1 Nephi 19:17-24

Having prophesied of Christ, Nephi teaches the entire Earth will see the Lord’s salvation, every nation, kindred, and tongue.  He was quoting the prophet Isaiah - “Every valley shall be exalted [HEB lifted up or raised], and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain [HEB the mountains into a plain]; And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 40:4 - 5).

Nephi is writing this to his people to persuade them to believe in Christ.  He also speaks to the entire house of Israel.  In his book, Mormon would explain, “Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time” (Mormon 5:12). 

In his invitation to the Lamanites, Mormon would write:

For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment.  Amen.

Mormon 7:9 - 10

Because of the workings of the spirit, Nephi is weary for the people of Jerusalem.  Had he not seen events shown him by the Lord, he would have perished as well.  We are reminded of the importance of the brass plates when Nephi writes that what he knows he knows because these things are written on the brass plates.

Nephi taught his brethren from the brass plates so they would know of the Lord’s dealings with His people in the past.  He read from the books of Moses to convince them that the Lord was their Redeemer.  He read to them much of the writings of Isaiah.

Here, Nephi introduces a new concept in how to study the scriptures.  Nephi tells us he “did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).  In this way, Nephi gave the scriptures even more importance.  By applying the scriptures “unto us,” this makes them more relevant to us in our lives.  Hugh Nibley wrote:

One often hears it suggested that perhaps the Latter-day Saints overdo the "pioneer business." Yet as far as can be discovered the true church in every age has been one of pioneers—wanderers and settlers in the wilderness in the most literal sense. And in every age the church has been careful to preserve and recall in the midst of its own trials the pioneer stories of its own early days and of still earlier dispensations, thousands of years ago. If the stories are all strangely alike that is no accident: we can do no better than to "liken all scriptures unto us," as did Nephi of old, "that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23).[1]

Tod Harris observes:

The practical significance comes in recognizing that each person, like Nephi, is a hero, and then in applying the archetype of the hero's journey in order to recognize significant experience better and integrate it effectively into our lives. This becomes another way, in the words of Nephi, to "liken all scripture unto us" (1 Nephi 19:23). By so doing we can gain a hint of what to expect in our lives as we determine to accept the call, cross the threshold, make spiritual allies, win the boon, and finally return with what we have acquired in order to serve our respective communities.[2] 

Dennis Packard and Susan Packard explain the importance of applying the scriptures to us and our situation is to us when we ponder the word of God.

Comparing things is a hallmark of pondering. Many things in the scriptures can be compared—individuals, attitudes, events, reactions, themes. Frequently in the scriptures, two things similar in some ways but different in other ways are placed side-by-side so we can compare them—for instance, the reactions of Mary and Zacharias to the similar messages from the angel Gabriel. The scriptures also contain parallel accounts of events and messages—for example, the four gospels, the multiple creation accounts, the Bible and Book of Mormon Isaiah chapters—and these invite comparison. We can also compare events or individuals in the scriptures to those we are familiar with outside the scriptures. Nephi did this and said, "I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23). We may understand prophecies by looking for historical events that fulfill them.[3]

I would like to end this post with a quote from James Faulconer.

If scripture study is to be more than mental exercise, we must also liken the scriptures to ourselves (see 1 Nephi 19:23). We must make the lessons they teach part of our everyday lives. Usually that application comes naturally as we spend time in prayerful study. As we regularly discover what the scriptures teach us, as scripture study becomes a daily habit and the scriptures become part of our understanding, our way of seeing the world changes. As that view changes, we change our lives: "The preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God" (Alma 31:5). Although this passage refers to preaching, the same is true of scripture study. We sometimes need to think specifically about how the scriptures apply to our situations and questions, but careful, regular scripture study can, by itself, change our hearts and minds. It would be unusual to spend regular amounts of time in scripture study and not to find our lives changed, not to find ourselves thinking in new ways.[4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Pioneer Tradition and the True Church, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

