Nephi returns to prophesies about the Jews and
Gentiles.
After the Book of Mormon is written, it will be sealed. Sealing of documents, etc. was a common
practice. John Welch writes about this.
More specifically, the Book of
Mormon is indeed a binding document, a legal warning, a proclamation, a
testament, covenant, and contract. Its provisions are about covenants of the
Lord. It has much to do with rights of land possession, and it contains the
terms and conditions that the owner of the land of promise requires those who
occupy that land to obey. In other words, the religious and secular spheres
were not widely separated in antiquity, and the Book of Mormon presents sacred
materials often by using legalistic forms or concepts. These factors may well
explain why Nephi would associate this legal form, typically used for legal
contracts, with the final presentation of the Nephite records.
Moreover, the process of sealing up
the Nephite records served several practical and religious purposes. To keep
the record pure, Nephi and his posterity were instructed that the records
should be "sealed up to come forth in their purity" (1 Nephi 14:26).
As further protection against destruction, the Lord instructed his scribes to
seal up the writings in a book so that "those who have dwindled in
unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God"
(2 Nephi 26:17). Prophetically, Nephi reported that the book would be dedicated
to the Lord, "sealed up again unto the Lord" (2 Nephi 30:3).[1]
When the Book of Mormon goes forth, it will go to the
descendants of the Lamanites. They will
learn about how their ancestors left Jerusalem and came to the New World. They will also learn they are descendants of
the Jews.
Then, the gospel will be taught to them and “they shall be restored unto the knowledge
of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had
among their fathers” (2 Nephi 30:5).
At the very beginning of the Book of Mormon, we read:
Written
to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and
Gentile … Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great
things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the
covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the
convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD,
manifesting himself unto all nations. (Book of Mormon Title Page)
Mormon’s last words written in the Book of Mormon is
addressed to the descendants of the Lamanites and the house of Israel.
AND
now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are
spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of
the things of their fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of
Israel; and these are the words which I speak:
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 7:1, 9-10
Richard Rust explains the structure of the Book of Mormon.
In its overall structure, the Book
of Mormon begins and ends with concern for the Lamanites receiving the gospel.
Reiterating the main points from the title page, Nephi says that through the
Book of Mormon the Lamanites shall know they are of Israel and through it
"they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to
the knowledge of Jesus Christ" (2 Nephi 30:5; see 30:1-6). Then toward the
end, Mormon says much the same thing: "Know ye that ye are of the house of
Israel. . . . Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and
repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ"
(Mormon 7:2, 5).[2]
[1] Doubled,
Sealed, Witnessed Documents: From the Ancient World to the Book of Mormon,
John Welch, Maxwell Institute, accessed December 28, 2013.
[2] The
Book of Mormon, Designed for Our Day, Richard Dilworth Rust, Maxwell Institute,
accessed December 28, 2013.
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