Have you ever heard someone speak and felt inspired to change your life? Perhaps you decided, because of what you heard, to live a little differently—or even a lot differently. King Benjamin’s sermon was that kind of sermon, and the truths he taught had that kind of effect on the people who heard them. King Benjamin shared with his people what an angel had taught him—that wonderful blessings were possible through “the atoning blood of Christ” (Mosiah 4:2). Because of His message, they changed their view of themselves (see Mosiah 4:2), the Spirit changed their desires (see Mosiah 5:2), and they covenanted with God that they would always do His will (see Mosiah 5:5). This is how King Benjamin’s words affected his people. How will they affect you?
Through Jesus Christ, I can receive and retain a remission of my sins.
Sometimes, even when you have felt forgiven of your sins, you might struggle to keep that feeling and stay on the path of righteousness. King Benjamin taught his people how to both receive and retain a remission of sins. As you study chapter 4 of Mosiah, consider asking questions like these:
Verses 1–8.What are the conditions under which God grants a remission of your sins? What do you learn about Him in these verses that inspires you to repent? How can you know you have repented?
Verses 11–16.According to these verses, what happens in our lives if we do the things described in verse 11? How have you, or someone you love, experienced these changes? Compare these changes to the changes described in Mosiah 3:19.
Verses 16–30.How might sharing what you have with others help you retain a remission of your sins? How can you apply verse 27 to your efforts to be Christlike?
In what sense are we all beggars? According to these verses, how should we treat all of God’s children? (see Mosiah 4:26). Who needs your help?
See also Becky Craven, “Keep the Change,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 58–60.
King Benjamin’s invitation to believe in and trust God is as important today as it was in ancient times. As you read Mosiah 4:5–10, look for truths about God that give you reason to trust Him. Note the invitations King Benjamin gives in verse 10. Why would trusting God make it easier to do what King Benjamin invites?
Consider searching some of these additional scriptures to make a list of God’s attributes: Jeremiah 32:17; 1 John 4:8; 2 Nephi 9:17; Alma 32:22; Mormon 9:9; Ether 3:12; Doctrine and Covenants 19:1–3; 88:41 (see also the video “Christlike Attributes,” Gospel Library). You could use your list to come up with various ways to complete a sentence like this: “Because I know God is , I can trust Him to .”
Our trust in God increases as we have experiences with Him. In Mosiah 4:1–3, what helped King Benjamin’s people “come to a knowledge of the goodness of God”? (verse 6). Think about the experiences you have had with God. What have these experiences taught you about Him? What steps are you taking (or could you take) to deepen your belief or trust in God?
Sharing sacred experiences. Some experiences are too sacred or personal to share. When inviting others to share experiences, don’t pressure them to share if they do not want to.
God doesn’t give us a list of every possible sin. According to Mosiah 4:29–30, what does He do instead? Ponder how your thoughts, words, and deeds affect yourself and others. How do they affect your relationship with God? How do you “watch [yourself]”?
The Spirit of the Lord can cause a mighty change in my heart.
It’s common for people to say, “I can’t change. That’s just the way I am.” In contrast, the experience of King Benjamin’s people shows us how the Spirit of the Lord can truly change our hearts. As you read Mosiah 5:1–5, think about how the “mighty change” leading to true conversion has happened—or can happen—in your life. Think about the subtle, gradual changes as well as the “mighty” experiences. How do these experiences help you when you face temptation?
See also Ezekiel 36:26–27; Alma 5:14; “A Change of Heart,” “The People of King Benjamin Make a Covenant” (videos), Gospel Library.
I take upon myself the name of Christ as I make covenants with Him.
What do you learn from Mosiah 5:7–9 about what it means to take upon yourself the name of Christ? What do the sacrament prayers (see Moroni 4–5) teach about this? How can you show that you “belong” to the Savior?
See also D. Todd Christofferson, “Why the Covenant Path,” Liahona, May 2021, 116–19.
To teach about the joy of repentance, maybe you could let your children get their hands sticky or dirty and notice how they feel after washing. Then you could compare that to the way the people in Mosiah 4:1–3 felt before and after their sins were forgiven. Share your testimony of the Savior’s power to cleanse us spiritually.
Do your children know how to fully and sincerely repent? Help them find what King Benjamin’s people did in Mosiah 4:1–3, 10. They could also review “Repent, Repentance” in Guide to the Scriptures. How does Jesus Christ make repentance possible?
The gospel of Jesus Christ inspires me to treat others with love and kindness.
Serving others makes us feel good. Perhaps your children could talk about a time when they loved or served someone and how that experience made them feel. What are some reasons people might not want to serve others? What could we say to someone to invite them to help people in need? Look for ideas in Mosiah 4:16–26.
King Benjamin taught that when we come unto Christ and receive a remission of our sins, we are “filled with the love of God” (Mosiah 4:12). This leads us to be loving and kind toward others. You and your children could search Mosiah 4:13–16, 26 (or a song like “I’ll Walk with You,” Children’s Songbook, 140–41) and find phrases that describe how we can serve others. They could then act out these things or draw pictures of them and guess each other’s phrases. How can we show love and kindness at home, at school, or at church?
As I make covenants with God, I take upon myself the name of Christ.
Your children might enjoy creating badges displaying the name “Jesus Christ” and wearing them over their hearts (see this week’s activity page). While they do so, you could read to them Mosiah 5:12 and talk about how making covenants, or promises, with God is like having the name of Christ “written always in [our] hearts.”
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
