Book of Mormon Commentary - 1 Nephi 12

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 12 Nephi sees in vision: the land of promise; the righteousness, iniquity, and downfall of its inhabitants; the coming of the Lamb of God among them; how the twelve disciples and the twelve apostles shall judge Israel; the loathsome and filthy state of those who dwindle in unbelief. [Between 600 and 592 B.C.]	[About 592 B.C.]
1 AND it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Look, and behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld the ^aland of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the ^bsand of the sea^a. 2 And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld ^awars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters^a with the sword among my people. 3 And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them^a.	1^a I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the sands of he sea Over the course of a thousands years, two relatively small colonies, that of Lehi and that of Mulek multiply into millions upon millions of people. While not completely illustated only here in this one statement, it is important to keep in mind the filling of the Americas which occurs from the beginnings of these two colonies as one studies the Book of Mormon. 2^a I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters Despite that fact that the two colonies from Jerusalem had no real competition upon the land besides themselves, that is the nation which had occupied the land before them had been totally swept off from the face of the land, the Jaredites; the did have many wars amoung themselves with great slaughters. This amoung other 'natural' disasters did curb the population explosion to some extent, and like any population explosion observed in nature which has limitless resources and no compeating neighboring civilization to contend with to limit them in the use of those resources, the two founding colonies of Lehi and Mulek did multiply exceedinly as it was literaly a 'population explosion' unhindered by scarce resourses and neighboring competing previously established civiliations. 3^aI beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them Again, though not a complete accessment, this early statement by Nephi is important is establishing that the Americas were filled by numberless cities of the seed of Joseph during the 1000 years of the Book of Mormon history from about 580 B.C. to 420 A.D.—the time period which the two colonies actual dwelt upon the land and came to fill the whole of it.	1^a TG Promised Lands ^b Gen. 22:17-18; 1 Kings 4:20 2^a Enos 1:24; Morm. 8:7-8; TG War
When Continents Collide There are now many who would limit the lands of the Book of Mormon to the small regions in the midst of Central America which they have labeled 'Mesoamerica'. This not only diminishes the doctrinal concept that the whole of the Western Hemisphere is to be considered the Land of Promise, the land preserved for the seed of Joseph, but it also diminishes the grandure of the scope of the Book of Mormon. Consider here the words of Nephi as he sees in vision the grand catastrophic events in vision and think whether they apply to a land limited to the size of the state of Utah as the Mesoamerican Theorists promote or whether it in fact speaks concerning the whole of the lands of the Americas as many or most of the Lord's anointed who have spoken out upon the matter do so present. Later in 3rd Nephi, when the fuller account of the actual events are presented, we will again address this consideration.
Nephi Sees the Future of the Promised Land and His People This is a part of 'the vision of all' that Nephi sees, which was seen by the brother of Jared and by John the beloved and as had also been seen by Lehi his father, Moroni, Ether and others. And Nephi relates that which he saw as pertaining to his people, this promised land and further unto we who now posses it.
