This lesson covers the King Benjamin's address to the people of Zarahemla. Mosiah Chapters 1-6.

1. KING BENJAMIN’S ADDRESS
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Lessons 15 &16
Mosiah 1-6

2. IMPORTANCE OF KING BENJAMIN’S SERMON
➤ Bruce R. McConkie
➤ It contained “…what well may be the greatest sermon ever
delivered on the atonement of Christ the Lord.”
➤ Neal A. Maxwell
➤ “The general substance of the Book of Mormon itself, of
course, encapsulates this rich and special sermon, which is
like a sparkling, doctrinal diamond that can be approached
and appreciated in so many different ways. Surely King
Benjamin kept his promise not to ‘trifle’ with words
(Mosiah 2:9), for his was a rich and whole-souled sermon.”

3. KING BENJAMIN
➤ What do we know about him?
➤ W of M 1:13-14, He was a
warrior and a general
➤ W of M 1:15-17, He was a
righteous conflict solver
➤ W of M 1:18, He labored with all
his might
➤ Mos 1:2-3,6-7, He taught his
own family well, not just the
kingdom
➤ Mos 2:11-14, He was fair,
merciful, humble, a great teacher
➤ Mos 2:15, He had a clear
conscience before God

4. HISTORICAL SETTING
➤ 142 BC
➤ Mulekites inhabited Zarahemla.
➤ People of Mosiah joined but were
likely a minority
➤ They all established Benjamin as
King
➤ He asks his sons to gather the
people to hear his final address
➤ 2 purposes
➤ He bears fervent testimony of
Christ and teaches the path of
happiness.
➤ He names his successor (his
son Mosiah)

5. HIS SERMON PREFACE
➤ Mosiah 2:5-6
➤ Why did he invite the whole family? Why not just the Dads or just the
parents? How is there power in family attendance?
➤ Mosiah 2:7-8
➤ It seems like many of the people probably still couldn’t hear or see him. Most
couldn’t read. Why did they come? Is there power in being in holy places?
➤ Mosiah 2:9
➤ Why is he saying this to the people who have already come? What does it
mean to trifle? How can our ears and hearts be closed?
➤ ‘Mysteries of God’ = Things that cannot be understood without the aide of
the Spirit.
➤ ‘May be unfolded’
➤ ATOT: Origami example, implies step-by-step (line-upon-line), patience

6. HIS SERMON PREFACE
➤ Mosiah 2:10-11, 26 (see Mosiah 2:30 for infirmity explanation)
➤ Most monarchs don’t do this. In Meso-American society Kings were
seen as diety. Why would he make this kind of humble statement?
➤ “In this beautiful discourse on humility we find one of the keys to
Benjamin’s greatness. Humility is not a mental groveling about our
worthlesness. We are the children of God and the crown of his
creations. True humility is a recognition of our actual position in
relationship to God. If we truly sensed our total dependence upon
God, as Benjamin did, it would profoundly affect our daily living. It
is when we forget our position in relationship to God that we begin
to trust in our own wisdom, pursue our own course, abuse our
rights, and ignore our blessings.” (Book of Mormon Student
Manual, 1981, p. 155

7. KING BENJAMIN ON SERVICE
➤ Mos 2:16-17
➤ How do we learn wisdom? Is that redundant?
➤ What is true service?
➤ Dallin H. Oaks
➤ “When we thing of service, we usually think of the acts of our hands. But, as
shown in earlier chapters, the Lord looks to our hearts as well as our hands.
He is concerned not only with our acts but also with our motives. One of his
earliest commandments to Israel was to ‘love the Lord your God, and to
serve him with all your heart and with all your soul’ (Deuteronomy 11:13).
“In order to purify our service to God and to our fellowmen, it is therefore
important to consider not only how we serve, but also why we serve.”
➤ Have you seen/felt the difference when you serve with a heart and mind?
➤ Why doesn’t it say ‘ye are also in the service of your God’? Why only? What is his
work and his glory (Moses 1:39)? How does doing service bring the give and the
receiver closer to that goal?

