The Lord will chasten his people!
None could deliver
Attention activity:
The current Bush - Mormon Messages
As many as I Love I chasten - April 2011 Conference
Do not fear - April 2004 Conference
Why do we need to be chastened? How are we chastened?
Mosiah 23:21-24 The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people - he trieth their patience and their faith
Whosoever putteth his trust in him - the same shall be lifted up at the last day
so it is with this people:
There is a reward given for those who endure chastisement well - they shall be lifted up at the last day.
#1. The people of Limhi - the son of Noah Mosiah 19-22
Attention activity:
What does it mean to be chastened? Have you ever chastened a child?
The current Bush - Mormon Messages
As many as I Love I chasten - April 2011 Conference
Do not fear - April 2004 Conference
Why do we need to be chastened? How are we chastened?
Do we bring these situations/conditions upon ourselves? If not why?
The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people
Mosiah 23:21-24 The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people - he trieth their patience and their faith
Whosoever putteth his trust in him - the same shall be lifted up at the last day
so it is with this people:
They were in bondage that none could deliver - and he did deliver them
There is a reward given for those who endure chastisement well - they shall be lifted up at the last day.
How does chastisement try our patience... our faith?
Today we will lean of two different groups of individuals whom the lord chastened and tried their faith.
#1. The people of Limhi - the son of Noah Mosiah 19-22
#2. The people of Alma - priest of Noah Mosiah 18, 23-24
Alma and his people: Abinadi's single convert
Alma Repents and Teaches the people
Mosiah 18:1-3 Alma who had fled from the servants of King - repented of his sins and taught people
Resurrection of the dead - and redemption through Jesus Christ
He taught them privately so king didn't know
He taught them privately so king didn't know
Mosiah 18:4-6 Alma went to place called Mormon - where there was pure water and a thicket of trees
He hid himself from the searches of the king - and many came to hear his words
Alma organizes the Church
Mosiah 18:7-11 He did teach them repentance, and redemption and faith on the Lord
Behold, here are the waters of Mormon
Ye are desirous to come into the fold of God - be called his people
bear one anothers burdens, moun with those that moun
comfort those that need comfort - witness of God at all times even until death
If this is the desire of your heart -
This is the desire of our hearts!
Ye are desirous to come into the fold of God - be called his people
bear one anothers burdens, moun with those that moun
comfort those that need comfort - witness of God at all times even until death
If this is the desire of your heart -
Baptized in the name of Lord as witness of Covenant
This is the desire of our hearts!
Review the covenant of Baptism: vs 9-10
Notice the importance given to the taking upon ourselves a covenant - to become of the fold of God.
The ordinance of baptism is a witness that we are willing to enter into a covenant with God.
Symbolism of the ordinance of Baptism - why does it symbolize this?
The baptism of Helam - and Alma...
Mosiah 18:12-16 Having authority from God I baptise you - as a testimony ye have entered into a covenant
to serve him to the end of your life - have spirit to be with you receive etenal life
Mosiah 18:17-25 Organization of the church - priests called - one heart one mind - priests labor for own support
Notice that both Helam and Alma were buried in the water.
Is this different than how we baptise today? What was different... does it matter?
The Poem of Mormon - Notice this was written by Mormon - concening the waters of Mormon!
Mosiah 18:30
All this was done in Mormon
By the waters of Mormon
In the forest near waters of Mormon
The place of Mormon
the waters of Mormon
the forest of Mormon
How Beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to a knowledge of their redeemer!
How blessed are they for they shall sing his praise forever!
Mormon is here also relating to those people - and his own testimony of his redeemer and his joy in his salvation.
Mosiah 18:34-35 Alma being waned of the Lord fled into the wildeness
Mosiah 19:1-3 Army retuns from attempting to kill the people of the Lord, and there begins to be divisions among the people (Gideon perhaps one of the army's soldiers - divisions about trying to kill these people?)
