In Jacob 1:2-4 (Jacob 1), Jacob is commanded by Nephi that the plates he's recording on are not to be used as a historical record of their people, but instead have a focus on the spiritual things.
The history was recorded in other places, but the spiritual record had a different purpose.
It's interesting to me that the historical records are gone, but the spiritual records are what we now have compiled as the Book of Mormon.
I wonder the purpose of this focus. Was it so we could have an more focused spiritual document? Was it because we don't need to know the historical details, even if they're interesting? What about those people that have their testimonies shaken because of conflicting historical debates?
Or was it because it needed to be much more condensed to more easily be passed from generation to generation to be compiled by Mormon (Word of Mormon 1) and Moroni?
#gospelstudy #toolong
Jacob and Joseph seek to persuade men to believe in Christ and keep His commandments—Nephi dies—Wickedness prevails among the Nephites. About 544–421 ...
Mormon abridges the large plates of Nephi—He puts the small plates with the other plates—King Benjamin establishes peace in the land. About A.D. 385. ...