Mormon called King Benjamin 'a holy man' (Words of Mormon 1:6). Certainly it is not hard to perceive what a good king he was when one reads his monumental address to his people on the temple grounds of Zarahemla. I think, however, that Mormon could see from this event what a truly remarkable and humble man King Benjamin really was. The setting of this address was the occasion of his son Mosiah's succession to the throne. This was however, not just any coronation. It was common practice anciently for a new king ascending the throne to be given as many as five names or titles by which he was distinguished among the people; to acknowledge his greatness and his achievements; and to establish him as the link between the people and the divine. This practice was especially observed in Egypt and King Benjamin might have become familiar with this practice from the brass plates that were engraven in Egyptian containing the history of old Israel and which were in his possession (Mosiah 1:1-4).
King Benjamin did something extraordinary at his son's coronation. Instead of using this occasion to bring prominence to his son, he mentions Mosiah only twice. Once to announce him as the new king and once again to affirm that he will act under the direction of God for the benefit of the people (Mosiah 2:30,31). Rather than proclaiming his son as the divine king as was expected anciently, King Benjamin solidified his people's reliance on The Heavenly King (Mosiah 2:19) by enumerating His endless goodness and honouring Him with names worthy of His station as the promised Messiah, such as: Jesus Christ, The Son of God, The Father of Heaven and Earth, The Lord Omnipotent and The Creator of all things from the beginning. Could there be truer names for the King of Kings? But King Benjamin didn't stop there. To remember their covenant, he bestowed upon the people a new name that would bind them to the Heavenly King forever. He proclaimed that they be known by the name of Christ rather than by his son's name which would have been the usual protocol. Thus the subjects of Mosiah became known as 'the children of Christ' (Mosiah 5:7). What profound effect his coronation would have had on Mosiah, the new king who ruled and reigned in righteousness all his days.
Some years ago I resolved to read the Book of Mormon with intent to discover Christ's characteristics as per Joseph Smith's instruction in Lecture Third of Lectures on Faith. As I discovered these characteristics I wrote them in the margins of the book. When I had completed the task I discovered two things on just about every page. One was that Christ was merciful which I already knew but the other one was that He always fulfills his promises. At the time it meant to me that He was reliable. Now I can see that this was Mormon's writing strategy. I think Mormon found a way to testify of Christ like King Benjamin did. He saw an opportunity. Mormon ensured that every prophecy and promise in the Book of Mormon was tied to its fulfillment and he testified of this with such phrases as 'all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled' (Mosiah 21:4) and 'God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words' (Alma 37:16) . What an undertaking that must have been for him. This was his technique and his tool, his greatest opportunity, equal to that of the man he came to admire in King Benjamin. This strategy proves in a unique way that the Book of Mormon is his book for it would have been impossible for anyone else to chronicle such numerous promises and their fulfillments let alone an uneducated man like Joseph Smith. Mormon knew the history of his people well because of many records that were in his keeping for many years. And he knew God who led them to their land of promise.
Mormon had one objective and that was to testify of Christ. He too was 'a holy man'. I hope he knew that. And if he didn't, I am sure he knows it now.
- Cathryne Allen, Did Not Our Hearts Burn When He Opened To Us The Scriptures?
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