Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 1:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 1:4
"And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are; and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people."

Ammaron has all the sacred records and hid them up to the Lord in the hill called Shim, in the land of Antum. When Mormon was ten years old Ammaron gives him this charge that when he is 24 years old he is to go to where the records are deposited and only take the plates of Nephi. He is to record what he has observed of this people. I pondered on how this mission over time changed for Mormon, for eventually Mormon made an abridgement of the records. The Lord will give us instructions line upon line, here a little and there a little. It would have been to overwhelming a task to tell a ten year old boy that he was not only to record what he observed, but to also abridge the records stored in the hill called Shim. Mormon was inspired on what he was to include.

"And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—
Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."
(Words of Mormon 1: 3-7

"And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people."
(Mormon 5:9)

Day 3555