I chose to start my study of the Book of Mormon in the chronological order in which it was translated. After an initial portion of the book was lost/stolen by some of Joseph Smith's friends and enemies, he continued translation from where he left off.
The loss of the 116 manuscript pages of the original Book of Lehi was a devastating blow to Joseph and a major hiccup in his relationship with the Lord. And initiating the translation again with the first chapter of the Book of Mosiah probably didn't ease the guilt any.
In this chapter, King Benjamin extols the value of holy scripture to his sons. Here are some highlights:
In verse 3: "My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates [scriptures were written on metal plates], which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God."
In verse 4: "For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates..."
Now, imagine you're Joseph Smith. You have been called as a prophet of restoration to bring back lost truth to the world. You've been given plates of gold that contain a prophetic "greatest hits" from 1000 years of ancient civilization. And you've lost the first 116 pages of that new revelation and scripture. You go through a grueling process of anguish and penitence, but the Lord forgives you and restores your ability to translate. You pop open the plates to translate anew and experience a fresh burst of sadness at the loss.
I won't pretend to know the thoughts of Joseph Smith. But I think it's very likely that something like the following went through his mind.
As he translates verse 3:
"King Benjamin's people needed all the teachings of their scriptures to avoid suffering in ignorance. Has the loss of 116 pages doomed my people to increased ignorance? Perhaps I could makes notes of the important teachings from those pages so my people don't lose out on that lost truth..."
As he translates verse 4:
"...but if Lehi couldn't remember everything, I surely cannot. I can't reproduce the words verbatim. I can't remember every last teaching. That truth is lost, and it's my fault."
I think it's a testament to the Lord's mercy that King Benjamin then says the following in verse 6:
"O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our father from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true..." [my emphasis].
The stories and teachings of the lost manuscript pages had been written down a second time by Nephi, Lehi's son. Joseph had lost the pages, but he had not lost the truth. Nor can truth truly be lost--only hidden for a time until it's restored.
I think it very likely that Joseph recognized this tender mercy from the Lord. From translating Lehi's record, he knew very well who Nephi was; perhaps Lehi even mentioned Nephi's record keeping. [He also likely did not know about the 6 million other Nephis who would come later :)] He knew that there were a lot of golden plates still to come. And even it he didn't know that the smaller plates attached to the large ones he was currently reading were those very plates of Nephi of which Benjamin makes mention, he no doubt had a glimmer of hope and a seed of faith that there truly was a way to make amends for his mistakes and that his people would not suffer the loss of precious truth.
The loss of the 116 manuscript pages of the original Book of Lehi was a devastating blow to Joseph and a major hiccup in his relationship with the Lord. And initiating the translation again with the first chapter of the Book of Mosiah probably didn't ease the guilt any.
In this chapter, King Benjamin extols the value of holy scripture to his sons. Here are some highlights:
In verse 3: "My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates [scriptures were written on metal plates], which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God."
In verse 4: "For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates..."
Now, imagine you're Joseph Smith. You have been called as a prophet of restoration to bring back lost truth to the world. You've been given plates of gold that contain a prophetic "greatest hits" from 1000 years of ancient civilization. And you've lost the first 116 pages of that new revelation and scripture. You go through a grueling process of anguish and penitence, but the Lord forgives you and restores your ability to translate. You pop open the plates to translate anew and experience a fresh burst of sadness at the loss.
I won't pretend to know the thoughts of Joseph Smith. But I think it's very likely that something like the following went through his mind.
As he translates verse 3:
"King Benjamin's people needed all the teachings of their scriptures to avoid suffering in ignorance. Has the loss of 116 pages doomed my people to increased ignorance? Perhaps I could makes notes of the important teachings from those pages so my people don't lose out on that lost truth..."
As he translates verse 4:
"...but if Lehi couldn't remember everything, I surely cannot. I can't reproduce the words verbatim. I can't remember every last teaching. That truth is lost, and it's my fault."
I think it's a testament to the Lord's mercy that King Benjamin then says the following in verse 6:
"O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our father from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true..." [my emphasis].
The stories and teachings of the lost manuscript pages had been written down a second time by Nephi, Lehi's son. Joseph had lost the pages, but he had not lost the truth. Nor can truth truly be lost--only hidden for a time until it's restored.
I think it very likely that Joseph recognized this tender mercy from the Lord. From translating Lehi's record, he knew very well who Nephi was; perhaps Lehi even mentioned Nephi's record keeping. [He also likely did not know about the 6 million other Nephis who would come later :)] He knew that there were a lot of golden plates still to come. And even it he didn't know that the smaller plates attached to the large ones he was currently reading were those very plates of Nephi of which Benjamin makes mention, he no doubt had a glimmer of hope and a seed of faith that there truly was a way to make amends for his mistakes and that his people would not suffer the loss of precious truth.
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