King Benjamin's people increasingly rejoiced in his words, for they knew he declared unto them the things that were told him by the angel.
He expounded the Atonement of Christ, and the Fall of Adam. Benjamin gloried in the Messiah who was to come, and of Him, he said, "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning," "shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men." "And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name." In reading his sermons, we are prompted to call Benjamin, not King, but Prophet; for he left the sphere of earthly sovereignty and entered into a realm of glory, where only the spirit of prophecy reigns.
The thanksgiving and gladness that ruled in the hearts of Benjamin's people remind us of the words of the angel when he awakened Benjamin and introduced himself to the King, "... behold, I am come to declare unto thee the glad tidings of great joy...that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy." While listening to the "glad tidings"bourne by their king, the people thought of Isaiah's words which were written upon the brass Plates of Laban, "Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel," (Neh. 12:27 and 43)
The angel told Benjamin, and the Prophet and King made it known to his people, that the justice and mercy of God-His loving-kindness-extends, not only to His righteous children, but also to those who through no fault of their own, died "not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned." His blood atoneth for their sins.
Jacob, the son of Lehi and the brother of Nephi, exclaimed, "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it." Jacob then goes on and explains this very doctrine:
And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.
And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned, for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.
Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel. (2 Ne. 9:20-26)
The Prophet Abinadi adds testimony to this great truth:
And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. (Mosiah 15:24)
This is a complete and satisfactory reply to that question we so often hear, "What will become of those who have never heard the Gospel message?" God is just! He is also merciful. His loving-kindness extends to all His children, and the Atonement is infinite. There is a justice which is injustice; sometimes infinite mercy is perfect justice.