
King Benjamin taught his people that they could retain their remission of sins by remembering God and by giving to those in need. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland summarised Benjamin's message as: We obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately responds, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead to us.
To retain a remission of sins, King Benjamin taught three basic principles: first, to remain humble; second, to call upon the Lord daily; and third, to stand steadfast in the faith.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Remain humble | Submit to the will of the Lord |
Call upon the Lord daily | Pray for strength to stay in the straight and narrow way |
Stand steadfast in the faith | Be steadfast and immovable |
Recognise God's greatness | Remember the glory of God |
Recognise your own nothingness | Recognise your unworthiness |
Recognise God's goodness and long-suffering | Recognise God's love |
Be filled with the love of God | |
Grow in the knowledge of the glory of God | |
Administer relief to others | Feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit the sick and administer to their relief |
What You'll Learn
Recognise God's greatness and your own nothingness
Recognising God's greatness and our own nothingness is a powerful way to retain a remission of our sins.
In his teachings, King Benjamin emphasised the importance of knowing the glory of God, receiving a remission of sins, always remembering the greatness of God, and praying daily. He taught that by doing these things, we "shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins".
The greatness of God is something that we can never truly fathom or comprehend. He is the creator and sustainer of all things, from the largest galaxies to the smallest particles. He is all-powerful, merciful, kind, and loving. Recognising and remembering God's greatness helps us put our own lives into perspective and understand our own nothingness in comparison.
- Meditate on Scripture: Read and reflect on Bible verses that speak of God's greatness, such as Psalm 145:3, which says, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable."
- Worship and Praise: Express your awe and gratitude through worship and praise, declaring God's greatness and your own nothingness.
- Serve Others: By serving others and meeting their needs, we recognise that God is the ultimate source of all goodness and provision.
- Creation: Look at the beauty and complexity of nature, from the vastness of the universe to the intricate design of a flower. Recognise that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all life.
- Prayer: In your prayers, acknowledge God's greatness and your dependence on Him. Seek His guidance and strength to follow His will.
As we recognise God's greatness, we are humbled and our perspective shifts. We see ourselves as God sees us – as sinful yet loved and redeemed by Him. This recognition of our own nothingness leads to a deeper trust in God and a desire to obey His commandments.
By remembering God's greatness and our own nothingness, we are motivated to live a life that honours Him. We become more humble, prayerful, and steadfast in our faith. We are filled with God's love and are empowered to resist temptation and sin.
In conclusion, recognising God's greatness and our own nothingness is a vital aspect of retaining a remission of our sins. It helps us maintain a right relationship with God, walk in humility, and live a life that pleases Him. May we always remember the greatness of our God and find strength and forgiveness in Him.
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Humble yourself
Humility is a key aspect of retaining a remission of our sins. Here are some ways to cultivate and practice humility in our lives:
- Recognise that humility is a response to divine initiative and help. In the Bible, self-humbling is not something we initiate, but something we receive and embrace when God sends His humbling. Humility, like faith, is a proper response to God Himself, His glory, and His purposes.
- Submit to the will of the Lord in all things. King Benjamin taught that to retain a remission of sins, we should "always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and [our] own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards [us], unworthy creatures, and humble [ourselves] even in the depths of humility" (Mosiah 4:11).
- Be aware of your shortcomings, strengths, and limitations. Humble people recognise their need for help and are willing to learn from others. They are confident in their abilities but do not feel the need to boast or talk themselves up.
- Focus on serving others rather than controlling them. Humble people are secure in their purpose and are willing to help others discover their strengths. They do not feel the need to always be right or in control.
- Be open to learning and adapting. Humble people are teachable and willing to admit when they are wrong or lack information. They seek knowledge and are open to different perspectives and ideas.
- Do not take criticism personally. Humble people receive criticism gracefully and are willing to learn from feedback. They focus on outcomes and solutions rather than on their image or being right.
- Put others' needs before your own. Humble people are compassionate and generous towards those in need. They recognise that serving others is an essential part of retaining a remission of sins.
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Pray to God daily
Praying to God daily is one of the three principles taught by King Benjamin to help people retain a remission of their sins. The other two principles are remaining humble and standing steadfast in the faith.
Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have on Earth. Through prayer, we can communicate with God and seek His guidance daily. Jesus taught, "Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name." We should pray each day for the power to resist temptation. Amulek teaches that we should pray "morning, mid-day, and evening" and that our hearts should "be full, drawn out in prayer unto [God] continually." Our daily prayers influence our thoughts, words, and actions. It is essential to ask God daily for the strength to stay on the straight and narrow way to retain a remission of our sins.
In the general conference of April last year, President James E. Faust taught that "to sustain faith, each of us must be humble and compassionate, kind and generous to the poor and the needy. Faith is further sustained by daily doses of spirituality that come to us as we kneel in prayer."
Additionally, in his opening remarks at the October 1996 general conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley said:
> You have prayed that you might hear things that will help you with your problems and add strength to your faith. I assure you that we have prayed also. We have prayed for inspiration and direction. There is a constant prayer in our hearts that we will not fail in the great trust the Lord has placed in us and the trust you have placed in us. We have prayed that we might be prompted to say those words that will build faith and testimony and which will become answered prayers for those who will hear.
Praying to God daily will give us greater power to retain a remission of our sins.
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Stand steadfast in your faith
Standing steadfast in the faith is one of the three principles taught by King Benjamin to help people retain a remission of their sins. The other two are remaining humble and calling upon the Lord daily.
King Benjamin taught his people that they should "always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility" (Mosiah 4:11).
Standing steadfast in the faith involves developing good spiritual practices, such as remembering God's greatness, continuing to humble oneself, praying every day, and remaining converted to the gospel.
- Remember God's greatness: Reflect on God's power, love, and mercy. Recognise your own limitations and dependence on God.
- Humble yourself: Submit to the will of the Lord and seek His glory. Remove pride and selfishness from your life.
- Pray daily: Communicate with Heavenly Father and seek His guidance. Pray for strength to resist temptation and stay on the path of righteousness.
- Maintain a durable conversion: Ensure that your faith is not just a one-time experience but a lifelong commitment. Establish spiritual practices and habits that will help you stay close to God and maintain your testimony of the gospel.
- Serve others: Impart your spiritual and temporal substance to those in need. Care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and provide relief to those who are suffering.
- Study the scriptures: Read and ponder the word of God to gain a deeper understanding of His teachings and increase your faith.
- Obey God's commandments: Strive to keep the commandments and live according to God's standards.
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Care for the poor and needy
In his final address to his people, King Benjamin taught three basic principles that can help us retain a remission of our sins: "First, to remain humble; second, to call upon the Lord daily; and third, to stand steadfast in the faith."
Remaining humble involves "having the desire to submit to the Lord, the desire to seek the Lord's will and glory, and the desire to remove pride." We should "always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and [our] own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards [us], unworthy creatures, and humble [ourselves] even in the depths of humility".
Calling upon the Lord daily involves prayer, which is described as "one of the greatest blessings we have while here on earth." Through prayer, we can communicate with our Heavenly Father and seek His guidance daily. We should pray each day that we will have the power to resist temptation, and that we will have the strength to stay in the straight and narrow way.
Standing steadfast in the faith involves living a life of service to others, especially the poor and needy. This is a key tenet of Christianity, with the Bible containing numerous injunctions to care for the poor and oppressed. Here are some ways we can do this:
- Share our food with the poor and hungry.
- Provide shelter for the homeless.
- Clothe the naked.
- Visit and care for the sick.
- Provide justice for the poor and oppressed.
- Defend the rights of the poor and needy.
- Rescue the weak and needy.
- Give generously to the poor, without a grudging heart.
- Freely lend to the poor whatever they need.
- Do not take advantage of or exploit the poor.
- Do not deny justice to the poor.
- Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly.
- Do not oppress or crush the needy in court.
- Do not shut our ears to the cry of the poor.
- Do not discriminate against the poor.
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Frequently asked questions
The word "remission" comes from two Latin roots: "re-", which means "back" (in the sense of "undoing", putting something back the way it was before), and "missionem", meaning "sending", "dispatching", or "setting free". When God remits our sins, He is sending them back to us instead of holding them against us. He is setting us free again, with the burden of our sins no longer hanging over our heads.
A remission of sins comes through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
King Benjamin taught his people, who had received a remission of their sins, that they could retain it by remembering God and by giving to those in need.
King Benjamin taught three basic principles that can help us retain a remission of our sins: "first, to remain humble; second, to call upon the Lord daily; and third, to stand steadfast in the faith."