21 We Have Entered into a Covenant with Him
We Have Entered into a Covenant with Him
We Have Entered into a Covenant with Him
Book of Mormon Videos https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/videos-and-images/book-of-mormon-videos?lang=eng
Mosiah 18:8 To come
into the fold of God means that we are willing to bear one another’s burdens.
If we carry each other’s loads, they become lighter.
Mosiah 18:10 When we
are baptized, we covenant to serve God and keep His commandments. He, in
return, promises that He’ll pour out His Spirit more abundantly upon us.
Mosiah 24:15 As we
strive to be one with the Lord and with each other, the Lord will bless us so
that we can bear up our burdens with ease (at least comparatively to if we
always try to go it alone). As we strive to be one with the Lord, surely He
will bless us to have a greater capacity to love and serve one another.
The true Church should be marked by a community of saints who minister to each
other!
Video: “The Lord Delivers the Covenant Peoples of Alma and Limhi”:
I’m NOT sure where this is!
For kids:
When I am baptized, I make
a covenant with God.
As we help to prepare our children for baptism, it is important
for us to teach them about the covenant they will be making. The print out at
the end of the lesson outlines the promises we make with God, and the promises
He extends to us through this covenant.
Read Mosiah 18:9–10 with
them. It explains how we will want to help each other and how we will always
want to stand as witnesses for God.
Make sure to also read vs 11! Allow them to clap their hands for joy, as they
look forward to their own baptism. Teach them by the Spirit so that they too
will feel to exclaim, This is the desire of our hearts.
Allow baptized members the opportunity to express what the
feelings of their hearts were when they got baptized, and how they feel now.
How has keeping God’s commandments blessed us in our lives?
The sacrament should remind us of our baptismal and temple
covenants. As we partake, we should again feel sorrow for the mistakes we’ve
made and, more especially, joy in the Lord’s grace and His power to redeem us.
The Spirit will continue to bless our lives as we do so.
You can review Alma’s words to his investigators before the
baptism, Mosiah 18:8–10, with the
words of the sacramental prayers, Doctrine and
Covenants 20:77, 79.
How will you make the sacrament a special, sacred time for you,
just like your baptism was, as you participate and partake each week?
When I am baptized, I make
a covenant with God.
Alma’s investigators were so thankful to hear Alma’s message. They
sought him out and flocked to him. It meant so much to them to hear the words
that Abinadi had spoken about Jesus Christ. They were happy to exercise faith
in Him.
They knew that the king didn’t want Alma to tell them the truth,
and that Alma was teaching in private (see verse 3). When
Alma asked them about their willingness to enter into a covenant with God
through baptism, they were so happy. They clapped their hands for joy, and said
that this was the desire of their hearts (see Mosiah 18:11).
As you read Mosiah 18:8–14, consider
these questions. (This is found below in the reading section for Mosiah chapter
18.)
Why are covenants and ordinances important to God? The bind us to
Him, and serve as a reminder of our commitments to Him and His promises to us.
They empower us with the presence of the Holy Ghost as we remember to do them.
Covenants with God
Strengthen, Protect, and Prepare Us for Eternal Glory
Explain why you are grateful for your covenants. What are you
doing to keep them?
Baptism Read
section later
Video: “Alma the Elder
Teaches and Baptizes at the Waters of Mormon”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/mosiah-11-18/2020-03-0270-alma-the-elder-teaches-and-baptizes-at-the-waters-of-mormon-mosiah-15-18-1080p?lang=eng
Teach truth from the scriptures and latter-day
prophets. As you teach—and
learn—remember that one of the best ways to increase faith in Christ is to
focus on the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets (see Mosiah 18:19).
For kids:
When I am baptized, I become
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Help your children to understand
what it means to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Help them to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Help them to understand what it means to take upon ourselves His name and to
become His sons and daughters.
Read Mosiah 18:17–28.
Then you can share pictures of some of the things
that Church members do.
The pictures Ordination to the
Priesthood and Payment of Tithing (Gospel Art Book, nos. 106, 113) might
represent verses 18 and 27–28.
I am grateful to be a member of the
Church, because I love Heavenly Father and I am thankful that He sent His Son
to help me be happy in this life and to show me the way back home. I like to
help others feel of Heavenly Father’s love too.
Mosiah 18:21 It is
important that we help children to feel welcome and like they belong. It is
important for us to extend this fellowship to everyone who attends Church, so
that they feel comfortable and happy their and can have good experiences with
the Spirit and the members. We need to treat each other with love and kindness
and extend fellowship to each other.
Read Mosiah 18:17–28. (Look at
in chapter 18 below and ponder the questions there.)
God commands His people to
gather, organize, and be united.
It’s important to remember that it is
Jesus that called His apostles and set up His Church. Even after His
resurrection, He was the Head of the Church and taught His apostles and
disciples how to establish and organize it. This is also true for the
Latter-day Church. Though we can worship God at all times and in all things and
in all places; there are some things that we cannot do outside of the
organization of the Church, because we lack the proper authority to do so, and
because we lack the community of saints which gives us the opportunity to
learn, serve, inspire, repent, and grow.
