Seminary
Mosiah 28: Personal Conversion and Sharing the Gospel

“Mosiah 28: Personal Conversion and Sharing the Gospel,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Mosiah 28,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Mosiah 28

Personal Conversion and Sharing the Gospel

a youth talking about the gospel with others

What experiences have you had sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ? After their conversion, the sons of Mosiah approached the king for permission to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. King Mosiah first asked the Lord, then allowed his sons to go so they could bring the word of God to the Lamanites (see Mosiah 28:1). This lesson is intended to help you increase your desire to share the gospel.

Sharing and conversion

  • What are some things that you love so much that you want to share them with others?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that it is not unusual for us to share things that are meaningful to us. Watch the video “Good Things to Share” (2:21), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the statement below.

2:21

Good Things to Share

Elder David A. Bednar

Sharing with other people things that are most meaningful to us or have helped us is not unusual at all.

This same pattern is especially evident in matters of great spiritual importance and consequence. …

The invitations we extend to you to learn about and test our message grow out of the positive effects the gospel of Jesus Christ has had in our lives. Sometimes we may be awkward or abrupt or even relentless in our attempts. Our simple desire is to share with you the truths that are of greatest worth to us. (David A. Bednar, “Come and See,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 109, 110)

Rate how true the following statements are for you on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 is not true for you and 5 is very true for you):

  • Truths about the Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel are of great worth to me.

  • I have a desire to share His gospel with others.

As you study the lives and examples of the sons of Mosiah, ponder your desire to share the Savior’s gospel. Seek revelation to know what next steps the Lord may want you to take so the gospel becomes even more meaningful to you and your desire to share the gospel increases.

The sons of Mosiah

Recall that after their conversion, the sons of King Mosiah preached the gospel in their own land, seeking to repair their wrongs (see Mosiah 27:32–37).

Read Mosiah 28:1–5, looking for what the sons of Mosiah desired and why. (You may want to mark what you find in your scriptures.)

  • Which words or phrases in these verses stand out to you? What reasons did the sons of Mosiah have for sharing the gospel with the Lamanites?

  • Why might these be motivating reasons to share the gospel?

  • What truths did you learn from these verses?

One truth we learn from these verses is that as our conversion to the Lord deepens, our desire to share the gospel increases.

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency confirmed this truth when he taught the following:

President Dallin H. Oaks

The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion (Dallin H. Oaks, “Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 7).

  • What experiences did the sons of Mosiah have that helped them become converted to Jesus Christ and His gospel? (See Mosiah 27:34–36; 28:4).

  • What experiences have helped you or those you know become more converted to Jesus Christ and His gospel?

  • What do you love about Jesus Christ and His gospel that you want to share with others? (For example, you may have had meaningful experiences with the Savior’s forgiveness, God’s love, prayer, etc.)

Even when we are converted to the Lord, there may be reasons why sharing the gospel is still difficult.

  • If you were one of the sons of Mosiah, what concerns might you have about preaching the gospel to the Lamanites?

As their father and as the king, Mosiah had many reasons for worrying about sending his sons to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. King Mosiah feared not only for his sons’ safety but also that if his sons left, he would not have an heir to crown as the next king of the Nephites.

Read Mosiah 28:6–8, looking for why Mosiah let his sons go on such a dangerous mission.

  • What blessings did the Lord promise Mosiah?

Your next steps

Take a moment to list concerns you or others may have about sharing the gospel.

Select one of these concerns and pray for guidance as you search the scriptures and ponder how to overcome this concern. For example, if you had one of the following concerns, you might ponder the questions and study the scriptures listed after the statements.

I am not sure I am converted enough to share the gospel. How might the examples of the sons of Mosiah help you? (See Mosiah 28:1–5.) As you read some of the following verses, look for ways you can become more converted: Acts 3:19; James 5:20; Enos 1:2–5; Mosiah 3:19; 5:2; 27:25; Alma 5:12–14; 22:15–18; 53:10; Helaman 15:7; 3 Nephi 9:20.

I am afraid of being rejected. Review in Mosiah 28:2–4 the reasons the sons of Mosiah wanted to share the gospel even though many thought the Lamanites were not likely to accept it. How might these reasons help you? How might thinking about what the Savior has done for you (and can do for others) help you overcome your fear?

I haven’t been the best example of living the gospel. Before their conversion, the sons of Mosiah preached against the gospel (see Mosiah 27:8–10), but after they repented, they became some of the most successful missionaries in the Book of Mormon (see Alma 17:4). What does their example inspire you to do? What other examples in the scriptures can you think of that may help?

  1. Complete at least two of the following incomplete sentences:

    • “One of the most important things I learned from the sons of Mosiah is …”

    • “One thing I feel the Lord would have me do to follow the example of the sons of Mosiah is …”

    • “To take effective action on this, I can …”