1 Nephi 22:13-16

After explaining the gospel will go forth to the Jews and that they would accept Christ, Nephi returns to the subject of the great and abominable church and its fate.  Stephen Robinson lists six key characteristics identified by Nephi.

The major characteristics of the great and abominable church described in 1 Nephi may be listed as follows:

1.     It persecutes, tortures, and slays the Saints of God (see 1 Nephi 13:5).

2.    It seeks wealth and luxury (see 1 Nephi 13:7–8).

3.    It is characterized by sexual immorality (see 1 Nephi 13:7).

4.    It has excised plain and precious things from the scriptures (see 1 Nephi 13:26–29).

5.    It has dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people (see 1 Nephi 14:11).

6.    Its fate is to be consumed by a world war, when the nations it incites against the Saints war among themselves until the great and abominable church itself is destroyed (see 1 Nephi 22:13–14).[1]

Eventually, there will be civil war in the great and abominable church.  They will turn on each other and “the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads and they shall be drunken with their own blood” (1 Nephi 22:13).  Nephi is reiterating what he had seen in vision in the Arabian wilderness.

And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.

And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.

And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things—

And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.

1 Nephi 14:3, 15-17

Jacob would teach the Nephites, “And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine.  And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel” (2 Nephi 6:15). 

The day will come that all nations will fight against Israel.  Instead of victory, they will eventually “fall into the pit which the digged to ensare the people of the Lord” (1 Nephi 22:14).  Proverbs tells us, “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him” (Proverbs 26:27); “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession” (Proverbs 28:10).  Fighting Zion will lead to destruction.

Miraculously, the House of Israel will be the survivor, as "every nation which shall war against thee ... shall be turned one against another... And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed" (1 Nephi 22:14), and pass away "as a dream of a night vision" (2 Nephi 27:3). Formidable plans to destroy the upbuilding of Zion need not concern the Saints—like the Nephites, they have only their own sins to worry about. As for their enemies, "they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord" (1 Nephi 22:14). Likewise "that great and abominable church," whatever it is, should be no concern of ours, for we are assured that with all its clever scheming and accumulated might it "shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it" (1 Nephi 22:14).[2]

Ultimately, the day will come when Satan will no longer have power over us.  The proud and wicked will be burned as stubble.  Malachi wrote, “FOR, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch” (Malachi 4:1).  David looked forward to the day when…

Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

Psalms 21:8 - 10

The Lord revealed, “For the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe; and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the earth” (D&C 29:9). 

Richard Draper writes:

From a Book of Mormon perspective, we can define atē as the point at which a person or a people has become fully ripe in iniquity. At that moment they come under the judgment of a just God from whom there is no escape, for "the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous" (1 Nephi 22:16). The Book of Mormon prophets feared that such a condition would come upon their people. Lehi warned: "For the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God [will] come out in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever" (2 Nephi 1:17).[3]

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[1] Nephi's "Great and Abominable Church," Stephen E. Robinson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 8, 2013.

[2] Prophecy in the Book of Mormon: The Three Periods, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 8, 2013.

[3] Hubris and Atē: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of Mormon, Richard D. Draper, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 8, 2013.

1 Nephi 22:9-12

As the gospel goes forward, it will be of worth to both the gentiles and the house of Israel.  Nephi would later write, “And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 28:2). 

And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.

And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one.  And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.

2 Nephi 29:13 - 14

The covenants made with God and Abraham will also be known to all.  When speaking to the Nephites, the Savior said:

And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel.

3 Nephi 20:25, 27

Victor Ludlow explains Nephi’s powerful words.

One powerful example illustrates Nephi's teachings about covenants. In 1 Nephi 22, Nephi is teaching his older brothers after having just quoted Isaiah (chapters 48 and 49). The brothers of Nephi then pose some hard questions, asking essentially, "What is the meaning of these Isaiah scriptures you have just read to us?" Answering, Nephi describes how these passages contain promises for their descendants. Starting in 1 Nephi 22:7, he tells them "that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up . . . Gentiles . . . upon the face of this land," who would scatter their seed. Then the Lord would proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, yea, which would be of great worth unto them and all the house of Israel, "unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham" (1 Nephi 22:9).

