Abiding Precepts – Mosiah 4

Passage #1

For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state-

Mosiah 4:5

Precept #1

Let the knowledge of God’s goodness remind you how great He is and you are not.

When was the last time you paused to remember all that God as accomplished? Did it bring you to the depths of humility?

Passage #2

I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body-

I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.

Mosiah 4:6-7

Precept #2

Come to the knowledge of God.

What do you know about God? Did you learn it from Him or someone else?

Passage #3

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

Mosiah 4:9

Precept #3

Believe in God and that He is greater and knows better than mankind.

Have you ever believed yourself to be smarter than God? Did He show you otherwise? How about the opposite – have you ever chosen to humble yourself and acknowledge that He knows more than you when circumstances were difficult?

Passage #4

And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

Mosiah 4:10

Precept #4

Believe that you need to sincerely repent – and then do it.

Do you believe you need to repent? Why or why not? Do you know what repentance is?

Passage #5

And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

Mosiah 4:11-12

Precept #5

Always retain a remission of your sins.

Do you do the things King Benjamin suggests will allow you to always rejoice and keep a remission of your sins?

Bonus Passage

And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. . . .

And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

Mosiah 4:16, 20-21

Bonus Precept

Succor those who stand in need of your succor.

Have you recently helped to relieve the temporal suffering of another?

Enjoyed this post? Read the original post defining the Abiding Precepts project.