Mosiah 7-11 A Seer…becometh a great benefit

Mosiah II Chap 6-8,25-29 Mosiah I King Benjamin Chap 1-5 Chap 9-22 Zeniff Limhi Noah

Mosiah 1-6: King Benjamin – Mosiah II Ammon’s expedition to find the colony of Zeniff Ammon talks with Limhi: Gives us a preview of the colony of Zeniff Nephites Mosiah 9-22 The record of Zeniff Nephites Lamanites Lehi & family

Chronolgical

Mosiah 1-6: King Benjamin – Mosiah II Ammon’s expedition to find the colony of Zeniff Ammon talks with Limhi: Gives us a preview of the colony of Zeniff Ammon + 15 King Limhi

Limhi tells what happened… Mosiah 7:14-15 This is a bondage and deliverance story What are other bondage and deliverance stories in the scriptures? What do we learn from them?

Deliverance "In the Book of Mormon the Lord often identifies His empowering grace with the words deliver or deliverance. This sacred scripture presents a series of dilemmas, which are types of troubles that men and women face in all dispensations: being lost, hungry, enslaved, in danger, or possessed by such painful emotions as anger, guilt, depression and fear. "Deliverance from such trouble is a major theme of the Book of Mormon. A computer count shows that the words derived from deliver occur more than 200 times in the 531 pages of the Book of Mormon, signifying the importance of the principle. Thus we repeatedly learn that God will provide some deliverance from trouble if we will but turn to Him. 1991 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium at BYU on the Book of Mormon, M. Catherine Thomas

The power of the atonement to deliver "All Book of Mormon accounts of deliverance ultimately point the reader's mind to the greatest deliverance of all, the redemption of mankind from physical and spiritual death by the Lord Jesus Christ. The object of all the deliverances is to bring that which is miserable, scattered, alienated and spiritually dead back into living oneness with Christ: deliverance is a function of the power of atonement in Jesus Christ. . . . -1991 Sidney B. Sperry Symposium at BYU on the Book of Mormon, M. Catherine Thomas

There are many kinds of bondage in addition to physical bondage There are many kinds of bondage in addition to physical bondage. A person may be bound by intellectual pursuits, financial extensions, social customs, or many other things. The formula is the same for deliverance from these conditions, and there is none but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who can and will deliver his people. (Mosiah 7:19; 23:23.) Monte Nyman, Studies in Scripture, Vol 7,268

Deliverance symbols Mosiah 7:19-22 Egypt The world Red Sea Baptism Promised Land Heaven Manna Spiritual nourishment Wilderness World Bondage Sins enslave us Laman Satan Give land Satan’s lures Subjection Satan’s true motive Tribute, give all To whom do we give our all

First, why are they in bondage? 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, … Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we have to mourn… 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. And a prophet of the Lord have they slain; yea, a chosen man of God, who told them of their wickedness and abominations, and prophesied of many things which are to come, yea, even the coming of Christ.  1- Over-zealous 2- Deceived 3- Transgressions 4- Contentions 5- Slay the Prophets (Fight against God)

Hammering Hank Armstrong It is well for us to take the time to know we are pursuing the right “rooster” before we begin moving our feet…Chasing life’s roosters may drop the rooster, as Hank Armstrong discovered; but life is filled with one rooster after another, and if we run at full speed all the time, eventually it will be we, rather than the rooster, who will drop. Time and experience teach us that our best efforts are required in all worthwhile endeavors, but planning and expending appropriate energy, accompanied by a clear head and a heart at peace with itself, allow us to defeat our roosters without defeating ourselves. It is interesting how the virtue of relentless pursuit can turn so quickly to the vice of overzealousness by running so fast we cannot endure to the end. K Douglas Bassett, Life lessons from the Book of Mormon, 197

Mosiah 7 What we learn about bondage Causes Vs 21,25,26 Results Vs 29-31 Deliverance Vs 33 Overzealous Deceived Transgression Contentions Slayed a prophet Their doings will be a stumbling block They shall reap chaff/poison They shall reap east wind/ destruction Turn Trust Serve

Stumble, poison, destruction

Mosiah 8:7 How to prevent bondage

Mosiah 8:7-18 How do we get out of “bondage”? And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage. (Admit we can’t do it on our own!) And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, … having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind… And … they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings… (Study scriptures) Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters… And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer. And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God. And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet. And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have… So, we need a see-er to help us out of our bondage!

Why do we need a seer? In the following slides, what we see depends on how we look at it. Seers see the same situations differently. They have different perspective. We have to trust them to tell us the REAL picture…

Face or LIAR?