Nephi tries to help his brothers appreciate that the future work of the gentiles would bless not only their own descendants in America, but also the whole house of Israel, through whom all the peoples of the earth could be blessed.[1]

Nephi explains, “all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations” (1 Nephi 22:10).  Noel Reynolds explains what is meant when the Lord says He will “make bare his arm.”

What does it mean to "make bare his arm"? Is it a strange kind of statement? Does Nephi mean like on the beach, kind of to show off his muscles? Why is it not already bare? Is God not there? Does he not already have his power? Well, I think His power will become more visible. The truthfulness of this gospel will become more evident as God unveils His arm, as He makes His arm bare, and His mighty work will become more convincing, more clearly the work of God in these last days. Nephi returns to this many times. He says, "Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations" (v. 11). God is going to show everybody who he is and that this is his work, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.[2]

When the Lord bares His arm, he will do it to bring “his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel” (1 Nephi 22:11). 

[Nephi] develops the accounts that are given him, to his father Lehi, to Isaiah, and to other prophets, which accounts talk about a future day in which the Lord will "[make] bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations" (1 Nephi 22:10—11). Until that time, the Lord is working through people, and people can say, as Laman and Lemuel say, "You are not inspired. The Lord is not speaking unto you. You are making this up. Joseph Smith did not receive revelation"—whatever you want to say. But the day will come, according to these prophecies of Nephi, Lehi, and others, that the whole world will be able to see that these claims are valid. The Lord will "make bare his arms in the eyes of all the nations," for though the nations of the world may combine against the saints of God who are scattered throughout the earth, as Nephi reports in his vision, the power of God will at that time descend on His faithful people, and they will be protected by His power. They will be saved, even if necessary, as by fire.[3]

Richard Dilworth Rust further explains:

Just as the brass plates had been essential to the cultural and spiritual preservation of the Nephites, so the Book of Mormon finally is necessary to the spiritual preservation of Lehi's living descendants. They are brought "out of captivity" and "out of obscurity" by being given the Lord's "covenants and his gospel" (1 Nephi 22:11–12) as promised in the title page of the Book of Mormon.[4]

The house of Israel will be brought out of captivity and gathered again in the “lands of their inheritance” (1 Nephi 22:12).  They will be “brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel” (1 Nephi 22:12).

… Nephi not only answered his brothers' questions, but also gave the New Testament student a definitive statement of interpretation to Paul's reference. In the latter days, the fulness of the gospel would come to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles would then take it to the house of Israel. This would cure the blindness, for as Nephi further taught, "They shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is the Savior and their Redeemer, the mighty One of Israel" (1 Nephi 22:12). Nephi not only answered his brothers' questions, but also gave the New Testament student a definitive statement of interpretation to Paul's reference. In the latter days, the fulness of the gospel would come to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles would then take it to the house of Israel. This would cure the blindness, for as Nephi further taught, "They shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is the Savior and their Redeemer, the mighty One of Israel" (1 Nephi 22:12).[5]

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[1] Covenant Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Victor L. Ludlow, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 6, 2013.

[2] Book of Mormon, Teachings Nephi II, Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 6, 2013.

[3] Book of Mormon, Teachings, Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 6, 2013.

[4] "Great Things the Lord Hath Done" - Epic Elements, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 6, 2013.

[5] The Book of Mormon, An Interpretive Guide to the New Testament, Dennis Largey, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 6, 2013.

1 Nephi 22:5-8

Nephi continues teaching about the scattering of the Jews.

Why will the Jews be scattered?  They shall be “scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men” (1 Nephi 22:5). Earlier, Nephi had told his brethren, “And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations” (1 Nephi 19:14).

 In addition to the prophesies that had been given, the Savior warned the Jews:

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? [JST Luke 23:32 This he spake, signifying the scattering of Israel, and the desolation of the heathen, or in other words, the Gentiles.]