Mosiah 19:4-8 Confrontation with Gideon - Gideon is about to slay him - In the anguish of his soul - spare me for the Lamanites are upon us!
Mosiah 19:9-12 King commands the people to Flee - commands them to leave their wives and children - some did some did not.
How blessed are they for they shall sing his praise forever!
Mormon is here also relating to those people - and his own testimony of his redeemer and his joy in his salvation.
He relates - the place was named the same name as him - and he had the same feelings that they did!
Mosiah 18:34-35 Alma being waned of the Lord fled into the wildeness
We'll continue the story of Alma and his people in just a few minutes.
Limhi and his people:
Gideon and the king
Mosiah 19:1-3 Army retuns from attempting to kill the people of the Lord, and there begins to be divisions among the people (Gideon perhaps one of the army's soldiers - divisions about trying to kill these people?)
Mosiah 19:4-8 Confrontation with Gideon - Gideon is about to slay him - In the anguish of his soul - spare me for the Lamanites are upon us!
The Leadership of Noah
Mosiah 19:9-12 King commands the people to Flee - commands them to leave their wives and children - some did some did not.
What can we lean from these verses? Can people make choices because of fear and then regret them later?
What can fear to do us? What do we fear?
Mosiah 19:13-15 Lamanites charmed by fair daughters and spared their lives - brought them back and 50% of everything they have/grow taken
Mosiah 19:18-21 Gideon seeks Noahs life - secretly - find those who have fled - Noah was buned by them - they retun for revenge
How do you think these men were received by their wives and children?
Priests of Noah flee into wildeness
Priests of Noah flee into wildeness
Abinadi's prophecy about Noah fulfilled
- Noah killed by his own peopleLater on we see even more fulfillment of this prophecy in that the people of Amulon are hunted and buned...
Limhi makes oath with Lamanites - 50% of everything they own
Mosiah 19:25-26 Lamanites make oath not to kill them - Limhi 50% of everything given to Lamanites
Priests Abduct Lamanite daughters for wives - abandon their previous families
Mosiah 20:1-6 Priests of Noah abduct lamanite daughters
Lamanites become angry with Limhi's people and War develops
Limhi's people initially win in the war - but are massively outnumbered
Mosiah 20:7-11 Limhi's people use strategy and surprise to initially win
not half so numerous as the Lamanites - fought like dragons for their lives wives and children
Mosiah 20:12-16 King of Lamanites taken - confronted by Limhi
Mosiah 20:17-19 Gideon accuses Priests of Noah for taking Lamanite daughters
Mosiah 20:23-26 King of Lamanites plead for their lives
Mosiah 20:23-26 King of Lamanites plead for their lives
Mosiah 21:2-3 Lamanites treated Nephites like beasts of burden- smite them on the cheek, exercise authority over them
3 times the Nephites go against the lamanites
#1. Mosiah 21:6 Murmur because of afflictions - complaints to the king
#2 & 3 Mosiah 21:11-12 Murmur because of cries of windows and fear of Lamanites
Mosiah 21:13-15 Humbled themselves even to the dust - submitting themselves to be smitten, and driven
The Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities
What do you think this means - can the lord be slow to hear our cries for the same reason?
What of the inquity of this nation - will the Lord be slow to hear our cries?
Gideon provides a plan to escape
Mosiah 22:1-2, 6-9 Give wine to Lamanites - sneak out the back pass and flee into the wildeness
Mosiah 22:12-14 They succeed in this indeavor and join with the people of Mosiah
Army yet again gets lost in the wildeness?
Mosiah 22:15-16 Lamanites sent army into the wildeness to find the people of Limhi
Traveled two days - lost in the wildeness
Summary of the story of the people of Limhi
Rebelled against God - were brought into bondage by the lamanites
fought against lamanites - defeated and slain
carried burdens like a dumb ass - 50% of everything they possessed
Humbled themselves in the yoke of bondage - the lord slow to hear their cries
They escape into the wildeness - unto the people of Zarahemla
fought against lamanites - defeated and slain
carried burdens like a dumb ass - 50% of everything they possessed
Humbled themselves in the yoke of bondage - the lord slow to hear their cries
They escape into the wildeness - unto the people of Zarahemla
What can we lean from the story of the people of Limhi?