The glass Optimist: The glass is half full Pessimist: The glass is half empty Capitalist: Sell the glass Environmentalist: Save the water Anarchist: Break the glass Realist: The glass is Idealist: The glass should be full Feminist: His glass is more full than my glass Engineer: The glass is twice as big as it needs to be Accountant: Does the glass really need all that water Quantum physicist: This glass has a 50% chance of being filled w/H20 Philosopher: If no one is looking at the glass, does it really exist? Chemist: The glass is one part Si, two part O Chemist: It's 50% H2O, 40% N2 and 10% O2. Pragmatist: What water? Oh, the water I just drank? Surrealist: "Whoa. It's an octopus." Pacifist: Do what you want with the water, just don't hurt me."

Spiritual Vision Mosiah 8:16-18 Seer or See-er People Sees things past Sees things which are to come Reveals the things he sees A great benefit to his fellow beings Blind and impenetrable are their understandings Wild flock which flees the shepherd and scatters and is devoured

The Lord prepares and calls the prophet What a magnificent source of security, in a society whose underpinnings are constantly shifting and whose leadership so often rests in the hand so of the most articulate or charismatic rather than the most trustworthy, to know that the Lord prepares and then puts in place the man foreordained to lead us! -Sherri Dew, No Doubt About it, 169

Yale University Crest Yale’s crest reads “Urim and Thummin” across the book and “Light and truth” in Latin across the top.

See-er “A seer is one who sees with spiritual eyes. He perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim. In short, he is one who sees, who walks in the Lord’s light with open eyes” John A Widtsoe,(Evidences and Reconciliations, arr. G. Homer Durham, 3 vols. in 1 [1960], 258).

Elder Holland I was recently in Vavau, Tonga. It is a little island which is one and a half hours away from Nuku'alofa by plane and twenty-four hours away by boat. By boat it is the worst trip that can be made.. When the area conference was announced for Tonga, it was determined that only one boat would be available for the Saints from Vavau. The boat held 150 people. If you stuffed bodies into every possible corner of the ship, you could get close to three hundred people. Eight hundred Tongans jammed onto that boat and stood up for twenty-four hours without sleep, without food, without drink, without anything--because they knew that a prophet of God was going to be in their islands and they were not going to miss him for anything in the world. Do you want to go to conference that badly? Do you care that the prophet of the Lord is speaking in the neighborhood? Do you care enough to flip on a television set, a radio, or to come to this building to watch a priesthood meeting? Eight hundred people stood up for twenty-four hours to get to conference, and they didn't think anything about it. "The President of the Church is here," they said. "That's our prophet, and we may not see him again soon." And they came. Remembered and Nourished by the Good Word of God, September 26, 1976

Mosiah 9:1-2

Mosiah 9:8-10:5 Actions of a righteous people Build buildings Repair walls Till the ground Water and feed flocks Provide protection Spin, toil, work Go forth in the strength of the Lord

Zeniff explains the conflict Mosiah 10:12-17 Wronged Real or perceived Eternal Hatred Wroth

Mosiah 9:1, 2, 5 What do we learn from Zeniff about “eternal/fixed hatred”? Vs 1 See that which is good among them Vs 2 Desire to make a treaty Vs 5 Possess the land in peace

Mosiah 9:2 Who is the enemy? External conflict can lead to Internal conflict Egyptian Anwar Sadat assassinated by his Islamic radicals Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli radical opposed to Rabin's signing of the Oslo Accords was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli radical opposed to Rabin's signing of the Oslo Accords

How to avoid false traditions “Carefully study the scriptures and counsel of the prophets to understand how the Lord wants you to live. Then evaluate each part of your life and make any adjustments needed. Seek help from another you respect who has been able to set aside some deeply held convictions or traditions that are not in harmony with the Lord’s plan. When in doubt, ask yourself, ‘Is this what the Savior would want me to do?’ . . . “I testify that you will remove barriers to happiness and find greater peace as you make your first allegiance your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, and His teachings the foundation of your life. Where family or national traditions or customs conflict with the teachings of God, set them aside. Where traditions and customs are in harmony with His teachings, they should be cherished and followed to preserve your culture and heritage. There is one heritage that you need never change. It is that heritage that comes from your being a daughter or son of Father in Heaven. For happiness, control your life by that heritage” Richard G Scott, Ensign, May 1998, 86–87).

