King Benjamin: Believe in God

In the Prince of Egypt, the animated characters and voice actors attempted to capture the faith of the ancient children of Israel as they waded through trials under the Egyptian lash of slavery. The story was not accurate to letter with what was in the scriptures, but the humanity of trusting in something bigger than the ordinary effectively broke through the fictional elements of the story.

Moses had a message for the people, and he wanted Pharoh to let him take the people out of bondage to serve Jehovah. It took great faith for the people to believe. This article discusses the message King Benjamin gave his subjects. He wanted to take them out of spiritual slavery, and the bondage of ignorance.

Mormon transcribed many poignant statements of King Benjamin in his record which became The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The following gives a direct statement of what King Benjamin wished to press upon the hearts and minds of all people:

Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that He would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. [1]

In the middle of his address to his people, King Benjamin was delighted to see that his people hearkened to his introductory words as recorded in "Chapter Three of The Book of Mosiah." He told them that natural man is in opposition to all that is good and must be overcome and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Benjamin saw that his subjects accepted God's will as revealed through him while he yet gave his sermon, though he did not know for sure. They accepted the prophetic words that Benjamin uttered and received testimonies of the coming of Jesus Christ. In confirming their faith in his words, King Benjamin told them to believe but also to do.

He taught that believing is great, but believers must also be doers of the word. Devils believe, which was taught by the Master through his Apostle James. [2] It is good to believe and greater to also do God's will.

Not all who profess the Lord's name will be considered His people at the last day, but those who profess and do His will; "if you believe all these things see that ye do them."¹

This article contains the life-altering teachings King Benjamin shared with his people after they converted to Christ on how to live a life that benefits from God's Plan of Salvation. Though it is by grace that all receive salvation, God expects His people to keep His commandments.

• It is important to remember with Pre-Atonement Christians that they lived Christian lives via the Law of Moses. They were under obligation to that law until Christ fulfilled the law He gave to them, the House of Israel specifically--all 12 tribes.

Following the dramatic spiritual experience of his people, King Benjamin instructs them to remember. That if they had tasted of the goodness of God, had been forgiven of their sins, and understood how powerless they were to achieve salvation from sin without a savior, that they must remember all of it!

He called them unworthy creatures! Why is that? It was true for one; and it was a sign of humility to accept the truth of their situation--of all humanity's situation of nothingness.

To Western society, it is offensive to hear such a thing! Westerners prize and value human life philosophically above all else! However, all ARE unworthy.

All have sinned. Sin automatically under the law of the universe, which is the law of God, convicts the offender and condemns him or her to death as payment.

If the wages of sin is death, Christ paid a price that was not fair to Him, which is why the grave could not hold Him.

There was no justice under the Law to hold Him in death. There was no justice in him suffering for sins not His own! The universe and all the elements of it owe Him a debt.

Because of this debt, all the elements of creation are beholden to God. King Benjamin points out to his people:

...are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God... [Ye] have been calling on His name, and begging for a remission of your sins.

...And has He suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; He has poured out His Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.³

As unworthy as all humanity is, the worth of souls is vital to God; insomuch, that He would sacrifice His Son as a ransom. Sacrifice does not capture the meaning as much since God did not perform a ritual to sacrifice Jesus Christ.

Christ volunteered for His opportunity to save all humankind from eternal damnation. Christ created an ultimate act giving up His life freely for the sake of others without any personal benefit other than knowing He obeyed the Father's will.

Benjamin wanted to impress upon his people the goodness of God to the point where they would know from what source to look for forgiveness. The King pointed out that the Lord had blessed them even as he spoke to them to have their hearts pricked and sins forgiven.

The testimony that Moses wanted to help his people gain so long ago before the birth of Christ was what King Benjamin was able to share with his people, who themselves were followers of the Law of Moses. These people knew the fulfillment of the Law was through Jesus Christ and could worship God in spirit and truth.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ "Mosiah 4:9-10" [1]

The Holy Bible "James 2:19" [2]

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ "Mosiah 4:19-20" [3]