Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
4 Nephi Chapter 1
In the Restoration church this practice was a matter of concern to the church leaders. A group
existed near Kirtland called "the family,” which operated on a common stock basis. When these
people embraced the gospel, they wanted to continue this relationship. Lyman Wight was among
these people. Joseph Smith, Jr., wrote,
The plan of "common stock," which had existed in what was called "the family," whose members
generally had embraced the everlasting gospel was readily abandoned for the more perfect law of
the Lord; and the false spirits were easily discerned and rejected by the light of revelation.
About four years later, Francis Porter, a Methodist, came from New York and inquired "whether a
member of our church could move into this vicinity, and purchase lands, and enjoy his own
possessions and property, without making them common stock." Joseph offered to sell him a
nearby farm and said, "we had no common stock business among us; that every man enjoys his
own property." Stewardship is not possible unless one has control of his own property (D. and C.
42 :9b).
4 Ne 1:6 And there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that
they did heal the sick, and raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight,
and the deaf to hear;
All of these miracles were done in the name of Jesus (7).
"And the Lord did prosper them exceedingly, in the land." They rebuilt cities which had been
burned, such as Zarahemla (9). "The people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceeding
fast, and became an exceeding fair and delightsome people" (11).
They quit following the "ordinances of the law of Moses, but they did walk after the
commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and
prayer, and in meeting together oft, both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord" (13). And there
was no contention among them (14).
4 Ne 1:15 And it came to pass that the seventy and first year passed away, and also the seventy and
second year; yea, and in fine, until the seventy and ninth year had passed away; yea, even an hundred
years had passed away, and the disciples of Jesus, whom he had chosen, had all gone to the paradise of
God, save it were the three who should tarry;
Thus Nephi began his account A.D. 34 and passed over the years with scarcely any ac- count
given of the achievements or struggles of his people. "There was no contention in the land,
because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people" (17). It seems almost that
the historian found little to record, since there were no wars and divisions. Here was a situation
where it could be said truly, "No news is good news."
4 Ne 1:19 And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by
the hand of God:
There were no envyings, strifes, tumults, whoredoms, lyings, murders, lasciviousness, and “no.
..Lamanites, nor any manner of ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the
kingdom of God" (18, 20). "They were blessed and prospered, until an hundred and ten years had