[2] The Journey of the Hero: Archetypes of Earthly Adventure and Spiritual Passage in 1 Nephi, Tod R Harris, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

[3] Pondering the Word, Dennis Packard, and Sandra Packard, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

[4] Studying the Scriptures, James E. Faulconer, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

1 Nephi 19:11-16

After having prophesied about the coming of Christ, Nephi wrote the day will come when Christ will visit all of the house of Israel. Some he will visit “with his voice because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation” (1 Nephi 19:11).  The Lord told Joseph Smith, “[B]ehold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit—“ (D&C 5:16).

However, those who are not righteous will face “the thunderings and the lightnings of his power” (1 Nephi 19:11).  Samuel the Lamanite warned the Nephites of what awaited them at Christ’s death if they continued in their sin.

But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.

Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of "many hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble; and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;

Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath.

And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great.

And many highways shall be broken up, and many cities shall become desolate.

And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.

And behold, thus hath the angel spoken unto me; for he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours.

And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days.

  Helaman 14:20 - 27

The thunderings and lightnings also occurred in the Old World.  “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth [GR earth, region, land, or country] until the ninth hour.  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst [GR middle]” (Luke 23:44 - 45).

Hugh Nibley wrote about those who would not listen to Christ.

If they wouldn't hear the gentle voice, they would get the thunder, and it knocked them out. It scared the daylights out of them. The same thing happens in the 1 Nephi 19:11: "For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power" because they're not righteous. You have your choice of the voice you're going to hear. Will it be a good one, or will it be the other one? The voice of thunder will get you moving all right. And so you have the two voices here. Remember, the angel spoke with a voice of thunder, and the earth shook too at the same time.[1]

John Welch writes about how this prophecy supports consistencies in the Book of Mormon.

Even more remarkable are the extensive, intricate consistencies within the Book of Mormon. Passages tie together precisely and accurately though separated from each other by hundreds of pages of text and dictated weeks apart … [An] example is found in the account of the destructions in 3 Nephi 8:6-23, fulfilling the prophecy of Zenos preserved in 1 Nephi 19:11-12. The ancient prophet foretold that there would be thunderings and lightnings, tempests, fire and smoke, a vapor of darkness, the earth opening, mountains being carried up, rocks rending, and the earth groaning. The fulfillment of his prophecy is recorded hundreds of years (and pages) later. Third Nephi 8 expressly speaks of the same list: tempests, thunderings and lightnings, fire, earth being carried up to become a mountain, whirlwinds, the earth quaking and breaking up, rocks being rent, a vapor of darkness, and the people groaning. Apparently, one of the reasons that Mormon gave such a full account was to document the complete fulfillment of that prophecy of Zenos.[2]

These things must occur according to the words of the prophet Zenos.  After recording these occurrences in the New World, Mormon wrote, “And thus far were the scriptures fulfilled which had been spoken by the prophets” (3 Nephi 10:11).  Here were similar occurrences in the Old World. 

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent [GR torn into two pieces] in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept [GR who had died] arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Matthew 27:51 - 54

Zenos prophesied that “they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel” (1 Nephi 19:13).  Before being crucified, Christ lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would [GR have I desired to gather] I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:37 - 39).

Christ would be despised by the Jews.  King Benjamin would teach:

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.

Mosiah 14:3 - 6

The day will come with they will no more deny Christ.  At that time, He will remember the covenants that were made with their fathers.  Zenos prophesied that in that day, they will be gathered from the four quarters of the Earth.

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[1] Lecture 15: 1 Nephi 17-19, 22, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 27, 2013.

[2] Textual Consistency, John W. Welch. Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 27, 2013.

1 Nephi 19:6-10

The plates Nephi’s making are for an important purpose.  “I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred” (1 Nephi 19:6).  He feels it important to remind the reader that he is just a man.  “[I]f I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself” (1 Nephi 19:6).  Nephi is but a man. 

