Episode 17: The king's speech

The Book of Mosiah

King Benjamin teaches his sons Reformed Egyptian

1 ¹ It was peaceful during King Benjamin’s reign. ^2-4 He had three sons: Mosiah, Helorum, and Helaman, and he taught them in the Egyptian language of his fathers. ⁵ If our fathers didn't teach their sons Egyptian, they wouldn't be able to read the plates and would have dwindled in unbelief like the Lamanites. ⁶ These sayings, records, and plates are true.

⁹ When Benjamin was old, he chose his son Mosiah to replace him as king and gave him the plates of Nephi, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director that God made with his own hands. ¹⁸ Mosiah gathered all the people together to hear his father’s speech (in 124 BCE).

The king’s speech

2 ¹ The Nephites gathered to hear King Benjamin’s speech. ³ Before the speech began, they sacrificed the firstlings of their flocks as burnt offerings according to the law of Moses. ⁷ There were so many people that they couldn't be numbered, and a tower had to be erected so that everyone could hear the king’s speech. ⁸ Not everyone could hear, so they wrote down his words and sent them to all of the people. ⁹ This is what the king said to them:

^10-15 I’m your king, but I worked with my own hands so you wouldn’t be burdened with taxes. ²⁶ I’m getting old, and I’ll die soon. ²⁸ I asked you to come here so I can rid my garments of your blood. ^33-39 If you don’t obey the spirit, you’ll drink damnation to your soul in an everlasting punishment and never-ending torment.

3 ¹ I wanted to tell you what an angel told me. He said, ^2-8 “Wake up. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Father of heaven and earth, is coming.”

²³ And this is what the Lord says: ^24-27 “Everyone will be judged according to their works. If their works are evil, they will drink damnation to their souls in a state of misery and endless torment in a lake of fire and brimstone forever and ever.”

4 ^1-2 After King Benjamin finished his speech that was delivered to him by an angel, he looked around and saw that everyone had fallen to the ground in fear, calling out in one voice, saying: “Have mercy on us and apply the atoning blood of Christ. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth.”

^4-28 Then the king began speaking again. He said, “Love one another. Help the poor and those in need. Return whatever you borrow.”

5 ¹ After King Benjamin's speech, he sent his officials out to ask the people if they believed what he told them. ^2-5 Everyone cried out together, "Yes, we believe every word that you said." ⁶ Then the king said, “Great, that’s what I wanted to hear.” ⁷ And he continued his speech, saying, “Now you’ll be called the children of Christ. ⁸ Under this head you are made free. There’s no other head that can save you. ^9-10 If you take on the name of Christ, you’ll be found at the right hand of God, but if you take any other name, you’ll be found on his left hand. ¹⁵ Amen.”

Mosiah becomes king

6 ^1-2 After King Benjamin finished speaking, he decided to make a list of everyone who had taken on the name of Christ. It turned out that everyone had, except for maybe the little children. ³ Benjamin made his son Mosiah king and appointed priests to instruct the people. ⁴ Mosiah began his reign in 124 BCE when he was thirty years old. ⁵ King Benjamin died three years later. ^6-7 Mosiah walked in the ways of the Lord, and everything was peaceful for the next three years.