Luke 23:28 - 31

Even though they will become a “hiss and a byword,” the will be cared for by the gentile.  After the gentiles have accepted the gospel, the gospel will be taken to the Jews.  Mormon would write:

Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God.

And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth.

And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.

And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be.  Amen.

3 Nephi 5:23 - 26

The Savior would teach the Nephites:

And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me and of the Father.

… and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fulness of these things shall be made known unto them.

And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel …

And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.

And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.

3 Nephi 16:6 - 7, 10 - 12

After the gentiles have become a might nation, and the Jews were scattered, a marvelous work will be done among the gentiles.  During Nephi’s vision, he would be told,

For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.

1 Nephi 14:7

As we read Nephi’s teachings, we “hear the language, the echoes from Isaiah. So, what Nephi is doing is saying that anyone can understand Isaiah if he or she reads it by the Spirit of the Lord.”[1]

In verse 8, we read the words of Nephi as saying the work “shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles.”  Grant Hardy explains that “…Analysis of Textual Variants in the Book of Mormon has many more corrected readings, including 1 Nephi 22:8, where the Lamanites would be ‘nursed’ (original manuscript) rather than ‘nourished’ (printer's manuscript and all printed editions) by the Gentiles and restored to the lands of their ‘first’ inheritance (verse 12, though the printer's manuscript and every edition has omitted that word). “[2]

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[1] Book of Mormon, Teachings Nephi II, Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 4, 2013.

[2] Scholarship for the Ages, Grant R. Hardy, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 4, 2013.

1 Nephi 22:1-4

Chapter 22

Israel shall be scattered upon all the face of the earth—The gentiles shall nurse and nourish Israel with the gospel in the last days—Israel shall be gathered and saved, and the wicked shall burn as stubble—The kingdom of the devil shall be destroyed, and Satan shall be bound. About 588–570 B.C.

After preaching to his brethren, Nephi, reading from the brass plates, read Isaiah 48 & 49 to them.  After he finished, they asked him to explain what these things mean.  Are they understood spiritually or what?  Hugh Nibley comments on their questions.

Let's come to chapter 22, when the brethren ask him what these things mean that Isaiah talks about. Notice they say in 1 Nephi 22:1, "What meaneth these things which ye have read?" Aren't they just spiritual? We're not going to be bound by them; these are just spiritual. This is always the way to weasel out of a situation. This is just spiritual. I'll just pay a spiritual tithe; that's the important thing. He says, No, they're both.[1]

These things were given to the prophets through the voice of the Spirit.  It is only through the Spirit that these things are made known to the prophets and then to us.  In his general epistle, Peter would write:

 [JST We have therefore a more sure knowledge of the word of prophecy, to which word of prophecy ye do well that ye take heed]  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Knowing this first, that [JST no prophecy of the scriptures is given of any private will of man.] no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:19 - 21

To what to the words Nephi read pertain?  To both the temporal and spiritual.  The Lord would tell Joseph Smith,

For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal—

First spiritual, secondly temporal, which is the beginning of my work; and again, first temporal, and secondly spiritual, which is the last of my work—

Speaking unto you that you may naturally understand; but unto myself my works have no end, neither beginning; but it is given unto you that ye may understand, because ye have asked it of me and are agreed.

Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.

D&C 29:31 - 34

Eventually, the Jews will be scattered through all nations on Earth.  Later in life, Nephi would write:

And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church.

Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations.

And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things.

2 Nephi 25:14 - 16

Nephi tells them “there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are Jerusalem” (1 Nephi 22:4).  Hugh Nibley wrote:

The scattering was to be not only more widespread than one supposed, embracing "all the face of the earth" even to the unknown "isles of the sea" (1 Nephi 22:3—4), but it goes on in installments, some of the migrations going back into early times and many of them being unknown to history: "And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem, . . . and whither they are none of us knoweth" (1 Nephi 22:4). The Dead Sea Scrolls and other documents now attest the reality of such emigrations from Jerusalem.[2]

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[1] Lecture 15: 1 Nephi 17-19, 22, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 1, 2013.

