King Benjamin recognized what had happened to his people. It was a teaching moment and he took advantage of it. He briefly and succinctly summarized their situation. The points of doctrine he taught are essential to appreciate and understand the need for the Atonement. As we understand and turn to the Lord, we may also experience the joy that the king’s audience felt.
The king speaks of the people’s nothingness, and their worthless and fallen state (v. 5). They are nothing in comparison to God. After viewing “the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and which were created;” Moses declared: “Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (Moses 1:8, 10). “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10). “Their souls are precious” (Alma 31:35) “at this time” and at any time (Alma 39:17); but without the blessings of Christ and his gospel, they will be “as dross, which the refiners do cast out, [left over materials that are of no worth]” (Alma 34:29). As discussed in the previous chapter, fallen man is the natural man. He is born innocent and becomes good or evil. He is not depraved or born evil, but is subject to the temptations and evils of the world. He has his agency and is the product of his choices.
King Benjamin told his subjects that a knowledge of God’s attributes and the Atonement brings salvation (Mosiah 4:6–7). According to Joseph Smith’s Lectures on Faith, “a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes” is “necessary for any rational and intelligent being to exercise faith in God unto life and salvation” (Lecture 3:3, 2). We will not discuss the individual attributes mentioned by King Benjamin, but refer the reader to some general statements about the attributes from the Lectures on Faith.
We are indebted to the revelations he has given to us for a correct understanding of his character, perfections, and attributes. Because without the revelations which he has given us, no man searching could find out God (see Job 11:7–9). But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:9–11). [Lecture 3:7]
A little reflection shows that the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity is necessary to enable any rational being to exercise faith in him. For without the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, men could not exercise faith in him for life and salvation, seeing that without the knowledge of all things God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures. For it is the knowledge of all things that he has from the beginning to the end that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life. And if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God has all knowledge, it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him. [Lecture 4:11]
The Atonement was prepared from the foundation of the world, as King Benjamin mentions twice. Knowing there would be a fall, a Savior was needed to save all mankind from the fall (Mosiah 4:6–7). Jesus Christ identified himself to the brother of Jared as: “I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people” (Ether 3:14). The apostle Peter wrote telling the meridian church that they were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:19–20). We too must trust in the Lord and be diligent in keeping the commandments until the end of our mortal lives (Mosiah 4:6).