8. KING BENJAMIN ON OUR INDEBTEDNESS
➤ Mos 2:19-21
➤ What does it mean to be an unprofitable servant? Someone who
consumes more than they produce.
➤ Does that mean we aren't valuable?
➤ ATOT: Little Violet cleaning the kitchen with the magic eraser. Her efforts
were sincere. Her contributions to the family will never balance out what
the family gives to her. Why do I bother having her help?
➤ Mos 2:22
➤ All he requires is obedience.
➤ That’s all I require of Violet too. Her efforts, though unprofitable,
are an investment in her future happiness (and mine, by extension).

9. KING BENJAMIN ON GRATITUDE
➤ Mos 2:32
➤ What is ‘to list’? To desire with subtlety
(to drift). Why is this risky and how is it
related to contention?
➤ Mos 2:36, 38
➤ In both these verses who is the party
moving away?
➤ Joseph Smith “A man is his own
tormentor and his own condemner…The
torment of disappointment in the mind
of man is as exquisite as a lake burning
with fire and brimstone. I say, so is the
torment of man” (Joseph Smith, Journal
of Discourses, Vol.6, p.8, April 6, 1844).
➤ Mos 2:41
➤ Are they really all blessed and happy?
➤ ATOT: Will’s glass is half full story.

10. KING BENJAMIN TESTIFIES OF JESUS CHRIST
➤ Mosiah 3
➤ Written about King Benjamin’s visitation from an Angel. Most of it is direct quotes.
➤ It refreshes the minds of the people about the prophesies and purposes of Christ
➤ Mos 3:5-11 (summarize)
➤ He will live among men (5)
➤ He will work mighty miracles (5)
➤ He will suffer temptation and atone for our sins (7-8)
➤ His own people will despise and crucify him (9)
➤ He will rise on the 3rd day (10)
➤ His suffering saves sinners, children and those who died in ignorance (11,16)
➤ Mos 3:17, 19
➤ ATOT: Learning entropy in AP Bio. The books, though perfectly aligned and made, slid into
disarray over the course of the semester. We, though made by a perfect creator, need the help of the
Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ to achieve our full potential.

11. “"After the fall of Adam, man became carnal, sensual, and devilish
by nature; he became fallen man.... All accountable persons on
earth inherit this fallen state, this probationary state, this state in
which worldly things seem desirable to the carnal nature. Being
in this state, 'the natural man is an enemy to God,' until he
conforms to the great plan of redemption and is born again to
righteousness. (Mosiah 3:19.) Thus all mankind would remain
lost and fallen forever were it not for the atonement of our Lord.
(Alma 42:4-14.)" (Mormon Doctrine, pp267-268)
-Bruce R. McConkie

12. EFFECT OF KING BENJAMIN’S MESSAGE
➤ Mos 4:1-2
➤ ‘Fear’ translated from Hebrew Yirah, means reverence or respect (seek
divine presence). How does that change the narrative?
➤ Mos 4:3
➤ What are three signs of forgiveness? Feeling the Spirit, Joy, Peace
➤ What is a ‘remission’? Why does it cause joy?
➤ Financial: cancellation of a debt, charge or penalty
➤ Medical: a diminution of the seriousness or intensity of disease or pain,
a temporary recovery (respite, abeyance)
➤ It stays in ‘remission’ when we are obedient. Mos 4:10-11, 26
➤ It is not enough to feel the joy of remission. We must do our part.
➤ Mos 4:12, Benjamin’s promise to the obedient

13. CONCLUSION
➤ Mos 5:2,4
➤ How did his people respond?
➤ The had no more disposition to
do evil.
➤ They had a disposition to good
continually.
➤ What was the driving cause of the
change? Their faith.
➤ They make covenants as a people
➤ Mos 5:15
➤ Be steadfast and immovable, always
abounding in good works.
➤ Mos 6
➤ King Benjamin lives 3 more years.
There is peace in the land.