[2] Prophecy in the Book of Mormon: The Three Periods, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 1, 2013.

1 Nephi 19:17-24

Having prophesied of Christ, Nephi teaches the entire Earth will see the Lord’s salvation, every nation, kindred, and tongue.  He was quoting the prophet Isaiah - “Every valley shall be exalted [HEB lifted up or raised], and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain [HEB the mountains into a plain]; And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 40:4 - 5).

Nephi is writing this to his people to persuade them to believe in Christ.  He also speaks to the entire house of Israel.  In his book, Mormon would explain, “Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time” (Mormon 5:12). 

In his invitation to the Lamanites, Mormon would write:

For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment.  Amen.

Mormon 7:9 - 10

Because of the workings of the spirit, Nephi is weary for the people of Jerusalem.  Had he not seen events shown him by the Lord, he would have perished as well.  We are reminded of the importance of the brass plates when Nephi writes that what he knows he knows because these things are written on the brass plates.

Nephi taught his brethren from the brass plates so they would know of the Lord’s dealings with His people in the past.  He read from the books of Moses to convince them that the Lord was their Redeemer.  He read to them much of the writings of Isaiah.

Here, Nephi introduces a new concept in how to study the scriptures.  Nephi tells us he “did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).  In this way, Nephi gave the scriptures even more importance.  By applying the scriptures “unto us,” this makes them more relevant to us in our lives.  Hugh Nibley wrote:

One often hears it suggested that perhaps the Latter-day Saints overdo the "pioneer business." Yet as far as can be discovered the true church in every age has been one of pioneers—wanderers and settlers in the wilderness in the most literal sense. And in every age the church has been careful to preserve and recall in the midst of its own trials the pioneer stories of its own early days and of still earlier dispensations, thousands of years ago. If the stories are all strangely alike that is no accident: we can do no better than to "liken all scriptures unto us," as did Nephi of old, "that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23).[1]

Tod Harris observes:

The practical significance comes in recognizing that each person, like Nephi, is a hero, and then in applying the archetype of the hero's journey in order to recognize significant experience better and integrate it effectively into our lives. This becomes another way, in the words of Nephi, to "liken all scripture unto us" (1 Nephi 19:23). By so doing we can gain a hint of what to expect in our lives as we determine to accept the call, cross the threshold, make spiritual allies, win the boon, and finally return with what we have acquired in order to serve our respective communities.[2] 

Dennis Packard and Susan Packard explain the importance of applying the scriptures to us and our situation is to us when we ponder the word of God.

Comparing things is a hallmark of pondering. Many things in the scriptures can be compared—individuals, attitudes, events, reactions, themes. Frequently in the scriptures, two things similar in some ways but different in other ways are placed side-by-side so we can compare them—for instance, the reactions of Mary and Zacharias to the similar messages from the angel Gabriel. The scriptures also contain parallel accounts of events and messages—for example, the four gospels, the multiple creation accounts, the Bible and Book of Mormon Isaiah chapters—and these invite comparison. We can also compare events or individuals in the scriptures to those we are familiar with outside the scriptures. Nephi did this and said, "I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23). We may understand prophecies by looking for historical events that fulfill them.[3]

I would like to end this post with a quote from James Faulconer.

If scripture study is to be more than mental exercise, we must also liken the scriptures to ourselves (see 1 Nephi 19:23). We must make the lessons they teach part of our everyday lives. Usually that application comes naturally as we spend time in prayerful study. As we regularly discover what the scriptures teach us, as scripture study becomes a daily habit and the scriptures become part of our understanding, our way of seeing the world changes. As that view changes, we change our lives: "The preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God" (Alma 31:5). Although this passage refers to preaching, the same is true of scripture study. We sometimes need to think specifically about how the scriptures apply to our situations and questions, but careful, regular scripture study can, by itself, change our hearts and minds. It would be unusual to spend regular amounts of time in scripture study and not to find our lives changed, not to find ourselves thinking in new ways.[4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Pioneer Tradition and the True Church, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

[2] The Journey of the Hero: Archetypes of Earthly Adventure and Spiritual Passage in 1 Nephi, Tod R Harris, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

[3] Pondering the Word, Dennis Packard, and Sandra Packard, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

[4] Studying the Scriptures, James E. Faulconer, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2013.

