Friday, February 28, 2020

Internal consistency in King Benjamin's speech

I don't believe this has been pointed out on this blog before, but I found another subtle example of internal consistency. After King Benjamin finishes speaking to his people, he wants to know if they will accept his words. The people respond:

 5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God. (Mosiah 5)

Compare this with the word of the Lord delivered to King Benjamin, which he delivered to the people:

25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.
26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever.
27 And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever. Thus hath the Lord commanded me. (Mosiah 3)

I've posted recently how these verses make reference to several different passages from Revelation. What I hadn't noticed is how closely the people were paying attention.