Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto
the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile.[1]
“[Moroni] said there
was a 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” (Joseph Smith-History
1:34).
The interpretation thereof by the gift of
God.[2]
In a revelation to
Joseph Smith, the Lord reminded him…
“Behold thou hast a
gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift. Remember it is sacred and
cometh from above” (D&C 6:10).
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether
also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time
the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower
to get to heaven.
The heading to the
Book of Ether, written by Moroni, said, “The record of the Jaredites, taken
from the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of king Mosiah”
(Ether Preface: Heading).
The first reference
to the Jaredites is found in Omni. Amaleki explained…
“And it came to pass
in the days of [Mosiah1], there was a large stone brought unto him
with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and
power of God.
“And they gave an
account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was
discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of
nine moons.
“It also spake a few
words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at
the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of
the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their
bones lay scattered in the land northward” (Omni 1:20-22).
The people of Limhi found the land of the Jaredites.
“Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king inquired of him to
know if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told him that he could not.
“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.
“And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, and
they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound.
“And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished,
and the blades thereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land
that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are on the
plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate?” (Mosiah 8:6-11).
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.
Nephi frequently
wrote concerning the House of Israel. For example…
“And he said, It is
a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of
Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a
light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the
earth” (Isaiah 49:6; see also 1 Nephi 21:6).
And also to the convincing of the Jew and
Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all
nations.
“Wherefore, he shall
bring forth his words unto them, which words shall judge them at the last day,
for they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true
Messiah, who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they
need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any
come, save it should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; for
there is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he who
should be rejected of the Jews” (2 Nephi 25:18).
“And we talk of
Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and
we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source
they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).
“And as I spake
concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must
needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the
Eternal God” (2 Nephi 26:12).
“And many of the
people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and
they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and
this the people did hear with great joy and gladness” (Alma 16:20).
“And the Lord God
hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these
things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should
believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their
sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already
come among them” (Mosiah 3:13).
“And now, because of
the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his
sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you;
for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore,
ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
“And under this head
ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There
is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye
should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the
covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives”
(Mosiah 5:7-8).
And now, if there are faults they are the
mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found
spotless at the judgment–seat of Christ.
“AND now I, Nephi,
cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I
mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of
the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the
children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1).
“And whoso receiveth
this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in
it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and
were it possible, I would make all things known unto you” (Mormon 8:12).
“And if our plates
had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew
hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold,
ye would have had no imperfection in our record.
“But the Lord
knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people
knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language,
therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof” (Mormon 9:33-34).
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