The Hebrew Bible makes an early appearance in the Book of Mormon. Nephi, the first author, tells us that shortly after his family left their home in Jerusalem and set up camp near the Red Sea, his father, Lehi, sent him and his brothers back to retrieve “a record of the Jews … engraven upon plates of brass” (1 Nephi 3:3). When they returned with the records, Lehi was ecstatic. He reviewed them and discovered that they contained three types of content:
- “The five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve”
- “A record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah”
- “The prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah” (1 Nephi 5:11-13).
Lehi also found genealogical information on these plates and was able to trace his lineage to Joseph, which directly connected him with the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (1 Nephi 5:14-16).
Over time, his careful study of these records would yield extraordinary doctrinal treasures. From the plates, he learned about the life and mission of the Messiah, the scattering and promised gathering of his people, and the profound connections between Adam and Eve’s fall, moral agency, and the redemption offered by “the great Mediator of all men” (2 Nephi 2:27).
Overjoyed by these discoveries, Lehi prophesied “that these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.” He further predicted “that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time” (1 Nephi 5:18-19).
These sacred writings connected him to both ancestors and descendants. The plates functioned as a kind of linchpin, binding past and future generations in their worship of God. (See Mosiah 1:3-7.)
Nephi concludes the story by telling us that he and his father both found the plates to be “desirable” and “of great worth,” and that they recognized the importance of bringing them along as they migrated to their new home.
Today I will be grateful for the stabilizing influence of scripture. I will allow prophetic voices to keep me grounded and focused on what matters most, so that I can avoid drifting gradually from my highest priorities.
Leave a Reply