Moisah 3

Okay, so just a reminder of what is happening King Benjamin is getting older, about to die, and is going to hand the responsibilities of the kingdom over to his son Mosiah.  Before he does so though he wants to bring everyone in so he can speak to them one last time.  Sometimes we jokingly refer to this as the first recorded General Conference.  Everyone has come together at the temple to hear King Benjamin speak.  In the next few chapters we study, staring with Mosiah 3, King Benjamin shares what he has learned from a heavenly messenger, an angel (Mosiah 3:2). The angel tells of the coming Messiah, His mother Mary, and many of the acts He will perform while on earth in the flesh.

As I studied this chapter this morning two verses really stood out in my mind.  Verses that I don't think would have stood out so loudly if I wasn't currently in quarantine with Corona and watching the world as I know it "stop spinning." The two verses are Mosiah 3:13 & 15.  These verses share what will be happening with the prophets and people before Christ's first visit to the earth and his ministry in Jerusalem.  However, I just see a ton of parallels to our time now.

First Mosiah 3:13:

"And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them."

I could not be more grateful to have living prophets on the earth today.  These wonderful men are out declaring the gospel to all the world.  They are guiding us through safe practices and prepared the way for us to meet the changing dynamics of the world with "Come Follow Me." We have also been so blessed to watch the missionary efforts throughout the world explode with the lowering of the mission age as the youth (you guys!!) have risen to the challenge to help the prophets in their efforts to spread the gospel to the world.  We may look at this time of missionaries being return to their home countries as a set back however people in their native countries are rising to compensate for what has been lost.

I am sure most of you have seen this message of hope from President Nelson, you can't help but feel the love and concern he extends and feel the validation of his prophetic call as prophet.

Then a little later Mosiah 3:15 reads:

"And many signs, and wonders and types, and shadows showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming, and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood."

Just as prophets prophesied of the coming Messiah over 2,020 years ago, we too have living prophets on the earth prophesying of Christ's final return.  Helping us navigate the things that are to come. Helping us look to the signs, wonders, types, and shadows pointing us to the Savior.  The gospel of Jesus Christ (just like the law of Moses) means nothing if it is just a "cultural thing" we participate in.  The gospel of Jesus Christ should point us directly to the Savior and motivate and inspire us to change who we are. The gospel is to help us become more like Him.

I pray that each of us will listen to the prophets' and their words this coming conference so we can be prepared for the Savior's final return.  I hope we see the gospel as the way to become more like Him and not miss Him, like many of the people in Jerusalem.

PS I have included a file with a list of Signs of the Times: Signs Preparatory to and Part of this Final Great Dispensation as found in "Mormon Doctrine” by Bruce R. McConkie pp. 645-663. Kind of a cool thing to look through.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ddofn65IcaKaZIA_z7oyYzxxnuj6BCHT