4 And it came to pass that I saw a ^amist of ^bdarkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces^a; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were ^cbroken up^b; and I saw many cities that they were ^dsunk^c; and I saw many that they were burned with fire^d; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof^e. I SAW What Nephi sees and hears in his vision is summarized here in a single verse. Later in other accounts given by Mormon's highly condensed abridgement, several verses set out the events in fuller but still highly abridge in nature. Mormon's record records that the whole face of the land north was altered and changed in comparision with the land south. And that the land south remained more in tact in relationship to cities. But where are the many cities of the Land of Zarahemla and the Land of Nephi in the Mesoamerican model. The but seem to trickle down to practically nothing in the south which would be the Land of Nephi in the model of limit Mesoamerica Book of Mormon mappings, whereas the many great and grand cities are all found in the north of Mesoamerica were the land was so greatly altered? In Nephi's short account he says he saw the 'mist or vapor of darkness' on the face of the land but does not record that it lasted for three days. He says he saw lightnings and heard thunderings, and saw earthquakes and heard all manner of tumultuous noises. He says he saw the earth and the rocks rent and many other things which are discussed in the center column. But many of the details found in Mormon's condensed abridgement are not spoken of. Nephi perspective is a time limited visionary perspective which he condenses down to but one verse in his highly abridged Small Plates record. Many quick read and quick study artist which have a certain agenda of a personal perspective tend to diminish these events to a land ranging about 400 miles from the Land of Nephi to the Hill of Cumorah with a land mass of that of the size of the state of Utah. Now, while Nephi's account is short and very limited, it does give added perspective to the various records of these events. For example, some tend to myopically narrow in on that Zarahemla burned and was destoryed. One such great city perhaps like Rome or Chicago. But Nephi broadens that perspective and clearly states that 'many' cities, not just one, not just Zarahemla, but 'many' cities were burned with fire. This is not just a Sodom and a Gomorrah, merely two cities. This is many cities and they are spread out throughout the land. Considering the many cities that where destoryed in the many various ways, one must consider that no city was lift untouched and that hundreds of cities were so destoryed. This was no little event, a quake with its epicenter in the state of Utah being felt only by Utahns. This was a 'world' shaking event not only felt but experienced around the world. Darkness came upon the land of Jerusalem. The veil of the temple there was rent from the event, a heavy strong thick composite of material formed that veil and it was just torn apart like cotton matting. The quaking continued even after the Savior's death as recorded in the New Testament. The whole earth did quake and move.	4^a I saw mountains tumbling into pieces We've seen landslides, mudslides and avalanches. But Nephi speaks of seeing entire mountains crumbling to pieces before his eyes which the later accounts confirm. 4^b I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up We've seen earthquakes which split the earth and even raise one side of the split higher than the other. But Nephi sees multiple 'plains' of the earth being broken up all across the plains expanse and the later recorded accounts confirms this. [Note: There is one particular plains that was broken up which could well be of a significant matter in the reforming of the contour of the land. And that would be the plain between Mulek and Bountiful which along that plain and its accompanying seashore was a fairly straight course between the two cities during the days of Chief Captain Moroni, Lehi and Teancum (See Alma 52). Moroni's son was Moronihah and there was a city built after that name which the destruction during the day of the Lord accounts was raised up to a great mountain and the city of Moronihah it self was buried in the depths of it in the process (See 3 Nephi 8:10, 25 & 3 Nephi 9:5). What is or particular interest in this description is that, besides the eventual filling in of the great east Amazon sea, for Colombia to be truely considered as the land of Zarahemla, there needs be an accounting for that most northern and most recent Andes Mountain uplift that raised a 'great mountain' that filled the northern reaches of Colombia between the narrow neck of the Isthmus of Darien and the great northren Amazon Orinoco basin whose modern beginings is marked by the Gulf of Venezuela and the Lake of Maracaibo. This 'great mountain uplift' giving Colombia it 'highest and newest mountain top and in the Book of Mormon record concerning the city of Moronihah that would perhaps account for that northern Ande range uplift the North De Santandes at the time about 34 A.D. 4^c I saw many cities that they were sunk Nephi sees many, multiple, not just one or two cities completely sunk and swallowed up by the seas, not just washed over as in a single tsunami event but totally gone into the depths of the sea forever. We've seen the devastation one such large tsunami event or one such volcanic event can do upon shore line coasts and islands. But Nephi sees whole coastlines gone and the form of the land being changed forever and many cities being swallowed up and gone not just wrecked and still there. 