Remember That These Sayings Are True

I was impressed this morning by the earnest words of King Benjamin to his sons as he gathered them together near the end of his life.  He taught them of the importance of the brass plates for their society.  He boldly declared that without that one thing—the brass plates—their society would have “dwindled in unbelief” and become in a degraded state like the Lamanites who knew nothing concerning God.  He then gave this heartfelt plea to these three sons, “O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.”  He bore a simple yet heartfelt testimony: first that what he had just said about the importance of the scriptures was true, and then that the brass plates were true, and then that the records on the plates of Nephi were true. 

               King Benjamin left his testimony of the truthfulness of the scriptures, both parts of what we know as the Bible and Book of Mormon today, to his children towards the end of his life.  Similarly, Alma bore witness of the importance of the plates of brass to his son Helaman a year or two before he was taken to heaven.  Speaking of the brass plates he was handing over to his son he said, “And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls…  And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations” (Alma 37:8,14).  In Nephi’s final words he likewise bore testimony of the power and truthfulness of the scriptures, inviting us to believe “the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God.”  This was a reference all in one to parts of what we know today as the Old Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the New Testament.  He declared boldly, “if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good” (2 Nephi 33:10, 14).  In Mormon’s final chapter he also encouraged us to believe the Book of Mormon and the Bible: “Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also” (Mormon 7:8-9).  He chose to finish his record with a testimony of the importance of the scriptures, in particular those that we have today. 

These prophets felt it important to leave with their children and with us a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the Bible.  And because they are true, we are invited by King Benjamin, “And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby” (Mosiah 1:1-7).  King Benjamin’s words also highlight how the existence of the scriptures witness to their truthfulness: “We can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes.”  I believe he was suggesting that it was indeed miraculous that the brass plates and other scriptures they had among them had been preserved and were there in front of them.  God had preserved them—as Lehi had prophesied, “these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time”—and the fact that hundreds of years later Benjamin could look at them with his children was a witness of their truthfulness and importance (1 Nephi 5:19).  And so it is with us today—what a miracle that the Lord has preserved these inspired words from across the centuries to guide us in our complex world today!  Their very existence is an invitation to all to read, ponder, and come to know like the prophets of old that they are indeed the words of God.  King Benjamin’s testimony calls down from millennia ago to each of us, “O I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true!”