Mosiah 18-24
Baptism includes a covenant to serve God and stand as a witness of Him.
Mosiah 18:8-10
How does the Lord bless us as we strive to keep our part of the covenant?
How can we better apply this covenant in our ministering?
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
God’s People Are United
Mosiah 18: 17, 20-21
How can following these verses help us feel more united as a ward?
17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.
20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.
Mosiah 18: 27-29
Why Do we need a church?
How can we create a better atmosphere that everyone belongs?
What can we learn from the people of Alma?
27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.
28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.
29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.
Elder Christofferson: Why we Need a Church
- “To preach the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and administer the ordinances of salvation—in other words, to bring people to Christ.”
- “To create a community of Saints that will sustain one another in the ‘strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life’ [2 Nephi 31:18]. … Joined in faith, we teach and edify one another and strive to approach the full measure of discipleship.”
- To “offer a weekly gathering of respite and renewal, a time and place to leave the world behind—the Sabbath.”
- “To achieve needful things that cannot be accomplished by individuals or smaller groups [including] dealing with poverty, … [taking] the gospel to all the world … [building and operating] temples, houses of the Lord, where vital ordinances and covenants may be administered.”
- To make available priesthood keys, with which “the Church’s priesthood officers preserve the purity of the Savior’s doctrine and the integrity of His saving ordinances, … help prepare those who wish to receive them, judge the qualification and worthiness of those who apply, and then perform them … [and] identify both truth and falsehood.”
The Lord can make our burdens light. Mosiah 21-24
Mosiah 24:14
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
We can be delivered from the ways of evil and wickedness by turning to the teachings of the holy scriptures. The Savior is the Great Deliverer, for He delivers us from death and from sin
Elder L. Tom Perry: The Power of Deliverance
They Were Called the People of God: Mosiah 25-28
God freely forgives those who repent.
Mosiah 26: 22-24, 29-31
How does God feel about those who repent and seek forgiveness?
Do you wonder if you repentance has been sufficient for God to forgive you?
22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.
23 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand.
24 For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.
30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.
31 And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.
“If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as evidence that the Atonement is working in your life”
Elder Henry B. Eyring: Gifts of the spirit for hard times
God hears our prayers and will answer them according to His will.
Mosiah 27:11
Understanding that we cannot demand a miracle or override someone’s agency, what can we appropriately pray for when a loved one goes astray?
11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;
Alma 6:6
6 Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.
All men and women must be born Again
What does it mean to be spiritually reborn?
Mosiah 27:25
‘25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
