📪 Cannot be Written¶
Estimated time to read: 16 minutes
The Book of Mormon is a powerful witness of Jesus Christ. It helps us understand His teachings, including those in the Bible.
The Book of Mormon is convincing evidence of the Restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith. You can know for yourself that the Book of Mormon is true. To gain this knowledge, you must read it, ponder its message, and desire to know if it is true.
— The Book of Mormon, The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (pamphlet)
This book of scripture seems to be important. Its subtitle is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and really hypes up how great Jesus' arrival in the American continent will be. Once Jesus is physically present to minister and teach (after destroying cities and killing hundreds of thousands of people,) something really strange happens: no one can tell you what He actually said.
That is a hyperbolic exaggeration, of course—He did repeat the Sermon on the Mount almost exactly as the King James Bible presents it in Matthew 5, so there's that.
Jesus' Ministry¶
After stepping back to give this book some critical evaluation, I've noticed an alarming number of times when the Book of Mormon just never tells you anything about what's happening. The term "and it came to pass" appears 1,404 times in this book. When it comes down to the one opportunity to record what the Savior of all mankind has to say...
- Jesus prayed such amazing things that we just couldn't write down what He said, but everyone there agreed it was way cool; 3 Nephi 17:15-17
- Jesus prayed again and, wouldn't you know it, it was so astonishing that we didn't write down any of that, either; 3 Nephi 19:32-34
- Jesus called some disciples, but even the things they said were so bedazzling that they are both unspeakable and unlawful to write down... so we didn't write any of it down. 3 Nephi 26:17-18
I think I would make the argument that those are important things. This book is meant to testify of Christ, right? ... Did the prophet Mormon not know that? Someone had to write down 3 Nephi 11 when the big J arrives. Who, exactly? Unclear. Mormon abridged it all into a univocal narrative. Either that author was so enamored by talking babies that he didn't catch what Jesus said, or Mormon omitted some crucial details amid his abridgment.
And so I got to thinking... what are some other passages in this book of scripture that don't really tell us, the readers, what's happening? And, to be clear, when I say that "I got to thinking," what I really mean is that I once listened to a podcast episode that pointed out these passages, and since I prefer structured & searchable text, I thought I'd put together some notes and put them on the internet.
This is purely hypothetical, but... if I were to try and write a fictional story but present it as historical or non-fiction, would I rationalize why the story's narrator can't expound on something? Why or why not? What would be some valid reasons for a recording agent to preclude information?
Not a full account¶
I mean, yes, the Gospel is fully restored, but there are parts of the Book of Mormon that got left out. Don't worry about it, it's fine. Probably. We're just not going to tell you everything.
And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book.
And Alma spake many more words unto the people, which are not written in this book.
And he did minister many things unto them; and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.
But behold, I give not the full account, but a part of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed.
And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account.
well golly gee if only we had a written account of things that God wants His prophets to teach
A hundredth part¶
But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work.
And there had many things transpired which, in the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many people in the space of twenty and five years;
And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people;
And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled; and he finished his record; (and the hundredth part I have not written) and he hid them in a manner that the people of Limhi did find them.
And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many of their proceedings are written upon the larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and the reigns of their kings.
Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
Too Marvelous¶
And also again the third time the voice came, and did speak unto them marvelous words which cannot be uttered by man; and the walls did tremble again, and the earth shook as if it were about to divide asunder.
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.
16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.
Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether; but they esteemed him as naught, and cast him out; and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people.
Imagine any other historical document trying to do this.
"Yeah, the revolutionary war was pretty important. Lots of important things happened, but I mean, it was just too cool for us to even write down, so... believe me, it was important and it definitely happened, too."
Forbidden¶
Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.
This verse is in the midst of Jesus Christ's post-resurrection ministry to Zerahemla. The chapter heading explicitly describes "Jesus expounds all things from the beginning to the end." We were gonna write down what Jesus said, but, wouldn't you know it, God said not to. Why? Fuck you, that's why. God's going to try your faith. Just take our word for it that Jesus expounded on everything.
What the hell, God?
And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people.
"Write this down, now... and don't show it to anyone."
What? Why?
Why would God tell a prophet to record something that is not meant for that prophet's contemporaries? That's the entire value proposition of having a prophet!
And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw.
Why?
God reveals things to prophets... and then proceeds to forbid them from sharing those things? Why mention them, then?
And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
Too sacred? ... What good is it to tell me that you have had spiritual experiences, but refuse to elaborate on them?
Sufficient¶
"No, this isn't the full story... but it's enough story. You have enough information to work with, so I'm moving on."
And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites.
1 And now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto you, my beloved brethren. And I cannot write but a few things, which I know must surely come to pass; neither can I write but a few of the words of my brother Jacob.
2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.
"I can only write a few things down... fortunately, what little I have is sufficient, except for the other things which I'm now going to expound upon."
???
And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.
"There are other divine matters that I could have written about, but it'd be redundant, so I won't write about them."
... Right, okay. Please read 2 Nephi 29:6-8, particularly the passage "[w]herefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?" Is this book another testament of Jesus Christ? Would this logic hold up pertaining to the very book it's written in? Yeah, we already have an old and a new testament. By Jarom's thought process, absolutely nothing in this book matters.
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. And I make an end.
It's enough info. Don't look for more. Also there are sealed portions. Also God might reveal more, but the Gospel is fully restored, and there are other plates that Joseph Smith translated but you can't read. And don't forget about those 116 pages of scripture that got misplaced!
Weakness of Writing¶
Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies.
“If we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.” — President Thomas S. Monson
... Unless you were called to be a prophet during the Book of Mormon years. Then you're shit out of luck. Not good at writing? Don't worry, the validity of your words will only be a determining factor in the last dispensation of God's divine authority. Your ability to articulate God's word via engraving text will be a critical component of bringing salvation when the world's population is at its highest.
And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.
Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.
And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.
Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;
Trial of your Faith¶
And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not.
I suppose that the logical extension here is that you're better than them. You "saw them not," but you're not going to disbelieve the prophet, are you?
8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.
9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
You think this (vague) stuff is cool? Just wait— if you believe this, then you'll get even greater (vague) things shown to you!