Continuing to discuss the importance of the records with
Helaman, King Benjamin told his people, “I say unto you, that there are not any
among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught
concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to
your heavenly Father, to render to him ball
that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which
contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets, even down
to the time our father, Lehi, left Jerusalem” (Mosiah 2:34).
Preaching to the Zoramite poor, Alma told them, “Behold, ye
have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your
synagogues. But behold, I say unto you,
if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to
search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not
understand them” (Alma 33:2).
Alma tells him it has been through God’s wisdom the records
have been preserved. They have been used
to convince many to live a righteous life and brought them the knowledge of God
and salvation. Mormon used King Benjamin as an example of teaching the
importance of the records.
“And he also taught them concerning
the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I
would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain
these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even
at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. For it were not
possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have
taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for
he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read
these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach
them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to
this present time. I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which
have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and
understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes,
that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been
like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these
things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions
of their fathers, which are not correct” (Mosiah 1:3-5).
The scriptures are essential to help us understand God’s
word.
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew
4:4).
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written
for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might
have hope” (Romans 15:4).
“All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine [GR beneficial or useful for instruction], for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The plates
made the difference. They helped keep
their society together, sharing a common language and culture. The Mulekites, coming from the same
background, had lost their language and developed a whole new culture over the
three centuries they had been in the promised land.[1]
King Benjamin also explained how important the records were
to the Nephite civilization. “I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these
things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read
and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our
eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have
been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these
things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions
of their fathers, which are not correct” (Mosiah 1:5).
Without the record, Ammon and his brethren’s mission would
not have been successful. With their
knowledge, they were able to bring the people to repentance and a knowledge of
the Savior.
“Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the
creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the
things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records
and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets,
even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem” (Alma 18:36).
“And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would
believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures
unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him
commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen” (Alma 22:12).
Alma looks to the future.
“[W]ho knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many
thousands of them” to the knowledge of Christ?[2]
It will be sufficient to Alma if the records are preserved
for a wise purpose known to God. He
counsels in wisdom over all his works and his paths are straight and do not
vary.
“Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to
take counsel from his hand. For behold,
ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great
mercy, over all his works” (Jacob 4:10).
“For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries
of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in
these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to
come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round” (1 Nephi 10:19).
“I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the
testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he
vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the
right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong;
therefore, his course is one eternal round” (Alma 7:20).
[1] “And
they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the
people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the
Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the
record of the Jews. Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the
people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of
Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon. And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the
hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered
them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth. And at the time that
Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious
contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language
had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they
denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could
understand them” (Omni 1:14-17).
[2] “And
thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they
that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have
obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this
promise; And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name
of his father. And he shall be like unto
me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power
of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation. Yea, thus prophesied Joseph:
I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the
Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.” (2 Nephi 3:14-16).
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