King Benjamin Teaches His Sons

This peace among all the people in the land of Zarahemla lasted for the rest of King Benjamin’s days. He had three sons, Mosiah, Helorum and Helaman. He had them taught in the language in which his forefathers wrote—modified Egyptian. He did this so that they would become men of understanding, knowing about the prophecies that the Lord had given to their forefathers (engraved on Nephi’s plates). He also taught them about the records engraved on the brass plates, saying, “My sons, I want you to remember that if it were not for these plates which contain these records and commandments, we would now be in ignorance, not knowing the mysteries of God. It would have been impossible for our forefather, Lehi, to have remembered all these things and to have taught them to his children without the help of these plates. Lehi had been taught in the Egyptian language. This is why he could read the brass plates and teach them to his children. They in turn taught their children Egyptian, fulfilling God’s commandments, even down to this present time.

“My sons, if it were not for these brass plates that have been preserved by the hand of God, our forefathers would have faltered in unbelief. We would be like the Lamanites, who know nothing about God’s commandments and mysteries. They do not believe these things because they are misguided by their forefathers’ false traditions. Remember this, for these sayings and records are true. These plates that Nephi made, which contain our forefathers’ words from the time they left Jerusalem until now, are also true. Remember to search them diligently so that you may profit from them. I want you to keep God’s commandments so that you will prosper in the land according to the promises that He made to our forefathers.”

King Benjamin taught many more things to his sons which are not written here. As he grew old, and realized that he would soon die, he felt it was necessary to confer the kingdom upon one of his sons. And so he called for Mosiah, named after his grandfather, and said to him, “My son, I want you to make a proclamation throughout all the land of Zarahemla. Tell the people to assemble tomorrow, when I will proclaim that you are now a king and ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God has given us. Tomorrow I will also give this people a name to distinguish them from all the people that the Lord God has brought out of Jerusalem. I will do this because they have been diligently keeping the Lord’s commandments. It will always be their name unless they become sinful. For if this people, who are now highly favored of the Lord, become wicked and adulterous, the Lord will deliver them to the Lamanites by taking away their strength and protection. Then He will no longer save them by His matchless and marvelous power as He saved our forefathers. If the Lord had not extended His arm to save our forefathers, they would have all fallen victim to the Lamanites, who hated them.”

After King Benjamin said this to his son, he put him in charge of the kingdom. He also gave Mosiah the brass plates, Nephi’s plates, Laban’s sword, and the Liahona—the ball with spindles, made by the Lord, which had led Lehi and his people through the wilderness when they diligently obeyed the Lord. When anyone in Lehi’s group had been unfaithful, the whole group did not progress in their journey. They were driven back and suffered hunger and pain. They felt God’s displeasure in order to remind them of their duty to Him.

Mosiah did as he was asked and made a proclamation to all the people in the land of Zarahemla to go up to the temple to hear his father speak.