Circle Squared
A Textual Analysis of the Book of Mormon
Chapter 5: "We Are Legion"
Chapter Summary:
The Saints become the sons and daughters of Christ through faith--They are then called by the name of Christ--King Benjamin exhorts them to be steadfast and immovable in good works. About 124 B.C.
Now that Benjamin has finished his super important final speech, he checks with the people listening and/or reading along, to make sure everyone believes every word he said. And wouldn't you know it, they do!
As before, the multitude says in unison the following:
"2 ...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..."
Continuing in this manner, which I can only assume is the creepiest thing to ever happen after a sermon--even more than speaking in tongues--the multitude explains that the reason they know god is communicating with them through his spirit is because they no longer have a desire to do evil and only want to do good things. This plays in to the unfounded notion that being good requires a belief in god.
Matt Dillahunty of the Atheist Experience counters this by explaining that any good thing which religions do can be done just as easily without religion. Secularists, humanists and non-believers do good things all the time without adhering to the selfish prospect of an eternal reward for doing so. Tell me, which is more moral: doing good for an eternal reward or doing good for the sake of helping people?
Besides, I know lots of Mormons--I mean, lots--and I don't know any Mormons who would claim to have refrained from doing anything bad after their first experience of "feeling" the spirit of god. If anything I would say that believing that god will eternally reward or punish people based on their deeds can stir a person to a state of paranoia. People do good and bad things--all people. As far as I can tell, the best defense against people doing harm to others is education and empathy.
In addition to abolishing all human desires to do bad things, the spirit of god apparently gives every single person present the gift of prophesy. But, of course, no examples are given such that we, the people of the future, might verify their prophesies. Drat.
After a brief reiteration that they know these things through faith--a most contestable claim--they desire to make a covenant (or "super special agreement") with god. And what is this super-pact with god? That the people will follow god's commandments so they "may not bring upon [themselves] a never-ending torment... that [they] may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God."
This isn't a covenant. This is a basic Christian tenet. Furthermore, a covenant is a two-way agreement. What is god's part of the agreement? That he won't torture them forever? This sounds like extortion to me. Furthermore, how do they know god has agreed to any of this? Is this how covenants with god work? Simply stating your own terms without any verification that god will comply?
Short answer: Yup.
Like putty in his hands, Old Ben tells the malleable crowd how awesome their covenant with god is, and how this is exactly what he wanted in the first place. He does this, presumably, without distributing his words to make sure everyone understands him.
As he explains, now that they have all been moved by the spirit of god, and have made a covenant to be good pre-Jesus Christians, they shall now be known as children of Christ. Makes sense, I guess, except for the part where Jesus has yet to be born. But such details don't matter when god moves you, dontyaknow.
Benji also explains that it is only through Jesus that one can be "free." Sounds vague and kind of silly, but he clarifies that by this he means that being free is the same thing as salvation. Salvation from what? From god's wrath and eternal torment, of course! Such a nice proposition: Believe in future-Jesus or be damned. Just remember, you are free to choose...
This is hucksterism at its most shameless and vile.
Benji introduces the convoluted idea that when one is brought before god to be judged, one who accepts the name of Christ will go to the right, and one who goes by another name will go to the left. Well, this may be an oversimplification but as such it offers an equally convoluted solution: just say that you accept Jesus' name when you are being judged! Ok, my solution may be ridiculous, but so is the proposition, frankly.
As Old Ben ventures down this rabbit hole, claiming that one who does not serve Christ will not recognize him in heaven (which conflicts with Ben's own words in Mosiah 3 that those who do not know about Jesus will make it to heaven anyway), the old tart makes a bit of a joke:
"14 And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay."
To be fair, donkeys don't 'neigh;' they 'hee-haw.' Still, it's pretty solid for a man who is about to die.
Benji goes back to the idea that the primary reason for doing good things is to sure up a place in heaven:
"15 ...I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works... that you may be brought to heaven..."
Again, I agree with the first part...