Day 8

The missionaries Aaron and Ammon (along with their brothers) were sons of Mosiah, who was the last king of the Nephites before they ended kingship and implemented the use of judges. Mosiah's father was King Benjamin. Both were righteous kings and led the people on a good path, working right along beside them and following the Lord's ways and the Lord's prophets' counsel. At the beginning of the book of Mosiah, King Benjamin gathers the people together so he may speak to them one last time before he dies. (Story found in chapters 2-6.) King Benjamin, also, preached of the Savior and of what would come to pass (124 years later). He spoke of the birth, life, ministry, atonement, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Those beautiful words are found in chapter 3, verse 5-12: 

 5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

  6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

  7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

  8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

  9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

  10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

  11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

  12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet again, faith. Belief. The Spirit testifying to them that Christ would come and bring the greatest gifts to mankind. And the same for us. Our faith and belief are strengthened, supported, and expanded when we let the Spirit speak to us and testify of the reality of Christ. That He did come as a tiny baby, and grow and endure the daily trials and joys that each of us has endured. And then taught us the way we should be. And then atoned for our sins and pains and grievances. Was slain for us. And then rose from the dead, allowing us the chance to be reunited with our perfected body after we die. All of this providing us the possibility to learn and live in this life so we can one day return to our Savior as well as our Father in Heaven. Gospel doesn't just mean "great news." It's glorious, glorious news! All of those songs that sing "glory" and "alleluia" and "hallelujah" and "praise" and such joyous words like that are ways that I love to proclaim my excited wonderment and gratitude over all that Christ has done and still does for us.