1 Nephi 19:11-16

After having prophesied about the coming of Christ, Nephi wrote the day will come when Christ will visit all of the house of Israel. Some he will visit “with his voice because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation” (1 Nephi 19:11).  The Lord told Joseph Smith, “[B]ehold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit—“ (D&C 5:16).

However, those who are not righteous will face “the thunderings and the lightnings of his power” (1 Nephi 19:11).  Samuel the Lamanite warned the Nephites of what awaited them at Christ’s death if they continued in their sin.

But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.

Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of "many hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble; and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;

Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath.

And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great.

And many highways shall be broken up, and many cities shall become desolate.

And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.

And behold, thus hath the angel spoken unto me; for he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours.

And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days.

  Helaman 14:20 - 27

The thunderings and lightnings also occurred in the Old World.  “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth [GR earth, region, land, or country] until the ninth hour.  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst [GR middle]” (Luke 23:44 - 45).

Hugh Nibley wrote about those who would not listen to Christ.

If they wouldn't hear the gentle voice, they would get the thunder, and it knocked them out. It scared the daylights out of them. The same thing happens in the 1 Nephi 19:11: "For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power" because they're not righteous. You have your choice of the voice you're going to hear. Will it be a good one, or will it be the other one? The voice of thunder will get you moving all right. And so you have the two voices here. Remember, the angel spoke with a voice of thunder, and the earth shook too at the same time.[1]

John Welch writes about how this prophecy supports consistencies in the Book of Mormon.

Even more remarkable are the extensive, intricate consistencies within the Book of Mormon. Passages tie together precisely and accurately though separated from each other by hundreds of pages of text and dictated weeks apart … [An] example is found in the account of the destructions in 3 Nephi 8:6-23, fulfilling the prophecy of Zenos preserved in 1 Nephi 19:11-12. The ancient prophet foretold that there would be thunderings and lightnings, tempests, fire and smoke, a vapor of darkness, the earth opening, mountains being carried up, rocks rending, and the earth groaning. The fulfillment of his prophecy is recorded hundreds of years (and pages) later. Third Nephi 8 expressly speaks of the same list: tempests, thunderings and lightnings, fire, earth being carried up to become a mountain, whirlwinds, the earth quaking and breaking up, rocks being rent, a vapor of darkness, and the people groaning. Apparently, one of the reasons that Mormon gave such a full account was to document the complete fulfillment of that prophecy of Zenos.[2]

These things must occur according to the words of the prophet Zenos.  After recording these occurrences in the New World, Mormon wrote, “And thus far were the scriptures fulfilled which had been spoken by the prophets” (3 Nephi 10:11).  Here were similar occurrences in the Old World. 

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent [GR torn into two pieces] in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept [GR who had died] arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Matthew 27:51 - 54

Zenos prophesied that “they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel” (1 Nephi 19:13).  Before being crucified, Christ lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would [GR have I desired to gather] I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:37 - 39).

Christ would be despised by the Jews.  King Benjamin would teach:

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.

Mosiah 14:3 - 6

The day will come with they will no more deny Christ.  At that time, He will remember the covenants that were made with their fathers.  Zenos prophesied that in that day, they will be gathered from the four quarters of the Earth.

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[1] Lecture 15: 1 Nephi 17-19, 22, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 27, 2013.

[2] Textual Consistency, John W. Welch. Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 27, 2013.

1 Nephi 19:6-10

The plates Nephi’s making are for an important purpose.  “I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred” (1 Nephi 19:6).  He feels it important to remind the reader that he is just a man.  “[I]f I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself” (1 Nephi 19:6).  Nephi is but a man. 