4^d I saw many [cities] that they were burned with fire Man had historical accounts of fire hailing down upon a city from a volcano and accounts of cities burning caused by a chance occurance during and earth quake. But Nephi sees 'many' cities spread out over the landscape within just hours of time being totally consumed by such fire events. 4^e I saw many [cities] that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof We've seen earthquakes which effect a city like San Francisco and others. But within the space of hours, 'many' cities both in the land north and in the land south are totally crumbled to the earth, not just damaged here and there, but flattened to the ground. What Nephi Didn't Report As stated, Nephi takes one verse. Whether he saw more and just didn't report it is not known. But many events he did not record which also did occur. While most of these will be further explored at the point that they are disclosed, a mention of a few seems beneficial here to confirm that Nephi's visionary account is but a limited perspective and scope being presented. Whole cities where swallowed up by the earth, either mountains falling upon them of the earth just opening up and consuming them deep within the depths of the earth. The 'mist' of darkness was so thick that it made it difficult to breath for the survivors and the heaviness and make up of the 'vapor' was such that fires could not be lite for light. There was total heavy thick darkness that could be felt physically as the elements being cast up into the air totally blocked all light for a period of three days. The variety of the accompanying 'weather' conditions and the variety of the seismic activities are just touched upon, not only by Nephi but also even by such later accounts, all of which are but abridgements of what did occur. The whole of the face of the land north was changed and much of the land south also. Such effects would be long lasting in their eventual final developed conditions.	4^a 1 Ne. 19:12; Hel. 14:28 (20-28); 3 Ne. 10:11 ^b 1 Ne. 19:10; 2 Ne. 26:3 ^c Gen. 7:11 ^d 3 Ne. 8:14 Lands Divided Scriptures state and the doctrine is that the land in the days of Adam was all one land. Scriptures state and the doctrine is that the flood of Noah was a universal flood which covered, that is 'baptized' the earth. Scriptures state and the doctrine is that the earth was divided in the days of Peleg, about 2,000 years before Christ. Scriptures state and the doctrine is that these divided lands with be turned back to being one land again as they once were before they where divided by the hand and voice of Jesus Christ about 2,000 years after his ministry on earth. Within the scope and time frame of the scriptual account, which is the word of God, the learning and wisdom of men do not agree with any of it. By their limited theoretical 'knowledge' based on very limited fact and many presumptions, they conclude the facts and truth of the scriptural accouts to be but fables and fiction. So what does one follow after and is led by, the truth of God's word or the theories of man? Considering that the earth was divided in the days of Peleg, and the so divided land masses parted to the 'east' and 'west' to keep it simple. For how long and just where abouts do those divided parted land masses come to meet on the other side of the world which are traveling to the west from one site of origin and to the east from that same site of origin. Peleg lived in the middle east, likely in the fertile crescent regions of Ur and Sumer where the population concentrated and build the Tower of Babel. Given the rates of 'rapid' continental drift, it would have taken hundred of years before such land masses and 'plates did collide on the other side of the world from which they had divided. Now that is an over simplified model for sure. But the catastrophic events in the Americas as recorded in the Book of Mormon would attest that some 2,000 years after the land was divide in the days of Peleg, massive portions of those massive plates did collide and account for the vast seismic destructions as recorded at the time of the death of Christ. When one studies the Book of Mormon accounts in earnest, what but such a cataclysmic event as that of massive land plates 'colliding could account for the vast variety of every type of destructive force known to man occuring simultaneously within a period of three days beginning with the 'big bang' of the seismic event which triggered them all? Is not science the least bit curious to consider such an occurance and that that could and would be occuring at the same time from volcanic, to earthquake, to tidel waves, to hurricanes and tornados. This will be addressed again in 3^rd Nephi were all such events are recorded together in more detail. Consider, the whole of the land north, all of the lands of the Empire of the Jaredites was totally effected to the point that the entire face of that land was chanced. Further the whole of the land south and its cities where also all effected. In terms of 'nations' the lands of the great nation and Empire of the Jaredites was totally changed and effected. The Nation of Zarahemla and its lands were all effected with destruction. Even all of the nation of the Lamanites, the lands of the nation of the Land of Nephi were also effected and destoryed. This was not a 'local' event. This was a continental event, a hemipheric event. And the earthquakes and darkness in Jerusalem are likely but 'side' effects of the events, the collision of continents which occured in the Western Hemisphere.
