The book of Mosiah is what literary people call an omnibus. It has a few chapters about Mosiah but it is mostly a whole collection of inspiring historical documents which might have gotten lost if Mormon the historian had not possessed such a capacity to weave together this magnificent tapestry of historical narratives.
To remind ourselves where we are in the story of the Nephites, let us go back to a verse or two in the book of Omni where a keeper of the records says: "Behold, I Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah, and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead." The Book of Omni is only one chapter long and this is verse 23. Of course the Mosiah he is talking about is Mosiah I, who was commanded by the Lord to lead a righteous remnant of Nephites out of the land of Nephi and travel north until they discovered the people of Zarahemla. The Nephites were welcomed into the land of Zarahemla and Mosiah was elected king over both people. He taught the people of Zarahemla the Hebrew language so they could communicate together. He also converted them away from atheism by teaching them the highlights of the brass plates or the plates of Laban.
It was this same Mosiah who suddenly came into possession of the Urim and Thummim. These sacred stones had belonged to the Jaredites for 1,300 years until they recently became extinct and the Urim and Thummim were somehow transferred to Mosiah. I wish we knew how Mosiah received them but all we have is the assurance from the Doctrine and Covenants 17:1 that the interpreters Mosiah received were those originally given to the Jaredites.
When Mosiah died, this son became the new king, and when Amaleki the record keeper was about to die, he had no children and so he turned the record keeping task over to King Benjamin as well. The early year's of King Benjamin's reign were very tempestuous. The Lamanites had somehow discovered a way across the rugged mountain strip of wilderness and had attacked the Nephites and the people of Zarahemla. King Benjamin launched a great spiritual reform among his own people and then launched a mighty attack on the Lamanites and drove them back to their own land. Benjamin then spent the rest of his reign in peace and prosperity. By this time of which we are speaking he had three sons and one of them was named Mosiah after his grandfather. He is the Mosiah after whom this book was named. Now Mormon continues the story.
Here we are clear down to 124 B.C. and the Nephite leaders are still continually stressing the importance of learning the Egyptian language so they can study the brass plates.
“Which Were Delivered Them by the Hand of the Lord”
The book of Mosiah is what literary people call an omnibus. It has a few chapters about Mosiah but it is mostly a whole collection of inspiring historical documents which might have gotten lost if Mormon the historian had not possessed such a capacity to weave together this magnificent tapestry of historical narratives.
To remind ourselves where we are in the story of the Nephites, let us go back to a verse or two in the book of Omni where a keeper of the records says: "Behold, I Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah, and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead." The Book of Omni is only one chapter long and this is verse 23. Of course the Mosiah he is talking about is Mosiah I, who was commanded by the Lord to lead a righteous remnant of Nephites out of the land of Nephi and travel north until they discovered the people of Zarahemla. The Nephites were welcomed into the land of Zarahemla and Mosiah was elected king over both people. He taught the people of Zarahemla the Hebrew language so they could communicate together. He also converted them away from atheism by teaching them the highlights of the brass plates or the plates of Laban.
It was this same Mosiah who suddenly came into possession of the Urim and Thummim. These sacred stones had belonged to the Jaredites for 1,300 years until they recently became extinct and the Urim and Thummim were somehow transferred to Mosiah. I wish we knew how Mosiah received them but all we have is the assurance from the Doctrine and Covenants 17:1 that the interpreters Mosiah received were those originally given to the Jaredites.
When Mosiah died, this son became the new king, and when Amaleki the record keeper was about to die, he had no children and so he turned the record keeping task over to King Benjamin as well. The early year's of King Benjamin's reign were very tempestuous. The Lamanites had somehow discovered a way across the rugged mountain strip of wilderness and had attacked the Nephites and the people of Zarahemla. King Benjamin launched a great spiritual reform among his own people and then launched a mighty attack on the Lamanites and drove them back to their own land. Benjamin then spent the rest of his reign in peace and prosperity. By this time of which we are speaking he had three sons and one of them was named Mosiah after his grandfather. He is the Mosiah after whom this book was named. Now Mormon continues the story.
Here we are clear down to 124 B.C. and the Nephite leaders are still continually stressing the importance of learning the Egyptian language so they can study the brass plates.