While you are reading Chapter 18,
search Mosiah 18:17–31, looking for the value Alma’s people found in gathering in
“the church of Christ” (See notes below).
God helps me carry my
burdens.
Mosiah 21–24
Both Alma’s and Limhi’s people were in bondage. You can look for similarities
between Alma’s people in Mosiah 18; 23–24 and Limhi’s people in Mosiah 19–22.
Find messages that can help you in your own life. (Refer to notes of chapters
below, and come back to this later, if you have time to take.)
Mosiah 21:16 How can you prosper by degrees? That’s really what we do most of the time. We can’t excel in everything all at once, but we can improve in certain areas, or work on certain goals, and then add more as we are able. May it be said of us, they did what they could.
For kids:
God can make my burdens
light.
Mosiah 24:8–17
Fill a backpack with rocks to represent heavy burdens. Invite a class member to put it on.
Read Mosiah 24:8–17.
Every time you read about something Alma and his people did to seek God’s help
with their burdens, have someone remove one of the rocks.
How can Heavenly Father make our burdens light when we seek His help? How can
we make each other’s burdens lighter?
(Divide the load?)
I can trust the Lord.
Even though Alma and his people repented, they still were taken in bondage. The trials we go through are not always a result of our own sins. We experience hardships in this life for many different reasons. In this case, the Lamanites and the Amulonites infringed upon the agency of Alma and his people.
The Lord helped them endure their challenges and gain experience until it was time for them to be loosed from bondage. We need to wait upon the Lord and upon His timing. In that way, we can learn humility, trust, and patience; and we can be strengthened through His Spirit as we continue to keep our covenants.
Note words and phrases that can help you learn to
trust in the Lord, regardless of your circumstances in the two following
passages:
21 Nevertheless
the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people;
yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was
with this people.
23 For
behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could
deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and
of Jacob.
24 And
it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty
power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.
8 And
now it came to pass that Amulon began to
exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to
persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children.
9 For
Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of the king’s
priests, and that it was he that believed the words of Abinadi and was driven
out before the king, and therefore he was wroth with him; for he was subject to
king Laman, yet he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters over
them.
10 And
it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry
mightily to God.
11 And
Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever
should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
12 And
Alma and his people did
not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And
it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions,
saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the
covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and
deliver them out of bondage.
14 And
I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even
you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this
will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me
hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my
people in their afflictions.
15 And
now it came to pass that the
burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the
Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and
with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And
it came to pass that so
great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto
them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you
out of bondage.
17 And
he said unto Alma: Thou
shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and
deliver this people out of bondage.
Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/18?lang=eng
Alma preaches in private—He sets forth
the covenant of baptism and baptizes at the waters of Mormon—He organizes the
Church of Christ and ordains priests—They support themselves and teach the
people—Alma and his people flee from King Noah into the wilderness. About
147–145 B.C.
As you read Mosiah 18:8–14, consider
these questions:
Vs 8-11: The discipleship that accompanies baptism and a remission
of sins: Desiring to be God’s people and part of His fold; loving his other
disciples and helping them with their burdens; mourning with those that mourn;
comforting those that need comfort; standing as a witness for God; making a
covenant with God through baptism; witnessing to God that you will serve Him
and keep His commandments.
·
What do you learn from these verses about the promises
you made at baptism? What does God promise you? (see verses 10, 13). Burdens light; receive
His Spirit more abundantly; Eternal Life.
·
How does the covenant to serve God relate to our
efforts to minister to one another? (see verses
8–9). We cannot serve God without loving and serving one
another.
·
What does it mean to you to “stand as [a witness] of
God”? (verse 9). We need to both profess His name and uphold His doctrine.
·
How does keeping your baptismal covenant help you be
“filled with the Spirit”? (Mosiah
18:14). How does the Spirit help you keep your covenant?
When we always remember Him, we will always have His Spirit to be with us.
Vs 17-29 Alma reestablished a church among the people.
Read Mosiah 18:17–28. (Look at
in chapter 18 below and ponder the questions there.)
What did members of Christ’s Church in Alma’s day do
to love and serve one another? How can we do this in our ward, branch, or
community?
Vs 18 They accepted stewardship callings to help each other under the direction
of the Priesthood.
Vs 19 They taught the word of God as it was delivered
to them in the scriptures by the prophets, and by the leaders of the Church,
and by the Spirit.
Vs 20 They taught the doctrine of Christ.
Vs 21 They should avoid and overcome contention and
seek to build unity among themselves.
Vs 21 They should avoid and overcome contention and
seek to build unity among themselves.
Vs 23 They should keep the Sabbath day holy.
Vs 24 They should labor with their own hands for their
support.
Vs 25 They should meet together on the Sabbath to worship
God and teach and edify one another. And they should to socialize and
friendship when they could.
Vs 26 The priests should seek to gain God's spirit and
favor so that they can teach with power and authority from God.
