The Book of Mormon
~124 BC

Mosiah 3

Listen, my brothers and sisters—I need to tell you more. I have something important to share about what’s coming.

An Angel Appears to King Benjamin

What I’m about to tell you came from an angel of God. He said to me, 'Wake up!' I opened my eyes, and there he was, standing right in front of me. He said, 'Wake up and listen carefully. I’ve come to bring you incredibly good news.' 'The Lord has heard your prayers and sees your faithful heart. He sent me so you can celebrate—and so you can tell your people this news and they can celebrate too.'

The Coming of Christ

'The time is coming soon—the Lord Almighty, who has always existed and always will, is going to come down from heaven. He’ll take on a human body and walk among people, performing incredible miracles. He’ll heal the sick, raise the dead, make the paralyzed walk, give sight to the blind, open deaf ears, and cure every kind of disease.' 'He’ll drive out demons and evil spirits that have taken hold of people’s hearts.'

'He’ll face temptation. He’ll endure physical pain, hunger, thirst, and exhaustion beyond what any human could survive—except death itself. Blood will seep from every pore because of the terrible anguish he’ll feel over the evil and wickedness of his people.' 'His name will be Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, creator of everything from the beginning. His mother’s name will be Mary.'

'He’s coming to his own people so they can be saved through faith in his name. But even after everything he does, they’ll see him as just a man. They’ll say he’s possessed by a demon. They’ll beat him and nail him to a cross.' 'Three days after his death, he’ll rise again. Then he’ll stand ready to judge the world. All of this will happen so people can receive a fair judgment.'

The Power of His Sacrifice

'His blood will pay for the sins of those who died because of Adam’s choice—people who never knew God’s will for them, or who sinned out of ignorance.' 'But terrible suffering awaits anyone who knowingly rebels against God! The only way they can be saved is through genuine repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.'

'The Lord God has sent his holy prophets to every people, every nation, every language group—declaring these truths. Anyone who believes that Christ is coming can have their sins forgiven and experience deep joy, as if he’d already arrived.'

'The Lord God saw that his people were stubborn, so he gave them a law—the law of Moses.' 'He showed them countless signs, wonders, symbols, and glimpses of Christ’s coming. Holy prophets spoke to them about it. Still, they hardened their hearts. They didn’t understand that the law of Moses means nothing without Christ’s atoning blood.'

'Even if little children could sin, they wouldn’t need saving—but I tell you, they’re already blessed. Just as all people fall because of Adam’s nature, Christ’s blood covers their sins.'

'Listen carefully: there is no other name, no other way, no other means by which people can be saved—only through the name of Christ, the Lord Almighty.' 'He judges, and his judgment is just. Babies who die in infancy don’t perish. But adults bring destruction on themselves unless they humble themselves and become like little children—believing that salvation came, exists now, and is coming through Christ’s atoning blood, the Lord Almighty.'

Becoming Like a Child

'Our natural human self is God’s enemy—it has been since Adam fell, and it always will be. But when someone listens to the Holy Spirit’s invitation, sets aside that natural self, and becomes a saint through Christ’s sacrifice—when they become childlike, gentle, humble, patient, loving, and willing to accept whatever the Lord allows, just as a child trusts their father—then they find life.'

'The time will come when knowledge of the Savior spreads to every nation, every people group, every language, everywhere.' 'When that day arrives, no one will be found innocent before God—except little children—unless they come through repentance and faith in the Lord God Almighty.'

'Right now, after you’ve taught your people what the Lord your God commanded you to teach, they’re no longer innocent before God unless they follow the words I’ve given you.'

'I’ve spoken the words the Lord God commanded me to speak.'

The Final Judgment

'The Lord says these words will stand as clear evidence against these people on judgment day. Each person will be judged by their actions—whether good or evil.' 'If their actions are evil, they’ll be forced to face the full horror of their guilt and sins. They’ll shrink back from the Lord’s presence into a state of misery and endless suffering, with no way back. They’ll have brought destruction on themselves.'

'They’ll have drunk from the cup of God’s judgment. Justice demands it as surely as it demanded Adam’s fall when he ate the forbidden fruit. Mercy can no longer reach them.'

'Their suffering will be like a lake of fire and burning sulfur, flames that never go out, smoke that rises forever and ever. This is what the Lord has commanded me to tell you. Amen.'

