BOM Mosiah 28

Today’s reading, Mosiah 28, mentions in passing the launch of the great mission to the Lamanites undertaken by the sons of King Mosiah.

It will provide some of the greatest and most inspiring stories in the Book of Mormon.

It will also — by moving the king’s sons beyond the borders of the kingdom — oblige Mosiah to consider the question of the royal succession, and, ultimately, to reconsider the continuation of the Nephite monarchy itself.

I’m moved by the description of the sons of Mosiah at 28:3:

“Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.”

This is consistent with what their companion Alma says at Alma 29:1-2:

“O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!  Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.”

And it means that these servants of God share the outlook of God himself, as that is recorded in Moses 7:28-37:

“And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon theresidue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?

“And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity? . . .

“The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands . . .  And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood . . . and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?”