I Nephi…
Thus begins in the Book of Mormon. Who is this Nephi who is writing this
book? What’s his purpose for
writing? Before we begin studying the
Book of Mormon, we should know about the author of the first two books in the
Book of Mormon.
Nephi was born to Lehi and Sariah. He had three brothers – Laman, Lemuel, and
Sam. Two others were born during his
journey in the wilderness – Jacob and Joseph.
There is no mention of any sisters.
This, of course, does not mean he did not have sisters. In this record, he makes no mention of them,
if he had any.
Nephi recorded his life and teachings on two different sets
of plates, both called the planets of Nephi (1 Nephi 9:2). On one set of plates, he recorded “an account
of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people” (1 Nephi
9:2).
While making his record, he received a commandment of the
Lord that he should make a second set of plates. He wrote, “I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should
be an account engraven of the ministry of my people … wherefore these plates
are for the more part of the ministry” (1 Nephi 9:3-4).
Nephi had no idea why he was commanded to make the second
set of plates. “Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a
wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the Lord knoweth all
things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his
works among the children of men” (1 Nephi 9:5-6) (emphasis mine).
Nephi did not begin working on his second set of plates
until thirty years after they left Jerusalem [569 B.C.] (2 Nephi 5:28). While keeping the other set of plates, the
Lord came to him and commanded him, “Make
other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in
my sight, for the profit of thy people” (2 Nephi 5:30).
Mormon was specifically referring to this record in the
Words of Mormon when he wrote:
I speak somewhat
concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from
the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki
spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands,
and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of
this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
And the things
which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the
coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled;
yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us
down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must
surely come to pass—
Wherefore, I chose
these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I
shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of
the things of my people.
But behold, I
shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and
put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice
unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according
to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the
Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do
according to his will. (Words of Mormon 1:3-7) (Emphasis mine)
The first set of plates, the record of the reign of the
kings as well as wars and contentions were the first part of the record translated
by Joseph Smith. This portion of the
record is what was contained in the 116 pages of manuscript were given to
Martin Harris and were eventually lost.
Briefly, Martin Harris had been asking Joseph Smith to allow
him to take the manuscript pages to show his wife and other family
members. This would “allay their
skepticism and criticism of the translation.
Joseph inquired of the Lord twice, and each time was told no. Harris persisted, and Joseph went to the Lord
a third time. This time, he received
permission to allow Harris to take the manuscript. “The Prophet required Harris to solemnly
covenant that he would show them only to his brother, his parents, his wife,
and her sister.”
Harris did not return the manuscript when he said he
would. Joseph, living in Harmony, PA at
the time, returned to Manchester, NY. He
learned someone had stolen the manuscript.
Harris had not kept his word, and had “indiscriminately showed it to
persons outside his family … The most widespread rumor was that Harris’ wife,
irritated at having earlier been denied a glimpse of the ancient plates, had
removed the manuscript translation from Martin’s unlocked bureau and burned it.”[1]
Joseph Smith was chastised by the Lord.
“Behold, you have
been entrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments; and
remember also the promises which were made to you, if you did not transgress
them.
“And behold, how
oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone
on in the persuasions of men.
“For, behold, you
should not have feared man more than God.
Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words–
“Yet you should
have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you
against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you
in every time of trouble.
“NOW, behold, I say
unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power
given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the
hands of a wicked man, you have lost them (D&C 3:5-8, 10:1).
So we see the “wise purpose,” what would be called the small
plates of Nephi, was made. “And, behold,
Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to
be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands. And
behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read
contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written; And, on this wise, the devil has sought to lay
a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work” (D&C 10:10-12).
This gives us an idea of who Nephi was. We will learn more about him as we look at
his record.
[1] Manuscript,
Lost 116 Pages, William J. Chritchlow, III, Encylopedia
of Mormonism, pgs. 854-855, Macmillan Company (1992), Daniel H. Ludlow,
editor
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