Gospel Doctrine, Lesson 16: Ye Shall Be Called

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The Children of Christ, Mosiah 4-6

#1 The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that in obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed; and as God has designed our happiness He never hasHe never will, institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 256-57) #2 President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled us: Let us be more merciful. Let us get the arrogance out of our lives, the conceit, the egotism. Let us be more compassionate, gentler, filled with forbearance and patience and a greater measure of respect one for another For behold, are we not all beggars? (Mosiah 4:19) So spoke King Benjamin. To which I add that the power of the Master is certain and His word is sure. He will keep His promise toward those who are compassionate. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew
5:7)

I am confident that a time will come for each of us when, whether because of sickness or infirmity, of poverty or distress, of oppressive measures against us by man or nature, we shall wish for mercy. And if through our lives, we have granted mercy to others, we shall obtain it for ourselves. (CR. Apr. 1990) #3 President Brigham Young taught: Suppose that in this community there are ten beggars who beg from door to door for something to eat, and that nine of them are impostors who beg to escape work, and with an evil heart practice imposition upon the generous and sympathetic, and that only one of the ten who visit your doors is worthy of your bounty; which is best, to give food to the ten, to make sure of helping the truly needy one, or to repulse the ten because you do not know which is the worthy one? You will all say, Administer charitable gifts to the ten, rather than turn away the only truly worthy and truly needy person among them. If you do this it will make no difference in your blessings, whether you administer to worthy or unworthy persons, inasmuch as you give alms with a single eye to assist the truly needy. (JD, Vol. 8, 12) #4 President Joseph F. Smith said: We have always managed to give something to the poor, and refuse no one who asks for food. I believe this is the general sentiment and character of the Latter-day Saints. I think all the Mormon people are kindly disposed, and are generous toward the poor and unfortunate, and that there is not a Latter-day Saint under the sound of my voice or anywhere that would not divide his portion with his fellow creature in case of need. I have seen men go away from my door with good bread and butter in their hands (good enough for any king to eat, for my folks make good bread and good butter, as good as I ever ate on earth) and when out of the gate they have thrown it into the street. It was not food they wanted. They wanted money. For what? That they might go to some gambling [hall] or to some drinking saloon. Of course they are responsible for that. We can only judge by the promptings of the good spirit within us; and it is better to give to a dozen that are unworthy than to turn away empty one worthy person. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith,
Pr/RS Manual, p. 194)

