2 Nephi 27

Recently I was reading 2 Nephi 27 and I was surprised at how precise and accurate the language in this chapter is when referring to the record of the Book of Mormon. For example, the chapter distinguishes between the actual plates of the Book of Mormon, and the words that are written on the plates. It talks about “the book” (the actual plates) and “the words of the book” (the words written on the plates.)

Nephi explains that in the last days “the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book.” The Lord will not give us the actual plates of the book, but only “the words of the book.”

Nephi then explains that because the book shall be “delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations… the book [itself] shall be kept from them.” Because of unbelief, the book itself will not be given, but the words of the book will.

“But the book [itself] shall be delivered unto a man” –Joseph Smith– “and he shall deliver these words unto another.” He will not deliver the book itself, but just the words of the book. But he will not deliver all the words of the book, “neither shall he deliver the book [itself].” Some of the more sacred parts of the book “shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth” at a later time.

Nephi continues: “Wherefore, at that day when the book [itself] shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book [itself] shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God…; and they shall testify to the truth of the book (the plates) and the things therein (the words of the book).” The book itself shall be seen by very few. But the words of the book shall be given to the world. “Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book… and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!”

Nephi now mentions Joseph Smith’s experience with Charles Anthon. And this is where the precision and accuracy of the language in this chapter is really quite surprising. “The Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book [itself]: Take these words (the words on the plates) and deliver them to another (Martin Harris), that he may show them unto the learned (Charles Anthon), saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book [itself], and I will read them.”

“And the man (Martin Harris) shall say: I cannot bring the book [itself].”

“Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.”

And so, because the learned will refuse to read just the words of the book without the plates, “the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not learned.”

“Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.”

“Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book [itself] again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men.”

“And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him:”

“…I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder…”

“And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.”

And because of the words of the book, “they also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.”

Again, it really is surprising how precise and accurate the language in this chapter is when referring to the record of the Book of Mormon.

There is also a lesson in here about weaknesses and strengths.

Charles Anthon could have painstakingly translated the Book of Mormon character by character, for he was learned. This was his strength. But God did not want those who had rejected the word of God to translate. So the Lord delivered “the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned,” Joseph Smith. But Joseph was the exact opposite of Charles Anthon in writing and translation skills. This was his weakness. So Joseph pleaded with the Lord: “I am not learned.”

“Then shall the Lord God say unto him: …I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.” ‘I, God, do not need Professor Anthon to be a witness for me. I will provide my own witnesses. I, God, do not need Professor Anthon to read the words of the book for me. I will provide my own translator.’

‘Joseph, you painstakingly translated the characters which you delivered unto Charles Anthon. But he refused to read them. I, God, do not need to use Charles Anthon’s slow and error-prone method of translating this record.’ “Wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.”

Just some food for thought. Thanks for reading.