After
saying this, Benjamin looked at the crowd.
They
wanted to repent and so they cried aloud,
“Oh,
have mercy, Lord! Please forgive us of our sins.
“Apply
Christ’s atonement, for we believe in Him!
After
this great prayer, they were filled with joy and peace.
They
felt the Spirit and their feelings of guilt ceased.
We’ll
also feel this joy and peace of conscience when
We
truly repent. It’s a sign we’re forgiven.
Then
the King proceeded to continue his speech,
“Listen
to the remainder of the words I teach.
“Please
believe in God, and that He is omniscient.
“Believe
it—ye must humble yourselves and repent.
“But
it’s not enough to believe, for,” said King Ben,
“If you
believe all these things see that ye do them!
“Don’t
forget how you tasted of God’s love today.
“And
live peaceably in all you do and you say.
“Take
care of your children!—Be sure they’re fed and dressed.
“Teach
them all the laws of God so they don’t transgress.
“Don’t
allow fighting amongst sisters or brothers.
“Teach
them how, instead, to love and serve each other.
“Take
care of the poor and needy!” the king implored,
“For,
aren’t we all beggars, dependent on the Lord?
“So be
sure to reach out to every needy man.
“Help
with food or clothes, visits, anything you can.
“But
pace yourself so you’re not exhausted at length.
“God
doesn’t ask us to run faster than our strength.
“If you
borrow something, be sure that it’s returned
“Or the
owner might get angry out of concern.
“Oh, I
can’t tell you every way to avoid sin.
“You
must watch your thoughts, words and deeds unto the end.”
Mosiah 5
The
King then asked his people if they believed his words.
“Yes,”
they told him, “We believe all that we have heard.
“Our
hearts have been changed by the Spirit mightily.
“We
don’t want to sin! Let’s do good continually!
“We now
covenant that we’ll follow God’s commands.”
Benjamin
was thrilled; he’d hoped for this beforehand.
“Now
you are the children of Christ—sons and daughters.
“This
day He has become your spiritual father.
“Take
His name upon you and serve Him to the end
“And
after this life you will live with Him again.”
Mosiah 6
Three
years after giving this speech, King Ben was dead
And his
son Mosiah was reigning in his stead.
Like
his father, Mosiah was a righteous king.
He was
sure to keep God’s commandments in all things.
© 2020 by N. Noelle Maes
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