We all have heard the term "feasting on the Word." For the past 30+ years, I have felt like a feaster and not a nibbler. But I have never had a feast such as the one I have enjoyed for the past 17 months as I have embarked on the Church's Home Centered, Church Supported curriculum. I marvel at the prophetic nature of the program which as introduced by President Nelson almost 2 years ago, but which - I believe - was begun many years before that under President Monson. I have done enough curriculum design in my professional life that I know that is not something you throw together in a couple of months. I call it prophetic, but it goes beyond that to revelatory and visionary. Who knew when we embarked on this program in January 2017 that we would be having home church meetings a year later?
The call of a prophet is not so much to foretell, but to forthtell the gospel and testimony of Jesus Christ. As revelator reveals things as they are, have been, and will be in the future. A seer (think see-er) is one who actually sees the prophetic sweep of the world's history, such as Nephi or John the Beloved. That is why I said the program was prophetic, revelatory, and visionary. I'd also like to apply those terms when speaking of Kings Mosiah I., Benjamin, and Mosiah II. In our study for the past week, we have seen an example of King Mosiah fulfilling a prophetic role because he had been taught the language of prophecy by his father. He was able to interpret the plates of the Jaredites.
Why is a Seer Greater than a Prophet?
In their first general assembly as a united people in Zarahemla, Mosiah read aloud from these records:
And it came to pass that Mosiah did read and caused to be read,* the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of Zeniff, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until they returned again. And he also read the account of Alma and his brethren, and all their afflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time they returned again. (Mosiah 25: 5-6)
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| Scholars believe the Olmecs were the Jaradites |
Mosiah also studied the history of the Jaredites from the records the Mulekites had. Between the bloody history of wicked Jaredite kings and the more recent history of a similarly wicked Nephite king, Noah, Mosiah understood the damage an evil king can do to his people. Having access also to the brass plates of Laban, he also knew of Israel's fallen kings from Saul to David to Solomon, all the way down to Zedekiah, and of the system of judges in ancient Israel before the kings when the people acknowledge Jehovah as their true king. When Mosiah's sons refused the throne, the king proposed that they set up a system of judges similar to the ancient system, to become enforced at the time of Mosiah's death.
Mosiah explained it this way:
Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to His commandments . . . even as my father, Benjamin . . . if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you. . .
Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just, it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you. For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, ye, and what great destruction! (Mosiah 26: 13, 17)
As Pharaoh Rameses is quoted in the movie, The Ten Commandments: "So let it be written. So let it be done."
And it was.
© May 2020 Dr. Kathleen Rawlings
Buntin Danielson
* Caused to be read probably means that these words were sent out to the congregations who were not close enough to hear the king's voice so that all of the people had a chance to know the histories.
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