9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the
same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according
to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not
suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither
shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and
forever.
10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not
suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not
caused more to be written.
11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the
west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that
they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which
shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works,
according to that which is written.
The Lord continues revealing His purposes of additional scripture to Nephi. All through history, God has spoken to His people. Why would the Lord stop speaking to us mid-1st Century? He makes it clear that He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever; I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure” (2 Nephi 29:9). Paul reinforces this in his epistle to the Hebrews. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Why should we suppose that if He had spoken to us in the
past, that His work is finished? Why
would we assume He will no longer speak to us?
The Lord, speaking to Moses, said, “my works are without end, and also
my words, for they never cease” (Moses 1:4).
Noel Reynolds writes:
“Chapter 29 records a revelation that Nephi seems almost to
be receiving at the moment he is writing … This revelation begins with, but
develops much further, familiar concepts and phrases from both Isaiah and Zenos
… The Lord speaks ‘according to his own pleasure,’ and his ‘work is not yet
finished.’ And finally, his people, ‘which are of the house of Israel, shall be
gathered home unto the lands of their possessions," and he will show the
world that he "covenanted with’ (2 Nephi 29:9, 14).”[1]
Monty Nyman writes about additional records.
“Other records given originally by revelation are destined
to come forth, and the Book of Mormon will not add to or diminish from them or
from revelation thereafter. The ninth article of faith declares the Latter-day
Saints' belief in continual revelation: ‘We believe all that God has revealed,
all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great
and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.’
According to the Book of Mormon, the Lord's ‘work is not yet
finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time
henceforth and forever’ (2 Nephi 29:9) … Nephi was also told of others who had
been shown all things and had written them … These records were in addition to
both Nephi's own writings, which are included in the Book of Mormon, and the
writings of the apostle named John.”[2]
We have a Bible, which contains the word of the Lord. That does not mean the Bible contains all His
words, “neither need ye suppose that I have no caused more to be written” (2 Nephi
29:10). Daniel C. Peterson, speaking at
a BYU Devotional, explained the concept and additional scripture.
“One of the elements of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints that distinguishes it from other Christian movements is its
openness to scriptural texts beyond the Bible. The Book of Mormon, the volume
of ancient scripture that most prominently represents that openness, prefigured
its own coming forth [see 2 Nephi 29:10-14]…
“Still, as [2 Nephi 29:10-14] clearly says, the Book of
Mormon by itself does not exhaust the treasures of revelation and scripture
that we can expect to receive in this last dispensation. Nor does it seem that
even our other standard works, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of
Great Price, represent the last that is to be received.”[3]
All men are commanded to write the words of the Lord. All men will be judged by the words contained
in books that will go forth to all the world.
Alma2 wrote, “For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all
nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all
that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth
counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true” (Alma 29:8).
Paul emphasized this in his epistle to Timothy. “All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is [useful for instruction] for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: That
the man of God may be [complete], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2
Timothy 3:16-17).
[1] Nephite
Uses and Interpretations of Zenos, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute.
[2] Other
Ancient American Records Yet to Come Forth, Monte S. Nyman, Maxwell Institute.
[3] Other
Voices from the Dust, Daniel C. Peterson, Maxwell Institute.
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