Abiding Precepts – Mosiah 10

Passage #1

And I set guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might not come upon us again unawares and destroy us; and thus I did guard my people and my flocks, and keep them from falling into the hands of our enemies. . . .

But I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, that they might not come upon my people and destroy them.

Mosiah 10:2, 7

Precept #1

Be aware of the dangers around you – in particular the spiritual ones – and be prepared to defend yourself from them.

Have you ever made a plan to avoid temptation? What about for how to get around it when it comes?

Passage #2

And I did cause that the men should till the ground, and raise all manner of grain and all manner of fruit of every kind.

And I did cause that the women should spin, and toil, and work, and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land—thus we did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years.

Mosiah 10:4-5

Precept #2

Work hard for your support. And when you work do it well – to the highest quality you are capable of.

Do you put your heart and soul into the work you do? Is the result the highest quality you are capable of? Are you steadily improving in the work you do?

Passage #3

And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle.

Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men.

Mosiah 10:10-11

Precept #3

Learn about the Lord and how He uses His strength in our behalf. Then learn how to rely on it more than you rely on your own.

Have you ever seen the Lord use His strength in your behalf? Did you learn from the experience how to let Him prevail in the future? Are you letting Him use His power in your behalf right now or are you hesitant because you want a certain outcome?

Passage #4

They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;

And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.

For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning, and lying craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, that I have brought this my people up into this land, that they may destroy them; yea, and we have suffered these many years in the land.

Mosiah 10:12-13, 18

Precept #4

Make sure you don’t believe in false ideas. Work hard to free yourself from false beliefs and to not allow your false beliefs to lead you into captivity or separation from God.

Do you have false beliefs? How do your beliefs impact your faith? How do they impact your success and failures in life? Is there anything that you believe which is keeping you from being actually close to God?

Passage #5

And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.

Mosiah 10:14

Precept #5

Seek to understand the dealings of the Lord with His children on earth.

Do you understand how Heavenly Father works with His children? Does that impact the way you pray or exercise faith in Him? Or are your prayers hampered by a misunderstanding of God’s role and His dealings with mankind? Does your understanding of how God works with His children allow you to pray in faith?

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