The wicked will take sacred and holy things and “trample them under their feet” (1 Nephi 19:7).  Nephi would emphasize this point towards the end of his life.  “But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught” (2 Nephi 33:2).

Men will not just trample sacred and holy things under their feet.  They will also trample Christ under their feet, ignoring His counsel.

The time of Christ’s coming is 600 years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem.  I doubt Nephi intended us to read this as exactly 600 years.  Instead, I believe he is saying in around 600 years.

When he comes, Nephi tells us they will “scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it.  Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men” (1 Nephi 19:9).  After his encounter with the angel, Alma2 would testify to those who had gathered and prayed for him:

I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.

Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him.  Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his all–searching eye.

Mosiah 27:30 - 31

Nephi tells us that Christ will yield “himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up” (1 Nephi 19:10).  During his visit to the Nephites, Christ would tell them, ”And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—“ (3 Nephi 27:14). 

Nephi’s brother and successor, Jacob taught the Nephites, “Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again.  And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me” (2 Nephi 6:9).  King Benjamin taught, “And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him” (Mosiah 3:9).

After His death, he would be buried in a sepulcher.  The elder Nephi would write, “Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God.  Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name” (2 Nephi 25:13).

Six hundred years later, Matthew would record, “And when Joseph [of Arimathæa] had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed” (Matthew 27:59-60).

According to the words of Zenos, there would be three days of darkness “which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea” (1 Nephi 19:10).  When preaching to the Nephites, Samuel the Lamanite would echo the words of Zenos.  “But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead … And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days” (Helaman 14:20, 27). 

The Lost 116 Pages

Nephi, having faith, made another record “for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:3).  Let’s take a break from the Book of Mormon and look at why the small plates were necessary.

Moroni Visits Joseph Smith (JS-History 1:29-34)

Joseph writes that in the time since he received the First Vision, he “was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been … In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections” (JS-History 1:28 - 29). 

So, on the night of September 21, 1823, he went to the Lord in fervent prayer.  While praying, a heavenly messenger appeared, identifying himself as Moroni.  Moroni told him about “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” (JS-History 1:34). 

The time had not yet come when Joseph would receive the plates.  Moroni visited him each year until September 22, 1827.  It was then Joseph received the plates. 

Translating and the Lost 116 Pages

(In preparing this section, I used the following articles as sources: 

·         Manuscript, Lost 116 Pages, William J. Critchlow III, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 22, 2013.

·         The Recovery of the Book of Mormon, Richard L. Bushman, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 22, 2013.

·         "For the Sum of Three Thousand Dollars," Susan Easton Black, and Larry C. Porter, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, April 22, 2013.)

Martin Harris was a well-known and respected member of the Palmyra community.  He heard Joseph Smith’s story and become a believer.  He offered to help Joseph any way he could.  For a time, he served a scribe for Joseph. 

Harris had a real problem.  This problem’s name was Lucy.  Lucy was Harris’s wife, and she did not accept Joseph Smith’s story.  She wanted to see the plates.  She did all she could to find the plates, causing many problems for Joseph. 

While serving as Joseph’s scribe, Harris asked if he could show his wife the 116 pages of manuscript.  Joseph inquired of the Lord, but he was told not to give Harris the manuscript.  Harris asked him a second time, but again the Lord said no.  Joseph went before the Lord a third time and this time he was given permission to let him take the 116 pages. 

There were conditions placed on Harris.  Joseph told him he could only show them to his brother, parents, his wife, and his sister-in-law.  He made Harris make a covenant with him, which Harris did. A date was set for him to return the manuscript.

Martin Harris did not return when he said he would.  Joseph would soon learn the reason.  Harris broke his covenant with Joseph and showed it to many people.  The manuscript ended up missing.  Harris had no idea what happened to it.  He confronted his wife, but she denied having done anything with the manuscript. 

