Mosiah

“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” King Benjamin, Mosiah 2:17

The book of Mosiah tells of King Benjamin and his son Mosiah, who reigned in Zarahemla, and it takes two other records into theirs. One is the record of Zeniff, “an account of his people, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites” (Mosiah 9–22). The other is “an account of Alma and the people of the Lord, who were driven into the wilderness by the people of King Noah” (Mosiah 23–24).

This companion has only begun the book. Two chapters are here so far, Mosiah 12 and Mosiah 15. Each has the full text and a few notes on how Abinadi reads Isaiah before King Noah’s priests, which go with the notes on Isa. 52:7. Both chapters will be written in full with the rest of the book; until then the other chapters open in the Gospel Library.

The chapters

The book begins and ends in Zarahemla, under King Benjamin and his son Mosiah. Between them it takes in the record of Zeniff’s people in the land of Lehi-Nephi and the account of Alma and his people.

Mosiah 1–6

King Benjamin

King Benjamin teaches his sons, chooses Mosiah as king, and addresses his people at the temple. They take upon them the name of Christ, and Mosiah begins to reign.

Mosiah 7–8

Ammon Finds Limhi’s People

Ammon finds the land of Lehi-Nephi, where Limhi is king and his people are in bondage to the Lamanites, and learns of the twenty-four Jaredite plates.

Mosiah 9–10

The Record of Zeniff

Zeniff leads a group from Zarahemla to possess the land of Lehi-Nephi. The record that begins here runs through chapter 22.

Mosiah 11–17

King Noah and Abinadi

King Noah rules in wickedness. Abinadi prophesies against him, answers his priests from the law of Moses and from Isaiah, testifies of Christ, and suffers death by fire.

Mosiah 18–22

The Waters of Mormon; Limhi’s People

Alma baptizes at the waters of Mormon and flees with his people. King Noah dies, Limhi rules as a tributary monarch, and his people escape to Zarahemla.

Mosiah 23–24

Alma and the People of the Lord

Alma refuses to be king. His people come into bondage in the land of Helam, and the Lord makes their burdens light and delivers them.

Mosiah 25–29

The Church in Zarahemla and the End of the Kings

The peoples gather in Zarahemla and Alma organizes the Church. An angel stops Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah, and Mosiah proposes judges in place of a king.

Beloved passages

Most-used sources

Every note cites its sources. These are the ones this commentary leans on most.

The Holy Scriptures (Latter-day Saint editions), text and chapter headings, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.