< Mosiah 1 >
v. 1 ... so that King Benjamin had continual peace all the remained of his days.
King Benjamin: A Lesson in Leadership
Words of Mormon 1:13 - They seek to protect those they lead
Words of Mormon 1:17 - They are holy, righteous, speak with authority, and use sharpness at times
Words of Mormon 1:18 - They labor (work) hard for those they lead
Mosiah 1:1 - They establish peace
Mosiah 1:6 - They believe in and teach from the scriptures
Mosiah 2:4 - They teach that keeping the commandments leads to joy and love
Mosiah 2:14 - They serve those they lead
Mosiah 2:26 - They don't consider themselves to be better than those they lead
Mosiah 2:13 - They are willing to confront wickedness
True Leadership - If we wish to become great leaders, look to King Benjamin as a model and as an example.
King Benjamin: A Lesson in Leadership
Words of Mormon 1:13 - They seek to protect those they lead
Words of Mormon 1:17 - They are holy, righteous, speak with authority, and use sharpness at times
Words of Mormon 1:18 - They labor (work) hard for those they lead
Mosiah 1:1 - They establish peace
Mosiah 1:6 - They believe in and teach from the scriptures
Mosiah 2:4 - They teach that keeping the commandments leads to joy and love
Mosiah 2:14 - They serve those they lead
Mosiah 2:26 - They don't consider themselves to be better than those they lead
Mosiah 2:13 - They are willing to confront wickedness
True Leadership - If we wish to become great leaders, look to King Benjamin as a model and as an example.
v. 2 And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers...
Men & Women of Understanding
In Mosiah 1, King Benjamin says that his sons became “men of understanding”because he taught them three things:
1. The language of their fathers
2. The prophecies of the scriptures
3. The mysteries of God
From that chapter we can pull a pattern. Here’s how someone becomes “a man (or woman) of understanding” in the scriptural sense:
1. Root yourself in the language of your faith
Benjamin taught his sons “the language of their fathers” — not just words, but the culture of covenant life.
Today that means:
2. Seek the scriptures as a living voice
Benjamin says they read the plates “to know concerning the prophecies.”
To become a person of understanding:
3. Ask God to reveal “the mysteries” (Mosiah 1:5)
A “mystery” in scripture is not a secret you crack — it’s a truth God reveals to a humble heart.
Benjamin says:
“It were not possible that our father Lehi could have remembered all these things… except it were for the plates.”
And then:
“Without the scriptures you would have dwindled in unbelief.”
Understanding comes when you:
4. Develop a soft, teachable heart
All “understanding” in scripture has a moral dimension.
A proud person can be brilliant but never be “a man of understanding.”
Qualities of a scriptural “understanding” person:
5. Live truth, don’t just learn it
Mosiah 1 subtly shows that Benjamin lived what he taught.
His sons saw:
Understanding is not just intelligence — it’s a way of being that aligns your heart with the mind of God.
Men & Women of Understanding
In Mosiah 1, King Benjamin says that his sons became “men of understanding”because he taught them three things:
1. The language of their fathers
2. The prophecies of the scriptures
3. The mysteries of God
From that chapter we can pull a pattern. Here’s how someone becomes “a man (or woman) of understanding” in the scriptural sense:
1. Root yourself in the language of your faith
Benjamin taught his sons “the language of their fathers” — not just words, but the culture of covenant life.
Today that means:
- Knowing the language of scripture
- Understanding covenants
- Learning how God speaks
- Seeing patterns in His dealings with His people
2. Seek the scriptures as a living voice
Benjamin says they read the plates “to know concerning the prophecies.”
To become a person of understanding:
- Read daily
- Look for patterns and connections
- Mark promises
- Watch who God is in every chapter
- Let scripture interpret scripture
3. Ask God to reveal “the mysteries” (Mosiah 1:5)
A “mystery” in scripture is not a secret you crack — it’s a truth God reveals to a humble heart.
Benjamin says:
“It were not possible that our father Lehi could have remembered all these things… except it were for the plates.”
And then:
“Without the scriptures you would have dwindled in unbelief.”
Understanding comes when you:
- Pray for insight (like Enos, who wrestled before God)
- Allow the Holy Ghost to tutor your thoughts
- Act on promptings
- Follow light as soon as you receive it
4. Develop a soft, teachable heart
All “understanding” in scripture has a moral dimension.
A proud person can be brilliant but never be “a man of understanding.”
Qualities of a scriptural “understanding” person:
- Humble
- Meek
- Quick to repent
- Slow to judge
- Grateful
- Willing to be corrected
5. Live truth, don’t just learn it
Mosiah 1 subtly shows that Benjamin lived what he taught.
His sons saw:
- His labor
- His service
- His integrity
- His devotion
- Serve
- Sacrifice
- Keep covenants
- Build Zion in your home
- Turn outward
Understanding is not just intelligence — it’s a way of being that aligns your heart with the mind of God.
v. 11 And moreover, I shall 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; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord.
A new name for the people
Because by Mosiah 1 the kingdom contains both Lehites and Mulekites(and probably others). Their histories and lineages were mixed.
King Benjamin wants them to be:
This name transcends:
A new name for the people
Because by Mosiah 1 the kingdom contains both Lehites and Mulekites(and probably others). Their histories and lineages were mixed.
King Benjamin wants them to be:
- One united covenant people
- Bound together under one king (Mosiah)
- Distinguished not by origin, but by covenant identity
This name transcends:
- Being Nephite
- Being Mulekite
- Tribal or ancestral distinctions