Awake

Mosiah 3:2-3
"...And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me. And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee..."

Allow me to focus on a particular part of the angel's words.

"Awake."

King Benjamin arises.

"Awake..."

Why would the angel command to awaken twice?

My hunch is that physical consciousness does not imply spiritual consciousness.

The angel could very well have used the same word used often in the Doctrine & Covenants: "Hearken."

When you are in sacrament meeting, are you "awake-awake"? You may be listening to the speaker, but you are not spiritually awake unless you are having an introspection on the speaker's sermon. You are not spiritually awake unless you are proposing in prayer, "Heavenly Father, I think I do well in this and this and this on this topic. I think I can improve on this and this. To do so, I will do this and this. What do you think?"

When studying the scriptures, of what level of spiritual consciousness are you awake at?

Just reading? Merely skimming?

Reading to learn the stories?

Drawing parallels between gospel principles and their applications as demonstrated in the scriptures?

Deeply pondering and praying regarding the role each scripture's teaching plays in your life?

Setting goals and making plans for improvement and coming closer to Heavenly Father, in serving Him?

Actually executing those plans?

Let us be awake like King Benjamin, to hear the messages God has for us every day.