A Wise Purpose

Nephi said this about the plates he was writing on: “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” (1 Nephi 9:5-6). Nephi repeated this idea about keeping his record because it was a wise purpose later as well: “I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:3). Perhaps Mormon read these passages when he found the small plates as he was compiling the Book of Mormon, and that may have inspired him to feel the same way about including the small plates with his abridgment: “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 1:7). Both Mormon and Nephi felt that it was a wise purpose that we should have the words of the small plates—what we have now between and including 1 Nephi and Omni.

                Alma used this same theme as he talked to his son Helaman about the plates that contained the words of Nephite prophets. He instructed, “I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.” Speaking of the plates of brass he said, “And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.” The plates of brass had been preserved and did not dim with time for a wise purpose in blessing the Nephites. Speaking perhaps of all the plates in general, Alma gave control of them to his son with these words, “And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations…. For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers. For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations” (Alma 37:2, 12, 14, 17-18). Alma wanted it very clear that the Lord had his reasons for preserving the plates of scripture and that it was crucial for Helaman to preserve them and add to the sacred text. Perhaps of most importance to us in our day is Alma’s statement that they would be preserved in order to “show forth his power unto future generations”—that must include us in our day. So at least part of the wise purpose that the Lord had in preserving the Book of Mormon for us is to show His power and ultimately to give us power through these sacred words. This is consistent with what President Nelson taught: “When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls…. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, ‘I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people’ to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.” And so, as we read the Book of Mormon, we should remember the words purpose and power, knowing that there is a purpose for us individually in having the words of this sacred account and that as we search out that purpose we will find power from the Lord in our lives.