If you read to the end, there is a youtube music video.
In Mosiah 5, King Benjamin preaches to his people and tells them to take upon them the name of Christ. When he asks the people if they believe him, they shout YES! This is verse 2 which I relate to so much in my own faith journey, as it is how I feel,
"2 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.
Likening this verse unto me.
I have seen in my own life the past few years how my testimony of Christ has grown, my ability to love has increased, my past tendency to take offense (even when warranted) has been soothed, and I believe Christ. I don't just believe in Him or that he exists, but I believe His words and trust his promises.
In Mosiah 6, King Benjamin writes the names of his people who made an Oath with God and made covenants. Mosiah became King at age 30 and then 3 years later, King Benjamin died. Mosiah was a good King and obedient to The Lord.
In Mosiah 7, Sixteen of Mosiah's men went to the land of Lehi-Nephi to check up on the Nephites that moved there from Zarahemla, because they hadn't heard from them. A strong man named Ammon led them. He was a descendant in Zerahemla.
King Limhi's men put Ammon and 3 others with him in Prison. Basically, Limhi was a descendent of Zarahemla through Zeniff. Zeniff's son Noah was Limhi's father. Ammon also is a descendent of Zarahemla so they started chatting.
Ammon meets King Limhi
Limhi tells Ammon they are all in bondage under the Lamanites, he is happy Ammon has reported that the Nephites in Zarahemla are doing well, and he was happy Ammon came. Limhi offered to make his people slaves to the Nephites rather then stay in bondage to the Lamanites. Yikes!
*The reason I am doing more explaining than usual in these chapters is because these chapters used to confuse me (who is who, and why). Basically, Zeniff was tricked by the King of the Lamanites at the time to trust him, and then he took the men of Zeniff captive, and his people were taken into Bondage.
Ammon said this to Limhi in Mosiah 7:33, " But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage."
In Mosiah 8, Ammon starts to teach the people of Limhi. Limhi tells Ammon about the 40 men he sent out to find Zarahemla, but they got lost, found a place where men were killed, and they brought 24 plates of gold and brass color, and some swords back to Limhi in Lehi-Nephi. Noone could interpret the plates, but Ammon said that he knew a King in Zarahemla who could and he deacribed a Prophet and seer to Limhi. That ended Chapter 8.
LIKENING THE SCRIPTURES UNTO ME
1. If I was asked, I would definitely say that I believe the words of King Benjamin in Mosiah in The Book of Mormon. Not just because they did indeed happen, and we know this from reading Isaiah and The New Testament, but because there is no way unless he was a Prophet of God that he could have known, prophesied, and seen what was to come if he wasn't a Prophet, even down to the name of his Mother Mary!
2. I want to make Covenants and keep them with God. I know Jesus is aware of me and my specific circumstances and I know He knows my heart is for Him. I want to make Sacred Covenants with Him and feel that closeness with God.
3. When I hear about the goodness of King Benjamin and Mosiah, I feel confident in their words that I can trust them.
4. I feel like I understood Limhi's anxiety, fatigue in fighting the Lamanites, and his relief in meeting Ammon! I sense Limhi's hope. I want to have that kind of relief and hope in my life with the places in my life I have felt "in bondage" and where I can trust that the Holy Spirit, Father, and Son have my back, know my future, and will lead me away from people and circumstances that would keep me feeling "captive".
This is how I think Limhi felt meeting Ammon. This song is about Moses saving the Israelites in Egypt who were also in bondage like Limhi's people.
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