Words of Mormon

Mormon explains that he abridged the Large Plates of Nephi including Lehi’s writings. Then he tells us he attached the Small Plates of Nephi to his plates without any abridgement.  He did this “for a wise purpose.”  We know that the translation of the abridgment (116 pages) of the Book of Lehi was lost by Martin Harris.  But with the inclusion by Mormon of the Small Plates, we get the record of Lehi and his family as they flee Jerusalem and settle in the New World (1^st and 2^nd Books of Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni).  As we begin The Book of Mosiah, we are starting the abridgment by Mormon of the Large Plates—minus the Book of Lehi which was lost by Martin Harris. 

Omni

This is the last book written on the Small Plates of Nephi.  There are several authors covering a period of about 140 years.  One of the authors, Amaleki, connects the historical records between the small and large plates by telling us that the Nephites were forced to flee out of the Land of Nephi down to the land of Zarahemla.  Here they discovered the people of Mulek who left Jerusalem about the same time as Lehi but took a different route to the Promised Land.  The Nephites and the Mulekites unite themselves. Mosiah is the leader of the Nephites and Zarahemla leads the Mulekites.  Because the Mulekites did not bring the scriptures with them from Jerusalem like Lehi’s family, their language and religion had become corrupted.  So as these two groups of people united there must have been a great deal of teaching going on.  When Mosiah died, his son, King Benjamin reigned in his stead.  Amaleki concludes his record with this classic exhortation:  “…come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption.  Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.”

Jarom

Jarom, the son of Enos, continues the Small Plates of Nephi.  It is apparent from Jarom’s words that there is precious small space remaining on the plates.  It sufficeth him to say that his fathers were clear on the Doctrine of Christ.  During his day, it became more and more difficult to keep his people on the right path.  However, he was successful in doing that by “…prick[ing] their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance.”

Enos

Enos was Jacob’s son and grandson of Lehi.  He had a desire to repent.  He went into the mountains to hunt and in the process prayed all day and all night, periodically kneeing and pleading, walking and crying to the Lord, and kneeling again in solemn humility, until in the morning came the voice of the Lord forgiving him of his sin, sweeping his guilt away. He described this process as a “wrestle.”  Enos rejoiced and wondered out loud how it was done.  They Lord told him it was because of his faith in the Atonement of Christ.  Enos then prayed for his family, the Nephites, and for his family, the Lamanites who had apostatized.  Once we obtain blessings (in this case forgiveness of sins) for ourselves we naturally and appropriately ask for those same blessings for others.

Chapter 7

Jacob describes his experience with one of the church members in his town.  His name was Sherem.  “And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.”  While Sherem was an anti-Christ, we have wonderful church leaders, most importantly, apostles and prophets who also have a perfect knowledge of the language and use their knowledge to persuade us to do what is right.  I love the Apostles of Jesus Christ and I am studying their inspired words every day. 

Chapter 6

Jacob uses one of his best one-liners: O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life. O be wise; what can I say more?”

Chapter 5

The allegory of the Olive Tree by Zenos gives us the history of the House of Israel.  It shows us that (1) there is missing scripture in the Bible since there is not a Book of Zenos found there from which Jacob was quoting; and (2) shows us by its content regarding olive trees that Joseph Smith could not have possibly written it, he having no idea, whatsoever, of olive tree husbandry; and having no access to such knowledge.