The wicked will take sacred and holy things and “trample them under their feet” (1 Nephi 19:7).  Nephi would emphasize this point towards the end of his life.  “But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught” (2 Nephi 33:2).

Men will not just trample sacred and holy things under their feet.  They will also trample Christ under their feet, ignoring His counsel.

The time of Christ’s coming is 600 years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem.  I doubt Nephi intended us to read this as exactly 600 years.  Instead, I believe he is saying in around 600 years.

When he comes, Nephi tells us they will “scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it.  Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men” (1 Nephi 19:9).  After his encounter with the angel, Alma2 would testify to those who had gathered and prayed for him:

I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.

Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him.  Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all–searching eye.

Mosiah 27:30 - 31

Nephi tells us that Christ will yield “himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up” (1 Nephi 19:10).  During his visit to the Nephites, Christ would tell them, ”And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—“ (3 Nephi 27:14). 

Nephi’s brother and successor, Jacob taught the Nephites, “Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again.  And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me” (2 Nephi 6:9).  King Benjamin taught, “And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him” (Mosiah 3:9).

After His death, he would be buried in a sepulcher.  The elder Nephi would write, “Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God.  Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name” (2 Nephi 25:13).

Six hundred years later, Matthew would record, “And when Joseph [of Arimathæa] had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed” (Matthew 27:59-60).

According to the words of Zenos, there would be three days of darkness “which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea” (1 Nephi 19:10).  When preaching to the Nephites, Samuel the Lamanite would echo the words of Zenos.  “But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead … And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days” (Helaman 14:20, 27). 

The Lost 116 Pages

Nephi, having faith, made another record “for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:3).  Let’s take a break from the Book of Mormon and look at why the small plates were necessary.

Moroni Visits Joseph Smith (JS-History 1:29-34)

Joseph writes that in the time since he received the First Vision, he “was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been … In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections” (JS-History 1:28 - 29). 

So, on the night of September 21, 1823, he went to the Lord in fervent prayer.  While praying, a heavenly messenger appeared, identifying himself as Moroni.  Moroni told him about “book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang.  He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants” (JS-History 1:34). 

The time had not yet come when Joseph would receive the plates.  Moroni visited him each year until September 22, 1827.  It was then Joseph received the plates. 

Translating and the Lost 116 Pages

(In preparing this section, I used the following articles as sources: 

·         Manuscript, Lost 116 Pages, William J. Critchlow III, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 22, 2013.

·         The Recovery of the Book of Mormon, Richard L. Bushman, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 22, 2013.

·         "For the Sum of Three Thousand Dollars," Susan Easton Black, and Larry C. Porter, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, April 22, 2013.)

Martin Harris was a well-known and respected member of the Palmyra community.  He heard Joseph Smith’s story and become a believer.  He offered to help Joseph any way he could.  For a time, he served a scribe for Joseph. 

Harris had a real problem.  This problem’s name was Lucy.  Lucy was Harris’s wife, and she did not accept Joseph Smith’s story.  She wanted to see the plates.  She did all she could to find the plates, causing many problems for Joseph. 

While serving as Joseph’s scribe, Harris asked if he could show his wife the 116 pages of manuscript.  Joseph inquired of the Lord, but he was told not to give Harris the manuscript.  Harris asked him a second time, but again the Lord said no.  Joseph went before the Lord a third time and this time he was given permission to let him take the 116 pages. 

There were conditions placed on Harris.  Joseph told him he could only show them to his brother, parents, his wife, and his sister-in-law.  He made Harris make a covenant with him, which Harris did. A date was set for him to return the manuscript.

Martin Harris did not return when he said he would.  Joseph would soon learn the reason.  Harris broke his covenant with Joseph and showed it to many people.  The manuscript ended up missing.  Harris had no idea what happened to it.  He confronted his wife, but she denied having done anything with the manuscript. 