Influences

  • 3:1 — Ephesians 1:21 (KJV)
    Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
  • 3:3 — Luke 2:10 (KJV)
    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
  • 3:4 — 2 Timothy 1:4 (KJV)
    Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
  • 3:5 — Revelation 19:6 (KJV)
    And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
  • 3:5 — Westminster Confession chapter 3:1
    God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin,
  • 3:5 — Matthew 15:31 (KJV)
    Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
  • 3:5 — Matthew 11:5 (KJV)
    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
  • 3:6 — Matthew 7:22 (KJV)
    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
  • 3:6 — Acts 19:12 (KJV)
    So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
  • 3:8 — Mark 1:1 (KJV)
    The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
  • 3:8 — Matthew 13:55 (KJV)
    Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
  • 3:9 — John 1:11 (KJV)
    He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
  • 3:9 — Acts 3:16 (KJV)
    And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
  • 3:9 — Matthew 11:18 (KJV)
    For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
  • 3:9 — Mark 10:34 (KJV)
    And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
  • 3:9 — Matthew 20:19 (KJV)
    And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
  • 3:10 — Mark 9:31 (KJV)
    For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
  • 3:10 — John 7:24 (KJV)
    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
  • 3:11 — Mark 3:35 (KJV)
    For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
  • 3:13 — Revelation 14:6 (KJV)
    And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
  • 3:13 — Luke 1:77 (KJV)
    To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
  • 3:13 — Matthew 2:10 (KJV)
    When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
  • 3:15 — Acts 5:12 (KJV)
    And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
  • 3:16 — 1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV)
    For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
  • 3:16 — Ephesians 2:13 (KJV)
    But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
  • 3:17 — Acts 4:12 (KJV)
    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
  • 3:18 — 1 Corinthians 11:29 (KJV)
    For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
  • 3:18 — Matthew 18:3 (KJV)
    And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
  • 3:19 — 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
  • 3:20 — John 16:4 (KJV)
    But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
  • 3:20 — Revelation 5:9 (KJV)
    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
  • 3:21 — 1 Timothy 3:10 (KJV)
    And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
  • 3:22 — 1 Corinthians 1:8 (KJV)
    Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 3:24 — Revelation 20:13 (KJV)
    And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
  • 3:26 — Revelation 14:10 (KJV)
    The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
  • 3:27 — Revelation 14:10-11 (KJV)
    The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
  • 3:27 — Acts 13:47 (KJV)
    For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Notes

  • 3:2-8

    It appears evident that King Benjamin is claiming revelation from an angel revealing the name Jesus Christ to him, and his people should take upon them the name of Christ (see also Mosiah 1:11-12; Mosiah 6:2).

    "This address raises a very serious question with regard to the material which appears in the book of 2 Nephi. Why would King Benjamin have to receive a special revelation informing him of the name of Christ if the plates of Nephi already contained this information? According to Mormon, 'Amaleki had delivered up these plates [the small plates of Nephi] into the hands of King Benjamin' (Words of Mormon 1:10). Furthermore, King Benjamin also had the large plates of Nephi. Benjamin himself told his sons that the 'plates of Nephi' were 'true' and instructed them to 'remember to search them diligently' (Mosiah 1:6-7). In the small plates alone, the name Jesus appears ten times and the word Christ is found eighty-two times (See 2 Nephi 25:16, 26; 2 Nephi 31:13)..In light of this information, it seems highly unreasonable to believe that King Benjamin and his people would have been completely in the dark concerning the 'name of Christ' before the angel visited Benjamin and revealed this information."-Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Joseph Smith's Plagiarism of the Bible in the Book of Mormon, p. 217.

    See also the Book of Mormon 1830 edition, page 28 (1 Nephi 12:18). The 1830 edition says, ".. and Jesus Christ." This was changed to read, "... and the Messiah" in 1837. Current editions read, "... and the Messiah."

  • 3:5

    "After some of Joseph Smith's family joined the Presbyterian faith in the mid-1820's, he evidently spent some time reading the Westminster Confession and Catechism, a vital part of that church. The Confession was formally adopted by the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1729. Significantly, many phrases that are peculiar to that document appear in the Book of Mormon. The Westminster Confession, chapter 32, appears to be the source for Alma, chapter 40." -Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Joseph Smith's Plagiarism of the Bible in the Book of Mormon, p. 28.

    See Footnotes on Alma 40:11, 12, 13, 14, 20.

    Additionally, compare the following:
    Mosiah 3:5-"The Lord... from all eternity"
    Westminster Confession, ch. 3:1-"God from all eternity"

    The word eternity is only used once in the KJV (Isaiah 57:15) and not in connection with the words from all.

    Mosiah 5:3-"infinite goodness of God"
    Westminster Confession, ch. 5:4-"infinite goodness of God"

    The word infinite is found only three times in the Bible and never in connection with goodness of God.

