Anyone familiar with the Book of Mormon will remember the story of Martin Harris and the missing 116 pages that were lost. God told Joseph not to translate the same pages again because evil men had in mind to change the translation to make Joseph appear to be a fraud. Instead he was to take that portion of the story from the small plates of Nephi which were separate from the large plates. Those are the fact. A considerable mythology has surrounded this story and one has to take care not to go off unjustifiable theories. Even the chart below comes from an un-identifiable source. But it does cause one to think.
In 1 Nephi 9, we read about the Lord's commanding the Prophet Nephi to make two sets of plates. The first set he had been using for both the secular and spiritual history of his people and the new set exclusively for spiritual purposes, visions, and testimonies. Most people read that and think Martin Harris. God knew what was going to happen (and, of course, He did) and provided for a contingency plan. I have no argument with that idea, but I think the truth is more complex. To explain my reasoning, let me share a personal story which also involves the Books of Nephi.
It was spring, 2008. My husband, Richard, was dying from an inoperable cancer. We were living in Snowflake, AZ, at the time. One Saturday morning, I opened the door to a surprise visitor: our stake president from our former stake in Copper Basin (near Queen Creek.) He was the area stake president responsible for the Church's welfare farms in area. Richard had served as his secretary for more than a year before we moved north and the two had grown close. He had heard that Richard was terminally ill which prompted his visit, but he also had a call that he felt impressed to present to us. Richard and I had achieved a remarkable harmony in our marriage and a strong Spiritual presence in our home as a result. President remembered having visited our home in the Valley several times. His challenge to us was to write the things we had done (or the attitudes we had acquired) that brought about such peace and harmony, even in a home where someone was dying. Rich as a little hesitant as he was on strong painkillers and often incoherent; but I am a writer and I knew I could do it, calling upon Richard for his input in his conscious moments. President left us with the above quote from 2 Nephi 25:26.
Richard and I had centered our lives in Christ and has begun praying together on our first date. This former Stake President recognized that and asked us to share our story with our children, which we did.
I believe that is one of the reasons behind Nephi's writing of a second set of plates: he rejoice in Christ and preached of Christ, and prophesied concerning Christ and he wrote according to his prophecies, so that his children would know to turn to the Savior for remission of their sins.
He stated on another occasion that he only wrote sacred things upon the second sets of plates (see 1 Nephi 19:6.) He did so for the spiritual salvation of his people. He wrote in 2 Nephi 5:19-32, that if his people (or by extrapolation, any of us) want to know the secular history of the People of Lehi, they must turn to the much larger plates of Nephi.
Later, the Prophet Mormon who was editing and condensing the plates, explained about the 2 sets of plates (Words of Mormon 1:3-9) He also knew the will of the Lord concerning the plates.
If you do a query or image search "116 missing pages" you will find a plethora of work dedicated to wondering what was on the 116 pages. My answer to them would be the answer a seminary teacher gave his class. When he asked how many of them would read the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, every hand went up. When he asked how many had read the Book of Momon cover-to-cover, fewer than half the hands went up. The message is clear: we would do well to feast upon the words which we have and not worry about those things which we do not currently have. If and when we need them, I am confident that the Lord will provide. In the meantime, I seek to apply the spiritual knowledge and insights I gain from the scripture we have to my personal life situation today. In that way, I can teach by precept and example about the Lord, Jesus Christ, and why He is the center of my life.
©January 2020, Dr. Kathleen Rawlings
Buntin Danielson
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