Finally, Harris returned.  Joseph must have been beside himself.  When he learned the manuscript had been lost, he cried, "Oh! my God my God[,]" said Joseph as he clenched his hands together, "all is lost is lost what shall I do[?] I have sinned[;] it is me that tempted the wrath of God." (This according to Lucy Mack Smith). 

Joseph was severely chastised by the Lord. 

[A] man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments; and remember also the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress them.

And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.

For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God.  Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—

Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.

D&C 3:4 - 8

The plates and Urim and Thumim were taken from Joseph for a time.  Eventually, all was returned to him, and he continued the translation.

What was in the 116 pages?  They contained Mormon’s abridgement of the Book of Lehi as well as some parts of the large plates of Nephi.

What happened to the manuscript?  We don’t know.  In another revelation to Joseph, the Lord told him:

Behold, [evil men] have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you.

And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted; and he has also sought to destroy your gift.

 And because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold, wicked men have taken them from you.

Therefore, you have delivered them up, yea, that which was sacred, unto wickedness.

And, behold, Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands.

And behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written;

And, on this wise, the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work;

For he hath put into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate.

Verily, I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing.

D&C 10:6 - 14

Lucy Harris would later claim to have burned the manuscript.  That may well be true.  The manuscript has never been found.

We see the Lord’s wisdom when dealing with us.  He provided  for a mistake Joseph Smith would make nearly two-and-a-half millennia later.  And the record would contain many plain and precious truths we would not have had it not been for Joseph Smith’s mistake.

1 Nephi 19:1-5

Chapter 19

Nephi makes plates of ore and records the history of his people—The God of Israel shall come six hundred years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem—Nephi tells of His sufferings and crucifixion—The Jews shall be despised and scattered until the latter days, when they shall return unto the Lord. About 588–570 B.C.

For the third (but not the last) time, Nephi explains that the record we are reading is a record because he was commanded to do so by the Lord.  Describing this record, Jacob would write:

And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

Jacob 7:26

John Welch explains more about what would be called the small plates of Nephi.

Nephi wrote his small plates soon after important events such as Lehi’s death, Nephi’s separation from his rebellious brothers, and the establishment of the reign of kings (see last month's research update). Recognizing when he wrote, we can better appreciate not only Nephi's s stated reasons for writing the small plates but also subtle underlying motivations behind his inspired selection and treatment of this material.

We can assume that Nephi wrote his second account (the small plates) for many good reasons and from a particular vantage point. Although the large plates contained the prophecies of Lehi and Nephi (see 1 Nephi 19:1), that earlier record nevertheless must have been insufficient in certain respects, thus warranting the construction of an entirely new set of plates and the rewriting of the basic story. [1]

He did not expect this command from the Lord.  He would write, “I knew not at the time when I made [the large plates of Nephi] that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates” (1 Nephi 19:2).

Later in this record, Nephi would explain:

And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem [569 B.C.].

And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made, of my people thus far.

And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.

Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.

And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.  And if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.

And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates.

2 Nephi 5:28 - 33

The large plates contained a record of Lehi, a family genealogy, and a more detailed account of what occurred during the trip in the wilderness.  They contained a record of all that occurred before Nephi made this record. 

Nephi made these plates after being commanded by the Lord.  On these plates, he writes about “the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates” (1 Nephi 19:3).    The information of the plates was to be for the instruction of the people. 

Nephi also demonstrates his great faith and trust in the Lord.  Telling us he was commanded to make this record, he writes they are “for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” but not known by Nephi (1 Nephi 19:3).  Jacob would share with us Nephi’s charge given to him.   

FOR behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem [544 B.C.]; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people.

Jacob 1:1 - 4

Mormon would write about his discovery of the small plates.

And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.

And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—

Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.

But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.

And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me.  And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

Words of Mormon 1:3 - 7

Here again is a story of faith.  Like Nephi, Mormon was commanded to append these plates to his record.  He would not abridge these records.  This is not surprising because Mormon tells us “the things which are upon these plates pleasing me” (Words of Mormon 1:4). 

Today, we know why the Lord commanded the plates be made.  I will recount the story of Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages of manuscript in the next post.

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[1] Why Nephi Wrote the Small Plates: Serving Practical Needs, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 20, 2013.

1 Nephi 18:13-25

The Lord was not pleased with the merry making.  He was even less pleased with Nephi being bound and the threats against his life.  They encountered a huge storm.  When Jonah was attempting to flee the Lord, “the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken” (Jonah 1:4).

They faced a storm for three days.  They began to fear for their lives, that their ship might sink and they would drown.  Even with the threat of their deaths, they would not release Nephi.  King Benjamin would describe this experience along with his observations to Mosiah.  “Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven back, and incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and therefore they were smitten with famine and sore afflictions, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty”  (Mosiah 1:17).

On the fourth day, the storm strengthened and they came to the reality that their deaths were not only possible, they were very likely.  It was then that they finally released Nephi.  After Nephi₃ asked the Lord to cause a famine, Mormon would break into the record and share his thoughts with us. 

And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!

Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!

Helaman 12:3 - 5

Had Nephi complained during this time, it would have been understandable.  But, Nephi placed his faith in the Lord and he “praise[d] him all the day long” (1 Nephi 18:16).

It appears the bullying and abuse was not limited to Nephi.  If anyone spoke for Nephi, they would find themselves facing the wrath of Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael.  Lehi and Sariah face their wrath.  “On board ship, [Lehi], at age fifty-four, and Sariah are both characterized by Nephi as ‘stricken in years,’ having ‘grey hairs,’ and about to enter a ‘watery grave.’ Still Nephi indicates that this was because of grief brought upon them by their children more than because of age per se (1 Nephi 18:17-18).”[1]

Even their younger brothers, Jacob and Joseph, suffered from the abuse.  Jacob, the oldest, was probably around ten years old.  Nephi’s wife and children pleaded with them to release Nephi.  It would not be all that surprising to learn the cruelty of Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael towards Lehi, Sariah, Jacob, Joseph, and Nephi’s family probably made them feel like “leaders” and powerful men.  Such is the fate of the true coward.

Only when their death was imminent did they finally repent “of the thing which they had done” (1 Nephi 18:20).

The first thing Nephi did was to take the Liahona.  It immediately began to work.  Nephi refers to the Liahona as “the compass” (see 1 Nephi 18:21).  This has been a point of contention among critics of the Church.  According to these “experts,” it was impossible for Lehi’s party to have had a “compass.”  Daniel C. Peterson replies:

Of course, it isn't entirely clear that the Liahona was a compass at all, in the usual understanding of the term. For it worked according to the faith, diligence, and obedience of those to whom it was given (1 Nephi 16:28-9; Mosiah 1:16; Alma 37:40); it ceased to function when they were unrighteous (1 Nephi 18:12-3; Alma 37:41-2); and it resumed functioning when they repented (1 Nephi 18:21). I am grateful that my Boy Scout compass didn't behave that way. (Otherwise, our troop would certainly have perished miserably in the wilderness.)[2]

Nephi prayed and everything calmed down.  Things apparently went well from that time forward.

“[A]fter we had sailed for the space of many days, we did arrive at the promised land [around 589 B.C.]” (1 Nephi 18:22).   We don’t know how long the trip took.  There has been speculation that it took as much as two years to arrive in the promised land.

They settled and began to plant the seeds they brought.  The crops thrived and they were blessed with a good supply of food.  They also found cows, oxen, horses, goats, wild goats, and wild animals.  Things were looking good in their new home.

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[1] The Composition of Lehi's Family, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 18, 2013.

[2] Yet More Abuse of B. H. Roberts (footnote 17)), Daniel C. Peterson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 18, 2013.

1 Nephi 18:1-12

Chapter 18

The ship is finished—The births of Jacob and Joseph are mentioned—The company embarks for the promised land—The sons of Ishmael and their wives join in revelry and rebellion—Nephi is bound, and the ship is driven back by a terrible tempest—Nephi is freed, and by his prayer the storm ceases—They arrive in the promised land. About 591–589 B.C.

Nephi’s brethren got their act together and began to help with to build the ship. 

He was guided by the Lord in what he did.  “[T]he Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship … I … did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men … I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me” (1 Nephi 18:1-2). 

Nephi often prayed to the Lord and was shown great things.  The Lord told Jeremiah, “MOREOVER the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:1 - 3). 

The time came the boat was finished.  “[I]t was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine” (1 Nephi 18:4).  His brethren remained humble before the Lord.

One day, the Lord told Lehi it was time to leave.  They took all their provisions (meat, fruit, and honey), the seeds, and whatever else they needed.  They entered the ship, by age, with their wives and children.  Then Nephi tells us that two sons were born to Lehi, Jacob and Joseph.

The ship departed and was “drive forth before the wind towards the promised land” (1 Nephi 5:8).

His brethren’s humility didn’t last long.  They, along with their wives, “began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness” (1 Nephi 18:9).  John Tvedtnes explain what Nephi meant.

It was because of their "rudeness" that Laman and Lemuel were unfit to succeed their father as head of the family. Though "rude" has come to mean "impolite" in twentieth-century English, at the time Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon it meant "wild" or "savage." Lehi made a point of mentioning the effect of the rudeness of Laman and Lemuel on Jacob (2 Nephi 2:1), as did Nephi, who referred to the "afflictions" caused by his elder brothers (1 Nephi 18:9, 19).[1]

Fearing the Lord’s response, Nephi began to “speak to them with much soberness” (1 Nephi 18:10).  This was the last thing the happy little group wanted to hear.  They became angry and brought up that constant objection, whining they won’t let Nephi rule over them.  That he had no such desire didn’t matter.

There is another element in the founding story along with the complaints and the violence, namely deprivation. That theme is most evident on the ship. Laman and Lemuel, the sons of Ishmael, and their wives made themselves merry—dancing, singing, and speaking with much rudeness. Nephi, ever fearing the Lord would be displeased, spoke to them soberly, and they grew angry. Immediately his brothers came forth with the classic complaint: "We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us," and bound him with cords (1 Nephi 18:9-10). In this case it seems that the denial of pleasure and the objections to Nephi's rule are closely linked. The attempt to stop the merrymaking aroused the thought of his unfounded claims to govern. The connection is most clear on the ship…[2]

They took Nephi and tied him up and “treated [him] with much harshness” (1 Nephi 18:11).  After this happened, the Liahona ceased to work.  Alma₂ would remind his son, Helaman,

And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works.  They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

Alma 37:40 – 41

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[1] Notes and Communications: "My First-Born in the Wilderness," John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 15, 2013.

[2] The Lamanite View of Book of Mormon History, Richard L. Bushman, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 15, 2013.

1 Nephi 17:48-55

After hearing Nephi’s words, his brethren were downright angry with him.  They had had enough.  They were so angry, they were going to throw him in the ocean.  “Laman and Lemuel attempted to kill Nephi by throwing him into the sea (see 1 Nephi 17:48). This seems to imply cliffs overlooking the ocean, since Nephi's life would not have been threatened by being thrown into the ocean from a beach.”[1]

As they tried to grab Nephi, he warned them, “In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him” (1 Nephi 17:48).   When Moses saw God, he beheld his power.  “[M]ine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him” (Moses 1:11). 

When Abinadi was filled with the Spirit of God, he warned King Noah, “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time” (Mosiah 13:3). 

In the new world, Lehi would remind Laman and Lemuel:

And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you.  Ye say that he hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities.

