- Angels are sent.
- They call men to repentance.
- They "fulfill" and "do the work of the covenants" of the Father.
- This is accomplished by declaring "the word of Christ" ...
- ...unto "chosen vessels of the Lord."
- The chosen vessels bear testimony of Him.
- By so doing, God "prepareth a way" for the residue of men to have faith in Christ...
- ...so that the power of the Holy Ghost can have place in their hearts.
We then compared it to an example of Alma-2 rehearsing the words of the angel to the wicked people of Ammonihah. Every detail was included appropriately, according to Mormon's pattern.
Today, we'll look at another example, this time from King Benjamin, and we'll see the same pattern in the context of a righteous people. A few interesting contrasts show up. This passage is also much longer, and some details show up in multiple places. For the sake of brevity, I'll limit what I post here to the best example of each detail.
Angels are sent.
2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me. (Mosiah 3)
They call men to repentance.
10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. (Mosiah 4)
They "fulfill" and "do the work of the covenants" of the Father.
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.
6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant. (Mosiah 5)
1 And now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient, after having finished speaking to the people, that he should take the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments.
2 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)
This is accomplished by declaring "the word of Christ" ...
3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. (Mosiah 3)
...unto "chosen vessels of the Lord."
Benjamin begins his lengthy sermon by noting:
11 ...I have been chosen by this people, and consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand of the Lord that I should be a ruler and a king over this people; and have been kept and preserved by his matchless power, to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto me. (Mosiah 2)
The chosen vessels bear testimony of Him.
5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, ...
8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. (Mosiah 3)
By so doing, God "prepareth a way" for the residue of men to have faith in Christ...
9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; (Mosiah 3)
17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. (Mosiah 3)
...so that the power of the Holy Ghost can have place in their hearts.
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. (Mosiah 4)
Ten out of ten details are included in this account.
A note about internal consistency
Mosiah 2-6 was probably dictated in the first few days that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery began working together on the translation. Moroni 7 (the chapter where we find these ten details (condensed into two verses) came weeks or months later. That means Joseph would have needed to remember each of these details numerous times prior to including them in Mormon's sermon at the very of the large plates abridgment, without any notes or ability to go back and change the text after the initial dictation.
