How to read the Book of Mormon, a practical example.

[mikbone]

Study of the 28th chapter of 3rd Nephi is well worth the effort. An event of great import occurs within the chapter, but without careful investigation it will be unappreciated. Pay attention to Mormon’s voice, his actions, and commentary. I don’t wish to spoil the personal discovery, but for convenience I will point out that Mormon is giving us a perfect example of how to read the scriptures. The chapter can be divided into three sections. In the first part, verses 1-16, Mormon studied Nephi the Disciple’s manuscript and then inscribed the material into the Golden Plates. In the second part, verses 17-24, Mormon does some cross referencing and then shares with us his personal insight. In the remainder of the chapter - something special happens.

It may help to visualize the setting wherein Mormon is writing. The following image is Tom Lovell’s Oil on Canvas work titled Mormon Abridging the Plates. The painting does have some inconsistencies with the text, but a picture can give a very useful impression.

Mormon is an old man. With a little research, we find out that the writing of The Words of Mormon took place approximately during Mormon’s seventy-fourth year of life.[1]  The collection of plates that Ammaron had hidden in the Hill Shim had been retrieved ten years earlier by Mormon.[2]  In Lovell’s painting Mormon appears to be in the setting of a Temple or large well-appointed residence. Mormon was probably in a much more spartan setting. He had recently moved his people to the land of Cumorah in preparation for war. Apparently, he inscribed the material between The Words of Mormon and Mormon chapter six within the self-same year.[3]

I recommend picking up the Book of Mormon and giving the chapter some scrutiny. In your mind, modify Tom Lovell’s illustration where you perceive differences within the text.  For example, Mormon probably was not scuffing up prior prophet's manuscripts with his sandals... You can even direct your own movie if you want to; I certainly do. If you don’t find anything of significance with the first reading, keep studying. It may even benefit you to pray and ponder as needed. If there is any interest I will post a follow up of what I think is a pretty exciting find.  

 

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[1] Mormon 1:6 (Age 11 at year 322 A.D.), Words of Mormon v. 2 (year 385 A.D.)

[2] Mormon 4:23

[3] Mormon 6:2-6

[Rob Osborn]

19 hours ago, mikbone said:

Study of the 28th chapter of 3rd Nephi is well worth the effort. An event of great import occurs within the chapter, but without careful investigation it will be unappreciated. Pay attention to Mormon’s voice, his actions, and commentary. I don’t wish to spoil the personal discovery, but for convenience I will point out that Mormon is giving us a perfect example of how to read the scriptures. The chapter can be divided into three sections. In the first part, verses 1-16, Mormon studied Nephi the Disciple’s manuscript and then inscribed the material into the Golden Plates. In the second part, verses 17-24, Mormon does some cross referencing and then shares with us his personal insight. In the remainder of the chapter - something special happens.

It may help to visualize the setting wherein Mormon is writing. The following image is Tom Lovell’s Oil on Canvas work titled Mormon Abridging the Plates. The painting does have some inconsistencies with the text, but a picture can give a very useful impression.

Mormon is an old man. With a little research, we find out that the writing of The Words of Mormon took place approximately during Mormon’s seventy-fourth year of life.[1]  The collection of plates that Ammaron had hidden in the Hill Shim had been retrieved ten years earlier by Mormon.[2]  In Lovell’s painting Mormon appears to be in the setting of a Temple or large well-appointed residence. Mormon was probably in a much more spartan setting. He had recently moved his people to the land of Cumorah in preparation for war. Apparently, he inscribed the material between The Words of Mormon and Mormon chapter six within the self-same year.[3]

I recommend picking up the Book of Mormon and giving the chapter some scrutiny. In your mind, modify Tom Lovell’s illustration where you perceive differences within the text.  For example, Mormon probably was not scuffing up prior prophet's manuscripts with his sandals... You can even direct your own movie if you want to; I certainly do. If you don’t find anything of significance with the first reading, keep studying. It may even benefit you to pray and ponder as needed. If there is any interest I will post a follow up of what I think is a pretty exciting find.  

 

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[1] Mormon 1:6 (Age 11 at year 322 A.D.), Words of Mormon v. 2 (year 385 A.D.)

[2] Mormon 4:23

[3] Mormon 6:2-6

Are you speaking of the event where Mormon becomes intrigued about the three Nephites and in so doing the three appear unto him?

[Rob Osborn]

Mere speculation but I believe the three Nephites are Nephi, Timothy, and Jonas.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

1 hour ago, Rob Osborn said:

Mere speculation but I believe the three Nephites are Nephi, Timothy, and Jonas.

Yeah, I read that blog post too, about the woman that met Jonas. 

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

This is a fun post and I look forward to the inevitably long responses about how Mormon was not from Central America, the sword of Mormon was not made of obsidian and there is no archaeological evidence of the fact that the Nephites ever existed. I personally believe that the Hopewell and Adena people were the Nephites and Jaredites respectively, but it will be fun to watch the fireworks that will invariably arrive over the next few days.

[Vort]

6 minutes ago, Emmanuel Goldstein said:

I personally believe that the Hopewell and Adena people were the Nephites and Jaredites respectively

Seems unlikely that the two bloodlines would have remained distinct over the millennia.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

3 minutes ago, Vort said:

Seems unlikely that the two bloodlines would have remained distinct over the millennia.

Maybe I am just dense, but I have no idea what you are saying in this comment.

[Vort]

9 minutes ago, Emmanuel Goldstein said:

Maybe I am just dense, but I have no idea what you are saying in this comment.

My mistake. I thought you were talking about modern peoples, not historic peoples. I blame careless reading and stupidity.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

27 minutes ago, Vort said:

My mistake. I thought you were talking about modern peoples, not historic peoples. I blame careless reading and stupidity.

Ok. Thank you for the clarification. 

[mikbone]

Yes @Rob Osborn recognizing that the three nephites visited Mormon somewhere between when he started inscribing the chapter and when he finished the chapter is of great import.  There are other details as well...

I have no idea of the names of the 3 Nephites though.  But it is interesting that Mormon wanted to tell us.

Probably the most important part of the chapter is the concept that Mormon displays of Reading, coming up with a question, Pondering, Cross Referencing, and most important PRAYING about the subject.

Many churches do not understand the import of these steps.

[Rob Osborn]

3 hours ago, mikbone said:

Yes @Rob Osborn recognizing that the three nephites visited Mormon somewhere between when he started inscribing the chapter and when he finished the chapter is of great import.  There are other details as well...

I have no idea of the names of the 3 Nephites though.  But it is interesting that Mormon wanted to tell us.

Probably the most important part of the chapter is the concept that Mormon displays of Reading, coming up with a question, Pondering, Cross Referencing, and most important PRAYING about the subject.

Many churches do not understand the import of these steps.

Thanks for pointing this out. I had never noticed this detail. I thought about it all day. It's further proof of the validity of the Book of Mormon. Joseph couldn't of worded it this way, it's pretty complex in it's layout.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

It should pointed out that the Book of Mormon does not make any reference to "The Three Nephites." It does however make reference to "Three Disciples." I mention this because there is the possibility that they may have been Lamanites as well.

[mikbone]

 

 

 

---Spoiler Alert---

 

 

 

 

 

In verses 1-16 Mormon inscribes Nephi’s recollection of events that occurred during Christ’s visit to the Nephites, and more particularly, the interaction with His disciples. Apparently, this material intrigued Mormon. He was particularly interested as to whether the Three Disciples were mortal or immortal. After Mormon wrote verse 16 he stops his transcription and does some research.

This is where Tom Lovell’s illustration comes in handy. Mormon is thinking, you can see it in his eyes. It is obvious from the contents in verses 17-24 that Mormon is curious about the bodies of the Three Disciples whom shall never taste of death. The material that is written in verses 20-22 didn’t occur until almost two centuries after the events of verses 1-16. We know this from the record in 4 Nephi. The records had passed from father to son for four generations.

