You
can read the entire chapter at the following link https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/w-of-m/1?lang=eng.
The
prophet Mormon, who was introduced to us in the Words of Mormon, continues the
narrative thread he picked up there. He will be our voice of conscience and
reflection over most of the rest of the book.
What
strikes me most about this chapter is the message for us about vigilantly
preserving whatever we know that is pure and good for successive generations.
King Benjamin has “fought the good fight” for his people, the Nephites, in
staving off wickedness both externally and from within. As he approaches the
end of his life, it’s clear how mindful he is of making sure the legacy of his
efforts doesn’t perish with him.
How
does this principle matter for us? Is there a kingdom we possess that we’re
responsible for handing down? Absolutely. Even if we may not rule over a vast number
of people, most of us have relationships and responsibilities that are sacred
in nature. People’s lives and destinies turn at least to some degree on how we
inspire and instruct them.
To
that end, King Benjamin does two things. First, he puts things in order. For
us, it is about making sure that the essential, righteous knowledge and
traditions of our families are safeguarded and made vibrant and relevant for
our children and grandchildren. So that means handing down records—which
includes spiritual truth as well as details of lives, events, personalities and
struggles. But even more vital than that is banishing contention. Regardless of
the content of instruction we provide, if our families and societies are not
spiritually prepared to receive that instruction, there’s little point in
providing it. So perhaps the most significant observation from Mormon occurs in
verse 1 when he tells us that there was “no more contention” among the people
of King Benjamin. This sets the tone for everything.
Then
we learn of the marvelous things that King Benjamin has done to make sure
traditions are handed down. His sons know the language of their ancestors so
they can teach and expound the records that the Nephites have inherited,
presumably dating back to Adam (verses 2-4). And most importantly, Mormon
quotes King Benjamin’s personal charge to his sons to search the scriptural
records diligently, and to keep the commandments of God, that “ye may prosper
in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers”
(verse 7). This charge is given especially to Benjamin’s son Mosiah (the
namesake of this component book of the Book of Mormon), whom he anoints as his
kingly successor. Pursuant to the custom of the Israelites, the Nephites handle
the transfer of power whenever possible before a king dies rather than after.
After
putting things in order, the second thing King Benjamin does to protect the
legacy of righteousness that has been established among the people is to “give
this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people
which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem” (verse 11). This
showcases the prophetic insight Benjamin has. By proposing to literally name
(or in some senses, rename, the Nephites), he teaches us how we can use names
and identifiers to orient ourselves regarding who we really are in our eternal
relationships with the Lord and one another, and to remind and admonish us of
the covenants we have made and the promises (from obedience) and consequences
(from disobedience) stemming from those covenants. To emphasize the importance
of this name for his people, Benjamin has King Mosiah gather the people to the
temple that has been built in Zarahemla. This is the first we hear of a temple in
this location (Nephi and Jacob had told us about an earlier temple in the land
of Nephi from which the Nephites later fled, effectively ceding it to the
Lamanites). Having another temple in the Nephites’ relatively new location
tells us something about the magnitude of commitment King Benjamin (and perhaps
his father Mosiah) was able to ignite within his people.
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