WEEK SEVEN - Mosiah 5:1 - Mosiah 6:7
DAY ONE - A mighty change
Mosiah 5:1-4
"Doing good continually" is the core part of living the
gospel daily. The motivation to pursue this kind of life comes from
the might change wrought in our hearts by the Spirit of God.
Conversion is rarely a one-event thing in your life; instead it is a
series of moments in which "mighty changes" happen within
us.
Think back on your life and see if you can pinpoint some of those
moments when you felt a shift within you. It might have been an
important event, or a quiet moment with the scriptures. It might
have been the result of a trial or hearing a testimony born in song.
King Benjamin's people noted that you know when this change has taken
place because of the change of desire within you - something you had
trouble with in the past suddenly falls away and is no longer an
issue.
Make note in your journal of these events chronologically, on a sort
of timeline. Afterwards, look over your spiritual life on paper and
see the progress you have made.
DAY TWO - A name
Mosiah 5:5-12
Circle every time the word "name" occurs in these verses.
President Henry B Eyring said:
"We promise to take His name upon us. That means we must see
ourselves as His.
We will put Him first in our lives. We will want what He wants
rather than what
we want or what the world teaches us to want."
Think about each of your children and why you gave them the names you
did (or think about your own given name.) Write each name down in
your journal and note the reason behind the name. Write anything you
hope your children will know and understand about why they are named
such, and how it might influence who they are and how they try to
live.
Now think about each one of them taking upon the name of Jesus
Christ, when they were (or will be) baptized. Can you help your
children make the connection between their given name at birth and
its influence, with the name the receive at baptism (Christ) and how
it can influence who they are and the way they try to live?
DAY THREE - Seal them to you
Mosiah 5:12-15
Go back one verse and include verse 12 in today's reading.
Imagine you are King Benjamin speaking to your own children in this
portion. Go through and underline the phrases that speak to you as a
parent, ones that hold hopes your have for your children.
Write each of your children's (or loved ones) names in your journal.
Now look back at what you underlined and select one specific piece of
advice for each family member. Each child will have different
personalities, tendencies, talents, and needs, so consider these all
and then choose the one line that you wish you could impart to that
one child. Write it beside their name.
For example: Jack, be steadfast and immovable. Jane, know the voice
by which you are called.
Finally, write each loved one's name into this sentence: (write it
for each family member)
"____________, let Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, seal you
his."
DAY FOUR - TAKE HIS NAME
Mosiah 6:1-3
After King Benjamin's speech, he took the names of everyone who
entered into the covenant: every single person. No matter the
hardships you face, the trials you must surmount, the victories or
defeats, in the end you are running a home that has been dedicated to
the Lord. As Joshua wrote:
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
When you struggle with a child, remember you and she/he are serving
the Lord. When you argue with your spouse, remember you are serving
the Lord. When evil mounts in the world outside, remember you are
serving the Lord.
Underline the actions King Benjamin took to ensure that his people
would always remember their promise to serve the Lord.
Write each one down on your journal, and make some notes about ways
you can institute them in your home right now. Keep in mind the ages
of those in your household, and be specific instead of general; write
concrete ways that will work at this stage of your life so that those
in your home will remember that in your house, you serve the Lord.
DAY FIVE - Working alongside
Mosiah 6:4-7
As is evidenced by King Benjamin's
speech, there are times that a sermon must be taught. Gospel
doctrine and concepts need to be conveyed by talking through the
points with your children and family. However, both King Benjamin
and his son, King Mosiah, were likely such effective leaders not just
because of their talk, but because of their "walk."
Compare Mosiah 2:14 and Mosiah 6:7 and highlight what the commonality
between the two leaders was.
Write down a couple of the lessons
you hope your children will learn in the next short while (a few
months to a year.) Now write down how you can teach them these
concepts by serving and working alongside them, instead of talking
about it. The greatest lessons are "caught, not taught."