We have reviewed the gradual emergence and standardization of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament and examined their relationship to the contents of the brass plates. We have also discussed the impact of those writings on Lehi and his descendants, including the influence of King Josiah.
With this background in place, we are prepared to begin engaging with the books of the Old Testament. Four foundational strategies modeled by the Book of Mormon will inform our study of all of these books: (1) a search for precious things in plain sight, (2) prioritizing holistic over selective reading, (3) synthesizing themes across the books, and (4) finding Christ in the writings of all the prophets.
Strategy 1: Finding Plain and Precious Things
Early in the Book of Mormon, Nephi sees a vision in which an angel shows him the rise of Christianity and the formation of the Bible. The angel informs him that “many plain and precious things” will be removed from the book, causing many believers to “stumble” (1 Nephi 13:26-29). But Nephi and his descendants will help to mitigate this problem. Their words (the Book of Mormon) will restore lost truths, effectively plugging the gap in the scriptural record (see 1 Nephi 13:34-35, 40).
It’s tempting to interpret this prophecy simplistically, visualizing malicious or negligent scribes deleting or distorting words and phrases, thus rendering the text more opaque and less complete. But while there is some evidence to support this interpretation, the angel’s prophecy may have a broader meaning, more applicable to us as readers. Every time we open the Bible, we bring with us thousands of years of cultural and historical baggage which affects the meaning we derive from the text. Phrases, stories, and prophetic teachings have acquired implicit meanings through centuries of use, which may inhibit our direct engagement with the texts. Perhaps the Book of Mormon restores “plain and precious things” not only by filling in details and doctrines but also by showing us how to engage with the text more fruitfully. The “plain and precious things,” in other words, may actually be on the page but hidden from our view until we learn to recognize them.
Strategy 2: Holistic Reading
Nephi could have shared a handful of carefully curated passages to demonstrate that Isaiah had anticipated the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Instead, he quoted fifteen chapters and paraphrased another. This editorial decision indicates that Nephi valued the entirety of the message and wanted his future readers to do the same.
When King Noah’s priests asked Abinadi to explain a brief passage from Isaiah, he quoted Exodus 20 and Isaiah 53 as part of his response (see Mosiah 13; 14). When Jesus expounded on the same passage, he quoted Isaiah 54 (see 3 Nephi 22). The message is clear: Don’t be satisfied with snippets. Read the text in full, and strive to understand and internalize its overall message, not just the convenient or easily accessible portions.
Strategy 3: Synthesis and Integration
As we’ve seen, the books in the Old Testament were written by different authors to different audiences at different times. It is useful therefore to treat it as a library of books instead of a single book with a coherent message. Nevertheless, during the Savior’s ministry among Lehi’s descendants, He “expounded all the scriptures in one” (3 Nephi 23:6, 14), demonstrating that there are common themes among these disparate writings and that there is value in finding those connections.
Strategy 4: Finding Christ
Multiple times, Book of Mormon prophets, and even the Savior Himself, make the bold claim that all prophets testify of Christ (see Jacob 4:4; Mosiah 13:33-35; Helaman 8:16–20; 3 Nephi 20:23-24). It’s possible to find passages in the Old Testament which foreshadow the life and atoning sacrifice of Jesus at various levels of specificity. However, much of the text does not refer to Jesus, either specifically or obliquely.
However, a recurring topic in the Old Testament, and perhaps its central message, is that God will gather and redeem His covenant people. Accepting the premise that all prophets testify of Christ in some way, we will look for principles which help us understand the Savior’s purpose and mission. What does it mean to be saved or redeemed? How does God offer us this gift, and what can we do to receive it?
Taken together, these four strategies describe a posture of sustained, attentive reading—one that allows meaning to emerge over time as texts are read in sequence and in conversation with one another. With this posture in mind, we now turn to the Old Testament, beginning with the book of Genesis.
Today, I will employ these four strategies as I study scripture: look for plain and precious things, read holistically, synthesize themes, and seek to more fully understand redemption through Christ.
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