-Why make an abridgement when a full
account already exists? I suppose that
this question might also have crossed Nephi’s mind. His genius and greatness is that he did not
need an answer to obey.
-Nephi is
making three records: first, “an account
of my proceedings in my days”; second, “an abridgement of the record of my
father”; and third, a historical or secular account of the non-spiritual
activities of his family and the emerging nation (see Nephi 9:2). Consider the circumstances and technology of
making these records: inscriptions on
plates of metal. The metal had to be
found, The engraving method did not easily allow for
corrections (no eraser, whiteout or delete button). The time alone necessary to make these
records should cause those of us who are “too busy” to sit down at a computer
and compose entries into our journal, ashamed at our many excuses.
refind and manufactured into sheets.
“upon plates
which I have made with mine own hands”
-where
does Nephi get the idea of manufacturing plates and composing a spiritual
history on them? Clearly he had seen his
father engaged in this exact activity.
Where did Lehi get the idea?
Perhaps it was from the great value that was made obvious through the
process of obtaining and the subsequent reading of the plates of brass. These sacred, inspirational records of the
great prophets of the past became a model for Lehi and Nephi who may have
hardly recognized that they would become the first of a great line of prophets
themselves. The present quickly
transitions to the past. Our current
trials become invaluable sources of strength for future generations experiencing
their own uncertainty, tragedies and challenges of faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment