The Lord continues revealing His purposes of additional
scripture to Nephi. All through history,
God has spoken to His people. Why would
the Lord stop speaking to us mid-1st Century? He makes it clear that He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever; I
speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure” (2 Nephi 29:9). Paul reinforces this in his epistle to the
Hebrews. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews
13:8).
Why should we suppose that if He had spoken to us in the
past, that His work is finished? Why
would we assume He will no longer speak to us?
The Lord, speaking to Moses, said, “my
works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease” (Moses 1:4).
Noel Reynolds writes:
Chapter 29 records a revelation
that Nephi seems almost to be receiving at the moment he is writing … This
revelation begins with, but develops much further, familiar concepts and
phrases from both Isaiah and Zenos … The Lord speaks "according to his own
pleasure," and his "work is not yet finished." And finally, his
people, "which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the
lands of their possessions," and he will show the world that he
"covenanted with "(2 Nephi 29:9, 14).[1]
Monty Nyman writes about additional records.
Other records given originally by
revelation are destined to come forth, and the Book of Mormon will not add to
or diminish from them or from revelation thereafter. The ninth article of faith
declares the Latter-day Saints' belief in continual revelation: "We
believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe
that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the
Kingdom of God."
According to the Book of Mormon,
the Lord's "work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of
man, neither from that time henceforth and forever" (2 Nephi 29:9) … Nephi
was also told of others who had been shown all things and had written them … These
records were in addition to both Nephi's own writings, which are included in
the Book of Mormon, and the writings of the apostle named John.[2]
We have a Bible, which contains the word of the Lord. That does not mean the Bible contains all His
words, “neither need ye suppose that I
have no caused more to be written” (2 Nephi 29:10). Daniel C. Peterson, speaking at a BYU
Devotional, explained the concept and additional scripture.
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 [see 2 Nephi 29:10-14]…
Still, as [2 Nephi 29:10-14] clearly
says, 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.[3]
All men are commanded to write the words of the Lord. All men will be judged by the words contained
in books that will go forth to all the world.
Alma2 wrote, “For
behold, 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).
Paul emphasized this in his epistle to Timothy. All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable [GR beneficial or useful for
instruction] for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [GR
suited, ready, complete], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2
Timothy 3:16-17).
[1] Nephite
Uses and Interpretations of Zenos, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute,
accessed December 22, 2013.
[2] Other
Ancient American Records Yet to Come Forth, Monte S. Nyman, Maxwell
Institute, accessed December 22, 2013.
[3] Other
Voices from the Dust, Daniel C. Peterson, Maxwell Institute, accessed December
22, 2013.
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