Obedience in the Brass Plates

At the end of the first book of Nephi, Nephi testified to his brother in these words: “Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God” (1 Nephi 22:30).  In other words, Nephi was testifying that the brass plates—and therefore the prophets of the Old Testament—witness that we have a responsibility to be obedient to God.  We see this in the examples of many of the prophets, starting at the beginning with Adam: “And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord” (Moses 5:5).  Noah was another who clearly showed the importance of obedience to the Lord.  He was commanded to prepare the ark and the animals, and the scriptural account records simply: “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Genesis 6:22).  His life and that of his family was spared because of his obedience. 

               Abraham of course was another prophet of the Old Testament who taught through example that a man must be obedient to God.  After following the difficult direction to offer up Isaac, the Lord commended him in these words, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:18).  Abraham also gave us these words (though we don’t know if they were part of the brass plates) from the Lord about our need for obedience: “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25).  Moses was another prophet who showed obedience to the Lord, and he also left many injunctions from the Lord commanded us to do the same.  As part of the law the Lord gave them this command: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Leviticus 18:26).  He promised them, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5).  To these invitations the Lord responded, “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7).  One cannot read and understand the Law of Moses without knowing that God asks obedience of His children. 

Other prophets of the Old Testament also left testimonies of the need for obedience.  Joshua invited the children of Israel in his day with these words, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve,” and the people responded, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 25:15, 24).  Isaiah wrote, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land,” and Jeremiah left us these words of the Lord, “Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God” (Isaiah 1:19, Jeremiah 11:4).  Perhaps the book of Ecclesiastes summarized the message: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  As Nephi taught his brothers, the Old Testament and its prophets stand as a witness that “a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.”