Mosiah 1

Mosiah 1

Mosiah 1: 1-5

no more contention...................................................political and societal conflicts at a minimum
3 sons....................................................................Mosiah, Helorum, Helaman
teach sons records.....................................................very strong education in the historical records
must teach an ancient language to them.........................not a simple task.  Language changing
danger of dwindling...................................................complicated with changing language and remembering.

Already the Nephite-Mulekite nation has a problem reading a language several hundred years old.  Mosiah must have his sons taught in the old language..

Mosiah 1: 6-10

record of migration...............................................reasserts the arguments as first recorded
keep commandments..............................................reanchors the people in the original statements
king Benjamin waxes old..........................................King Benjamin prepares to leave the office
Mosiah proclaimed king.......................................a new king called and announced to the people
give a name........................................................a formal covenant making assembly
diligent............................................................a commitment to active work

Part of the passage of leadership from father to son requires the subjects of the land to commit themselves to keep the commandments of God and to follow the new leadership.  Benjamin sees a need for people to avoid nuances in religion and government by restudying the past and the written word.

Mosiah 1:  11-18

highly favored....................................................there is a reason for the divine assistance
if....................................................................remember the contingencies for divine help
gave charge.....................................................after formal address Benjamin resigns office
formal transfers.............................................king in possession of the Liahona and other relics
inasmuch........................................................a history of the power behind Liahona
remembrance of duty.................................................one does not simply get the power
Mosiah proclaims..................................................new king kicks off a very strong start
gather to temple......................................................a formal meeting in the temple with his people

This illustrates the formal and ritual passage of national power from one administration to the next.

King Benjamin labors to make certain that all aspects of his personal duty are met in passing the power of his kingdom to his son, Mosiah.  He particularly centers on the message from the distant past to remind his country of the need for studying and teaching the original principles of notables of the past, particularly Nephi.

1 Nephi 21

1 Nephi 21

Parallel to Isaiah 11

1 Nephi 21: 1-5

rod out of the stem of Jesse..........................................refers prophetically to Jesus Christ.  House of David

Spirit of the Lord.............................................the promised Messiah, to have the necessary attributes to act as Savior

judge..........................................................the position of ruler.  How Christ will judge.  Spiritual Judge

to bless and to curse....................................those who live right under trial are blessed.  Those who do harm are cursed

righteousness and faithfulness................................what motivates the savior.  All things done correctly

Isaiah prophesies the attributes and mission of Christ, both temporally and eternally.  As the great leader he will be the ultimate judge, and he will judge according to the spirit.

1 Nephi 21: 6-11

wolf and lamb.................................................Christ's position will lead to harmony

child and the asp................................................the enmity between man and the serpent will be completely dissolved

shall not hurt...................................................The great mission of heaven is to bring men together

ensign................................................................the people will be given a sign to aspire to.  Christ.

second time................................................Christ will start a work to recover all his people

The mission of Christ is to bring men to harmony.  He will work with people of different ages to recover them and to bring them into his eternal kingdom

1 Nephi 21: 12-16

gather from four corners.....................................the gospel message will be offered to all people.  Those who accept it will be gathered to his kingdom

14...................................................................The nations of the earth will be overruled to make it possible to hear the gospel

dry shod..........................................................the powers of the earth will be tempered to allow the gospel message

a highway.......................................................another way to describe the facilitating of teaching the gospel

The gospel teaching of the last days will be unstoppable.  The Lord will open the highways for acceptance in his time in all the four corners of the earth.

1 Nephi 21

Christ manifests to Isaiah that he will accomplish his work of recovering his people.  It will begin with his earthly mission and his teaching while in life, but it will continue after his death and at the right time will go forward all around the earth to open the way for all to accept the message and come into his kingdom.