Jan 21, 2020 the story of nephi son of lehi prophet nephi is one of the central figures described in the book of mormon. In lehi s day, both hebrew and egyptian were written with consonants only. See more ideas about book of mormon, book of mormon stories and fhe lessons. Mar 01, 2011 if this was so important, what happened to the brass plates. The first six books of the book of mormon, from first nephi to omni are said to be a translation of the small plates of nephi. He sent his sons to get the brass plates, found the liahona and had many visions including the vision of the tree of life. How could lehi offer sacrifices outside of jerusalem. One of the first dramatic episodes in the book of mormon is the story of how lehis family was able, with gods help, to obtain the brass plates from their custodian. The book of lehi was mormon s abridged account of the material contained on the small plates, i. Lehi takes the book of brass plates which contained the scriptures of the jews. While there is still much to learn about the people and stories in the book of mormon, some of the best archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon comes from lehis journey to the promised land. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. What parts of the old testament were on the plates of brass. I asked the lord why lehi s record had to be the unfortunate part of the book of mormon to not be included because of martin harris losing the manuscript.
In the book of first nephi, chapters three and four, laban is described as a notable citizen of jerusalem who commanded great wealth and many servants. The brass plates were inscribed with ancient scriptures, many of them corresponding with books from the old testament, that the prophet lehi and his family took with them to the promised land of the americas. Why is there no mention of the brass plates of laban in. This study has been somewhat superficial by only capturing some of the content recorded in the book of mormon that comprises the lost books of the brass plates, another resource of lost books from the bible. The plates of brass contained a copy of the law five books of moses, a history of the jews, lehis genealogy.
The term brass is used 116 times in the old testament of the king james bible to translate the hebrew term that means copper and can also refer to copper alloys notably bronze, which came into use a millennium and a half years before lehis time. One of the most profound doctrinal sections of the book of mormon is a fatherson discussion between lehi and jacob. The book of mormon indicates that lehi offered sacrifices outside the vicinity of the jerusalem temple after a 3 day journey. It had lehi s whole genealogy on it, and mormons love their genealogies especially the ancient jewish mormons. Our mission is to provide products based on stories and history in the book of mormon and restoration of the gospel through the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Most contemporary old testament scholars question whether moses wrote the pentateuch, but the book of mormon affirms moses authorship. Nephi and his brothers tried to get the brass plates from laban for three times.
On their first try, laman simply asked laban for the brass plates. Lehi marries sariah who is a niece of laban, and he lives in the house of laban in jerusalem. The book of mormon does tell how the prophet lehi came to possess the plates of brass. Laban and his forefathers had kept the records of their progenitors on plates of brass, beginning with the creation of the world and continuing through adam, moses, and the other holy prophets down to the. He thought in his heart that his posterity cant keep the commandments if they didnt have them.
There is no specific reference in the book of mormon to the origin of the brass plates. Although the brass plates referred to in the book of mormon are said to have much in. Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass. Therefore, the information in the book of lehi should agree with what is on the small plates. Criticism of mormonismbooksthe book of lehi fairmormon.
The jewish holiday you didnt notice in the opening. Nephi said they could not return without the brass plates. The influence of the brass plates on the teachings of nephi. The law was read publicly once a year by the scribes and pharisees, and that was all the. Some critics of the book of mormon have claimed this action by lehi violated the law of moses, which some have interpreted instructed ancient israelites to not offer sacrifice outside of the temple. The book of mormon indicates that laban and his father had inherited and preserved the record because they were descendants of this joseph. Mar 07, 2014 he remembers the commandments god has given him. The book of mormon plates religious studies center. Questions arise as to how jeremiahs prophecies appeared on the brass plates and what the nature of the book of the law was. And it came to pass that my father, lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers. Laban casts lehi and his family out of his house, and laban keeps the plates of brass which lehis fathers had made in egypt. The mormon church owns the property and it certainly has the financial means to do so. Nephi seems to have started his large plates about 590 b.
The book of mormon claims that a record was kept on brass plates prior to the invasion and captivity of babylon. This video, based on 1 nephi 35, follows nephi and his brothers as they return to jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass from a wicked leader named laban. It is clear that the bible and the brass plates differed in many respects. After successfully obtaining the brass plates, they were commanded to return to jerusalem a second time to bring ishmaels family for the purpose of providing spouses for lehi. The brass plates of laban in jerusalem prior to the invasion of babylon.
According to the book of mormon, the plates of nephi, consisting of the large plates of nephi and the small plates of nephi, are a portion of the collection of inscribed metal plates which make up the record of the nephites. He told his brothers to have more faith in the lord and they would be able to get the brass plates. The plates of brass contained a copy of the law five books of moses, a history of the jews, lehis genealogy, and the writings of many prophets. The golden plates were a set of plates that joseph smith, jr. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass 1 nephi 35. The brass plates contained not only a record of the jews but interestingly they contained a genealogy of lehis forefathers. However, to anyone steeped in jewish tradition, this emphasis resonates remarkably with sukkot, especially given the mosaic events that precede it.
