“O, All Ye Old Men”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

O, all ye old men upon whom has rested the burden of carrying forth, for so many years, knowledge of the matchless ways of the Lord, His marvelous works, and the Salvation He has prepared for His children; let not your years be a reason for slackening your zeal; let it be the reverse. If the light we call life is nearly extinguished, let us work harder ere it go out. To the young men and the children who can understand his "words," Benjamin alludes to the "awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression." He says in effect, "Let us not fan ourselves into that silly delusion, that someday, perhaps when our backs are bent with the weight of years, then we will serve the Lord, that then we will keep the commandments of God." To everyone he says, "Consider on the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual." We know of no better expression to describe King Benjamin's words than the exhortation of Alma to his son, Shiblon, "And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end," (Alma 38:2)

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

References