Lesson 17

#17 “A Seer… Becometh a Great Benefit to His Fellow Beings
Mosiah 7-11

I have to say that my lesson is not from the lesson manual, nor does it follow the title of the lesson, mainly because in relief society last week we had this exact same lesson, so I read through the scriptures given and found many different lessons that pertains to us as well. Basically I am going to share some of the things I got out of the chapters.

First off I did like the way the lesson manual set up the next few chapters, by explaining which people they were talking about and where they came from so we will start there.

Following in lesson manual p76:
Followers of Nephi separated from Laman and Lemuel, they settled land of Nephi or Lehi-Nephi (the 2 cities names are interchangeable for same place) (2 Nephi 5:5-8)
About 400 years later a righteous group of Nephites left the city, they were led by Mosiah (king Benjamin’s Father). They found the city Zarahemla, it was already inhabited by other Nephites. They united under King Mosiah (Omni 1:12-19)
A Group of Nephites, under Zeniffs (Mosiah 9:1-7) direction, decided to leave Zarahemla and go back to the land of Nephi to regain their “inheritance” (omni 1:27)
About 79 years later King Mosiah II (King Benjamin’s son) “was desirous to know concerning the people who went to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi.” (Mosiah 7:1 & 2) He permitted a man named Ammon (not the ammon who chopped off the arms) to lead an expedition for this purpose. They found King Limhi and his people. Limhi was Zeniff’s grandson (mosiah 7:1-11)
*These next 2 chapters (7-8) are of Limhi telling Ammon the bondage they are in with the Lamanites and Ammon teaching them the Gospel by repeating King Benjamin’s latest sermon. Then Chapters 9-20 are a flashback of everything that has happened to their people during King Zeniff’s, Noah’s, & Limhi’s time.

**Intro: What is your manner of work? What do you take satisfaction in? What kind of work? Do you look over a freshly mowed lawn with pride? How bout a beautiful flourishing garden, how bout a quilt made by hand for a loved one? How bout the time your ran your 1st mile straight? What is the work that gives you satisfaction? Keep that in mind as we talk, because we will see that if you are the Lords followers, you work and love the feel of it. And we will see that if you are not on the Lords side you are on the other and life for you may not be as happy and satisfying.

Mosiah 7:22-26 4 things that happen in many years because of iniquity.
V22 People came into bondage these people were thrown into this because of King Zeniff thinking he was setting his people up to live a good life in the land of their inheritance; in other words making deals with the devil and not thinking through the consequence.
*Don’t we do that? We get a credit card thinking life will be easier and more convenient, and it can be, unless we don’t use it wisely, paying it off each month, over spending what we make. There are many different forms of bondage; bondage to a particular t.v. show, credit, addictions to Dr. Pepper (or whatever your drink is) You name your bondage it’s all the same, just a different name.

V24 number 2, brethern blood spilt in vain trying to live in the world away from the gospel.

