Chapter 6

Emily Jean Stone graduated from high school last night.  The graduation exercises were in the Marriot Center on the BYU campus.  She looked so happy and proud in her red robe and cap.  She wore the gold ropes of a 4.0 scholar.  With her diploma was a scholarship certificate from Utah State University.  I could go on and on about how proud we are of her.  But it sufficeth me to say that she is a Daughter of God!  She is also, like Nephi, a descendant of Joseph.   

Chapter 5

Having obtained the Plates of Brass from Laban, Nephi and his brothers returned to the tent of their parents.  Sariah had complained bitterly to her husband thinking the worst regarding her sons. Yet when they returned her heart turned forever, she would never again doubt her husband or the Lord.  Lehi’s tender treatment of his wife’s complaints is inspirational.  Once he had the Brass Plates in hand, he searched them finding the writings of the prophets from Adam to Jeremiah.  He also ascertained his lineage:  he was from Joseph.  The importance of keeping a record of sacred things was taught to our ward this last Sunday by Emily.  She gave her senior talk in sacrament meeting.  She placed on the pulpit a large stack of varied sized books.  She explained that they were her journals.  She had recorded in her “gratitude” journals something from each day that she felt was a tender mercy or blessing from the Lord.  She filled the pages of all these journals by doing this daily from the time she was twelve.  Her talk was well received from the ward members, many of whom commented to Jean and I on Sunday and subsequently throughout the week.  We were very proud of her and felt the Spirit as she spoke. 

Chapter 4

There is a law regarding exceptions to God’s laws.  The law of exceptions is this:  God will allow exceptions from time to time regarding his laws for the good of his children.  He is the only one who can grant an exception.  For Nephi, it was the killing of Laban. “Thou shalt not kill,” was going through Nephi’s mind when the Spirit said, “Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes.”  Jean and I received an exception when we decided to be married in a civil rather than temple ceremony.  For a wise purpose, known to Him, he whispered to our hearts a reassurance that he was not opposed to our decision.  We also sought for and gained approval from our parents, bishop, and stake president.  Two months later, we were sealed in the temple.  It was on the anniversary of Jean’s baptism.  You may find that a situation will arise in your life where you need to petition the Lord for an exception.  Don’t proceed without his approval.  The Spirit will whisper when the coast is clear.

Chapter 3

Nephi:  “I will go and do.”  Laman: “murmur.”  On balance, I hope that in my life I do more doing than I do complaining.  Maybe murmuring comes from being afraid.  Fear causes me to avoid doing something.  When I get through my fears and go and do, I find that the thing I was afraid of wasn’t so bad, in fact I usually enjoy myself.  An example is two weeks ago our high priest group leader asked for volunteers to work at the welfare garden behind the Lindon Cannery.  I didn’t raise my hand.  I was afraid it would be all day.  I could picture myself on my knees weeding.  But, I started listening to the voice of faith and asked if I could be included in the work crew.  I went on a Saturday morning early.  It was raining.  When I got there and looked at the muddy field I almost turned around and left.  But, I got out of the car and discovered they needed someone to bring plants from the warehouse to the field.  I went and got involved with that.  Then they needed someone to dig small holes for the plants to go in.  At the end of an hour we had planted 1600 cabbage plants!  Yes, we were muddy, but a crew of about 20 men was also happy and bound together in the spirit of work.  Go and do!

Chapter 2

Because of faith in Christ and our Father in Heaven, Lehi departed from Jerusalem into the wilderness.  Retirement and old age await me.  What will I do with this new wilderness?  Will I shrivel and murmur and moan.  Or will I stand tall and walk in faith?  Nephi inspires me, but even more, Lehi’s example beckons me forward.  He went forward with faith, nothing wavering.  Sariah stood by his side; her faith his equal.

THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI-Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Emily graduated from seminary last night.  She was invited to share her testimony along with five of her classmates.  She stood tall, full of grace and truth.  Her testimony was simple and strong.  “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” she said with enthusiasm.  “Joseph Smith is a prophet,” she stated with dignity.  She even paid homage to her dad for being her first seminary teacher and getting her off to a good start.  I was beaming.  We had a brief moment of mirth, when her name was not read:  She leaped to her feet from her place on the stand and I jumped to my feet too.  The high councilor saw that he had missed her and shouted her name into the microphone.  “EMILY STONE, EMILY STONE!”   Everyone chuckled, including Emily.  My daughter knows the Book of Mormon is true because she has been reading it every night since the ninth grade.  She has also kept a journal faithfully as Nephi did. 

Something new with the latest edition of the Book of Mormon is the change to the paragraph written by Mormon or Moroni at the beginning that starts with, "An account of Lehi...." This paragraph is now printed in regular rather than italicized script. This is to show that this was in the original plates, whereas, the script that was added later at the beginning of the chapters was added by modern day editors.

A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon

When you start reading the Book of Mormon you are reading the Small Plates of Nephi.  Mormon left the Small Plates of Nephi unabridged.  His abridgement starts with the Large Plates of Nephi, the book of Mosiah being the first book.    Inserted between the Small Plates and Mormon’s abridgement of the Large Plates is Mormon’s brief explanation of what he did.  This is called the Words of Mormon.  Moroni finished his father’s abridgement and added a short book of his own.  Then he abridged (he may have also translated it) the record of the Jaredite people who came to America at the time of the Tower of Babel.  I know the Book of Mormon is true.  Mormon and Moroni were great father and son prophets!