Why were they brought into bondage - so much so that they could not escape through their own power?
Did they bring this upon themselves or was it through the actions of others?
Even though they rebelled against God - final result was repentance and salvation from bondage.
Let us now compare this story with the story of Alma - Mosiah 23-24
Mosiah 23:1-5 Alma waned of the Lord - fled 8 days jouney into wildeness - land of pure water
Mosiah 23:6-18 People request Alma to be there king- he refuses - ordains good men to be priests
Army looking for the people of Limhi - finds Priests of Noah - finds people of Alma
Isn't it strange that an army is lost in the wildeness - only after 2 days... and can't find its way back home?
I wonder what sort of terrain they were in - it couldn't have been plain or minor forest.
Mosiah 23: 30-39 Army searches for people of Limhi - finds people of Amulon and Alma
Amulon a priest of Noah - is made king over Alma's people
Alma's people in bondage
Alma's people in bondage
Mosiah 24: 8-11 Amulon and his people persecuted Alma's people
Amulon knew he was once a priest - wroth with Alma - taskmasters over them
Amulon commanded them that they should not pray to God - or be put to death
Amulon commanded them that they should not pray to God - or be put to death
Why do you think Amulon didn't let them pray?
Do you think he knew that their prayers would be answered?
What does this tell us about Amulon - a priest of king Noah...?
What do we lean from Amulon's attitude toward Alma? What was their relationship like?
Mosiah 24:12-15 Voice of Lord came to them - be of good comfort
I know of the covenant you have made with me I will deliver you
I will ease your burdens that you cannot feel them - that you may be a witness
their burdens were made light - they submitted cheerfully and with patience
so great was their faith that the Lord delivered them
I will ease your burdens that you cannot feel them - that you may be a witness
their burdens were made light - they submitted cheerfully and with patience
so great was their faith that the Lord delivered them
Why weren't their burdens taken away? Are our burdens taken away?
What can we lean from this experience?
I've seen this principle in my life as well... the Lord doesn't usually take away the problems that we are having. He strengthens us so that we can overcome them. This is his patten to teach us to not run away from our problems but to meet them head on and he will strengthen us to be able to over come them.
Mosiah 24:17-25 The Lamanites are put to sleep and the people of Alma leave
they praise God in the valley of Alma - God blocks the army in that valley
They jouneyed to the land of Zarahemla
They jouneyed to the land of Zarahemla
Does it say anything about the Lord being slow to hear Alma's peoples cry for help?
Why is this different than the people of Limhi? What made their prayers more effective?
What can we lean from the comparison of these two stories.
How does Mormon teach us his main point:
Mosiah 23:21-24 The Lord seeth fit to chasten his people - he trieth their patience and their faith
Whosoever putteth his trust in him - the same shall be lifted up at the last day
so it is with this people:
They were in bondage that none could deliver - and he did deliver them
Mormon wrote these stories for us in our day.
Why do you think that these stories were included in his narative?
Remember his goal - to convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ and tha way and means for salvation.
How do these stories meet that goal?
Conclusion:
We need to be humble, meek and willing to submit to the things that the lord allows to have happen to us. These trials, tribulations, problems are provided to us for our benefit as well as that a fair judgment will be provided to all the children of God.
How should we react when we know that our troubles seem unjust? Was it right that Alma and his people should be persecuted and enslaved? What did they do wrong that caused this to occur?
We need to be careful in our judgements of others, as well as allow ourself to accept the chastisement of the Lord. He has a plan, and a purpose for the things that are occuring, and through his foreknowledge and power we can be changed through the trials of this life to become the way that he wants us to be.