BOM and Faith, 1 Nephi 19, 21

Nephi was commanded by the Lord to make plates of ore to make a record of his people. He made a set of plates containing the record of his father, containing their journey through the wilderness and prophecies made by Lehi. He also made a record of his prophecies.

Making the plates was an act of faith. At the time he made the plates, he wrote “I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates” (1 Nephi 19:2). As we know from the history of the translation of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris lost the 116 pages of the manuscript, which contained the Book of Lehi. Joseph was commanded not to re-translate the Book of Lehi.

After completing the translation of Mormon’s record, he found a set of plates attached to the record. These were the small plates of Nephi, containing “an account engraven of the ministry of my people” (1 Nephi 9:3).

Even though, at the time, he did not know why he was commanded to make the second set of plates, he did so through his faith. And, through Nephi’s faith, we have “the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:3).

Nephi adds, “I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred” (1 Nephi 19:6).

Nephi read two chapters of Isaiah (48 & 49) to his brethren. They asked when these chapters meant. “[A]re they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh” (1 Nephi 22:1).

He explained what he had read “are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations” (1 Nephi 22:3).

After a detailed explanation, he concluded by telling his brethren, “if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen” (1 Nephi 22:31).

We again see his brethren lacked faith. They had been told to inquire of the Lord to understand things of the Spirit. Had they had faith, and inquired of the Lord, He would have made the meaning clear to them.