Some thoughts too great not to include: President Henry B. Eyring: A choice to be goodeven with the trials that comewill allow the Atonement to change your heart. In time and after persistence, your wants and even your needs will change. You remember that the people who believed King Benjamins talk found such a change had come over them: And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually (Mosiah 5:2). If we stay at it long enough, perhaps for a lifetime, we will have for so long felt what the Savior feels, wanted what he wants, and done what he would have us do that we will have, through the Atonement, a new heart filled with charity. And we will have become like him (To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses, 70-71) Stephen Robinson: Surely someone, perhaps one of the spiritual masochists among us (or spiritual sadistswe have both in the Church), is going to object, But what about the mighty change? Did not the Spirit work a mighty change within the people of Benjamin so that they had no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually? (Mosiah 5:2) That is true, but what is being described there is a change in disposition, a change of desire, a change in our compass headings. From the moment of their conversion (or reconversion), the people of Benjamin changed their orientation and wanted righteousness rather than wickedness. It became their one goal. But that does not mean they achieved their goal instantaneously! It does not mean they never had another carnal thought or that they never subsequently lost any struggle against their carnal natures. At that moment, filled with the Spirit and clearly seeing the two paths before them, the people of Benjamin lost all desire to follow the path of evil. I feel the same way when I feel the Spirit, but I do not always feel the Spirit. And as with Moses, when the epiphany (divine appearance) is over, Satan sometimes takes his best shot (Moses 1:9-12)). Therefore we must recharge our spiritual batteries regularly. Great spiritual damage can be done by teaching the Saints that the mighty change means once truly converted we are never again tempted to sin. For if the Saints believe that the truly converted are never subsequently tempted, then when they are temptedand they will bethey will conclude they are not really converted. However, being truly converted does not end the tests of mortality, for we will continue to be tested and tempted as long as we are in the flesh. Even as covenant members of the church of Jesus Christ, we will continue to be subject to the carnal impulses and other weaknesses that are a consequence of the Fall. (Following Christ: The Parable of the Divers and More Good News, 41-43) Joseph Smith said: Salvation means being placed beyond the power of all [our] enemies. (HC, 5:392) He explained further: Salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies under our feet in this world, and a knowledge to overcome all evil spirits in the world to come, then we are saved, as in the case of Jesus, who was to reign until he had put all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy was death. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 297) Of course, it is by the Atonement and by obeying the principles and ordinances of the Gospel that we are able to put all enemies under our feet. And as it was with Jesus, so will it be with us. Our last enemy will be the grave and when we have overcome death and received our glorious resurrected bodies, we will indeed have in our possession the fullness of salvation the Father intended. (Cleon Skousen, Treasures from the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2, 30-31) Elder Neal A. Maxwell: I have on my office wall a wise and useful reminder by Anne Morrow Lindbergh concerning one of the realities of life. She wrote, My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds. Thats good counsel for us all, not as an excuse to forego duty, but as a sage point about pace and the need for quality in relationships. (Deposition of a Disciple, 58)

The Balm of Gilead

by President Boyd K. Packer
(CR, October 1977) My message is an appeal to those who are worried or restless or anxious, a plea to those who are not at peace. If your life is touched with disappointment, grief, or bitterness; if you struggle constantly with worry, frustration, with shame or anxiety, I speak to you. The Bible records that in ancient times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, a substance used to heal and soothe. It came, perhaps, from a tree or shrub, and was a major commodity of trade in the ancient world. It was known as the Balm of Gilead. That name became symbolic for the power to soothe and heal. The lyrics of a song record:

There is a Balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole, There is a Balm in Gilead, To heal the sin sick soul.
I recently asked a doctor of family medicine how much of his time was devoted purely to correcting physical disorders. He has a large practice, and after thoughtfully considering, he answered, Not more than 20 percent. The rest of the time I seem to be working on problems that very much affect the physical wellbeing of my patients but do not originate in the body. These physical disorders, the doctor concluded, are merely symptoms of some other kind of trouble. In recent generations one after another of the major diseases has yielded to control or cure. Some very major ones still remain, but we now seem able to do something about most of them. There is another part of us, not so tangible, but quite as real as our physical body. This intangible part of us is described as mind, emotion, intellect, temperament, and many other things. Very seldom is it described as spiritual. But there is a spirit in man; to ignore it is to ignore reality. There are spiritual disorders, too, and spiritual diseases that can cause intense suffering. The body and the spirit of man are bound together. Often, very often, when there are disorders, it is very difficult to tell which is which. There are basic rules of physical health that have to do with rest, nourishment, exercise, and with abstaining from those things which damage the body. Those who violate the rules one day pay for their foolishness. There are also rules of spiritual health, simple rules that cannot be ignored, for if they are we will reap sorrow by and by. All of us experience some temporary physical sickness. All of us now and again may be spiritually ill as well. Too many of us, however, are chronically spiritually sick. We dont need to stay that way. We can learn to avoid spiritual infections and maintain good spiritual health. Even though we have a serious physical ailment, we can be spiritually healthy. If you suffer from worry, from grief or shame, from jealousy, disappointment, or envy, I have something to tell you. Somewhere near your home there is a vacant corner lot. Although adjoining yards may be well tended, a vacant corner lot somehow is always full of weeds. There is a footpath across it, a bicycle trail, and ordinarily it is a collecting place for junk. First someone

