King Benjamin’s audience was the people of Zarahemla who assembled at the temple to hear his final address. After Benjamin made a proclamation throughout the land, they gathered in such numbers that they could not be counted, pitching their family tents around the temple with the doors facing it. They brought the firstlings of their flocks to offer as sacrifice under the law of Moses and to give thanks for being delivered from their enemies and for the peace established under just rulers. Because the multitude was too large to hear him within the temple walls, Benjamin spoke from a tower he had built and had his words written and sent to those out of earshot (Mosiah 2:1-8).
Benjamin charged the people to keep the commandments, warned them against contentions and against obeying the evil spirit, and promised that they would prosper and be kept from their enemies if they remained obedient (Mosiah 2:31-41). When he finished, the people fell to the earth and cried aloud with one voice for the atoning blood of Christ to be applied so their sins could be forgiven and their hearts purified, professing belief in Jesus Christ who would come among men (Mosiah 4:1-3).
Benjamin then sent among the people to learn whether they believed his words, and they answered that they did, saying the Spirit of the Lord had wrought a mighty change in their hearts so they had no more disposition to do evil. They covenanted to obey God’s commandments all their days (Mosiah 5:1-5), and every soul except the little children took upon them the name of Christ (6:2). Many of the rising generation, who had been little children when Benjamin spoke, later could not understand his words and did not believe the tradition of their fathers (Mosiah 26:1).