9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. 10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. 11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
2 Nephi 29:9-11 (Emphasis mine)
We are told that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Even though He has spoken one word, this does not mean He cannot speak again. His work is not finished.
Even with a Bible, that does not prevent the Lord for having other scripture written. Paul wrote, “[a]ll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Lord makes it clear, He will have people write as He sees fit.
All men are commanded to write scripture. Moses received a vision about the Earth and he was commanded that he should “…write the things which I shall speak.” (Moses 1:40). Alma(2) taught us that “… the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.” (Alma 29:8).
Why are these records important? The Lord tells us that He will judge the world “… according to that which is written.” Nephi(1) closed the book of 2 Nephi by telling his reader that, if his writings “…are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words ...ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.” (2 Nephi 25:11, 14).
Daniel Peterson explains the teachings of other records.
“One of the elements of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that distinguishes it from other Christian movements is its openness to scriptural texts beyond the Bible. The Book of Mormon, the volume of ancient scripture that most prominently represents that openness, prefigured its own coming forth… the Book of Mormon by itself does not exhaust the treasures of revelation and scripture that we can expect to receive in this last dispensation. Nor does it seem that even our other standard works, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, represent the last that is to be received.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. 13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. 14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.
2 Nephi 29:12-14 (Emphasis mine)
What we will see is that, someday in the future, all records will become available to all people. Each group will receive copies of each other’s records. This will be an exciting day. We will have the opportunity to read about the Lord’s dealings and teachings with these people. Here, the Lord, in His own voice, confirms Nephi(1)’s words. He wrote that “…[t]hey shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God.” (2 Nephi 26:17).
Donald Parry and Dana pike wrote:
“Latter-day Saints love ancient religious records. We have dozens of them in the Bible under such names as Genesis, Judges, Ruth, Isaiah, and John. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith a great number of other ancient records were restored—the books of Nephi, Alma, Mormon, and Moroni in the Book of Mormon, as well as Abraham and selections from the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. In addition, we anticipate the coming forth of the ‘words of the lost tribes of Israel’ (2 Nephi 29:13) and other ancient texts that have been authored by such individuals as Adam, Enoch, and Joseph.” [2] (Emphasis mine)
Robert Matthews adds:
“Four standard works currently compose the basic written documents of canonized scripture in the Church, and it is anticipated that in the future we will be given many additional documents, such as the sealed portion of the gold plates that came out of the Hill Cumorah, the 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon that were stolen, the ancient record of the Ten Tribes (2 Nephi 29:13–14), the record of Enoch (D&C 107:57), the record of John (D&C 93:18; Ether 4:16), the plates of brass (1 Nephi 5:18–19; Alma 37:3–4), and numerous other sacred records that are not now available. In addition to the restoration of these ancient records, there will be a multitude of documents containing new revelations and items of instruction that have never been revealed or recorded on earth.” [3] (Emphasis mine)
[1] Other Voices from the Dust, Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 12, 2012.
[2] Introduction, Donald W. Parry, and Dana M. Pike, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 12, 2012.
[3] The Unity and the Power of Scripture: An Experience, Robert J. Matthews, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 12, 2012.
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