“They Came Up to the Temple”

Alan C. Miner

Paul Hyde finds that Benjamin's speech has 132 elements that identify it as a temple address. Some of the more notable are:

a) the desire to become clean from the sins of their generation (2:27)

b) Benjamin's mention of his garments (2:28)

c) Benjamin giving instructions on the creation and the nature of God (2:20-21,23; 3:8; 4:9)

d) the breath of life (2;21,23)

e) the acquisition of knowledge (4:6, 11-12)

f) teachings on the fall of Adam (3:11,16,19,26; 4:6-7)

g) man's state as the dust of the earth (2:25; 4:2)

h) witnesses (2:14)

i) the law of sacrifice and obedience (2:3,22,34; 5:5)

j) admonition to give heed in order to stay out of the power of enemies (2:30-33)

k) messengers sent from the presence of God (3:13)

l) reference to divers unholy and impure practices (4:29)

m) the law of consecration (4:16,21,26); the giving of a name (5:8-9,11,14)

n) the promise of sealing (5:15).

[Paul Hyde letter to John Welch, referred to in John W. Welch and Stephen D. Ricks, "Appendix--Complete Text of Benjamin's Speech with Notes and Comment" in King Benjamin's Speech: "That Ye May Learn Wisdom," pp. 509-510]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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