The ending verse of chapter 2 is repeated here to make the nature of Benjamin’s transition clearer. To recapitulate, Benjamin has just finished describing the after-life state of those who choose to follow the “evil spirit” rather than God. Having finished all he wants to say on that subject (with a direct but muted warning to the “old men” who might be those most likely to want to follow that evil spirit – or the old religion of the land) he wants now to turn to a more positive theme, and the one for which the assembly has been convened.
The initial transitions simply plays on the opposition of good and bad in the next life. Where the previous section ended with the awful state of the wicked, Benjamin now wants his people to “consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments.” Having made this transition, however, in 3:1 he now seems to start something new again (the reason the modern editor made the division in the chapters). What is he doing?
The important part of verse 1 is “I would call your attention.” Benjamin has been addressing his people, and rather in passing declared their new king (Mosiah 2:30). They would not have been surprised at the person selected as king, even if they might have been surprised at the timing – though the invitation to assemble apparently indicated that a new king would be selected (Mosiah 1:10) as well as the name of the king. Therefore, while important, the announcement of the king was nothing to which they needed to pay particular attention.
In the discussion of the fate of the enemies to God, those who might have fallen in that category would have been pricked to listen intently, but the majority of the audience would have considered this a review of information, and not of personal impact (remembering that those who had really wanted to follow the “evil spirit” had already defected to the Lamanites – this was a crowd consisting of believers, with only a possible few who might have still had some sympathy for the old ways – the “old men” who were the direct targets of Benjamin’s muted discussion of eternal penalties).
Imagine the possible situation. It is during the day, probably in the fall after the harvest when food sufficient and time sufficient for a festival were available (and the traditional time of the feast of Tabernacles). In the Mesoamerican setting, it would still be a warm day. With the gathered people and the shining sun we would have a pleasant day, perhaps a little warm, with a lot of people gathered around. Children were present, and just as they are at a stake conference, they would be restless as Benjamin continues speaking. For many, while they might be able to hear Benjamin, they would hear much more clearly the rustling of moving and shifting people around them, perhaps brushing against the lean-tos they had created (their “tents”).
In such a scenario, it is certain that Benjamin would want to make sure that all attention were paid to the more important parts of his sermon. Thus he clearly calls for their attention, a point where they would be at least temporarily shaken from their attentions to children and noises around them, and re-called to focused attention on Benjamin’s words.