And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his commanding you that ye must obey.  But behold, it was not he, but it was the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that he could not shut it.

2 Nephi 1:26 - 27

He commanded them so stop complaining and get to work building the ship.  He told them, “God had commanded me that I should build a ship … If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them.  If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done … , if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship” (1 Nephi 17:49-51).  Paul, writing to the Philippians, told them, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Nephi expounds on the effect his words had on his brethren.  “I … said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded [IE ashamed, overawed] and could not contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days.  Now they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them” (1 Nephi 17:52). 

The Lord wasn’t with them.  A few days later, Nephi was commanded to “[s]tretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock [IE cause to shake or tremble; see vv. 54–55] them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God” (1 Nephi 17:53).  This he did.

His brethren responded that they knew the Lord as with him, and what he has done he did through the power of the Lord.  They fell down and began to worship  Nephi.  This was similar to Paul and Baranabas’s experience in Greece.

And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet.  And he leaped and walked.

And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter [GR Zeus] ; and Paul, Mercurius [GR Hermes], because he was the chief speaker.

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?  We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Acts 14:8 - 15

Nephi immediately stopped his brothers from worshipping him, saying, “I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee” (1 Nephi 17:55).

We get a tremendous insight into Laman and Lemuel.  Richard Bushman writes:

[A] frequent result of the brothers' assaults on Nephi was a rebuke from the Lord. Once an angel appeared to chastise them, and on another occasion they heard the voice of the Lord. They gave way in the face of these rebukes, but on one occasion they did more than relent. When Nephi was about to construct a ship and the brothers in anger tried to throw him into the sea, Nephi was given the power to shock them physically with a touch. This show of power so overwhelmed Laman and Lemuel that they swung to the opposite extreme. Nephi says they "fell down before me, and were about to worship me," and he had to reassure them he was still only their brother (1 Nephi 17:53-55). This reaction, combined with the brothers' repeated violent assaults on Nephi, suggests that force was their characteristic reaction to crisis, the only language they understood in such situations. It seemed to be a matter of smite or be smitten.[2]

Robert Rees describes the situation.

For a brief period, Nephi has such great power that his brothers realize he could kill them merely by touching them. The Lord then commands Nephi to stretch forth his hand and shock them. Laman and Lemuel then use the word know honestly for the first time: "We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us" (1 Nephi 17:55).

What Nephi is doing, of course, is confronting his brothers with truth that no Israelite could deny: the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, their rebellion against God, and their eventual arrival in the promised land. He then uses this great defining moment in Israelite history to parallel the Nephites' sojourn in the Arabian desert and their voyage to their own promised land. By employing the words know/knew 22 times in this short passage, Nephi dramatically demonstrates the difference between the ways that he and his brothers operate in the world (they are dishonest or, at best, manipulative, while he always acts with integrity) and also helps the reader see that this small episode is in reality a microcosm of the entire Book of Mormon narrative.  (Emphasis in original)[3]

Virginia Pearce describes their behavior.

We see that very often people comply or are obedient because they're afraid not to, and that's certainly the lowest level of obedience, but sometimes in our own families we resort to that. Then other times, Laman and Lemuel are persuaded. Nephi exhorts them. He is a convincing person, and they are persuaded on their own. They humble themselves, they are persuaded, but then they go back. There is even one place in this story where it says they know of a surety (1 Nephi 17:55), which is the same thing that Sariah says (1 Nephi 5:8), but they don't hold on to it like Sariah does. The moment Sariah says she knows of a surety, she never goes back. She seems to have what Nephi has, which is tenacity, and Lehi, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph have it as well. It is just some kind of core that moves them forward once they make that decision. Laman and Lemuel just don't believe. In the face of experience after experience after experience, they are motivated by fear.[4]

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[1] The Arabian Bountiful Discovered? Evidence for Nephi's Bountiful, Warren P. Aston, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 13, 2013.

