“There Are Many Plain and Precious Things Taken Away from the Book”

W. Cleon Skousen

A few notable examples of what Nephi is talking about might be cited. For example, the whole first chapter of Genesis which explains how Moses got the story of the Creation is missing from our Bible. This is also true of the account of the spirit creation which preceded the temporal creation. Another exciting account missing from the Bible is where the Lord explained the whole gospel plan of salvation to Adam. As soon as the Book of Mormon was finished the Lord had the Prophet Joseph Smith go through the Bible and make literally hundreds of changes and additions. Now Nephi saw that these changes in the original scriptures had some serious consequences. He says:

“And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest -- because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God -- because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.”

Treasures from the Book of Mormon

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