Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 9:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 9:5-6

"Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen."

Nephi is explaining the two sets of records the Lord has commanded him to make. The large plates are for the reign of the kings, wars and contentions of his people. The smaller plates are for the ministry of his people. Nephi at the time didn't understand why he needed two separate records, only that is was for a wise purpose.

I followed the cross references for "wise" and just love seeing how later Mormon as he finishes abridging the large plates of Nephi comes upon the smaller plates and says the same thing, He will include them for a wise purpose of the Lord that he knows not why.

Where I am standing today we know why. While Joseph Smith was transcribing the gold plates after much persuasion he let Martin Harris take the 116 page manuscript to show his wife. They were later stolen or lost. The Lord knew all those centuries years ago that wicked people would plot to destroy the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Joseph was told not to transcribe again the part that was lost. Instead he would find the small plates of Nephi included with the record and to begin transcribing there. So there were two sets of records that would protect what was lost. I just love seeing the Lords hand in our lives. There are no accidents or mistakes if we trust in the Lord and seek to do His will. 

Day 188 Tami Fitzgerald Harris