Mosiah 2:1-4

Chapter 2

King Benjamin addresses his people—He recounts the equity, fairness, and spirituality of his reign—He counsels them to serve their heavenly King—Those who rebel against God shall suffer anguish like unquenchable fire. About 124 B.C.

1 AND it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.

2 And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.

3 And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses;

4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with -love towards God and all men.

5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

Mosiah 2:1-6

Mosiah sent the proclamation throughout the land of Zarahemla.  The people gathered together at the temple to hear King Benjamin’s words.  This was similar to what King Josiah did.

29 Then the king[, Josiah,] sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it.  And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

33 And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God.  And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 34:29-33

It’s apparent that this gathering was called on short notice. 

Apparently all of King Benjamin's people have come together on short notice, eager to listen to their beloved king (Mosiah 2:1).⁵ Reading between the lines, we assume that the people are previously baptized church members who are confident they are righteous (King Benjamin says "they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord" [Mosiah 1:11]); they observe the law of Moses (Mosiah 2:3); and they have come "that they might give thanks to the Lord their God" for actions on the part of the Lord and others (Mosiah 2:4).[1]

Todd Kerr looks at the covenant relationships and King Benjamin’s speech.

Not surprisingly, Nephite kingship was "inextricably connected" with covenants.[95] King Benjamin's speech, for example, illustrates royal mediation of covenants and contains the six ceremonial components found in biblical texts. King Benjamin "made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land" (Mosiah 2:1). After the people assembled, King Benjamin gave a public address concerning God's commandments (Mosiah 2:1; 4:4). Although King Benjamin's speech may not have referenced legal documents like the stone tablets at Sinai, it is clear that King Benjamin admonished obedience to a particular body of Nephite legal and religious law.[2]

When the people gathered, they took the firstling of their flocks, they offered sacrifices according to the Law of Moses.  Nephi emphasized they kept the Law of Moses.  “And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled” (2 Nephi 25:24).

When preaching to the Zoramites, Amulek explained the purpose of the Law of Moses.

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the ^claw of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

Alma 34:13-14

They also gave thanks to the Lord for bringing them to this land and delivering them from their enemies.  They were grateful to have just teachers of the gospel and a just team.  They were living in peace and following the commandments. 

[W]e can infer from the text that Benjamin's people came up to the temple with some preparation for and in some anticipation of a spiritual event. They were aware of what their kings had been trying to do for them according to the ancient pattern. They knew that there was a blessing awaiting them. In Mosiah 2:4 we read that they go up to the temple, in part, to give thanks to God for their king "who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men" (Mosiah 2:4; emphasis added).[3]

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[1] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" – Sermons, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 30, 2014.

[2] Ancient Aspects of Nephite Kingship in the Book of Mormon, Todd R. Kerr, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 30, 2014.

[3] King Benjamin and the Mysteries of God, M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute, accessed June 30, 2014.