“Highly Favored People of the Lord”

Brant Gardner

The new name is concomitant with a new covenant, a close paraphrase of Yahweh’s covenant to the Nephites (1 Ne. 4:14, 2 Ne. 1:20). Lehi’s statement of that covenant is: “And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.” (2 Ne. 1:20) For his part, Benjamin proclaims that although he is creating a new people “above” the old peoples who emigrated from Jerusalem, Yahweh’s promise follows righteousness and can therefore be renewed for this new people—new in their political identity but continuing their status as Yahweh’s people.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3

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