Mosiah 23-25

Reading Assignment for Class on 12/13/17: Mosiah 23-25

Learning Activity:

Read Mosiah 23:21 and ponder the word "chasten"

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

“The word chasten comes from the Latin castus, meaning ‘chaste or pure,’ and chasten means ‘to purify’ [see Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. (2003), “chasten”]” (Lynn G. Robbins, “The Righteous Judge,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 97).

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The Will of God

The Will of God

God uses love-inspired correction to guide us to a future we do not or cannot now envision but which He knows is the better way for us.

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Mosiah 23:21. How can our trials be a benefit for us?

Even though the people who followed Alma had repented and been faithful, the Lord allowed them to be temporarily oppressed by the Lamanites as a trial of their patience and faith.

Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that everything we experience teaches us valuable lessons:

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven” (as quoted in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle[1972], 98).

Mosiah 24:15–16. How can our attitude affect our personal growth through trials?

It may be helpful to prayerfully consider the possible causes of our trials in order to determine how to respond to them. True to the Faith suggests several possible sources for the adversity we experience in mortality:

“Adversity comes from different sources. You may at times face trials as a consequence of your own pride and disobedience. These trials can be avoided through righteous living. Other trials are simply a natural part of life and may come at times when you are living righteously. For example, you may experience trials in times of sickness or uncertainty or at the deaths of loved ones. Adversity may sometimes come because of others’ poor choices and hurtful words and actions. …

“Different kinds of adversity require different responses. For example, if you are stricken with illness, you may simply need to be patient and faithful. If you suffer because of others’ words or actions, you should work toward forgiving those who have offended you. If you are a victim of abuse, you should seek help immediately. If trials come because of your own disobedience, you should correct your behavior and humbly seek forgiveness” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 8, 9–10).

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged us to rely on the Lord when we face challenges:

“The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you [see 1 Nephi 3:7]” (Richard G. Scott, “Finding Joy in Life,” Ensign, May 1996, 25).

Supplemental Teaching Ideas

Mosiah 23:21. The Lord chastens His people by trying their patience and their faith

To help students better understand why the Lord may chasten us by trying our patience and our faith, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Testing … is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to [God’s] commandments.

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Prov. 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain” (Richard G. Scott, “Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16–17).

How can this statement help us better understand why righteous individuals may experience difficult trials? (Make sure it is clear that it is not the will of God that His children suffer abuse from others. Those who are victims of abuse should seek help immediately.)

Mosiah 25:17–22. Priesthood authority among the Nephites

The Book of Mormon does not give specific details about the priesthood held by prophets and other brethren among the Nephites and Lamanites. However, the references to ordinances and the manner in which the Church was conducted provide sufficient evidence that they held the Melchizedek Priesthood. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) taught that “the priesthood which [the Nephites] held and under which they officiated was the Priesthood after the holy order, the order of the Son of God [see Alma 13:1–20]. This higher priesthood can officiate in every ordinance of the gospel” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1956], 3:87).

Want More?

Mosiah 24:15–16. Video presentation—“Lifting Burdens”