KnoWhy #80 - Why Did the Nephites Stay in Their Tents During King Benjamin’s Speech? (Mosiah 2:6)

Following King Benjamin’s proclamation, his people gathered together to go up to the temple to hear the words of their king (Mosiah 2:1). As they congregated around the temple, the people set up tents for their families, each tent having its door open towards the temple. The people remained in their tents as they listened to King Benjamin speak (Mosiah 2:5–6).

LDS scholars have argued that this gathering at the temple to hear a speech was no ordinary occasion, but that the account in Mosiah 2–6 closely resembles what we know about ancient Israelite temple pilgrimage festivals, especially the Feast of Tabernacles.