threw a few lawn clippings there. They would not hurt anything. Someone added a few sticks and limbs from a nearby yard. Then came a few papers and a plastic bag, and finally some tin cans and old bottles were included. And there it wasa junkyard. The neighbors did not intend it to be that. But little contributions from here and there made it so. This corner lot is like, so very much like, the minds of many of us. We leave our minds vacant and empty and open to trespass by anyone. Whatever is dumped there we keep. We would not consciously permit anyone to dump junk into our minds, not old cans and bottles. But after lawn clippings and papers, the other things just dont seem all that much worse. Our minds can become veritable junk heaps with dirty, cast-off ideas that accumulate there little by little. Years ago I put up some signs in my mind. They are very clearly printed and simply read: No trespassing. No dumping allowed. On occasions it has been necessary to show them very plainly to others. I do not want anything coming into my mind that does not have some useful purpose or some value that makes it worth keeping. I have enough trouble keeping the weeds down that sprout there on their own without permitting someone else to clutter my mind with things that do not edify. Ive hauled a few of these away in my lifetime. Occasionally Ive tossed these thoughts back over the fence where they came from, when it could be done in a friendly manner. Ive had to evict some thoughts a hundred times before they would stay out. I have never been successful until I have put something edifying in their place. I do not want my mind to be a dumping place for shabby ideas or thoughts, for disappointments, bitterness, envy, shame, hatred, worry, grief, or jealousy. If you are fretting over such things, its time to clean the yard. Get rid of all that junk! Get rid of it! Put up a no trespassing sign, a no dumping sign, and take control of yourself. Dont keep anything that will not edify you. The first thing a doctor does with a wound is to clean it out. He gets rid of all foreign matter and drains off infectionhowever much it hurts. Once you do that spiritually, you will have a different perspective. You will have much less to worry about. It is easy to get all mixed up about worry. Somewhere there is a message in the protest of a man who said: You cant tell me worry doesnt help. The things I worry about never happen. Many years ago I was taught a lesson by a man I admired very much. He was as saintly a man as I have ever known. He was steady and serene, with a deep spiritual strength that many drew upon. He knew just how to minister to others who were suffering. On a number of occasions I was present when he gave blessings to those who were sick or otherwise afflicted. His life had been a life of service, both in the Church and in the community. He had presided over one of the missions of the Church and looked forward to the annual missionary reunion. When he was older he was not able to drive at night, and I offered to take him to the reunions. This modest gesture was repaid a thousandfold. On one occasion when we were alone and the spirit was right, he gave me a lesson for my life from an experience in his. Although I thought I had known him, he told me things I would not have supposed. He grew up in a little community. Somehow in his youth he had a desire to make something of himself and

