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Is there any chance of this having audio in the future? I listen to most of these when I’m on the go and I would love to download the audio.
Tyson,
It is possible, but not probable. As you are aware, we strive to provide audio readings of all of our articles. We rely on either the authors or a limited number of volunteers to provide these readings.
For this particular article, the author chose not to do a reading and we could not round up a volunteer to do it.
Sorry!
-Allen
Soooooo long! I thought you had a 30-page rule.
JK. Loved it. Can’t wait for more!
You said there were guidelines for writing on the small plates that were most fully articulated in the transitional explanation from Jacob who inherited the responsibility of maintaining and extending them after Nephi’s death. Question. Do you think King Benjamin would have felt that same mandate when he received them from Amaleki?
Is it possible that he kept two records as well, both still called the plates of Nephi? One more secular and one more spiritual? What if all the subsequent record keepers added to a 2nd “small plate” spiritual record thinking it would be the record prophesied to come forth in the last days? Mormon would have thought the same thing until he was commanded to abridge that record for his own. We always assumed he was abridging the “large plates.” What if he was abridging “small plates” started by King Benjamin who also felt bound by Nephi’s mandate? Or what if King Benjamin also inherited two sets of “Plates of Nephi” from his father? A “large” secular record and a “small” spiritual record, also started by Nephi, to which he added what Amaleki then gave him. Possible?
What if the gold plates contain Mormon’s record (1/3) and Nephi’s record, the small plates delivered to King Benjamin as well as the rest of the small plates started by King Benjamin (or earlier) and then added to by subsequent prophets (including Moroni with the vision of the Brother of Jared. I think that vision would qualify as part of the “greater things” we will receive after our faith is tried.
Totally hypothetical. But, it seems possible, and intriguing. Why not? Read D&C 10 again and see if this fits with what the Lord says.
(40–41) “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 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; And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi…”
Does this mean there was more of the plates of Nephi that could have been translated?
(45) “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.”
What does “first part of the engravings of Nephi” mean? And it sounds like he would have sent it forth in another work if not in this one. I’ve always thought if we are righteous enough after getting the “lesser things” we would get the promised “greater things” that are contained on the plates of Nephi. (3 Ne 26:2-11)
Which Plates of Nephi? The “Large” ones or the “Small” ones?
Thank you. There is much to ponder and appreciate. If we accept that First and Second Nephi were crafted over a decade, and perhaps we’ll after Nephi’s encounters with Laman and Lemuel, then seeing his deeply organized writing as directed more to us as lessons to learn than as an autobiography, makes very good sense.