Joseph Smith<\/a>, between 1823 and 1829, invented the book, inserting his biblical understanding and the prevailing Christian thought of the early nineteenth-century American frontier? Let us consider.<\/p>\nJoseph Smith brought forth the Book of Mormon before Edgar Allan Poe invented the detective story, before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the complicated schemes which Sherlock Holmes unraveled, long before Agatha Christie. To presume that Joseph Smith invented the character Mormon as an editor, compiler, and abridger nearly 400 years after Christ who could then refer to records kept from the preceding thousand years is a great compliment! Then to have this Mormon produce a digest or abridgment of these thousand years of records, written by more than a score of official historians, would represent one of the most complicated literary inventions ever seen at that time. H. G. Wells\u2019 War of the Worlds<\/i> or Jules Verne\u2019s invention of Captain Nemo appears to me to be much less complicated. And Wells and Verne were stimulated by a much more complicated generation than western New York was for the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 1820s. The correct answer, of course, is given on the title page:<\/p>\n
THE<\/i> \nBOOK OF MORMON<\/i> \nAn Account Written by<\/i> \nTHE HAND OF MORMON<\/i> \nUPON PLATES<\/i> \nTAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI<\/i><\/p>\n
Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites . . . to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile\u2014The interpretation thereof by the gift of God. . . .<\/i><\/p>\nThe Role Explained<\/b><\/h2>\n
How explain, then, the role of Christ as so widely portrayed in the Book of Mormon even before the Advent? I believe that there are three simple, prima facie<\/i> reasons: (1) the influence of the brass plates of Laban; (2) the historical impact of Christ\u2019s personal ministry in the Americas, and (3) the consequent perspective from which Mormon made his abridgment.<\/p>\n
Of course we realize that the expedition led by Lehi had with it the brass plates of Laban (see 1 Nephi 3, 4, and 5). This record contained (1) the five books of Moses; (2) \u201ca record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;\u201d (3) \u201cthe prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah;\u201d (4) \u201cmany prophecies . . . by . . . Jeremiah;\u201d and finally, (5) a genealogy of Lehi\u2019s father, through Joseph \u201cwho was the son of Jacob\u201d (see 1 Nephi 5:11\u201316).<\/p>\n
Nephi recorded that \u201cit was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise\u201d (1 Nephi 5:22). Later, showing the influence of this record, Lehi and his son Nephi taught continually from the brass plates; especially wrote Nephi, \u201cthat I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah\u201d (1 Nephi 19:23). Some fifteen chapters of Nephi are reproductions of the prophecies of Isaiah (1 Nephi 20, 21; 2 Nephi 12\u201324).<\/p>\n
It should be recalled that Isaiah\u2019s prophecies are very potent and very influential. For example, they constitute much of George Frederick Handel\u2019s masterpiece, Messiah.<\/i> Isaiah certainly from the brass plates influenced Book of Mormon religious thought and practice. The Essenes, as the Dead Sea Scrolls revealed, practiced baptism by immersion before Christ; Book of Mormon peoples, guided by the brass plates and revelation (which their religious leaders earnestly sought), did likewise. This Mormon\u2019s abridgment clearly portrays.<\/p>\n
The people of Lehi had the prophetic words of Isaiah, chapter 7, for example: \u201cBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel\u201d (2 Nephi 17:14). Another one, from Isaiah, chapter 9: \u201cFor unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace\u201d (2 Nephi 19:6).<\/p>\n
Nephi thought it important to include in his small plates these prophecies, and Mormon chose not to disturb the small plates of Nephi, but to include them in the legacy of his abridgment. As Nephi himself wrote: \u201cAnd now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men\u201d (2 Nephi 11:8). So the brass plates had their impact, as reflected in the Book of Mormon before Christ.<\/p>\n
Then we have to consider the tremendous impact of the personal ministry of the resurrected Lord in the Americas. Mormon, we believe, lived from about A.D. 311 to 385. He had before him the records made by \u201cThird Nephi,\u201d the son of Nephi, who was the son of Helaman; also the records by this man\u2019s son and grandsons whose names were Amos, Amos, (see 4 Nephi 19, 21) and Ammaron (see 4 Nephi 47). And these records, abridged by Mormon and organized as 3 and 4 Nephi, report: (1) the signs of the Savior\u2019s birth (3 Nephi 1:19); (2) his appearance (following his resurrection) in the land Bountiful (3 Nephi 11:3\u201311); (3) an extensive account of Christ\u2019s ministry in America (3 Nephi 11\u201328), including the establishment of his church, something that we do not find clearly in the four Gospels; and finally, (4) the record of marvelous results and effects which followed, particularly the nearly two centuries when \u201cthere was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people\u201d (4 Nephi 15). For Mormon, the reluctant chief captain in the wars that destroyed his people, in the midst of their wickedness (\u201cand,\u201d he wrote, \u201cthere never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi\u201d [Mormon 4:12]), this period of Christian love and peace must have struck him with unusual force. This factor alone would have influenced his selection of gospel influence or neglect, in his abridgment, and explains why we hear so much of the pre-existent Christ, the antemortal Christ, in the early records, before his appearance in the land Bountiful.<\/p>\n
