The text does not say where the prophecies concerning the coming of Christ (v. 6) were recorded. We assume they were recorded upon the plates of brass because Jacob, in refuting Sherem the anti-Christ, said the scriptures “truly testify of Christ … that none of the prophets have written nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ” (Jacob 3:11). The scriptures to which Jacob refers would have been the plates of brass. However, all of the Nephite prophets testified of Christ, but we have no account of their prophecies being recorded and given to the Nephite people, even though they had kept many records. Also the prophet Abinadi said that “all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began” have testified of him (Mosiah 13:33–35). He then quoted the prophet Isaiah, no doubt from the plates of brass, as evidence of the prophet’s testimonies (Mosiah 14; Isaiah 53). The man who came into the land of Zarahemla was labeled an anti-Christ because he spoke against these prophecies (Alma 30:6).
There being “no law against a man’s belief” (v. 7) reminds us of the 11 Article of Faith: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” The Nephite law had connections, however to the Old Testament or the plates of brass. A well-known scripture in the Christian world is “Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Although the book of Joshua would have been on the plates of brass, the same law had been given to Enoch by the Lord to teach his people: “Choose ye this day to serve the Lord God who made you” (Moses 7:33). While this commandment given to Enoch has been lost to the world (see 1 Nephi 13:26–29), Joshua was probably quoting from Enoch’s teachings when he admonished his people. Agency is an eternal principle, one that Satan sought to destroy in the pre-mortal council (see Moses 4:3). Since agency gives mankind a choice, the privilege to believe or not to believe (Alma 30:9) did not have a direct effect upon other people. The laws mentioned for which a punishment was given did effect and infringe upon the rights of others (Alma 30:10). All men are on equal ground until they impose themselves on others. The Church believes that laws should “secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life” (D&C 134:3).