Zeniff’s desire to live in peace ended in failure but… Success: Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah in Alma 26:23-25, 31 Ammon reminds his brethren about the power the gospel has to cure eternal fixed hatred

Sins of Noah and His People Mosiah 11 Reference Sins of Noah and His People Mosiah 11:2 selfishness, polygamy, whoredoms Mosiah 11:3–4, 6 greed, laziness, idolatry Mosiah 11:5 pride Mosiah 11:7, 11 vanity, deceitfulness Mosiah 11:14 setting hearts on riches, sexual immorality Mosiah 11:15 drunkenness Mosiah 11:18–19 boasting in their own strength Mosiah 11:20, 26 rejecting the prophet Mosiah 11:27–28 anger, desiring murder Mosiah 11:29 hardening their hearts, refusing to repent

Reaction to Abinadi or how to avoid repentance Mosiah 11:26-29 Get angry Discredit the messenger Destroy the messenger Avoid facing the need for repentance

If we don’t listen to the prophet, we might as well not have one The Lord through His prophet will keep us informed. The question is, Are we listening? The story is told that Brigham Young, after having urged the people in certain communities to clean up their properties, refused to go back to preach to them, saying something along these lines: “You didn’t listen to me last time when I urged you to fix up your premises. The same doors are off their hinges; the same barns are still unpainted; the same fences are partly fallen. I will return when you are ready for the next sermon but you haven’t done anything about the first one yet. (1978 Devotional speeches of the Year, 136) -Sherri Dew, No Doubt About It, 174

Mosiah 11 Abinadi: A Seer

Next Week: Mosiah 12-17

Types and Shadows of the life of Christ Ammon Jesus Christ Parallel Mosiah 7:2 John 5:36 The king sent Ammon. Heavenly Father sent Jesus. Mosiah 7:3 Psalm 24:8 Both Ammon and Jesus are described as mighty and strong. Mosiah 7:4, 16 Matthew 4:1–2 Both experienced forty days of hunger, thirst, and fatigue. Mosiah 7:6 Matthew 26:37 Both took three others and went a little further. Mosiah 7:7 John 18:12 Both were bound and taken away. Mosiah 7:8 Luke 23:7 Both were brought before kings and questioned. Mosiah 7:18; see also Mosiah 22:11 D&C 138:23 Ammon led the people out of physical bondage. Jesus delivers the people from death and hell. “No doubt there are many events in the lives of many prophets that set those righteous persons apart as types and shadows of their Messiah. It is wholesome and proper to look for similitudes of Christ everywhere and to use them repeatedly in keeping him and his laws uppermost in our minds” (The Promised Messiah, 453).

Ammon’s expedition to find the colony of Zeniff The book of Mosiah begins about 130 B.C. and ends about 91 B.C. It is not, however, one continuous story. In his abridgment, Mormon wove together the accounts of three related groups of Nephites: The Nephites in Zarahemla (Mosiah 1–8; 25–29) The Nephites who followed Zeniff back to the land of Nephi (Mosiah 9–22) Alma the Elder and his group of converts (Mosiah 23–24) Chap 7-8 Ammon’s expedition to find the colony of Zeniff Ammon talks with Limhi: Gives us a preview of the colony of Zeniff Chap 9-22 The record of Zeniff

Chap 7-8 Chap 9-22

How many horses? Should see 7!

Elder Theodor M. Burton …one can trust a seer because a seer may see the heavens open. He may see the great vision of God working in all his majesty. He may see the fulness of truth as it is revealed to him by God who makes no mistakes. The evidence is clear, therefore, and the interpretation is clear. The seer can bear personal testimony, not based on books, not based on scholarship, not based on tradition, but based on the evidence of things that God himself can reveal to him in an actual experience with Deity. He may receive a revelation from God by actually seeing and hearing and being instructed in the real truth. Conference report, 1961

Joseph F. Smith 1888 I can remember the time when I was quite a little boy, when we were hurried very unceremoniously across the river Mississippi from the city of Nauvoo just previous to the bombardment of the town by the mob. I had a great anxiety then—that is for a child—to know where on earth we were going to. I knew we had left home. We had left it willingly—because we were obliged to—we left it in a hurry, and we were not far away when we heard the cannonade on the other side of the river; but I felt just as certain in my mind then—as certain as a child could feel—that all was right, that the Lord's hand was in it, as I do to-day… When we came out here (to Utah) we came out from the midst of bondage and very much oppression and tyranny. Some of the brethren were talking to us yesterday about bondage; and it is said in the revelation that "ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched out arm." Now, the Lord also promised that He would raise up a man that should lead the people out of bondage; and, further, He promised that when He should raise up that man His angels should go before them and also His presence, not as it was in the days of the children of Israel in the wilderness, when His angel went up before them, but not His presence; but in the last days the Spirit of God and the angels shall go before the people and shall follow after them.