Book of Mormon Lesson 19

None Could Deliver Them But The Lord

Baptism
Baptism is essential for obedience. As far as I can tell there is no
example of an unbaptized member of the New Testament church. In
baptism the believer identifies with the righteous life of Jesus is buried
with him, is risen with him.
Baptism is sacred. Once a person admits to sin and trusts Christ for
salvation, a step must be taken to proclaim to heaven and earth that he/she
is a follower of Christ. Baptism is that step. Baptism is the initial and
immediate step of obedience and worship by one who has declared his/her
faith to others. With the exception of the thief on the cross, Scripture
provides us no example of an unbaptized heaven-bound soul.
It is noteworthy that baptism doesn't save anyone. It is an external
expression of an inward commitment. It is a public action letting the
community know you have privately adopted the standards of Christ.. Your
baptism tells the world that you are not ashamed to be a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of incorporation. Thus your
baptism says you are not just a believer, you're also a belonger.
Mosiah 21
As we start into a discussion about repentance and the attitude needed to
bring about the blessings and help of the Lord, let us take a moment to
remember that Limhis people are in bondage and are in captivity as a
result of their own decision to reject Abinidais counsel.
Mosiah 21:5-6
What is the response of Limhis people to the Lamanite bondage they have
brought upon themselves?

Murmuring and complaining about the consequences of our sins depicts an inner attitude
that we are not yet ready to repent. They are indicators that the true spirit of repentance
have not yet penetrated deeply in ones heart. The people of Limhi try three times to free
themselves from the consequences of their actions before we notice a change of heart.
How do you sometimes try to free yourself from the consequences of sin rather than
depending on the Lord?

Read Mosiah 21:13-16

They did _____________________ themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did
____________ mightily to God; yea, even all the day long And now the Lord was slow to
hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and
began to ______________________ the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to _____________
their burdens; and it came to pass that they began to _________________ by degrees.
What do you do when you are in the middle of painful trials and suffering afflictions?
You cry mightily to God. He may be slow to hear your cries, as he was with Limhis people,
but if you persist, he will see your determination to return to him and will eventually hear
your cries. Dont give up or despair; keep asking. As Joseph Smith encouraged, Come
unto God and weary him until he blesses you (Ogden & Skinner)
While the Lord did not take the consequences of their actions away, he did help the people
to bear them because their attitude was right. Then, the people began to prosper by
degrees. Can you imagine what would have happened if the people of Limhi had been
granted everything they wanted all at once. What about you? How do you think your
attitude would change if you were given everything that you want all at once?

Mosiah 21:31
Now they would have __________________ joined them (meaning Almas people in the
wilderness) for they themselves had entered into a _______________________ with God
to serve him and keep his commandments.
Notice the word gladly. The truly repentant individual always wants to come back
into full fellowship with the Saints, and they are desperate to make covenants with
the Lord. Its the most natural thing in the world for those who are repentant to
long to have the sacrament, to be baptized to go to the temple.
This is why baptism follows repentance. The desire to make covenants is a fruit of
repentance. In spite of this great desire they found themselves, (read verse 34)
They did not at that time form themselves into a church, waiting upon the
___________________ of the ____________________.
Then in verse 35:
They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a ______________________ that they
were willing to serve God with all their __________________; nevertheless they did
________________ the time; and an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter.
Waiting on the Lord may perhaps be one of the hardest things that we are asked to
do in this life. However, we must remember, that just because we are waiting does
not mean that the Lord is not working
To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, worry, fret, make demands,
or take control. Nor is waiting inactivity. Waiting is a sustained effort to stay
focused on God through prayer and belief . To wait is to Rest in the Lord, and wait
patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because
of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Ps. 37: 7).
Waiting is easier said than done. Why do we have to wait so long for what seems like
a desire that should be quickly fulfilled, a righteous desire? We can learn about this
from Daniel. In one of the most dramatic examples of waiting in the Bible, this Old
Testament prophet kept his mind on God for an extended period. His people had
been oppressed for almost seventy years. Daniel entered into a time of prayer on
their behalf. For twenty-one days he abstained from pleasant food, meat, and wine.
He labored in prayer. He persisted, pleaded, and agonized. No response.

Then on the twenty-second day a breakthrough. An angel of God appeared. He revealed to

Daniel the reason for the long delay. Daniels prayer was heard on the first day it was
offered. The angel was dispatched with a response. That very day I was sent here to meet
you. But for twenty-one days the mighty Evil Spirit who overrules the kingdom of Persia
blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the top officers of the heavenly army, came to help
me, so that I was able to break through these spirit rulers of Persia (Dan. 10: 12 13
TLB). From an earthly perspective nothing was happening. Daniels prayers were falling
like pebbles on hard ground. But from a heavenly perspective a battle was raging in the
heavens. Two angels were engaged in fierce combat for three weeks. While Daniel was
waiting, God was working. What if Daniel had given up? Lost faith? Walked away from
God?
Better questions: What if you give up? Lose faith? Walk away? Dont. For heavens sake,
dont. All of heaven is warring on your behalf. Above and around you at this very instant,
Gods messengers are at work. Keep waiting. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint:. (Isa. 40: 31) Fresh strength . Renewed vigor. Legs that
dont grow weary. Delight yourself in God, and he will bring rest to your soul.

