“Commandment Unto My Seed”

Brant Gardner

Narrative analysis: Nephi's descendants carried out this task remarkably well. The comparison of the small plate material (1 Nephi to Omni) with that which remains of the large plates (Mosiah through 4 Nephi) shows remarkable difference in the content. The large plates contain a tremendous amount of accounting for wars and contentions, and virtually none of that is contained in the small plates. The truly historical information contained in the small plates is limited to 1 Nephi, where it provides the framework for the more important spiritual story, and in Omni, where the historical data provides the context for the relinquishing of the plates from the lineal descendants of Nephi. In between the things of the spirit prevail.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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