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CHAPTER 9Nephi makes two sets of records—Each is called the plates of Nephi—The larger plates contain a secular history; the smaller ones deal primarily with sacred things. [Between 600 and 592 B.C.] |
Nephi will eventually be commanded to make two sets of records—The first set is commanded upon arrival in the promised land about 581 B.C contains a secular history—The second set is command after building the temple in the first land of Nephi about 570 B.C. contains the more sacred things only—Thus the dates range of [Between 600 and 592 B.C. is somewhat misleading as it is not when the records where commanded but when in the second set, Nephi first speaks of his two record set. [About 592 B.C.] | |
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1 AND all these things did my father see,
and hear, and speak, as
he dwelt in a tenta, in the
avalley of Lemuel, and also a great many more
thingsb, which cannot be written
upon these plates.
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1a he dwelt in a tent Again
Nephi speaks of his father Lehi living in a tent. And again it should be
mentioned that Lehi is not just 'camping out' for an extented encampment.
Lehi is living, day in and day out, month in and month out, year in and year
out in a tent. Lehi's group will spend some eight years living, planting
and harvesting in the fertile valley of Lemuel. And many things will
transpire during those years which Nephi does make a part of his small plate
record.
1b a great many more things As just mentioned, Lehi did see, hear and speak much over the duration of the 8 years living in a tent in the valley of Lemuel. The more full account of these would have been written by Lehi himself in the record of Lehi mentioned in 1 Nephi 6:1. Nephi does not repeat what is in that record. Often we presume too much from the small condensed abridgment we have and we fail to realize that there is much more to Lehi the prophet of God and his own ministry. And we presume that Nephi, despite the abridged ministry record which we have by him, has told us almost all there is to know and we conclude upon an erroneous limited sphere of circumstance and involvement in terms of the events and occurances of the life and times of Lehi and his living in a tent in the valley of Lemuel. |
1a
1 Ne. 2:6 (4-6, 8, 14-15); 1 Ne. 16:6, 12
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2 And now, as I have spoken concerning athese
platesa, behold they are
not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people;
for the aplates upon which I make a full account of my
people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates
of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of
Nephi.
3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special apurpose that there should be an account engraven of the bministry of my people. 4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the aother plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.
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2a these plates The plates of Nephi's ministry are Nephi's particularly abridged small plates from which we read the present firts books of the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi to Omni. Nephi was actually first commanded to write 'his history' after Lehi's party had arrived in the land of promise which is spoken of in 1 Nephi 19:1 round about 582 B.C. or so [Lehi left Jerusalem 600 BC, dwelt in the valley of Lemuel til about 592 BC, journeyed in the wilderness from the valley of Lemuel until their arrival in the first Bountiful for another 8 years to about 584 BC and there they built the ship. Given a couple of years or more to cross the ocean and journey in the new promised land to where they would find the ores to make plates from about 582 BC or so]. And on those 'large plates of Nephi', Nephi did engraven the record of his father Lehi from whatever source and material upon which Lehi had recorded them. It would not be until Lehi had died and Nephi had departed into the wilderness with those who would follow him, as he brother would again seek his life after Lehi's death; that the Lord would command Nephi to make his second record of his personal ministry in an abridged form. And that commandment is recorded in 2 Nephi 5:30-33 after Nephi had established his people in their new location and having built the temple there like unto Solomon's temple. And that would be about 560 BC, some 20 years after he had been commanded to first begin his large plates history. they |
2a
1 Ne. 19:1-2;
2 Ne. 5:30-33 2a IE the full account is on larger plates; the special account of his ministry is on the smaller plates of Nephi; See Jacob 3:13-14; See also1 Ne. 1:17 (16-17); 1 Ne. 6:1; 1 Ne. 10:1; 1 Ne. 19:2, 4; Omni 1:1; W of M 1:3 (2-11); D&C 10:38-40 3a D&C 3:19 b 1 Ne. 6:3 4a 2 Ne. 4:14; 2 Ne. 5:33 (29-33); Jacob 1:3 (2-4); Jarom 1:14; Omni 1:18; W of M 1:10
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5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a
awise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
6 But the Lord aknoweth 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 bpower unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
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5a
1 Ne. 19:3;
W of M 1:7; Alma 37:14 (2, 12, 14) 6a Isa. 48:3-7; Moses 1:6, 35; TG God, Foreknowledge of; TG God, Intelligence of; TG God, Omniscience of b Matt. 28:18
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