Mosiah 22:14
And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he also received their
records, and also the records which had been found by the people of Limhi
What significant plates were added to the Nephites collection?

When Limhis people join with the people of King Mosiah in the land of Zarahemla they
bring with them two additional sets of plates
(1) their own records, which are known as the record of Zeniff, and
(2) the records which had been found by the people of Limhi, which are later identified
as the records of Ether

Mosiah 23:18
Therefore, they did _______________ over their people, and did nourish them
with things pertaining to _______________________.
Lucy Mack Smith said, We must cherish one another, watch over one
another, comfort one another and gain instruction that we may all sit down
in heaven together.
How you you better watch over those under your stewardship?

How can you nourish your visiting and home teaching families with things
pertaining to righteousness?

Mosiah 23:27
But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be
frightened.
How in the face of the ferocious Lamanite armies were the people of Alma not to be afraid?
How are you in the midst of layoffs at work, slow downs in the economy, upswings in global
warming and breakouts of terrorist attacks, supposed to be not frightened? Studies in the
field of psychology tell us that ordinary children today are more fearful than psychiatric
patents were in the 1950s. Fear, it seems, has taken over and set up shop. Fear is unwilling
to share the heart with happiness. In the presence of fear, happiness leaves. Do you ever see
the two together? Can one be happy and afraid at the same time? Clear thinking and afraid?
Confident and afraid? Merciful and afraid? Fear is a bully in the halls of middle school. It is
brash, loud, and unproductive. Fear never wrote a symphony or a poem, negotiated a peace
treaty or cured a disease. Fear never pulled a family out of poverty or a country out of
bigotry. Fear never saved a marriage or delivered a people from bondage. Faith did that.
People who refused to give in or cower did that. Like the people of Alma we need to have
faith. Faith that our Savior is bigger than our fears. That our God is more powerful that
Satan. That our Father in Heaven has a plan.
What blessings have you seen in your life from putting your trust in God and your fears in
your back pocket?

Read Mosiah 23:22. How does this verse give you hope as you face the future?

Evaluate: Based on your readings of the Book of Mormon, use a scale of 1-6 to
rate how strongly you bleieve the statements below. 1= no belief, 6= complete
confidence
_________ I believe that God has a purpose for my life
_________ I believe pain and suffereing can often bring me closter to God
_________ I believe God is actibely involved in my life
_________ I believe God enables me to do things I could not would not do otherwise
Mosiah 24:10
And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry
mightily to God
Storms come crashing into our lives, ou rhealth teeters, our relationships fracture,
our finances evaporate, and we can face the fragility of life and the uncertainty of
almost everything that we know In these moments Jesus extends this simple
invitation, Bring your problems to me. Are you willing to utter these three
words, I need help even I you have to choke them out?
God delights when we say I need help! Mature faith does not declare, I can do it
all by myself. Jesus died on the cross for because we cant do it all by ourselves.
The Holy Spirit was given to us on the day of our baptism because we cant do it
all by ourselves. Our heavenly Father is ready to help, empower, uplift, guide and
save us as soon as we recognize our need and call for help.
What are you saying to God when you utter the words, I need help?

Mosiah 24:16
And it came to pass that so great was their ________________ and their __________________
Faith and patience? Most of us can take our problems to Christ, but leave them
there? For good? With faith? To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst,
worry, fret, make demands, or take control. Nor is waiting inactivity. Waiting is a
sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and belief. To wait is to Rest
in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who
prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Ps.
37: 7).
Waiting is easier said than done. Why do we have to wait so long for what seems like
a desire that should be quickly fulfilled, a righteous desire? We can learn about this
from Daniel. In one of the most dramatic examples of waiting in the Bible, this Old
Testament prophet kept his mind on God for an extended period. His people had
been oppressed for almost seventy years. Daniel entered into a time of prayer on their
behalf. For twenty-one days he abstained from pleasant food, meat, and wine. He
labored in prayer. He persisted, pleaded, and agonized. No response. Then on the
twenty-second day a breakthrough. An angel of God appeared. He revealed to Daniel
the reason for the long delay. Daniels prayer was heard on the first day it was
offered. The angel was dispatched with a response. That very day I was sent here to
meet you. But for twenty-one days the mighty Evil Spirit who overrules the kingdom
of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the top officers of the heavenly
army, came to help me, so that I was able to break through these spirit rulers of
Persia (Dan. 10: 12 13). From an earthly perspective nothing was happening.
Daniels prayers were falling like pebbles on hard ground. But from a heavenly
perspective a battle was raging in the heavens. Two angels were engaged in fierce
combat for three weeks. While Daniel was waiting, God was working. What if Daniel
had given up? Lost faith? Walked away from God?
Better questions: What if you give up? Lose faith? Walk away? Dont. For heavens
sake, dont. All of heaven is warring on your behalf. Above and around you at this
very instant, Gods messengers are at work. Keep waiting. Resist the urge to reclaim
the problem once youve given it up. Your Heavenly Father has got this.