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2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord. | 2 |
3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. | Textual Parallels 31 This verse contains strong parallels to Romans 11:5,25. Compare "even at this present time" to "Even so then at this present time". Also compare "suffered in ignorance,... not knowing the mysteries of God" to "ignorant of this mystery". Note that the phrase "present time" only occurs 3 times in the KJV bible. Strange. 1 This seems to deny the claimed ability of God to reveal his will.
The context is that King Benjamin was clearly acting with ecclesiastic authority. See Mosiah 6:3 for reference to him appointing priest to teach the people. He was also keeper of the plates according to Omni 1:25 and W-of-M 1:10-11. His son, Mosiah, was a seer according to Mosiah 8:13-18, and apparently there is no greater gift or calling than this. But, this verse tells us that without the plates of brass, they would have had suffered in ignorance. |
4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time. | 4 1 So, the plates of brass are written in Egyptian. The plates of brass “contained ‘the five books of Moses, … and also a record of the Jews from the beginning, … down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah; and also the prophecies of the holy prophets’” (Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon, ellipses in the original). As such, the plates of brass would have been what one might consider the Jewish Bible (The Tanakh) up to that point in time (though the Jewish Bible wasn’t canonized by this point in history, and it’s even questionable as to whether the various writings indicated would have been gathered into one book). As such, the original language of the writings included in the brass plates would have been predominantly Hebrew. It would have been an enormous process to translate these writings into Egyptian and then engrave them unto metal plates into one book. |
5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct. | 5 |
6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes. | 6 |
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10 Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying: My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God hath given us. | Textual Parallels 101 This verse contains a phrase that resembles phrases found in two Old Testament verses in the KJV bible, 2 Chronicles 36:22 and Ezra 10:7. Compare "make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people" to "made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom" and "made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity". Unfortunately, both of these Old Testament verses were written after Lehi was supposed to have left Jerusalem. |
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13 Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this highly favored people of the Lord should fall into transgression, and become a wicked and an adulterous people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that thereby they become weak like unto their brethren; and he will no more preserve them by his matchless and marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our fathers. | 13 |
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16 And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him. | 16 |
Textual Parallels 171 This verse resembles 2 Peter 1:13. Compare "to stir them up in remembrance" to "to stir you up by putting you in remembrance". While 2 Timothy 1:6 and 2 Peter 3:1 also contain components of this phrase, 2 Peter 1:13 is the strongest match. | |
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