Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Mosiah Chapter 1
1:88 The king wanted to leave the subject of doom and discuss more pleasant things; prophets of
God cannot play the role of Pollyanna when they are directed to carry a message to Nineveh. But
it is like a loving God to lend encouragement to his children who try to serve him. Their blessings
are "both temporal and spiritual" (89). "And if they hold out faithful to the end, they are received
into heaven" (90).
PROPHECY CONCERNING CHRIST'S ATONEMENT, Ver. 92-130
Mos 1:93 For behold, I have things to tell you, concerning that which is to come; and the things which I
shall tell you, are made known unto me, by an angel from God.
1:93 Anything that this good king might say would claim the profound respect of his people.
However, he is now to deal with some things he could not know except they were revealed to him
by a heavenly source. "Awake! ...I am come to declare unto thee glad tidings of great joy" (95),
said the angel.
Mos 1:97 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who
reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven, among the
children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,
1:97 The angel added some details of the Lord's work and purpose. "He (Christ) shall go forth
amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead” (98). His
blessings would extend to the lame, the blind, the deaf, and those possessed of evil spirits. "He
shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, ...and his mother shall be called Mary" (102).
Mos 1:102 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the
Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
1:102 The specific naming of Jesus’ mother as Mary is new to the Book of Mormon at this point.
Nephi saw her, but did not name her.
Mos 1:104 And even after all this, they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall
scourge him, and shall crucify him.
1:104 This prophecy is given by an angel and was related to the people by King Benjamin 124
B.C. It is specific and quite plain. The Old Testament has nothing to compare with it in these two
aspects. The reason for such plainness can only be rationalized. First, the faith and spiritual
development of the Nephites and second, the direct method of communication from King
Benjamin to us through Joseph Smith, the translator, seem to be significant factors.
"And many of them [the Jews] said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?" (John 10:20;
see also 8:52; Luke 11:16-21).
The story of Christ's crucifixion is well known. After they had scourged him, the soldiers placed a
crown of thorns on his head, smote him with a reed, spit upon him, and struck him with their
hands (Matt. 27:30-33; Mark 15:22,23; John 19:1 if).
"And he shall rise the third day from "the dead" (105) makes the resurrection clearly on Sunday.
Some scripture makes it appear that he was in the tomb three days, bringing his resurrection to
Monday afternoon.