Finally, Mormon made his abridgment with clear perspective of the influence of the brass plates. He had knowledge of Christ\u2019s coming because he lived after the fact, and he had knowledge of the awful consequences of the carelessness and evil into which the Nephites had drifted thereafter. He wrote in his own book, \u201cI write a small abridgment . . .<\/i> \u201c (Mormon 5:9; emphasis added). That he would include in his \u201csmall abridgment\u201d all that he could possibly glean of the Messianic hope, influence and doctrine, even before Christ, is natural. He was keenly aware of the stark contrasts that exist between human choices based on Christian doctrine and the choices made in ignorance of, or contrary to, Christ\u2019s teachings. In the explanatory Words of Mormon, that little book inserted between the books of Omni and Mosiah, he engraved this:<\/p>\n
And now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites.<\/i><\/p>\n
And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people. <\/i>But may God grant that he may survive, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them. [Words of Mormon 1\u20132; emphasis added]<\/p>\n
He also stated in verse 4 that he placed the small plates of Nephi with his abridgment \u201cbecause of the prophecies of the coming of Christ\u201d contained therein, \u201cknowing that many of them have been fulfilled\u201d; he knew them as facts when he wrote centuries later. Said he, \u201cWherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them . . .; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people\u201d (Words of Mormon 5).<\/p>\n
Thus Mormon\u2019s purpose was clear in abridging what came to us through Joseph Smith as the Book of Mormon. He chose and selected these portions of the accumulated record that testified of the Christ who was to come. Significant portions of Christ\u2019s teachings that he was unable to include in 3 Nephi\u2014which he abridged himself\u2014his son Moroni, inspired by his father\u2019s example and instruction, included in his final book, the book of Moroni.<\/p>\n
What emerges, then, from Mormon\u2019s abridgment\u2014the Book of Mormon\u2014of the Lord Jesus Christ?<\/p>\n
First, he is seen as the Son of the Father, the Only Begotten of the Father, and\u2014a point not made clear in the Bible\u2014the Organizer and Creator of the Earth which rejoiced (at least in the Americas) with radiant light at his mortal birth and was rent in travail at his death.<\/p>\n
Second, the premortal Christ is revealed as Jehovah, the Creator, the Lord, the directing intelligence, under the Father, of his world.<\/p>\n
Third\u2014and I got this from Edgar Goodspeed\u2019s book How to Read the Bible,<\/i> which impressed me\u2014Goodspeed says that Mark records the doer, Matthew the teacher, Luke the compassionate Savior; and John, who wrote forty or fifty years after the others and had time to reflect on the significance of his association with Christ, reveals him as the universal Lord\u2014not just someone for Judea or the Middle East, but the universal<\/i> Lord. The Book of Mormon extends that description and portrays Christ as the living head and organizer of His church, as well as being the universal Lord of light, life, and salvation for all mankind. The first principles, ordinances, and spirit of the Church are clearly specified: how to baptize, how to confer the priesthood, how to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, how to administer the sacred emblems\u2014the bread and wine\u2014all of which are mentioned in the four Gospels but not specified. Thanks to Mormon and Moroni, we have in the Book of Mormon specific help on how the church of Christ should be organized as he organized it himself, and a description of the spirit which should characterize it. There should be no contention in it\u2014a very difficult standard to attain. But these great principles and ordinances and spirit are clearly specified. In addition, some guidelines for the Church are clearly recorded, against which future Church practices might be measured.<\/p>\n
And finally, from beginning to end, the Book of Mormon provides for the glorious doctrine that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all mankind, in all nations, extending the injunction that we find in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.<\/p>\n
It is a privilege to come to this University, this community of intellect and faith, where you have the marvelous privilege and opportunity to reflect upon spiritual things in connection with your mathematics, your physics, your sociology, or whatever field you may be entering. I would like to give you my testimony that the privilege you are enjoying on this campus is one of the great privileges of your life. President Oaks was kind enough to say that I know something about universities, and I believe I do, having spent my life in universities and colleges for more years than I am willing to admit. But I would like to say that you are unusually privileged to be at this particular university at this particular time. Make the most of it! Demonstrate in your lives the vitality of that system of truth, the gospel of Jesus. May it be so, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Christ of the Book of Mormon | G. Homer Durham | BYU Speeches<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n