    Alma 42:2-"our first parents"
    Westminster Confession, ch. 6:1-"our first parents"

    All three of these words are found in the Bible, but they are never used in that order.

    Alma 5:18-"before the tribunal of God"
    Westminster Confession, ch. 33:1-"before the tribunal of Christ"

    The word tribunal is never used in the KJV.

    Mosiah 4:30-"thoughts, and your words, and your deeds"
    Westminster Confession, ch. 33:1-"thoughts, words, and deeds"

    Although these words are used in the Bible, they are not found in this order.

    2 Nephi 28:21-"carnal security"
    Westminster Confession, ch. 33:3-"carnal security"

    Although both these words are found in the Bible, they are not found together.

  • 3:8-12

    In Ephesians 3, Paul describes the “mystery of Christ” as something hidden from all previous generations but revealed in the apostolic era. In Ephesians 3:4–6, this mystery is that Gentiles are now equal heirs, members, and partakers in God’s promises through Christ—without the former distinctions of Jewish law. Paul reinforces in Colossians 1:26 and Romans 16:25 that this truth was not known in earlier ages, meaning it was not fully understood by Old Testament figures.

    This is supported in Acts 10, where Peter struggles to accept Gentile inclusion even after revelation, and in Acts 15, where early Christians debate whether Gentiles must follow Jewish law. Likewise, Hebrews 11 and First Peter indicate that earlier prophets only saw partial foreshadowings of Christ, not the full picture.

    In contrast, the Book of Mormon (e.g., 1 Nephi 10; 1 Nephi 14) portrays ancient prophets as clearly teaching about the Messiah, the gospel, and Gentile inclusion with New Testament-level clarity, including ideas similar to Romans 11.

    This creates a chronological and theological conflict: if Paul is correct that this mystery was only revealed in the first century, then the Book of Mormon’s depiction of earlier prophets possessing that same knowledge suggests an anachronism—projecting later doctrine into an earlier time.

    "When one begins to read the Book of Mormon, if he is well-acquainted with the Bible, he will at once be impressed with the large scale use of the biblical materials in the book. Not only is there an unskilled mimicking of the style of the King James Version, but there is an artificial clarity added to that portion of the Book of Mormon that claims to date from the Old Testament period. This contrived clarity is the result of writing back into that Old Testament period New Testament words, phrases and quotations, as well as the introduction of New Testament concepts and teachings into that time-frame... The usual Mormon defense is that such knowledge was supernaturally made known to the people in America, just as God in a vision showed Ezekiel that Jerusalem was about to fall and the temple to be destroyed, or Peter given a vision of Cornelius before he met him in person. Such an explanation might be more readily accepted if the Book of Mormon had presented its material in the format of a vision. Instead it introduces its material in much the same way that a nineteenth century frontier preacher introduced biblical quotations into his sermons. The frequency with which the Book of Mormon introduces this chronologically misplaced material into its text would require that God supernaturally provided this American colony with virtually the entire New Testament text, as well as those portions of the Old Testament which postdated their departure for America.... passages from the New Testament... are sprinkled generously into the speeches and sermons of the Book of Mormon characters in the same manner as one might find them in the sermons of a Methodist or Baptist preacher of Joseph Smith's day. This type of usage implies an acquaintance with the New Testament books themselves. Only after knowing the entire work can one select from it appropriate words and phrases to employ in this sermonic manner. It is naive to suggest that in every one of those instances God made known each of those biblical phrases and quotations so that the Old Testament Book of Mormon speakers could work them into their message. It is far more reasonable to believe that the insertions of such phrases and quotes came from one who already had the New Testament in hand before him while composing the Book of Mormon... The really fatal blow to the proposal that the New Testament material in the Old Testament portion of the Book of Mormon is due to Joseph Smith's employment of such phrases in the process of translating the book is that such material goes much deeper than the mere use of words and phrases. New Testament concepts, interpretations and theology are all worked into the text itself." -Wesley P. Walters, "The Use of the Old Testament in the Book of Mormon," (Master's thesis, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 1981), pp. 7, 10-13.

    LDS author Grant Hardy writes, "In 1831, Alexander Campbell, one of the book's first critics (and certainly the first one to read it carefully), famously observed that it seemed to weigh in on all the popular religious questions of the day, including 'infant baptism, ordination, the trinity, regeneration, repentance, justification, the fall of man, the atonement, transubstantiation, fasting, penance, church government, religious experience, the call to the ministry , the general resurrection, eternal punishment, who may baptize, and even the question of freemasonry, republican government, and the right of the man.' This is a fair list, and references to these topics-or their analogous counterparts-can be found throughout the Book of Mormon." -Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon, p. 184

Mosiah 2Mosiah 4