Mosiah 5:6-10
From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.
The Book of Mormon > Mosiah > Chapter 5
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Contents |
Questions
Verse 7
- What does it mean to be called the children of Christ?
- What does it mean to be "spiritually begotten"? How is this different from being begotten as spirits by our Heavenly Father?
- How can hearts be changed "through faith on [Christ's] name?
- How does this change of heart constitute a new birth?
Verse 8
- Under his head. What does this phrase mean?
- How are we made free "under [Christ's] head? What does it mean to be "made free"?
- How does salvation come by a given name?
- Could "taking upon you the name of Christ" be the same as receiving an anointing as a high priest--the mark referred to in Jacob 4:14?
- Could this be the same the ordination referred to in Alma 13:2?
- What does it mean to covenant to "be obedient unto the end of your lives"?
Verse 9
- What does it mean to "be found at the right hand of God"? Where does this imagery come from?
- How are we "called by the name of Christ"?
Verse 10
- What does it mean to be found "on the left hand of God"?
Lexical notes
- The phrase "take upon you the Name of Christ" does not appear anywhere in our modern version of the Bible.
Exegesis
Verse 7
Become his sons and daughters. When the people enter into a covenant with God, they "become [Christ's] sons and daughters." Although we enter this world as God's children, we can be spiritually born again when our "hearts are changed through faith on his name." All mankind is required to pass from a fallen (carnal) state to a state of righteousness in order to be redeemed (see Mosiah 27:25). This is the beginning of a transformative process that requires a life-long commitment to be obedient.
Verse 8
To "take upon you the Name of Christ" appears to be a holy priesthood ordinance, appropriately revealed here by King Benjamin in the temple. Since this ordinance and covenent is not clearly revealed in our modern bible, it may be one of the "plain and precious things" that the was taken out of the scriptures by the Dueteronomistic reforms around the time Lehi left Jerusalem, and that the Lord has restored to us through the Book of Mormon.
Related links
- For more information on the Dueteronomistic reforms during the time of Lehi, see article by Kevin Christensen here
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