King Benjamin Quotes an Angel

“Listen carefully, brothers and sisters, because I have things to tell you about the future. An angel from God told me these things, saying, ‘Awake!’ I awoke and saw him standing before me. He said, ‘Listen, because I have come to give you news of great joy, for the Lord has heard your prayers and has judged you to be righteous. You will rejoice with your people when you give them this news.

In not many years the Lord Omnipotent, who reigns for all eternity, will come down from heaven with power among His people. He will live in a mortal body, performing mighty miracles—healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, the deaf to hear, and curing all types of diseases. He will cast out the evil spirits that live in people’s hearts. He will suffer temptations, pain, hunger, thirst, and fatigue that would certainly kill an ordinary man. His suffering and anguish for the sins of His people will be so great that He will sweat blood from all of His pores. He will be called Jesus Christ—the Son of God—the Father of Heaven and Earth—the Creator of all things from the beginning. His mother will be called Mary. He will come to save His own—those who have faith in Him. But after doing all this for His chosen people, they will treat Him like an ordinary man, and say, “He is possessed by a devil.” Then they will whip and crucify Him.

“ ‘After three days, He will rise from the dead and stand to judge the world. He will do all of this to qualify as the one who can make a perfect judgment upon all people. His blood will atone for those who sin in ignorance—those who die not knowing God’s will for them.

But there is great cursing upon those who do know God’s will and rebel against it, for among such, only those who repent and rely upon the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. The Lord God has sent His holy prophets to give this news to all the people of the world. Those who believe in Christ and change their ways will be forgiven of their sins and may rejoice as though Christ had already come.

“ ‘Because the Lord’s covenant people—the house of Israel—were stubborn, He gave them a lower law—the law of Moses. He showed them many signs, wonders, types, and shadows of His coming. Their holy prophets also spoke of His coming. But the children of Israel still hardened their hearts, and they did not understand that the law of Moses was given to prepare them to accept the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. It is impossible for little children to sin. Even if they could sin, the law of Moses could not save them. Because Adam and Eve fell from God’s presence, all their children are in an imperfect state. This is why Christ’s blood will atone even for their little children.

“ ‘It is important to know that there is no other name or way that can save anyone other than Christ, the Lord Omnipotent, for His judgments are just. Infants who die are saved in His kingdom because they are innocent. But those who know God’s laws and refuse to humble themselves as children damn their own souls, for they do not believe that their salvation has always been through the atoning blood of Christ, who is Lord over all things.

“ ‘Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, all of their descendants are born into a fallen, natural state. As mortals, with natural desires to serve themselves, they are enemies to God forever. But if they allow the Holy Spirit to guide them, rejecting their natural desires, then they become saints through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. They become as submissive, meek, humble, patient, and as full of love as children. They again become willing to learn all the lessons that the Lord sees fit to teach them, as if they were again children.’

“Standing before me, the angel concluded, ‘In the last days, all people throughout the world will know of the Savior. When that time comes, only little children, and those who have become like them through repentance and faith in the Lord God Omnipotent, will be found innocent. When you have given your people the knowledge that the Lord your God commanded you to give them, they will only become innocent in His sight if they have repented, with faith in their Savior.’

“I, Benjamin, have said everything that the Lord God commanded me to say. The Lord said that these words will stand as a bright testimony against this people on judgment day, when all will be judged according to the good or evil that they have done. If they have done evil, they will see their own guilt and sins, which will cause them to cower in the Lord’s presence. They will be in a state of misery and endless torment from which they cannot return, having already damned their own souls. Mercy will never claim them, for they will receive God’s justice as Adam and Eve received it (through the fall) for eating of the forbidden fruit. Their torment will be like a lake of fire and burning sulfur, with unquenchable flames and smoke that will go up forever. This is what the Lord commanded me to say. Amen.”