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Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 2
laughed at. The Psalmist inveighs against those who sit "in the seat of the scornful" (Ps. 1:1). The
adversary of souls frequently uses this weapon as a form of persecution (Matt. 5:12, 13). "High
above the earth" gives more emphasis to the idea of worldly pride.
MANY LOST THEIR WAY, VER. 79-91
1 Ne 2:80 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain;
2:80 The water of this river was "filthiness" (4:44). Lehi did not notice this, however, because his
mind was absorbed in other aspects of the vision. As explained by an angel to Nephi, "it was a
representation of that awful hell" (4:47). The fountain source of the river was good, for it
represented "the love of God” (3:68). However, as it passed through the channel it became muddy
with corruption and wickedness.
1 Ne 2:85 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
2:85 This was what troubled Lehi particularly. He was also saddened by seeing a great many enter
into that strange building. His comment was he "exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel”
(2:86). He exhorted them "with all the feeling of a tender parent" (2:88). The record says he
preached and prophesied unto them. Few wayward sons have had a father such as these boys had.
Doubtless their envy of Nephi was part of their undoing; the eldest son usually received all the
property and authority of a Hebrew father.
TWO SETS OF PLATES, VER. 92-102
1 Ne 2:95 Wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also
are called the plates of Nephi.
2:95 Nephi shortens his writing (2:78) about the vision and discusses the plates upon which he
writes. There were two sets called "plates of Nephi”. One set has been designated as the smaller
plates of Nephi and contained most of the spiritual record. The other set, which we call the larger
plates of Nephi, described more of the reign of their kings and the history of their wars and
contentions.
1 Ne 2:99 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him;
which purpose I know not.
2:99 Nephi never lived to learn God's purpose in this duplicate history of the period. When
Mormon was making the abridgment from the political history of Nephi down to the reign of King
Benjamin, he found the "plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob,
down to the reign of this King Benjamin" (W.M. 1:5). He was much impressed by the contents, so
he used them to finish his record. The purpose became clear in the summer of 1828 when Martin
Harris lost the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon translation manuscript. The Lord directed that
this section of the larger plates be not retranslated (D. and C. 3:2, 6;9). Joseph Smith was to
substitute a translation of the smaller plates of Nephi down to the reign of King Benjamin.