The Spirit Fills the People with Joy

After King Benjamin finished quoting the angel, he saw the multitude bowing upon the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them. They had realized that in their carnal state they were lower than the dust of the earth. They all shouted with one voice, “Oh have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ to us, so that our sins may be forgiven—that our hearts may be purified. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven, the earth, and all things, and who will come down among His people.”

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins and a peace of conscience, because of their great faith in Jesus Christ, of whom King Benjamin had spoken.

Then King Benjamin said to the multitude, “My friends, brothers and sisters, my family and my people. Listen and understand the rest of my words. The knowledge of the goodness of God has made you realize your nothingness in your fallen state. You now know the goodness of God, His matchless power, wisdom, patience, and His long-suffering toward all people. You know that the Atonement, planned from the beginning of the world, brings salvation to those who trust in the Lord and diligently keep His commandments throughout their lives.

“This salvation is offered to Adam and Eve’s descendants until the end of the world. This salvation, and the conditions for it, come only through Christ. Believe in God, and that He created all things in heaven and earth. Believe that He has all wisdom and power. Believe that we cannot comprehend everything that the Lord comprehends. Believe that you must leave your sinful ways and not go back to them. Humble yourselves before God, sincerely asking the Lord to forgive you. And if you believe these things, see that you do them.

“I repeat, now that you know the glory of God, or His goodness, having tasted of His love, having been forgiven, and having received His great joy, I want you to remember the greatness of God, and your own nothingness. Remember His goodness and patience, humbling yourselves as much as you can, praying to the Lord daily with faith in Christ, who will come. If you do this, you will always rejoice and be filled with God’s love. You will always retain a remission of your sins. And your knowledge of justice and truth, which are the glory of your Creator, will always grow.

“Because you will lose your desire to hurt anyone, you will live in peace and deal justly with one another. You will not let your children go hungry or go about ill-clothed, and you will teach them to obey God’s laws, that they may not serve the devil by fighting and arguing with one another. The devil is the master of sin, an enemy to all righteousness. He is the evil spirit, of whom our forefathers wrote. Teach your children to walk in the ways of truth, to take God seriously, and to love and serve one another.

“Help those who need your help, and give your substance to those who need it. Do not turn away those who ask for your help, saying, ‘This foolish man has brought on his own misery. I will not relieve his misery by giving him food or money. He deserves to suffer for his own mistakes.’ Anyone who does this has great need to repent or he will spiritually perish forever, having no place in God’s kingdom. For we are all beggars. We all depend upon the same Being, even God, for everything we have—food, clothing, and all our prosperity.

“Today you have been calling on His name, begging for a remission of your sins. And have you begged in vain? No, for God has poured out His Spirit upon you, and you could not even speak because your hearts were filled with so much joy. God, the one on whom you depend for your lives, and for everything you have and are, gives you whatever you ask, if you ask in faith for what is right, believing that you will receive it. Then how much more you should give your substance to those who are in need! If you judge and condemn those who ask you for substance just to survive, then you will be condemned for holding it back. For what you think is yours is really God’s, including your life. Yet while under this condemnation, do you ask God’s forgiveness, or change your ways? Cursed are such people, for their substance will perish with them.

“I am speaking to those who are rich in the things of the world. And the poor who turn away the needy should say, ‘I cannot help you because I have nothing to give, but if I had something, I would give it to you.’ If you who are poor feel this way in your hearts, then you are guiltless. Otherwise, you are condemned for not being willing in your hearts to give up things that you do not even have.

“In order to keep a forgiveness of your sins each day, that you may walk guiltless before God, give your substance to the poor. Having more, the rich must give more. Having less, the poor will give less. Yet everyone must feed the hungry, clothe the ill-clothed, and visit and relieve the sick according to their wants, both spiritual and temporal. To obtain eternal life, it is necessary to do these things. But you must do them in wisdom and order, for you are not required to give more than you are able.

“Whoever borrows something from his neighbor and does not return it when he says he will commits sin, and he may also prompt his neighbor to sin by becoming angry with him.

“I cannot tell you all the ways you can sin because there are too many. But this much I can tell you. If you do not watch yourselves—your words, actions, and even your thoughts, and keep God’s commandments, having faith in the coming of our Lord until the end of your lives, then you must perish spiritually. So remember these things and do not perish.”