Nephi was instructed by the spirit to obtain the plates, and the spirit explained that, in so doing, nephi would help to preserve a people. Laban, a descendant of joseph of egypt, was living in jerusalem at the time of lehis exodus. Jan 12, 2016 the book of mormon indicates that lehi offered sacrifices outside the vicinity of the jerusalem temple after a 3 day journey. Some have wondered how lehi, a faithful israelite, could not have previously known this. The brass plates were, apparently, the personal records of of lehi s family it includes lehi s genealogy, and was in the possession of his presumed relative, laban. Nephi succeeded his father, lehi, as keeper of the record, which became known as the large plates of nephi. Laban casts lehi and his family out of his house, and laban keeps the plates of brass which lehis. Nephi is the author of the first two books of the book of mormon, the the story of nephi son of lehi read more. Lehi then sent laman, lemuel, sam, and nephi back to jerusalem to get the brass plates a record kept by the jews which contained their laws, customs, history, and lineage. Contents of the plates of brass book of mormon central.
Evidence has been found revealing that important messages were engraved into metal objects at the time just prior to the captivity of babylon. This would seem to mark lehi as a religious rebel and heretic burnt offerings and the offering of sacrifices were centralized at the jerusalem temple and prohibited anywhere else, especially after the reforms of josiah in the last third of the seventh century. They were to get the brass plates from a man named laban. According to the brass plates laban and lehi were descendants of manasseh. Some of the prophets mentioned in the book of mormon when quoting the brass plates do not appear in the bible. Since the term was used in the bible known to joseph smith, and whose language style he employed in his translation of the book of mormon. Hugh nibley, in his lectures on the book of mormon, said that lehi didnt have the genealogy of his fathers because the records on the brass plates were rare and secret. The brass plates were a book of scripture made from metal brass pages. Among his possessions was a set of brass plates containing the genealogy of lehi, a major character in the early. Did moroni take it with him with the gold plates or did he bury them with the rest of the plates mormon acquired.
Jan 28, 2020 when lehi embarked on his journey around 600 b. When reading through the book of mormon, one finds references to. The influence of the brass plates on the teachings of nephi robert l. The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in making it are 1 the plates of brass. As a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred. Lehi seemed surprised to learn from the brass plates that he was a descendent of joseph and jacob. To show the children how nephi felt about going to get the brass plates, read aloud 1 nephi 3. Heres how this jewish holiday can enlighten our understanding of lehi s journey. Some of these records were comparable to certain books now found in the old testament, but others did not find their way into the bible. Even though they were armed with the scriptures recorded on the plates of brass, as his family journeyed toward the promised land, lehi began keeping a record which would eventually become the foundation record for a major part of the book of mormon. Among his possessions was a set of brass plates containing the genealogy of lehi, a major character in the early portion of the book of mormon. Jan 01, 2008 this would seem to mark lehi as a religious rebel and heretic burnt offerings and the offering of sacrifices were centralized at the jerusalem temple and prohibited anywhere else, especially after the reforms of josiah in the last third of the seventh century. Mormon did not abridge the small plates of nephi but he did include them in the records he gave to his son moroni words of mormon 1. After many attempts they are able to get the plates and, zoram, one of labans.
Lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to get the brass plates from king laban. Exactly how long before the time of laban the brass records were begun is unknown. The language of the book of mormon exhibits features typical of a translation from an ancient near eastern text as well as the stamp of nineteenthcentury english and the style of the king james version kjv of the bible. Sep 27, 2019 the second episode in the book of mormon video series was released to the public on friday, sept. The plates of brass contained a copy of the law five books of moses, a history of the jews, lehi s genealogy, and the writings of many prophets. When discussing melchizedek in alma, for example, the book of mormon appears to allude to the joseph smith translation of genesis 14. It is not clear from the book of mormon just when lehi began keeping his written record. His family included his wife sariah, sons laman, lemuel, sam, nephi, jacob and joseph as well as unnamed daughters. Brass plates mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. After many attempts they are able to get the plates and. It is interesting to note that the 20 chapters of the book of mormon isaiah, hand copied from the brass plates by the nephite prophets, and translated into english by joseph smith, by the gift and power of god, represent the most correct and the most ancient record of the book.
