Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 8:13, 17
"Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whatsoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.
But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known."
This chapter speaks of king Limhi and Ammon sharing the histories of their people while separated. King Limhi had sent earlier 43 men to find Zarahemla. They failed in that attempt, but in doing so came upon the remains of a race of people as numerous as the host of Israel. The land was covered with the bones of man and beast. Buildings of every kind lay in ruins. There were large breastplates of brass and copper and rusted swords, showing a great battle took place. As a witness to their find these 43 men bought back items, along with 24 plates made of pure gold engraved in a language they could not read.
King Limhi had a great desire to know what was written on these plates, perhaps it would tell what caused the destruction of this people. He asked if Ammon could translate the plates or knew someone that could. Ammon tells him that king Mosiah in the land of Zarahemla is a seer. He is able to translate ancient records, through interpreters, as a gift from God. To that king Limhi says "a seer is greater than a prophet".
I find it interesting that the people of Zarahemla had earlier found Coriantumr, the last surviving Jaredite. Then king Limhi's men discover their remains and records. But, what I sat and thought about was what ancient records did king Mosiah have that he translated earlier? He had to have translated records before, for Ammon to be aware of his gift from God. I know that the Book of Ether is taken from those 24 plates that king Mosiah will now translate, so it wouldn't be the same thing.
Joseph Smith was never allowed to translate about half to two-thirds of the Book of Mormon records because it was sealed. Moroni said that they contained the complete record of the vision of the brother of Jared which contain "all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof". So if everything on the gold plates were translated the Book of Mormon would be triple in size. That is more than 24 plates worth I am sure.
Where did the record of the brother of Jared come from? For that matter where did the interpreters that king Mosiah use come from? I wonder if that story is in the 116 page manuscript that were lost? Maybe they are mentioned and I just didn't realize it. Of course I'm like king Limhi and want to know what's in the records. Oh, what an exciting day it will be to have all the records revealed. It will only happen when we as a people are ready for them, and the Lord allows a seer to read them.
Day 253 Tami Fitzgerald Harris
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