Alma turns to the twenty-four plates. These are the plates that were discovered by
Limhi’s people.
“And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the
afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should
take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of
Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage.
And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were
diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having
traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was
covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of
buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a
people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel. And for a testimony that
the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty–four plates
which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold” (Mosiah 8:7-9).
“AND now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those
ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of
this north country. And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates
which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether. And
as I suppose that the first part of this record, which speaks concerning the
creation of the world, and also of Adam, and an account from that time even to
the great tower, and whatsoever things transpired among the children of men until
that time, is had among the Jews—
Therefore I do not write those things which transpired from
the days of Adam until that time; but they are had upon the plates; and whoso
findeth them, the same will have power that he may get the full account. But
behold, I give not the full account, but a apart
of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed” (Ether
1:1-5).
These plates contain the works of darkness and secret
combinations.[1]
“And it came to pass that there arose a rebellion among the
people, because of that secret combination which was built up to get power and
gain; and there arose a mighty man among them in iniquity, and gave battle unto
Moron, in which he did overthrow the half of the kingdom; and he did maintain
the half of the kingdom for many years” (Ether 11:15).
“Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come
forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but
behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did
entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit—
Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he
would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers
from that time forth.
And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of
the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to
heaven. And it was that same being who
led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works
of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged
the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell” (Helaman
6:26-28).
“And it came to pass that *two hundred and forty
and four years had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the people. And the amore
wicked part of the people did wax strong, and became exceedingly more numerous
than were the people of God. And they did still continue to build up churches
unto themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things. And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass
away, and also two hundred and sixty years. And it came to pass that the wicked
part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of
Gadianton” (4 Nephi 1:40-42).
He also gave him the interpreters with the command to
preserve them.
“And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim
and the Thummim [HEB Light and Perfection]; and they shall be upon Aaron's
heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of
the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually” (Exodus
28:30).
“Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king,
of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look,
and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from
God. And the things are called interpreters,
and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for
that he ought not and he should perish.
And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer” (Mosiah
8:13).
Another purpose of the 24 plates
was given by Alma when he explained to his son Helaman that the plates should
be kept “that the mysteries and the works of darkness … may be made manifest
unto this people” (Alma 37:21). Although it was revealed in the abridged plates
of Nephi that the people’s destruction was caused by the works of darkness, the
Lord, through Alma, said, “I will bring to light all their secrets and
abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land” (see vv.
23–25). The Book of Mormon has partially accomplished this; however, Alma was
told to keep the Jaredites’ secret oaths, covenants, agreements, signs, and
wonders from his people lest they fall into darkness and be destroyed (see v.
27).[2]
The Lord saw his people began to work in darkness. “The
phrase work(s) of darkness in the Book of Mormon is universally a metaphor for
secret sin: ‘work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations’ (Alma
37:22).”[3]
If they did not repent, they would be destroyed.
Alma quotes the Lord speaking of a stone, Gazelem.
The word Gazelem in Alma 37 could
stand for either Joseph or the stone—later called “the interpreters.” As a[n
allusion], the interpreters or Urim and Thummim could stand for the Book of
Mormon itself, shining “forth in darkness unto light.” As referring to a seer
stone, the Gazelem paradoxically required darkness in order to work. David
Whitmer reported, “Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put
his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light;
and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine.” Alma’s reference to “these
interpreters” likely looks forward to the Lord’s giving Joseph Smith “power . .
. to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim” (D&C 10:1). The words
Urim and Thummim, according to the authors of Jehovah and the World of the Old
Testament, are “the transliterated forms of two Hebrew words that mean ‘lights’
and ‘perfections.’ . . . They represented the power and authority of the high
priest to inquire and receive the will of the Lord on behalf of the people.” “The
place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim,” Joseph Smith taught.
Further, “This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like
unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell
thereon. . . . Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17,
will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one” (D&C
130:8–10). This will be the glorious culmination for everyone who has been
given and stayed true to the “greater light” (D&C 82:3). Conversely, the
Prophet taught, “He that will not receive the greater light, must have taken
away from him all the light which he hath; and if the light which is in you
become darkness, behold, how great is that darkness!”
[1]
These secret combinations will eventually lead to the destruction of the
Nephites.
[2]Other
Ancient American Records Yet to Come Forth, Monte S. Nyman, Journal of Book
of Mormon Studies 10/1 (2001):59.
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