struggled successfully to get an education. He married a lovely young woman, and presently everything in his life was just right. He was well employed, with a bright future. They were deeply in love, and she was expecting their first child. The night the baby was to be born there were complications. The only doctor was somewhere in the countryside tending to the sick. They were not able to find him. After many hours of labor the condition of the mother-to-be became desperate. Finally the doctor arrived. He sensed the emergency, acted quickly, and soon had things in order. The baby was born and the crisis, it appeared, was over. Some days later the young mother died from the very infection that the doctor had been treating at the other home that night. My friends world was shattered. Everything was not right now; everything was all wrong. He had lost his wife, his sweetheart. He had no way to take care of a tiny baby and at once tend to his work. As the weeks wore on his grief festered. That doctor should not be allowed to practice, he would say. He brought that infection to my wife; if he had been careful she would be alive today. He thought of little else, and in his bitterness he became threatening. Then one night a knock came at his door. A little youngster said, simply, Daddy wants you to come over. He wants to talk to you. Daddy was the stake president. A grieving, heartbroken young man went to see his spiritual leader. This spiritual shepherd had been watching his flock and had something to say to him. The counsel from this wise servant was simply: John, leave it alone. Nothing you do about it will bring her back. Anything you do will make it worse. John, leave it alone. My friend told me then that this had been his trial, his Gethsemane. How could he leave it alone? Right was right! A terrible wrong had been committed, and somebody must pay for it. He struggled in agony to get hold of himself. It did not happen at once. Finally he determined that whatever else the issues were, he should be obedient. Obedience is a powerful spiritual medicine. It comes close to being a cure-all. He determined to follow the counsel of that wise spiritual leader. He would leave it alone. Then he told me, I was an old man before I finally understood. It was not until I was an old man that I could finally see a poor country doctoroverworked, underpaid, run ragged from patient to patient, with little proper medicine, no hospital, few instruments. He struggled to save lives, and succeeded for the most part. He had come in a moment of crisis when two lives hung in the balance and had acted without delay. I was an old man, he repeated, before finally I understood. I would have ruined my life, he said, and the lives of others. Many times he had thanked the Lord on his knees for a wise spiritual leader who counseled simply, John, leave it alone. And that is my counsel to you. If you have festering sores, a grudge, some bitterness, disappointment, or jealousy, get hold of yourself. You may not be able to control things out there with others, but you can control things here, inside of you. I say, therefore: John, leave it alone. Mary, leave it alone. You may need a transfusion of spiritual strength to be able to do this. Then just ask for it. We call that

prayer. Prayer is powerful, spiritual medicine. The instructions for its use are found in the scriptures. One of our sacred hymns carries this message:

Ere you left your room this morning, Did you think to pray?... When your soul was full of sorrow, Balm of Gilead did you borrow At the gates of day? O how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day; So when life gets dark and dreary, Dont forget to pray.
All of us carry excess baggage around from time to time, but the wisest ones among us dont carry it for very long. They get rid of it. Some of it you have to get rid of without really solving the problem. Some things that ought to be put in order are not put in order because you cant control them. Often, however, the things we carry are petty, even stupid. If you are still upset after all these years because Aunt Clara didnt come to your wedding reception, why dont you grow up? Forget it. If you brood constantly over some past mistake, settle itlook ahead. If the bishop didnt call you rightor release you rightforget it. If you resent someone for something he has doneor failed to doforget it. We call that forgiveness. It is powerful, spiritual medicine. The instructions for its use are found in the scriptures. I repeat: John, leave it alone. Mary, leave it alone. Purge and cleanse and soothe your soul and your heart and your mind. It will then be as though a cloudy, dirty film has been erased from the world around you; and though the problem may remain, the sun will come out. The beam will have been lifted from your eyes. There will come a peace that surpasseth understanding. A great significant message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is exemplified by the title given to Him: the Prince of Peace. If we follow Him, we can have that individually and collectively. He has said: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27.) If you, my brother or sister, are troubled, there is at hand, not just in Gilead, a soothing, healing balm. Consider this: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:1418.) I bear witness of Him who is the Great Comforter and as one authorized to bear that witness testify that He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

LESSON OUTLINE
On Board: Post picture of Christus, showing hands of Christ Write: Group 1: Mosiah 4:13-15 ~ Group 2: Mosiah 4:16-26~ Group 3: Mosiah 4:27-30~ I begin with a question: On which hand of God do we want to be following this life? ~Do you remember when we studied the book of Revelation last year and we discussed the symbolism of various body parts? What does the right hand symbolize? (Covenant hand) ~So if were on the right hand of God, what does that mean we did in this life? (kept our covenants) ~And what is the gift we receive for keeping our covenants? (Eternal Life) Later well see what King Benjamin says we need to do to be on that right hand. Lets turn to: Mosiah 4:1 ~Who were these people? Were they members of the Church? (yes) ~Were they righteous members? How do we know? (theyre at the temple, etc.) So here they are after having heard the words of an angel through King Benjamin ~What were the angels words about? (see ch. 3, Atonement of Christ) And King Benjamin looks around at these good members of the church, and they have fallen to the ground, in the fear of the Lord. ~What does fear mean here? (see Bible Dictionary: Fear, 1st half) ~What has happened here? Why did they suddenly feel reverence and awe? ~What did they finally understand about their relationship to Christ? (without Him they are nothing) Lets look in verse 2: It says they viewed themselves [as] less than the dust of the earth. ~Is this usually how we try to see ourselves? It seems like we spend our lives trying to build up our self-esteem, doesnt it? ~How does this square with D&C 18:10 where it says, Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God? Are we really less than the dust of the earth? (Yes, unless we yield to God and submit to Him in all things) Helaman 12:7-8 So were back to the principle of obedience, of being submissive to Heavenly Father. ~What is it that grows the more obedient we are? (faith)