Nephi the Disciple -> his son Nephi who kept the record till his death in 110 AD.

4^th Nephi -> his son Amos who kept the record till his death in 194 A.D.

Amos -> his son Amos who kept the record till his death in 305 A.D.

This second Amos recorded the decline of the Nephites and the miraculous accounts of the three disciples escape from prison, a furnace, and the dens of wild beasts as written in 4 Nephi 1: 30-33. Mormon was so impressed by this record of the three disciples escape that he recorded the events twice. We see the retelling of the miracles within a span of 6 pages, but Mormon must have had to sift through many records to find these accounts. It is also likely that these accounts were rumored among the general populace during Mormon’s lifetime.

Verse 24 is probably the most important in the entire chapter. Mormon has inscribed the record of Nephi and then done the research. After researching the records, he went back to the Golden Plates and inscribed his personal notes. Then in verse 24, it is obvious that Mormon is still unsatisfied. He clearly states “I, Mormon, make an end of speaking concerning these things for a time.”  We don’t know how long of a break he took. But, it must have been significant, because what came next is awe inspiring. Mormon did exactly what we are taught to do when confusion or uncertainty arises. Verse 37 states that he inquired of the Lord.

I imagine that Mormon was kneeling asking for enlightenment when sometime during or after his prayer he hears a knock on his door. As he opens the door, he is greeted by three translated personages. Verse 26 states that these men were the Lord's three disciples, and that they ministered unto him. I imagine that Mormon had many questions. He probably was most interested in what he had previously written into what we now know as Third Nephi chapter Eleven. They were direct witnesses of the newly resurrected Christ, and the Father's testimony. He asked the disciples what it was like to place their hands into the Lord's side, and to feel the prints of the nails in his hands and feet. He asked the disciples what their names were, and they told him. They told Mormon of their special mission and what they had been doing over the past three hundred years. They explained some of the rules that they had to abide. The disciples also told Mormon what they would be doing millennia into the future. They told Mormon that they would be hidden among the Gentiles and the Jews. And that many great and marvelous works would be performed by them prior to the judgment day. They explained in detail and demonstrated the type of change that had occurred to their bodies. They related how they no longer suffered pain nor temptation, and that they were more powerful than any force upon the earth.

In scripture study, footnotes can be extremely beneficial. Knowing what we do now, let’s look at the footnote associated with verse 26. It points to Mormon 8:11

“But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have ministered unto us.”

This changes our entire image of the chapter!  The verse can be interpreted many ways, but I think Moroni is hinting that he was with his father during the angelic visitation. It is likely that Mormon and Moroni produced the Golden Plates as a team. Considering that the material from The Words of Mormon to Fourth Nephi was produced in a single year (323 pages in our current edition). It is reasonable that Mormon requested the assistance of his son Moroni as his scribe.

Our current model of the production of Third Nephi chapter Twenty-Eight very much resembles an encounter that occurred in modern times found in Joseph Smith History 1: 66-74.  Moroni had probably counseled Joseph Smith to obtain a scribe. Moroni knew that Joseph Smith must complete the translation in a short period of time, and he knew from prior experience that the translation would not be easy.

When Mormon and Moroni went back to the work of finishing the chapter, they were probably very excited to relate their experience. But as they started to inscribe the encounter, the Lord forbade. In verse 25 we learn that Mormon was instructed that he could not share the names of the three diciples, and He was inspired to write the material in a way that limited the amount of material disclosed.

 

Note to reader:

1) The Book of Mormon is an actual historical account.

2) Scripture study can be rewarding, but to obtain the prize you must do the work. One must think. Research is imperative. And whenever uncertainty or confusion occur, do the right thing and inquire of the Lord.

3) Whenever you see Mormon or Moroni insert their personal voice into the Golden Plates, please take note. Search for passages where Mormon or Moroni state that they are ‘constrained’ or ‘forbidden’ from sharing more information. It is a sure indication that they were privy to greater insight, and that they wanted to share it with us…[1] 

 

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[1] Mormon 8:12

Edited November 11, 2018 by mikbone