Eight of the 39 books in the Old Testament were definitely in the brass plates, and another 16 may have been included. For Book of Mormon prophets, the brass plates were an essential part of their identity: connecting them to intergenerational covenants, testifying of the Savior, and bringing them closer to God.
“He Lived Great”
John Taylor wrote that Joseph Smith "lived great" and that he "lived for glory." Jesus promised to help us live "more abundantly," and Nephi affirmed that he and his people "lived after the manner of happiness." With the Savior's help, we can intentionally engage in activities which bring long-term satisfaction and fulfillment.
Cheerfully
How can we calibrate our efforts in God's work? Joseph Smith wrote that we should "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power." Maybe "cheerfully" is the key. When our efforts are so intense that we feel miserable, we may need to simplify, trust God, and more fully experience the joy of gospel service.
Biblical References in Doctrine and Covenants 76
The revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76 was prompted by meditation about a single Bible verse, but it contains an enormous number of biblical paraphrases and allusions. The revelation demonstrates the unity of God's word as revealed to many prophets and apostles throughout history.
Devouring Fire and Divine Mercy
In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord warned that the “great and abominable church” would be cast down by "devouring fire." Echoing visions of Ezekiel and Nephi, this fire symbolizes both judgment and mercy—a pleading from God to the wayward. God loves all of His children and He defends those who follow Him.
Endless
Book of Mormon authors use the phrase "endless torment" to describe the suffering from which God has delivered us. The Lord encouraged Martin Harris to think of this suffering as enormous, not unending. With this context, "endless punishment" means God's punishment, or in other words, the punishment God willingly suffered on our behalf.
Faith and Witnessing
God told Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris that they would see the gold plates after they had obtained faith. Faith is a gift of God, but it still requires effort on our part to obtain it.
Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829
Four revelations received by Joseph Smith on behalf of different people have nearly identical openings. These openings are derived from combinations of biblical passages, all of which appear in some form in the Book of Mormon. Here is how I would paraphrase the message of this recurring introduction: Big things are about to happen, so pay close attention to what I'm about to say: People are ready to hear the gospel and if you work hard, you will find success in sharing it. I will answer your prayers, so ask me for help.
Hypocrisy and Denying the Power of God
Hypocrisy stunts growth by distorting our view of where we are and of what we can become. When we are hypocritical, we substitute human ideals for God's perspective. He counters by performing "marvelous works," which help us see how limited our ideals are
A God of Miracles
Nephi and Moroni taught that God is a God of miracles and that He is unchanging. President Nelson encouraged us to do things that require more faith, believing that God will work miracles to help us move the mountains in our lives.