Nephi takes us into this latter-day setting, and then modifies the Isaiah materials to readdress them to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. He changes Isaiah's text as it speaks of the "words of a book" and not the book itself. He writes: "And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered." (2 Nephi 27: 6, emphasis added.) Here are "words" which come from those "which have slumbered." It is a new addition to the Isaiah material, and refocuses it to specifically fit the events of the restoration. We are not given the "book," but only its "words." The reason for this is explained by Nephi: "And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them." (2 Nephi 27: 7-8.) The full contents are more than the people of our day are willing to receive. Until the audience is ready, the material has to be withheld. It would only be a disservice to provide the material to people who are unprepared to receive it.
This is the idea Nephi introduces into the record as the first writer. The idea anticipates a later development during the time of King Mosiah. It will be during Mosiah's time that the record from the Jaredites is found which contains the revelation described here. And it will be later still, as Moroni is completing the record, when this Jaredite record is finally added to the Book of Mormon. This Jaredite material is where a revelation from the "beginning of the world to the ending thereof" is found. Moroni translates it, but promptly seals it up. He writes: "Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord. For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are." (Ether 4: 5-7.) This material exists, but is being suppressed until the time when mankind is prepared to receive it.
Of course, the material can still be obtained; but only as Nephi or the Brother of Jared obtained it. That is, you must get it by revelation from the Lord. He retains the willingness to reveal it to anyone who qualifies and then seeks them.
Moroni added these words of caution to Joseph Smith about these sealed material on the plates: "And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God." (Ether 5: 1.) As Joseph translated the Book, he would have received this commandment. We know Joseph followed this restriction, and did not translate any of the sealed materials.
Moroni's father, Mormon, also limited our access to the information on the plates. As Mormon put it:
And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation. Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me. (3 Nephi 26: 6-12.)
This sacred material has been withheld, sealed, and will not become available for reading until we first "believe" what is contained in the published account we already have. We are still a long way from actually "believing" in the Book of Mormon. Our commentaries are superficial at best. Our main scholarly contributions on the Book of Mormon are apologetics defending the antiquity of the book. We remain under condemnation for those failings. So it is appropriate the sealed materials are kept from us. They will not be withheld forever, and can be "made manifest" to anyone prepared to receive them. As Nephi promises us:
But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof. And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth. …And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead. …Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work. (2 Nephi 27: 10-11, 13, 21; emphasis added.)
They will be given to us, but we have some maturing to do first. As we get prepared individually, we are promised they will be "made manifest." We are in charge of the timing for that revelation. It needn't take as long as it already has. But given our history, it appears certain it will be some time yet before we are collectively prepared to take seriously the great revelations we have already, and show them the respect they are due. That remains an individual work, left up to each one of us to accomplish.
Next, Nephi describes the incident with Martin Harris and Professor Charles Anthon. He writes:
But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another; But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof. …But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them. And now, because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God. And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed. Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that 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. (2 Nephi 27: 9-10, 15-20.)
Joseph Fielding Smith wrote the following account of the events:
The Prophecy of Isaiah Fulfilled.-Martin Harris took the transcript that had been made together with the partial translation, and departed for New York. Just what his object was, and what he had in mind, is not made clear. That he was led to do so by inspiration was later shown. He first submitted the characters to Professor Charles Anthon of Columbia College with the request that he examine them. He then took them to Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, also of New York. When Martin returned he made the following report:
"I went to the city of New York and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyrian and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.
"He then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him, he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and went to Mr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said, respecting both the characters and the translation."
A number of years later, when he discovered the use to which his testimony had been given, Professor Anthon denied the statement of Martin Harris, although he did confess that such a person called to see him with such characters, but he treated it as a hoax. There may be some slight errors in the account of Martin Harris, but in the main his story must be true for it is the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy of Isaiah almost word for word. It is not likely that Martin Harris was familiar with the prophecy of Isaiah at that time and without question Professor Anthon had no intention of fulfilling prophecy in making his answer, but nevertheless such proved to be the case. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials in Church History, p.54-55.)
Joseph Smith accepted these verses as direction for him. He followed not only the instruction in sending the "words of the book" to a "learned" professor, but also in the other instructions to have witnesses of the book itself, 2 Nephi 27:12-13: "Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book 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, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead." Three witnesses were selected by Joseph. These three actually saw the book, and their testimony appears in the beginning of every copy. Eight other witnesses also handled them, and their testimony is also in the front of every copy of the Book of Mormon.
