Abiding Precepts – Mosiah 18

Passage #1

. . . and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people . . .
Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Mosiah 18:8, 10

Precept #1

Make a covenant with God to serve Him, keep His commandments, and be part of His people.

Have you covenanted with God to keep His commandments and be one of His people?

Passage #2

And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.

Mosiah 18:12

Precept #2

Do the work of the Lord with holiness of heart.

When you serve God are your motives driven by desires for personal gain or out of a pure desire to do the will of God?

Passage #3

And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body;

Mosiah 18:13

Precept #3

Seek baptism from someone who has authority from Almighty God to do so.

Have you been baptized by someone with the God-given authority to baptize in order to witness your covenant with Him?

Passage #4

And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

Mosiah 18:21

Precept #4

Seek for unity in your families and communities. When conflict arises seek a quick resolution that does not involve anger, hatred, or contention. Keep your focus on Jesus Christ.

When you find yourself at odds with others do you allow bitterness, anger, hatred, and the need to win or be right to fester inside you or do you seek peaceful resolution, remaining focused on the doctrines of Christ instead?

Passage #5

And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.

Mosiah 18:23

Precept #5

Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy.

What are your sabbath day activities? If someone was to observe what you do on the sabbath day would they recognize those activities as holy? More important: Does God?

Bonus Passage

. . . as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts . . .

Mosiah 18:8-10

Bonus Precept

Desire to bear the burdens of those around you to make them light, to lift the hearts and souls of those who suffer and mourn, and to stand as a witness of God and His light and truth always.

How do you choose to lift the burdens of the people around you?

Bonus Passage

And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities . . .

Mosiah 18:1

Bonus Precept

Repent.

What imperfection have you worked to repent of today?

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