In Mosiah 6:1 we find that after king Benjamin had finished speaking, he thought it was expedient "that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments." According to Hugh Nibley, the reader should remember that at the first of the ceremony, Mormon records that "there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them" (Mosiah 2:2). But now they have entered into a covenant, they have committed themselves by name, so he had the names taken of everybody who was there: "And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ" (Mosiah 6:2).
The cultural point of this scene has to do with the fact that you weren't a member of the kingdom unless your name was on the list. So you had to be registered in the books--the books that were open from the foundation of the world. Remember, when the world was founded, the books were opened. The Book of Life was one of those books, and there were many other books. The Book of Life, as the formula goes in the New Testament, which was open at the foundation of the world, containing the names of all those who would come down to this earth in the various dispensations. That's what the Book of Life was as understood by the Jews and the Christians in the early days. So all this falls into the pattern of reality, of the real social organization. And there's the fact that it bears this amazing stamp of authenticity--that everything takes place here exactly according to the pattern of the ancient year assembly and the like. [Sem 1, p. 481-482 ]
So their names were taken and put on the list which is the Book of Life, which is opened at the new year. It is a register of all the people who have a right to live in the kingdom and pay taxes during that year. That's what the Book of Life is. . . . Everyone who signed agreed to keep the covenants. "You are this day reborn" (see Mosiah 5:7). Remember, he gave them a new name (Mosiah 5:7-8). It was their birthday, it was the beginning of a new age. Everything began anew on that day. Everything was renewed. He had them all registered and took their names down, so they were all set for the new age now. . . . So now they could vote. Notice, that king Benjamin did all this [this ritual covenant ceremony] before he anointed or crowned his son because these people had to be registered voters in order to give the acclamation. That's the acclamation of the king [Sem 2, pp. 11-12]
See, every time you get a new life or a new advancement, a new step or initiation, you get a new identity, a new persona. [Sem. 1, p. 448] [Hugh W. Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 1, pp. 481-482, 448; Semester 2, pp. 11-12]
Mosiah 6:3 [King Benjamin] consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people ([Illustration]): King Benjamin Ordaining Mosiah. King Benjamin "consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people." Artist: Robert T. Barrett. [Thomas R. Valletta ed., The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families, 1999, p. 203]
Mosiah 6:3 [King Benjamin] consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people ([Illustration]): King Benjamin Confers the Kingdom on Mosiah. After delivering a great address on following the ways of God to his people in Zarahemla, King Benjamin "consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and [gave] him all the charges concerning the kingdom." (Mosiah 6:3) Artist: Robert T. Barrett. [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Ensign, February 2000, Inside back cover]
Mosiah 6:3 King Benjamin had . . . given him [Mosiah2] all the charges concerning the kingdom (Nephite Record Keepers) [[Illustration]]: Nephite Record Keepers. Adapted from [Church Educational System, Book of Mormon Student Manual: Religion 121 and 122, 1989, p. 155]