Search Them Diligently

One of the themes from the life of King Mosiah (the son of King Benjamin) in the Book of Mormon is the importance of sacred records. Mosiah was first introduced in the context of this counsel from his father to him and his brothers about the plates of brass: “My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God…. I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief…. 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. And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby.” After speaking to all of his sons, King Benjamin spoke directly to Mosiah and “gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi” (Mosiah 1:3-7, 16). So Mosiah from that point on took charge of the sacred records with this powerful testimony from his father of the utmost importance they held in their society. Without the holy written word that was preserved and passed down from generation to generation, the people would have dwindled in unbelief, Mosiah’s subsequent reign as king showed that he indeed believed in the power of the scriptures. He did preserve the records, add to them, and kept them safe at the end of his life as he passed them on.

                King Mosiah showed his commitment to preserving sacred records as he helped to add to the Nephite canon from multiple places. When King Limhi and his people made it back to Zarahemla, Mormon recorded this: “And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he also received their records, and also the records which had been found by the people of Limhi” (Mosiah 22:14). After Alma and his people also returned to join up with the Nephites, “Mosiah did read, and caused to be read, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of the people of Zeniff, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until they returned again.” He also “Mosiah did read, and caused to be read, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of the people of Zeniff, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until they returned again.” Thus preserved and shared with his people the sacred writings of Zeniff (and presumably Limhi) as well as that of Alma and his people. These writings clearly had a profound effect upon the people who “were filled with exceedingly great joy” but were also “filled with sorrow” because of the stories that were recounted (Mosiah 25:5-9). Clearly Mosiah preserved these accounts and passed them on because we have them—quoted directly by Mormon for us in Mosiah 9-10 and 23-24—and can learn from them.

                King Mosiah also received the record of the Jaredites which he also highly valued and translated for his people. Mosiah “translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi.” As a seer, “he translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.” He shared these as well with his people who likewise did “mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.” The tragic downfall of the Jaredites led them to sorrow for the wickedness of that society, but they found joy in the knowledge that they had gained. Finally, after making this translation so all the Nephites could know the story of the Jaredites, he made sure that with his passing the sacred records would continue to be kept and preserved. “He took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another” (Mosiah 28:11, 13, 18, 20). Clearly he had internalized the message of his father who taught him the central role that sacred records played in their society, and Mosiah’s focus on preserving, adding to, and passing down the holy written word is an example to us. In our families we should likewise seek to study diligently the scriptures we have, record the blessings of the Lord to us for our children, and pass on a love for these sacred writings to be cherished by our posterity.