1 Ne 9:2 they are called the plates of Nephi
Here Nephi
describes the difference between the small plates and large plates. The large
plates contained a full account of my people.
The small plates contained the ministry of my people
(verse 3). The small plates were large enough to contain 1 Nephi, 2
Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, and Omni. Nephi did not begin writing on these
plates until 30 years after leaving Jerusalem (2 Ne 5:28-30).
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.)
1 Ne 9:5 a wise purpose…which…I know not
Nephi knew why he had to
leave Jerusalem. He knew why he had to return to get the brass plates. He knew
why he had to kill Laban, and he knew why he had to return for the family of
Ishmael. But why he had to make a duplicate record of his history and a record
of his ministry, he did not know. Yet, Nephi is completely content to follow
the commands of the Lord without knowing His plans. How different is that from
the carnal man, who will never follow an order unless he understands why?
Nephi never seems upset by the
Lord’s apparent silence on the matter. He never demands a reason. He just
faithfully keeps the command of the Lord at considerable personal sacrifice.
Imagine how much work it must have been for him to record everything written in
1st and 2nd Nephi! Then imagine how much we would have
lost had he not been faithful or was not content in the knowledge that ‘the Lord knoweth all things’ (v. 6).