V25 contentions upon each other, which brought about blood shed amongst themselves.
V26 and finally, they have killed a prophet of the Lord (speaking of Abinidi)
*Since there are no records of King Noah’s reign, the only way he (king Limhi) would know that Abinidi was a prophet of God was if he were there and witnessed Abinidi’s testimony as a boy or young man perhaps, and maybe that is why he ended up being a righteous king, one who has a testimony and can see what consequences can come when bad decisions are made versus good ones. Through King Limhi, we can see that even though it seemed he had no hope of finding his nephite brothers back in Zarahemla (mosiah 7:14) he lived with hope that one day they would be freed. Here they were (his brethren to rescue them, spiritually and physically) he had developed a testimony and had stuck with his convictions through rough economic times, and not only that but was determined to stick life out like that after receiving word that the land Zarahemla was destroyed (little did he know at the time that it was the ruins of the Jaredite nation) (mosiah 8:8)
This man’s situation is a great example to us. Are we not going through economic strife right now? And yet he continued living day to day doing the best he could with what he had, until one day hope arrived.
In Chapter 8 of Mosiah is where Ammon teaches the people of Limhi about Christ and repeats King Benjamin’s address to them. What that powerful doctrine did for those people! They must have been so grateful for a knowledge of the gospel and the blessings it brings. Perhaps there souls felt a glimmer of hope again that the Savior had taken their afflictions away and carried their burdens for them.
Now we go to Chapter 9 where we get the flashback of Zeniff’s people, and how they came to be where they are.
I learned several trues in this chapter.
9:8-9 The Lord’s people are hard working people, we have a desire to build, and work the land. By working hard, they began to prosper!! The lesson we can take here is work can bring solace, gratitude, pride in a job completed and well-done.
*President Hinckley said this: “I believe in the gospel of work. There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become reality. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements. We are all inherently lazy. We would rather play than work. We would rather loaf than work. A little play and a little loafing are good- that is one of the reasons you are here. But it is work that spells the difference in the life of a man or woman. It is stretching our minds and utilizing the skills of our hands that lifts us from the stagnation of mediocrity.” Teachings of Pres. Hinckley p. 704-5
Compare this to 9:12 Now they (lamanites) were a lazy and idolatrous people. Which category do you fit? That is a threatening question isn’t it? I could’ve just offended you or boosted your ego without even knowing it! Oh well if you are offended, it’s not like that is a new concept in this class now is it? Ha ha
But watch out if you are offended because that is just what happened to the Lamanites, they were threatened 9:13 and they went to war.
Elder John Longden puts it plainly, “Satan selects his disciples when they are idle; Jesus selected his when they were busy at their work.” Conf. Report April 1966
Here comes another true: 9:17-18 they (nephites) went to battle with the Lords strength. As out numbered as they were; God heard their prayers and slayed them till the rest were driven from the land. Can we conquer anything with the Lord’s help? Yes, and we will! Can we live through hard economic times? I believe we need to follow the prophets counsel; live within our means, build up food storage, plant a garden to help soften the cost of groceries. All these things will help get us through difficult times, so that they aren’t so difficult. I testify to that. Our family has planted a garden every year and put the food up and it has blessed our lives many a rough spot! I know it will continue to bless us as we follow that counsel and work the land and labor for the good of our families.
**President Benson backs me up here, “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life. (matt. 10:39) Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson p 351
Chapter 10 more trues I pulled out of this. 10:1 during times of peace they didn’t sit back and watch Guilligans Island ( I loved that show! I thought it was very educational, but then again I was 12 yrs. old, what did I know) They made weapons of war and 10:2 set guards around. 10 4-5 The men grew crops, the women worked with cloth. (Now I have done both and I can tell you, you will find me with the men, because, and my mom can attest to this, my talents do not extend into the sewing department.)
**We can glean from this that-We need to spiritually fortify our homes, who knows when that enemy will attack?
* Are you catching a theme here? People are righteous, they prosper, they get prideful, they are attacked and humbled, or they are righteous, prosper, fortify their homes and live in peace. You choose how your family will live during your time on earth.
In Chapter 11 we see what living under a wicked ruler does for the people.
11:6 He taxed them so he could live high on the hog.
11:16 He left the city vulnerable, while he was building grand buildings or shall we say great and spacious buildings for himself, the people were being robbed.
11:28-29 He stirs his people to anger against a prophet of God, they are blinded (spiritually) and hearts hardened (meaning they are past feeling the spirit, their inner self) they no longer valued themselves as sons and daughters of god. They became complacent or apathetic, kind of like we get today, saying, “oh, someone else will take that calling, serve my neighbor, take dinner to so-and-so, shovel widow_______’s walk, etc.
Let us be like the righteous nephites, working the land, building things, being industrious, making spiritual fortifications, and mostly relying on the Lord for strength during times of good as well as the bad. I know as we work all manner of work, we can take satisfaction in that and we will be blessed for our efforts even if they are small stepping stones. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.