When it first appeared, the book of mormon was attacked for the alleged absurdity of having been written on golden plates and its claim of the existence of an early sixth century b. The second video in the book of mormon series was released. The following other plates are described in the book of mormon the brass plates were a set of plates retrieved by nephi at the direction of his father, lehi. Dear steve, what moroni hid up in the hill cumorah and delivered to joseph smith was one volume of gold plates containing three separate records. Welcome to latterday designs, home of the book of mormon figures. Another testament of jesus christ less as a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred records on plates of brass from a wicked religious and. The lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. Sloan in the preface to the 1830 edition of the book of mormon, joseph smith wrote that the lost 116 pages included his translation of the book of lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of lehi, by the hand of mormon. Problems with the brass plates of laban by richard packham one of the first dramatic episodes in the book of mormon is the story of how lehi s family was able, with gods help, to obtain the brass plates from their custodian laban 1 nephi 3 5. Sep 07, 2012 lds book of mormon stories nephi brass plates these scripture themed felt figures help bring the gospel to life for your home or classroom. Archaeological evidence for 7 locations on lehis journey to.
Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. Do you find anywhere in the bible where the writers say what they are writing on. Book of mormon language the encyclopedia of mormonism. City that lehi s family lived in before going into the wilderness. There are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. Nephi explained that laban also was a descendant of joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records the brass plates 1 nephi 5. The record contained the books of moses, many prophetic writings including isaiah, and the genealogy of the tribe of joseph. Lehi then sent his 4 sons laman, lemuel, sam and nephi back to jerusalem to get the brass plates. When i was studying 1 nephi a couple months ago, i had been thinking about the book of lehi116 pages that were missing. The influence of the brass plates on the teachings of. The book of mormon bears testimony of the critical nature of record keeping and particularly of the necessity for scriptural records in the development and preservation of a civilization. While there is still much to learn about the people and stories in the book of mormon, some of the best archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon comes from lehi s journey to the.
After lehi and his sons obtained the plates of brass, they had proof of what they had previously only believed from oral tradition, hence lehi then knew that he was a descendant of joseph through manasseh and could prove his important status as such 1 nephi 6. These plates were in the possession of laban, a sage and elder in jerusalem. Archaeological evidence for 7 locations on lehi s journey. The original book of lehi, which was translated by joseph smith in 1828, was stolen and became lost from the book of mormon. The plates of brass are integral to the story and message of the book of mormon. We know from the book of mormon that not only lehi, but also jeremiah, recorded their records on the brass plates. The brass plates contained many more scriptures than have come down to us in the bible. Lehi told nephi that the lord wanted him and his brothers to go back to jerusalem. The book of mormon declares that lehi and members of his family, faithful israelites living near jerusalem about 600 bc, learned the egyptian language and then used this knowledge to read holy scriptures and keep personal records. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon after an angel revealed to him the location where the plates were buried on a hill called cumorah near the town of palmyra, new york. Also from 2 nephi 2, we learn invaluable truths about the plan of salvation. He needs the brass plates so nephis posterity could keep a record of their language and have the gospel.
Laban is a man mentioned in the first book of nephi as keeper of the brass plates in jerusalem about 600 b. Lehi and nephi were happy because they had obeyed the lord and had been able to get the brass plates. After fleeing jerusalem, lehi was commanded by god to send his sons back to the city to obtain the plates from laban. Book of mormon scholars postulate that the brass plates are related to one of the sources from which the bible came. The lord said that the record would be shared some day. The brass plates, book of mormon stories 1997, 812 close video lehi told nephi that the lord wanted him and his brothers to go back to jerusalem. I read 1 nephi 5 this week and was struck by the story of lehi searching the brass plates and what he found in them. The book of mormon mentions his name more than any other. The first part of our book of mormon, from first nephi through omni is a translation of the small plates which were written primarily by nephi. Since that time they have simply been referred to as the lost 116 manuscript pages.
The authors offering illustrates the challenge of creating a lengthy, believable forgery. Why should there be a mention of the brass plates in the bible. Published on sep 6, 2011 book of mormon stories chapter 4. A careful reading of the book of mormon provides a world of information regarding the brass plates. The book of mormon testifies that record keeping is critical, particularly in the. Laman and lemuel did not want to go back to jerusalem and were very angry, but nephi and sam were willing to go. Such an emphasis on lehi s tent in the early chapters of the book of mormon may mystify some readers. As a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred records on plates of brass from a wicked religious and military leader named laban. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass. Are the recordsbooks of zenock and zenos on the plates of brass.
Obviously, the plates of brass were extremely important to lehi and his. Laban, a descendant of joseph of egypt, was living in jerusalem at the time of lehi s exodus. Mormon apologist john tvedtnes doubts that the hill cumorah contains any caves. They told about lehi s forefathers and contained the words of god revealed through the prophets. Despite two unsuccessful attempts and being beaten by laman and lemuel, nephi. Lehi finds a genealogical record included in the plates. The figures with this set are toggle sized on average about tall and are. When reading through the book of mormon, one finds references to many different parts of the old testament. The brass plates the genealogy of lehi book of mormon.