Abiding Precepts – Mosiah 7

Passage #1

And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak . . .

Mosiah 7:12

Precept #1

Be grateful to God for the opportunities and things you do have, including your life as it currently is.

What are your current life circumstances? Have you thanked God for them? How would your faith and attitude change if you did?

Passage #2

Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them.

And again, that same God has brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, and has kept and preserved his people even until now; and behold, it is because of our iniquities and abominations that he has brought us into bondage.

Mosiah 7:19-20

Precept #2

Remember what miracles God has done in the past for you and for others and put your trust in Him that He can and will do it again when you work in righteousness.

What miracles has God done in preserving your life?

Passage #3

And ye all are witnesses this day, that Zeniff, who was made king over this people, he being over-zealous to inherit the land of his fathers, therefore being deceived by the cunning and craftiness of king Laman, who having entered into a treaty with king Zeniff, and having yielded up into his hands the possessions of a part of the land, or even the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom; and the land round about—

And all this he did, for the sole purpose of bringing this people into subjection or into bondage. And behold, we at this time do pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites, to the amount of one half of our corn, and our barley, and even all our grain of every kind, and one half of the increase of our flocks and our herds; and even one half of all we have or possess the king of the Lamanites doth exact of us, or our lives.

And now, is not this grievous to be borne? And is not this, our affliction, great? Now behold, how great reason we have to mourn.

Mosiah 7:21-23

Precept #3

Be careful not to seek for those things you think you have a right to or those things you think you deserve to have. Seek only for those things God wants to give you.

Are the things you’re seeking for right now the things you want or the things God wants for you? How miserable or joyful do you feel right now and how difficult or peaceful is life as a result?

Passage #4

Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we have to mourn; for behold how many of our brethren have been slain, and their blood has been spilt in vain, and all because of iniquity.

For if this people had not fallen into transgression the Lord would not have suffered that this great evil should come upon them. But behold, they would not hearken unto his words; but there arose contentions among them, even so much that they did shed blood among themselves.

Mosiah 7:24-25

Precept #4

Don’t fall into transgression. And when you do be quick to climb back out.

How long does it take you to recognize you have crossed a line? How quickly do you cross back over? What do you do to not cross that line again?

Passage #5

And again, he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison.

And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction.

And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted.

But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

Mosiah 7:30-33

Precept #5

Sow righteousness and do it with the full purpose of trusting and serving God, doing His will, and drawing nearer to Him.

Are you having difficulties in life? Are they the result of sowing righteousness or wickedness? What is it that has motivated your decisions that have lead to these difficulties – a desire to serve God or a desire to serve yourself? How much peace do you feel in your afflictions?

Enjoyed this post? Read the original post defining the Abiding Precepts project or the post presenting Russty’s Daily Coat.