We Keep the Records

One of the major themes of the book of Omni is the importance of records. Each of the five authors mentioned the records or plates and were very conscious of their duty to write in and preserve those records. For example, the book opens with this statement from Omni: "Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy," acknowledging his duty to write in the plates and pass them down. Even though he considered himself  "a wicked man" he still fulfilled his duty as it pertained to the records: "I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron" (v1-3). It was a sacred duty for them to maintain, add to, and pass on the sacred scriptural record.

               Each of the subsequent authors after Omni similarly focused on the records. Amaron wrote, “I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of my father,” and then after giving only a three-verse summary of the Lord’s dealings with His people, he finished with, “And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish” (4-8). Chemish only gave us one verse, using a form of the word write five times, and showed his commitment to the records saying, “And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers” (v9). His son Abinadom gave us only two verses, and yet he too chose to write about the record itself, “And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written” (v11). These records were clearly sacred writings that those commissioned to add to them treated with reverence as they wrote and passed them on.

               The greatest lesson about records in Omni, though, came from the final and most lengthy writer Amaleki. As he told the story of King Mosiah leaving Nephi with the righteous and finding the land of Zarahemla, he highlighted the fact that “the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews” (v14). He contrasted this with the people in Zarahemla: “Their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them” (v17). The Nephites were able to keep the commandments of the Lord, preserve their language, and know their Creator because of the sacred records that they had brought with them. One of the things that Mosiah thus did was to teach the people of Zarahemla the language of the Nephites and then to start a record of their history: “But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are written, but not in these plates” (v18). Amaleki also told of “a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it” that Mosiah interpreted by the power of God which told the story of the Jaredites and how the Lord’s judgments had come upon them (v20). All these passages in Omni highlight the utmost importance of sacred records in helping us remember the Lord, keep His commandments, and be preserved by Him. It should be a reminder to us to take seriously those sacred writings the Lord has given us in our day and their invitation to “all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel” (v25).