3.24.2009

pgs. 158 and 159...and we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things...

5 And we are willing to enter into a acovenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a bnever-ending torment, as has been spoken by the cangel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.
6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the achildren of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are bchanged through faith on his name; therefore, ye are cborn of him and have become his dsons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made afree, and there is bno other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other cname given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.
10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some aother name; therefore, he findeth himself on the bleft hand of God.
11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the aname that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.
12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to aretain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.
13 For how aknoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
14 And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called.
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in agood works, that Christ, the bLord God Omnipotent, may cseal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who dcreated all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
THE BOOK OF MOSIAH
CHAPTER 6
King Benjamin records the names of the people and appoints priests to teach them—Mosiah reigns as a righteous king. About 124—121 B.C.
1 And now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient, after having finished speaking to the people, that he should atake the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments.
2 And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ.
3 And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son aMosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and had given him all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also had bappointed cpriests to dteach the people, that thereby they might hear and know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the eoath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one, according to their ffamilies, to their own houses.
4 And Mosiah began to reign in his father’s stead. *And he began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about four hundred and seventy-six years from the atime that Lehi left Jerusalem.
5 And king Benjamin lived three *years and he died.
6 And it came to pass that king Mosiah did awalk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe his judgments and his statutes, and did keep his commandments in all things whatsoever he commanded him.
7 And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should till the earth. And he also, himself, did till the earth, that thereby he might anot become burdensome to his people, that he might do according to that which his father had done in all things. And there was no contention among all his people for the space of three years.
* verse 4 (about 124 B.C.); Verse 5 (About 121 B.C.).

This is the first time that the word "covenant" jumped out at me in chapter 5 verse 5. I can't believe I never correlated this to our temple covenants today. It makes me feel more connected to King Benjamin's people when I think that they may have had a similar love and respect and awareness of temple covenants as we do today. And they were all so happy to take upon themselves the name of Christ under covenant. It's just another reminder how important the temple is and how meaningful it is to the the Lord when his children make and keep temple covenants. Whether they lived in 124 B.C. or if they live in 2009 A.D.


2 comments:

  1. In verse 8, it discusses entering into the covenant with God and taking upon you the name of Christ. It's important to note the symbolism with women and their marriage - they enter into a covenant and take upon them their husband's last name.

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  2. great comment Danika! it's so surprising how what seems like an ordinary, every day tradition actually has much deeper meaning. you really opened my eyes on that one! thank you!

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