Vs 27 The people of the Church should impart what they
can to those in need.
Vs 27-28 The people of the Church should impart what
they can to those in need. This should be done as a freewill offering, out of
love for God and each other; we should desire to bless one another according to
both needs and wants.
35 And they were in number about four hundred and
fifty souls.
While you are reading Chapter 18,
search Mosiah 18:17–31, looking for the value Alma’s people found in gathering in
“the church of Christ” (See notes above).
Do you see similarities do you see in the Church of
Jesus Christ in Alma’s day and our day? Yes. This is a list that we should pay
attention to!
Why are you grateful to be a member of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to be one of the Lord’s disciples?
Mosiah 18:21
How can I overcome contentious feelings in my own heart towards other church
members? How can I remember that we are not enemies, but that we are on the
same team. Sometimes we need to remember “There ain’t no good guys; there ain’t
no bad guys; there’s only you an me, and we just disagree.”
I know that when I concentrate on my love for the Lord and my desire to serve
Him and have His Spirit to be with me, I want to reach out to others more in
service and forgiveness. The Lord expects us to be one, and if we are not one,
we are not His. What can we do to help our ward members become “knit together
in unity and in love”?
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/19?lang=eng
Gideon seeks to slay King Noah—The Lamanites invade
the land—King Noah suffers death by fire—Limhi rules as a tributary monarch.
About 145–121 B.C.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/20?lang=eng
Some Lamanite daughters are abducted by the priests of
Noah—The Lamanites wage war upon Limhi and his people—The Lamanite hosts are
repulsed and pacified. About 145–123 B.C.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/21?lang=eng
Limhi’s people are smitten and defeated by the
Lamanites—Limhi’s people meet Ammon and are converted—They tell Ammon of the
twenty-four Jaredite plates. About 122–121 B.C.
Vs 13-16 Too often it takes
severe hardships to humble us. In today's world, we are surrounded by
devastating things. What can I do to humble myself and call upon the Lord to
help the people of the world, before severe hardships are in my own house?
I need to ask the Lord to
help me and my family prosper by degrees, instead of wanting everything at
once.
Vs 29-35 The people did not
organize a church, because no one had the authority to baptize (and Ammon
didn't feel worthy). So even though they entered into a covenant, they waited
for proper authority. It seems then that Alma, who'd been in King Noah's court,
already had the power and the authority of the priesthood bestowed upon him.
Vs 36 The priests of King Noah really had become extremely wicked.
Both the people of Ammon and the people of Limhi suffered greatly because of
their persecution.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/22?lang=eng
Plans are made for the people to escape from Lamanite
bondage—The Lamanites are made drunk—The people escape, return to Zarahemla,
and become subject to King Mosiah. About 121–120 B.C.
Vs 13-14 How should we be
receiving refugees? Mosiah’s people received Limhi’s people with great joy,
along with their records. Do we welcome people and their histories and their
culture? We should too.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/23?lang=eng
An account of Alma and the people of the Lord, who were driven
into the wilderness by the people of King Noah.
Alma refuses to be king—He serves as high priest—The Lord chastens
His people, and the Lamanites conquer the land of Helam—Amulon, leader of King
Noah’s wicked priests, rules subject to the Lamanite monarch. About
145–121 B.C.
Vs 7-8 People are way too tempted with
greed and power. It's best not to have kings or monarchs.
Vs 13-14 Work towards a free
government. Don't listen to apostates.
Vs 15 Having good governance depends mainly on
keeping the first two great commandments: to love God and to love our neighbors
as ourselves. In doing so, we can avoid most conflicts and contention.
Vs 21-22 Be patient in trials and afflictions.
The Lord seek to polish and refine you. Put your trust in Him, for by so doing,
you will be lifted up at the last day.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/24?lang=eng
Amulon persecutes Alma and his people—They are to
be put to death if they pray—The Lord makes their burdens seem light—He
delivers them from bondage, and they return to Zarahemla. About 145–120 B.C.
So they pray silently.
Vs 4-7 King Laman has the wicked
priests of Noah teach all his people in the learning of the Nephites. But they
fail to teach the gospel, because they have chosen not to live it.
Vs 12-17 Die
Gedanken sind frei. We can always pray in our hearts. We
can always have freedom of religion within our souls and feel the peace that
the Spirit brings. No one and nothing can blot the name of Jesus Christ from
our souls. We can have that name always written on our hearts, unless we choose
to erase it through our own iniquitous choices and a willful desire to do so.
Vs 15-17 As an individual, I need to
stop murmuring and trust in the Lord's timing. Some things need to be endured
for a time, and if we trust in our Deliverer, He will ease our burdens and help
us to find joy in the journey.
Vs 21-22 God
blesses and delivers you every day. Please pause to thank him, not only in your
heart, but on bended knee vocally.
Be a grateful and gracious person. Set an example
of praising God and giving thanks.
Vs 25 Mosiah received both peoples with joy: the people of Limhi and the people of Alma. Love people, no matter where they come from.
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