Wednesday, November 27, 2019

1 Nephi 1:1


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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