To summarize most of the verses in this chapter, Nephi explains that he is not going to record his genealogy on the plates he’s writing, because it’s already recorded elsewhere and he wants to use his plates to record the things of God.
He says, in verse four:
For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.
5. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.
6. Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.
This is a unique charge. Nephi’s focus in writing these plates is not to create something entertaining or exciting, but his desire is to teach about Christ. He does not want anything included on the plates that are not worth the attention of the reader.
As I think about this, I remember complaints I’ve heard (and complaints I’ve made) over the years about the war chapters in Alma. “Why do we have to read about their war strategies?” we say. “Why can’t we just read the doctrine?” If the war chapters were not of use to us, they would not have been included.
Think of Mormon and Moroni at the very end of the Book of Mormon. They had to go through the plates and decide which, of all the many things they could leave for us, would be included. They knew the plates would be unearthed and used in the latter days. What did they most want to tell us? Those war chapters were included for a reason. Every story in the Book of Mormon was included for a reason. We may not understand it right now, but the more we study and delve into the scriptures, the more we’ll get out of them.
From today’s reading: if you had only one piece of paper and you could leave a letter for those who would come after you, what would you write? Would you bear your testimony? Express your love? What things are so important to you that you would include them on your limited list?
Related Blogs: