1
Ne 9:5 the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates
for a wise purpose in him
The
foreknowledge of God had anticipated the blunder of the 116 lost pages of the
book of Lehi. It was for this reason that the Lord commanded Nephi to write an
abridged version of the same history on the small plates. He was to include the more plain and precious parts (1 Ne 19:3). This
spiritual record would be translated instead of retranslating the book of Lehi
contained on the large plates. Thus, the Lord would show that his wisdom is
greater than the cunning of the devil. DC 10: 38-43 contains the Lord¡¯s
commands to Joseph Smith to translate the small plates of Nephi to replace the
history lost in the 116 pages:
¡®And now, verily I say
unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have
gone out of your hands (the 116 pages), is engraven upon the (small) plates
of Nephi;
Yea, and you remember it
was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of these
things upon the plates of Nephi.
And now, because the
account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi is more particular
concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of
the people in this account--
Therefore, you shall
translate the engravings which are on the (small)
plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the
reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated,
which you have retained; (i.e. those portions of Mosiah that had been
translated but were not given to Martin Harris)
And behold, you shall
publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have
altered my words.
I will not suffer that
they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is
greater than the cunning of the devil.
Behold, they have only
got a part, or an abridgment of the account of Nephi.
Behold, there are many
things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my
gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part
of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.¡¯ (DC
10: 38-43)
The ability of the Lord to foresee and
make preparations for an event 2400 years in the future is remarkable. This wise purpose of the Lord was referred to in the
following Book of Mormon scriptures, 1 Ne 9:3,5, 1 Ne 19:3, Words of Mormon
1:7.
Ezra Taft Benson
¡°The ancient preparation of the Book
of Mormon, its preservation, and its publication verify Nephi's words that ¡®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 ne. 9:61 Nephi 9:6).
We are not required to prove that the Book of Mormon is true or is an authentic
record through external evidences-though there are many. It never has been the
case, nor is it so now, that the studies of the learned will prove the Book of
Mormon true or false. The origin, preparation, translation, and verification of
the truth of the Book of Mormon have all been retained in the hands of the
Lord, and the Lord makes no mistakes. You can be assured of that.¡± (The
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 65.)