During King
Benjamin's Speech, the people gathered responded at least on two occasions with
"one voice":
And they had viewed themselves in their own
carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud
with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ
that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified;
for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth,
and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. (Mosiah 4:2)
And they all cried with one voice, saying:
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, which
has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more
disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. (Mosiah 5:2)
While the
concept of a large congregation would respond with one voice to many, it makes
perfect sense within liturgical contexts. In the Old Testament, we find similar
occurrences in the following texts:
And Moses came and told the people all the
words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one
voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. (Exo 24:3)
Thus saith the whole congregation of the
Lord, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel,
to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have builded you an
altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord? (Josh 22:16)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever
and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord. (1 Chron 16:36)
As many LDS
scholars have noted, King Benjamin’s Speech is given as part of a liturgy (e.g.,
covenant renewal ceremony; Ancient Farewell addresses; Tabernacles). For a book-length study of the speech, including its religious/liturgical context,
see:
John W.
Welch and Stephen D. Ricks, eds. King Benjamin’s Speech: “That Ye
May Learn Wisdom”
Be also sure
to check out John Tvedtnes, King
Benjamin's Speech and the Feast of Tabernacles