[2][2] The Lamanite View of Book of Mormon History, Richard L. Bushman, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 13, 2013.

[3] Irony in the Book of Mormon, Robert A. Rees, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 13, 2013.

[4] Virginia Pearce, as quoted in Lehi's Family, S. Kent Brown, and Peter Johnson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 13, 2013.

1 Nephi 17:37-47

Continuing his discussion of the children of Israel, he tells his brethren that the Lord raises a righteous nation and the Lord destroys wicked nations.  He will lead the righteous to lands before the wicked are destroyed.  He curses the land for their sake. 

Heaven is His throne and Earth is His footstool.  “[H]e loveth those who will have him to be their God” (1 Nephi 17:38).  The Lord will covenant with those that love Him.  He will remember these covenants.  This, Nephi explains, is why “he did bring them out of the land of Egypt” (1 Nephi 17:40).  Jennifer Clark Lane explains:

The Book of Mormon explains that "the Lord's people" are not arbitrarily chosen to be saved while others are chosen to be damned. Instead, it stresses that "the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one," but "he that is righteous is favored of God" (1 Nephi 17:35). This emphasis on righteousness clarifies the adoption of Israel. Because they were righteous and willing to enter into covenants with the Lord, they became "the people of the Lord" (see Exodus 6:7).[1]

As the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, they whined, complained, and criticized Moses.  Because of their iniquity:

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea [HEB Reed Sea], to compass [OR go around] the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent fiery [OR poisonous] serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.  And Moses prayed for the people.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Numbers 21:4 - 9

The lifting up of the serpent represented the death of Christ.  Christ said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:” (John 3:14).  Nephi would later write: “And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err.  And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them” (2 Nephi 25:20). 

Moses required them to do a simple thing.  There were those who refused to look (because it was so easy), and they paid the ultimate price for their unwillingness to follow the commands of the Lord. 

So, after all the things the Lord had done for them, the Jews are now a wicked people, ripe for destruction.  For all I know, Nephi tells them, they are about to be destroyed as I speak. 

Nephi returns to their experiences.  Lehi was commanded to leave Jerusalem.  The Jews sought to kill him.  You, he reminds his brethren, have also sought to kill him.  This makes them murderers in their heart, just like the Jews.

Nephi makes it personal.  I wonder if his frustration over their continued wickedness hadn’t been building up, and the time was right to be blunt in his words. 

They are quick to sin but slow to remember God.  (Abinadi would reminded Noah and his priests, “it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God” (Mosiah 13:29).) 

You have seen an angel; he spoke directly to you.  From time-to-time, he spoke to you in a still small voice.  But, because of your wickedness, you would no longer recognize his words.  Paul’s words to the Ephesians could have been addressed to Laman and Lemuel. 

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness [GR hardness] of their heart:

Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Ephesians 4:17 - 19

Lindon Robinson explains:

[T]here was a selfish craving for things among the wicked. Loving things instead of God and his children produced a spiritual condition described as hardheartedness, the opposite of a tender heart that cares. For example, Nephi chastised his brothers because their hearts were hard (1 Nephi 17:19), so much so that they were past feeling the words of God that lead one to caring (1 Nephi 17:45).  Hardheartedness is not only a lack of caring, but also an antipathy that produces unrighteous satisfaction when others suffer.[2] 

You know the power of God; you have experienced the power of God.  “O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts” (1 Nephi 17:46).  Nephi tells them “my soul is rent with anguish because of you” (1 Nephi 17:47).  If you don’t get your act together, Nephi tells them, you will be cast off forever. 

This powerful experience, being filled with the Spirit of God, took almost all Nephi’s strength.

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[1] The Lord Will Redeem His People: Adoptive Covenant and Redemption in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon, Jennifer Clark Lane, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 9, 2013

[2] Economic Insights from the Book of Mormon, Lindon J. Robison, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 9, 2013.