A more interesting instruction by Nephi to Joseph told him what to do with the plates of the Book of Mormon after the translation was completed. Nephi tells Joseph: "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 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." (2 Nephi 27: 22, emphasis added.) The common belief among Latter-day Saints is that the plates of the Book of Mormon were returned to the Angel Moroni. However, these words instructed Joseph Smith to "hide up" the plates, just as they had been hidden for fourteen centuries before. Accordingly, the return of the plates to a place of "hiding," as Joseph is directed here is following the pattern Moroni set fourteen centuries earlier. The popular story is that Joseph gave them back to Moroni, and he retains them to this day. However, that is contrary to the economy of heaven. Why would heaven do this for us, when it is unnecessary for them to do so? It puts them to trouble which is altogether avoidable, and removes the plates from where they need to be for the final translation of the sealed portion of the text. And, perhaps most important of all, returning the plates to Moroni would violate Nephi's instruction to Joseph, set out above. Since Joseph followed every particular of the book's other instructions, it would be a singular departure from him not to follow these.
The story the plates were returned to Moroni originates from Joseph's mother, Lucy Mack Smith. Below is B.H. Robert's account, who was the Church Historian when he wrote this account. His single source for what happened to the plates is Mother Smith's statement on the matter:
A FEW days after the three witnesses obtained their view of the Book of Mormon plates, said plates were shown to the eight witnesses by the Prophet himself. Lucy Smith gives the most detailed account of the attendant circumstances. The day following the one on which the three witnesses received their testimony, the Palmyra party, consisting of the Prophet's father and mother and Martin Harris returned home; and now Lucy Smith's statement:
"In a few days we were followed by Joseph, Oliver and the Whitmers, who came to make us a visit, and make some arrangements about getting the book printed. Soon after they came, all the male part of the company, with my husband, Samuel and Hyrum, retired to a place where the family [members] were in the habit of offering up their devotions to God. They went to this place because it had been revealed to Joseph that the plates would be carried thither by one of the ancient Nephites. Here it was that those eight witnesses, whose names are recorded in the Book of Mormon, looked upon them and handled them. * * * After these witnesses returned to the house, the angel again made his appearance to Joseph, at which time Joseph delivered up the plates into the angel's hands." (B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of The Church, 6 vols., vol. 1: p.147.)
Just as Elder Roberts cites to Mother Smith, everyone else has done so ever since. The popular belief remains that the plates were returned to Moroni, who now has them.
The events occurred in this order, however: First, the plates were given to Moroni (as the above account relates), who miraculously showed them to the three witnesses. Later, the eight witnesses were also shown the plates, but this time by Joseph Smith. The testimony of the eight, later witnesses is included in the front of every copy of the Book of Mormon, and reads as follows:
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it. (Emphasis added.)
It was true the plates were temporarily returned to Moroni. However, after Moroni showed them to the three witnesses, Moroni returned them to Joseph. Joseph then showed them to the eight witnesses. The eight witnesses testified that "Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken." Mother Smith's comments were true, in part, because Joseph did return them to Moroni, temporarily. However, this explanation has all the earmarks of a "cover story" to prevent the curious from attempting to find the plates.
When the plates were originally delivered to Joseph, he had no end of difficulties from those who were determined to take them from him. Demands, threats, searches of his property, and lawsuits were employed to try and get the plates from him. It is little wonder a cover story would be used to end these annoyances. We can take some confidence it is only a cover story from the text of the Book of Mormon itself. It instructs Joseph he is to "seal up the book 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." We should have some confidence this is what he did. Therefore, Joseph (not Moroni or someone else) would have been responsible for "hiding up" the record. They are still here, located where Joseph hid them up unto the Lord. They remain safe, waiting the time when the Lord sees "fit in His own wisdom to reveal" their contents. An event which is driven by our own preparedness to receive what they contain.
The whole of this unfolding future event (to Nephi) involves divine intervention. So Nephi continues with: "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith." (2 Nephi 27: 23.)
He works by miracles. But, there is a limit on how much He can do, because He only does so "among the children of men …according to their faith." We can have the words of the Book of Mormon, but our faithlessness prevents us from having access to either the plates, or the translation of the sealed portions of the record. There is a balance and he gives enough to inspire the faithful, but not enough to remove all doubt from the faithless. Without striking this balance, we could not develop faith.