Finally, Harris returned.  Joseph must have been beside himself.  When he learned the manuscript had been lost, he cried, "Oh! my God my God[,]" said Joseph as he clenched his hands together, "all is lost is lost what shall I do[?] I have sinned[;] it is me that tempted the wrath of God." (This according to Lucy Mack Smith). 

Joseph was severely chastised by the Lord. 

[A] man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

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.

D&C 3:4 - 8

The plates and Urim and Thumim were taken from Joseph for a time.  Eventually, all was returned to him, and he continued the translation.

What was in the 116 pages?  They contained Mormon’s abridgement of the Book of Lehi as well as some parts of the large plates of Nephi.

What happened to the manuscript?  We don’t know.  In another revelation to Joseph, the Lord told him:

Behold, [evil men] have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you.

And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted; and he has also sought to destroy your gift.

 And because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold, wicked men have taken them from you.

Therefore, you have delivered them up, yea, that which was sacred, unto wickedness.

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;

For he hath put into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate.

Verily, I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing.

D&C 10:6 - 14

Lucy Harris would later claim to have burned the manuscript.  That may well be true.  The manuscript has never been found.

We see the Lord’s wisdom when dealing with us.  He provided  for a mistake Joseph Smith would make nearly two-and-a-half millennia later.  And the record would contain many plain and precious truths we would not have had it not been for Joseph Smith’s mistake.

1 Nephi 19:1-5

Chapter 19

Nephi makes plates of ore and records the history of his people—The God of Israel shall come six hundred years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem—Nephi tells of His sufferings and crucifixion—The Jews shall be despised and scattered until the latter days, when they shall return unto the Lord. About 588–570 B.C.

For the third (but not the last) time, Nephi explains that the record we are reading is a record because he was commanded to do so by the Lord.  Describing this record, Jacob would write:

And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

Jacob 7:26

John Welch explains more about what would be called the small plates of Nephi.

Nephi wrote his small plates soon after important events such as Lehi’s death, Nephi’s separation from his rebellious brothers, and the establishment of the reign of kings (see last month's research update). Recognizing when he wrote, we can better appreciate not only Nephi's s stated reasons for writing the small plates but also subtle underlying motivations behind his inspired selection and treatment of this material.

We can assume that Nephi wrote his second account (the small plates) for many good reasons and from a particular vantage point. Although the large plates contained the prophecies of Lehi and Nephi (see 1 Nephi 19:1), that earlier record nevertheless must have been insufficient in certain respects, thus warranting the construction of an entirely new set of plates and the rewriting of the basic story. [1]

He did not expect this command from the Lord.  He would write, “I knew not at the time when I made [the large plates of Nephi] that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates” (1 Nephi 19:2).

Later in this record, Nephi would explain:

And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem [569 B.C.].

And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made, of my people thus far.

And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.

Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.

And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.  And if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.

And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates.

2 Nephi 5:28 - 33

The large plates contained a record of Lehi, a family genealogy, and a more detailed account of what occurred during the trip in the wilderness.  They contained a record of all that occurred before Nephi made this record. 

Nephi made these plates after being commanded by the Lord.  On these plates, he writes about “the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates” (1 Nephi 19:3).    The information of the plates was to be for the instruction of the people. 

Nephi also demonstrates his great faith and trust in the Lord.  Telling us he was commanded to make this record, he writes they are “for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” but not known by Nephi (1 Nephi 19:3).  Jacob would share with us Nephi’s charge given to him.   

FOR behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem [544 B.C.]; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people.

Jacob 1:1 - 4

Mormon would write about his discovery of the small plates.

And now, 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

Here again is a story of faith.  Like Nephi, Mormon was commanded to append these plates to his record.  He would not abridge these records.  This is not surprising because Mormon tells us “the things which are upon these plates pleasing me” (Words of Mormon 1:4). 

Today, we know why the Lord commanded the plates be made.  I will recount the story of Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages of manuscript in the next post.

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[1] Why Nephi Wrote the Small Plates: Serving Practical Needs, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 20, 2013.