Quotation #1 Lets see what happens the less obedient we are. Think about when you were a child and did something you knew was wrong. I remember taking a nickel out of my moms wallet to buy some candy with. ~What feeling do you think came into my heart? (guilt, shame, fear of my momI didnt really understand that I should fear God yet) ~So is it accurate to say disobedience brings us fear? Lets go back to the Bible Dictionary definition of fear. (Read 2nd half) So the people of King Benjamin, good members, have seen that they need the Savior. They need His Atonement; they need forgiveness. Mosiah 4:2-3 (starting at And they all cried) Notice that peace of conscience that came with forgiveness. I was wracked with guilt over that nickel, and it wasnt long before I couldnt stand it anymore and had to confess! Its interesting to me that I didnt just sneak it back into her wallet and call it good! Even children instinctively know the steps of repentance! And then I had peace once again. ~Does understanding our own nothingness help us to see Gods greatness more clearly? How? (we see how dependant we are on Him for everything) Mosiah 4:6 ~Who else in the scriptures talks about man being nothing? (Moses) Lets turn to Moses 1 Remember, Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain and talked face to face with God. Moses 1:3-Then Moses was shown some things so he would know Heavenly Father better. Moses 1:4,8 After this magnificent vision Moses began to comprehend the glory of God. And just like the people of Mosiah, he fell to the earth! Moses 1:10 ~So the better we know God, the better we know whom? (ourselves) Mosiah 4:9 Notice how this verse compares with what Moses saw. Mosiah 4:11 ~Is it necessary for us to recognize our nothingness compared to His fullness? Why? Just to rub it in? (This knowledge draws us to Him, the source of healing, of making complete and whole)

~When we believe we are self-sufficient, will we come to Him? ~If we cant see our weaknesses, will we go to Him for help in overcoming them? ~Why is Christ referred to as the Balm of Gilead? What does He heal us from? (our sins) I love what Christ says in Luke 7. Remember, Christ was eating at the home of a Pharisee named Simon? A woman, a sinner, finds out and comes with ointment for his feet. Luke 7:36 ~What did Simon think of this? (If he were a prophet, hed know what kind of woman this is, and wouldnt let her touch him!) Luke 7:44-47 ...to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. ~What does this mean? (only when we understand how much we need forgiveness, can we comprehend the extent of Gods goodness and love towards us. And only THEN do we begin to make real progress! Only then can our Father in Heaven begin to help us become like He is.) Remember, He wont force us. We must get to know Him, and by so doing realize how much we need Him. Then we will ask for His help sincerely, and He promises to answer. So the people of Mosiah have been born againnot in a superficial waybut their hearts have changed. Lets see if we have undergone the same transformation: King Benjamin talks about three things people who are born again do. Group 1: Teach the children Group 2: Share with the poor Group 3: Watch your thoughts, words & deeds Whats this? To retain a remission of sins we must share our substance with the poor? Alma 34:28 Quotations #2 Quotation #3 Quotation #4 How appropriate. King Benjamin has just demonstrated that we are all beggars, dependent on the largesse of the Lord. Now we see that in turn, to receive the full bounty of His gifts, we must respond to the beggars in our lives.