5 And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the ^avapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord. 6 And I saw the heavens open, and the ^aLamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and ^bshowed himself unto them.		5^a 3 Ne. 8:20; 6^a 2 Ne. 26:1, 9; 3 Ne. 11:8 (3-17) ^b 2 Ne. 32:6; Alma 7:8; Alma 16:20
7 And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon ^atwelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen. 8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed. 9 And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the ^aTwelve Apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall ^bjudge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel. 10 And these ^atwelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God^a their ^bgarments are made white in his blood.	10^a they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God This sanctified state which was the sealing of the 12 disciples or apostles of the Lord of the Nephites is that particular status of having one's calling and election made sure. Though the Book of Mormon does not so stipulate in it abridged account the accompanying cleansing ordinance of the Lord's washing of the feet of the disciples would be so considereed to have accompanied this eventual sanctified state. As in the case of the 12 Apostles of the Lord in Jerusalem, the Holy Ghost was promised them that it would so come to the fulfilling of the promises of the Lord unto them. It is the Holy Ghost and the power thereof which does sanctify men unto righteousness and salvation.	7^a 3 Ne. 11:22; 3 Ne. 12:1 9^a Matt. 10:1; Luke 6:13; John 6:70; 1 Ne. 11:29; 1 Ne. 13:40 (24-26, 40) ^b Matt. 19:28; D&C 29:12; TG Judgment, The Last 10^a 3 Ne. 27:27; Morm. 3:18-19 ^b Rev. 7:14; Rev. 19:8; Alma 5:21-27; Alma 13:11-13; 3 Ne. 27:19-20; D&C 88:85
11 And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld ^athree generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him. 12 And I, Nephi, also saw many of the ^afourth generation who passed away in righteousness.		11^a 2 Ne. 26:9-10; 3 Ne. 27:32 (30-32) 12^a 2 Ne. 26:9; Alma 45:12 (10-12); Hel. 13:10 (5, 9-10); 3 Ne. 27:32; 4 Ne. 1:14-41
13 And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together. 14 And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. 15 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes ^aagainst the seed of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle.		15^a Morm. 6:7 (1-22)
16 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of ^afilthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the ^briver of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of ^chell. 17 And the ^amists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which ^bblindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into ^cbroad roads, that they perish and are lost. 18 And the large and spacious ^abuilding, which thy father saw, is vain ^bimaginations and the ^cpride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible ^dgulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the ^ejustice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.		16^a TG Filthiness ^b 1 Ne. 8:13-14; 1 Ne. 15:27 (26-29) ^c TG Hell 17^a 2 Pet. 2:17; 1 Ne. 8:23; 1 Ne. 15:24 (23-24) ^b TG Apostasy, of Individuals ^c Prov. 4:14; Luke 13:24 18^a 1 Ne. 8:26; 1 Ne. 11:35-36 ^b Jer. 7:24; Jer. 9:14 ^c TG Haughtiness; TG Pride ^d Luke 16:26; 1 Ne. 15:28-30 ^e TG God, Justice of
19 And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my seed, and the ^atemptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did ^boverpower the people of my seed. 20 And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land. 21 And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw ^awars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw ^bmany generations pass away.		19^a TG Temptation ^b Jarom 1:10; W of M 1:2 (1-2) 21^a Morm. 8:8; Moro. 1:2 ^b 2 Ne. 1:18
22 And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall ^adwindle in unbelief. 23 And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a ^adark, and loathsome, and a ^bfilthy people, full of ^cidleness and all manner of abominations.		22^a 1 Ne. 15:13; 2 Ne. 26:15 23^a 2 Ne. 26:33 ^b 2 Ne. 5:22 (20-25); TG Filthiness ^c TG Idleness

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