Blogger of Jared

Happy New Year!

It’s hard to believe that we are around to studying The Book of Mormon again in Sunday School. I have a goal this year to begin my day with my Book of Mormon reading (I usually read at night).

Today, as part of my study, I read over Jim F.’s questions and the references he includes, as well as some powerful quotes from Church leaders, and was struck by the miracle that is The Book of Mormon. I wanted to record some of my thoughts, and decided to do it here. This post will focus particularly on the following question posed by Jim F.:

What is the point of saying that the Book of Mormon was “written by way of commandment”?

This question caused me to recall something that really struck me a while ago as I studied and pondered the Book of Mormon: the Lord was intricately involved in the writing of this book. We talk often of how the book was written by the hand of prophets, compiled by the hand of Mormon. But to me, it feels more like it was written by the hand of God, through them. I recognize, as the writers did, that they were not perfect beings. In spite of their weakness, however, I feel the power of God in what they wrote, and I do believe this book is evidence of His hand and His will in this latter-day work, for which the foundation was laid centuries ago.

I have included several scriptures below that demonstrate to me how involved the Lord was in the creating and coming forth of The Book of Mormon.

1 Nephi 9:3
Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.

1 Nephi 9:5-6
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; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words….

1 Nephi 19:1-6
AND it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.
And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates; wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates.
And after I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that 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.
Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people. And this have I done, and commanded my people what they should do after I was gone; and that these plates should be handed down from one generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until further commandments of the Lord. <br>And an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter; and then, behold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken; and this I do that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.
Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred.

The Lord commanded Nephi to make both sets of plates, but in the end, the focus was to be on sacred things. Nephi passed the commandment to keep this focus others as well:

1 Nephi 6:6
6 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.

Following are some other scriptures that show how the Lord was involved in the creation and coming forth of this record (and also reinforce the eternal importance of the book):

1 Nephi 10:22
And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.

2 Nephi 25:4
…But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me;…

2 Nephi 25:11
And now this I speak because of the spirit which is in me….

(The list of prophecies could go on and on….)

2 Nephi 3, 27, 28, 29 all prophesy about the Restoration and the role of the prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon in the ‘marvelous work and a wonder‘ (see also Isaiah 29:14). Mormon 8 is another one of those chapters.

2 Nephi 33:11
And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye–for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. (This whole chapter is a powerful testimony of the words of Christ as contained in this record and also in the Bible.)

Words of Mormon 1:6-7
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.

Alma 37:2, 12, 14, 18
And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.
And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations.
For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.

Mormon 9:34
But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.

Moroni 10:27
And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?

In Doctrine and Covenants 5:9, the Lord says:
I have reserved those things which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Joseph, for a wise purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations.

Several times, writers in the Book of Mormon stated that they couldn’t only write a “hundredth part” of what had transpired. I can only imagine that one of the ways they chose what to write was through inspiration.

Mormon was one who mentioned the limitations of writing, and as he did, he testified of the Lord’s will in the creation of this record, and how it also was created in response to the prayers of those who had gone before. He mentions this in 3 Nephi 5:13-18. (Note especially verse 13.)

Other scriptures that show that the Book of Mormon record was an answer to the prayers of ancient prophets, and was a fulfillment of a covenant that the Lord made with them include the following:

2 Nephi 26:15; 2 Nephi 33:4; Enos 1:11-18; Mormon 8:22-26. (Mormon’s prayers were also to this end.) I am particularly moved by the verses in Enos, and the power of the covenant that allowed Enos to rest. Wow.

I look forward to studying the Book of Mormon this year. I know it is a true book of scripture. There is great power that comes into my life when I read and ponder and apply its teachings. I know it was God’s will that it be created anciently and brought forth in our day. I find it all marvelous and wonderful!