Redaction: Verses 2–5 comprise the congregation’s declaration of willingness to enter into a covenant. The precision of the words, as well as the descriptive introduction that “they all cried with one voice,” indicates that Mormon is quoting his source plates at this point. While the precision of the words indicates copying from the plates, it would have been literally impossible for the entire people to utter this lengthy speech in unison. Therefore, Mormon (or his original source) is also giving a polished, literary version of what was almost certainly less polished and unified. The very fact that Benjamin sent out messengers means that they reached different clans at different times. Unless the messengers were simultaneously passing out written instructions about a choral response to be given at a later point (which would require near universal literacy—which is unlikely), it was physically impossible for the large crowd to respond in this way.
An orchestrated, ritual response seems to greatly diminish the spiritual power of the occasion. The rest of the text, as I read it, suggests a spontaneous and emotional response, not one controlled by a script from past events. The people’s declaration of faith in the words of their king (v. 4), while certainly reflecting their feelings, seems an unlikely speech for Benjamin to put in their mouths, given his humility. If he had written a choral response, it seems more likely that he would have had the people express faith in the words of the angel through the king. For these reasons, I see as the most likely scenario that the people genuinely had one intent in their hearts which they communicated in “one voice”; the written account of that occasion reflects a more polished version of those unified expressions.
Culture: In the context of Benjamin’s emphasis on his people’s social unity and particularly his characterization of the “evil spirit” as the temptation that leads to contention, it is possible to interpret their declaration as their intention to change their social interactions and that they no longer felt the prejudices and selfishness for which Benjamin had chastised them. Their sudden freedom from a desire to do evil may express their resolve to no more follow the evil spirit of contention between the old ways and the new covenant.
Scripture: Regardless of how this particular passage would have impacted Benjamin’s people, it is a powerful statement to modern readers. The process of repentance is indeed one of a “mighty change.” The old man must be removed, and we must be renewed in Christ. Just as Benjamin describes their experience in terms of a transformation (they are now children of Yahweh-Messiah, v. 7) we too must be transformed.