Mosiah 4

The Atonement

And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. Mosiah 4:2

The whole congregation cries out for the atoning blood of Christ to be applied to them. They understand that forgiveness and a pure heart come only through His sacrifice, which they have not yet seen but believe in.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mosiah 3:11 — The angel's words that 'his blood atoneth for the sins' of those who fall through ignorance.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:18 — Salvation only 'in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.'

Son of God

Jesus Christ — Jehovah saves, the Anointed One; Son of God — the literal divine Son of the Father

And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. Mosiah 4:2

The people's confession names Jesus Christ, calls Him the Son of God, and testifies that He is the Creator of heaven and earth who will come down to live among mortals. It is a complete creed: His divine Sonship, His role as Creator, and His coming birth.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mosiah 3:8 — The angel named Him 'Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things.'
• alludes to Mosiah 3:5 — The Lord Omnipotent 'shall come down from heaven among the children of men.'
• the same title in John 1:3 — All things were made by Him, the Word.

Faith in Christ

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them. Mosiah 4:3

The Spirit fills the people with joy and a remission of sins because of their faith in Jesus Christ, who had not yet been born. Faith in Christ worked before His mortal life just as it does after.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Enos 1:8 — Enos is forgiven 'because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen.'
• alludes to Mosiah 3:13 — Those who believed that Christ should come could receive remission of their sins as though He had already come.

The Atonement

I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body— Mosiah 4:6–8

Benjamin teaches that Christ's Atonement was planned before the world was made and reaches every person from Adam to the end of the world. It is the only way anyone can be saved, and it comes to those who trust the Lord, keep His commandments, and endure.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mosiah 3:17 — No other name, way, or means whereby salvation can come, 'only in and through the name of Christ.'
• the same event in Mosiah 15:19 — Abinadi: the redemption 'which was prepared from the foundation of the world.'
• the same title in Revelation 13:8 — The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Creation by Christ

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. Mosiah 4:9

Benjamin calls for belief in the God who created all things. Seven verses earlier his people confessed that Jesus Christ 'created heaven and earth, and all things,' so this Creator is naturally heard as Christ, though the verse itself speaks only of God.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Mosiah 4:2 — Jesus Christ, 'who created heaven and earth, and all things.'
• the same title in Mosiah 5:15 — Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, 'who created all things, in heaven and in earth.'

Faith in Christ who is to come

And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. Mosiah 4:11

'That which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel' is the angel's prophecy of Christ's birth, miracles, suffering, death and Resurrection in Mosiah 3. Benjamin tells his people to keep that faith steady and to call daily on the name of the Lord.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Mosiah 3:5-10 — The angel's prophecy of the coming, ministry, suffering and rising of the Lord Omnipotent.

Remission of sins through Christ

And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. Mosiah 4:20

The begging Benjamin describes is the plea of verse 2, where the people called for the atoning blood of Christ. The One who answered by pouring out His Spirit is God, who granted remission through Christ; the verse makes every soul a beggar before Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in Mosiah 4:2-3 — The cry for the atoning blood of Christ and the joy that followed.

The coming of the Lord

But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not. Mosiah 4:30

Benjamin ends this teaching by pointing again to 'the coming of our Lord,' the mortal coming of Christ foretold by the angel. Staying faithful to that witness for the rest of life is what keeps a person from perishing.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Mosiah 3:5 — The Lord Omnipotent 'shall come down from heaven among the children of men.'