi.

Mosiah 28:2 That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them.

Their desire was to bring them up from the state of hatred for the Nephites by preaching unto them the gospel and a knowledge of Jesus Christ. They were hoping that this would convince them of the error of their traditions concerning the Nephites and improve relations between the two people. And the their efforts would be manifested in seeing the Lamanites a people of peace and joy wanting to once again be one people and living with mutual respect with their relatives who they were related too.

Mosiah 28:3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.

They were very anxious to preach to the Lamanites. They could not stand the thought of a person not knowing about the gospel and having a way to escape the damnation that comes from living with it.
[These boys had seen what this damnation was like when the angel came to them. Alma especially knew and the effects of his guilty conscience was known to the sons of Mosiah only to clearly. As a result, they did not want this experience to come to anyone else. Its like not wanting to have a child touch a hot stove because you know the effects and pain hot metal can cause to the skin. We have no trouble with wanting to keep little children from touching hot stoves, but do we feel the same about trying to warn people about the dangers of not having the gospel in their lives? I wonder if we had had such extremely intense experiences of what hell is like, if it would cause us to have the same drive as these sons of Mosiah had to bring the gospel to others? I personally want to give the gospel to anyone who wants hear about it, but I know my desire is not so intense that I fear for another person eternal welfare if they do not hear me. I guess I fear I am not as committed as these boys were to the gospel in that I don’t fear as much for other people’s salvation.]

Mosiah 28:4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever.

The Spirit of Lord was working on them intently. They had been very wicked men committing all kinds of vile acts against gospel principle and that they knew better. But they now knew the sweet blessing of being forgiven of their sins and the joy that brings to a person who had thought themselves lost at one point.
[I’m sure they did when the angel appeared and threatened them with their lives. And feeling that sense of almost losing everything caused them to know that anyone now could be saved regardless of their condition and they were determined to trying an help the Lamanites have the same feelings come to them. The Lord wanted to go to the Lamanites because their experience had prepared them to be effected missionaries and that they now had the tools and patience to deal with the hardships they would have to put up with as they circulated among them. They got a prelude by the reaction they were getting among the Nephites with whom they were trying to repair the damaged they caused by their wicked behavior of the past. They were ready to go to the Lamanites and the Lord knew they could do what no other preachers could do among them. That the Lamanites were now ready to have the gospel presented to them and by just the proper men to do it who had just the right preparation to be effective in that enterprise.]

Mosiah 28:5 And it came to pass that they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi.

The boys plead with their dad to let them go to the Lamanites for many days.
[One can only imagine the thoughts of Mosiah about letting his sons, they might have been his only sons, to go to a place where Nephites lives were of little value.]

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