“That You May Be Brought to Heaven”

Alan C. Miner

According to Catherine Thomas, in connection with being born again, Benjamin's people may have received something of a temple endowment. In fact, we find in Benjamin's discourse essential temple themes pertaining to the creation, fall, atonement, consecration, and covenant making. Benjamin's last words pertain to being "sealed" to Christ and receiving eternal life:

Therefore, I would that ye should stand steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice , and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen. (Mosiah 5:15)

Of course, important endowment elements are missing from the record, but had they been administered on this occasion, or at some later point, they would not, because of their sacred nature, have been included in our present Book of Mormon account. Nevertheless, King Benjamin's people received an endowment of spiritual knowledge and power which took them from being good people to Christlike people--all in a temple setting. What they experienced through the power of the priesthood was a revelation of Christ's nature and the power to be assimilated to his image. [M. Catherine Thomas, "Benjamin and the Mysteries of God," in King Benjamin's Speech: "That Ye May Learn Wisdom," p. 292]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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