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Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 5
PLATES MADE AND RECORDS BEGUN, VER. 218-231
1 Ne 5:218 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore, that I
might engraven upon them the record of my people.
5:218 This passage refers to the same plates and records mentioned previously (1:15-17;2:93-99;
see comments there).
On the first plates was the genealogy and family history in detail (221, 222, 225). On the second
set of plates he recorded their ministry and the prophecies, "the more plain and precious parts"
(224).
1 Ne 5:229 Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates, save it be that I think it be sacred.
5:229 The Book of Mormon writers many times revert to the task of making plates from ore and
engraving their records on them (see Arthur E. Stark's Concordance, page 332, for a list of
references).
Nephi said, "An account of making these plates shall be given hereafter" (227). It was no small
task to gather ore, smelt from it the non-corrosive metal he was to use, and then engrave the
records. This accounts for the frequent mention of the subject and the casual sound of such a
marvelous statement as this, “The Lord God said unto me, Make other plates ...wherefore, I,
Nephi, ...went and made these plates" (II N. 4:46, 47).
1 Ne 5:230 And now, if I do err, even did they err of old.
5:230 Nephi kept a humble spirit in spite of his marvelous spiritual experiences, "because of the
weakness which is in me” (231). His concern here might be lest he err in selecting the sacred
things which would be best for his people.
There is also some consolation for all of us who pass through moments of human weakness in
Paul's confession, “I find ...that when I would do good evil was present with me" (Rom. 7:23).
Humility was a characteristic in God's choosing Enoch (Gen. 6:32) and Moses (Num. 12:3).
Humility- the recognition of human weakness, but the power of God must characterize all who
would work for the progress of the kingdom of God (D. and C. 1:4c; 11:4; 34:4a).
PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MESSIAH, VER. 232-264
1 Ne 5:240 Yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself according to
words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up according to the words of
Zenock,
1 Ne 5:241 And to be crucified, according to the words of Neum,
1 Ne 5:242 And to be buried in a sepulcher, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake
concerning the three days of darkness,
5:240-242 From the evidence available, these are the names of three Hebrew prophets to ancient
Israel. They are not mentioned in the Old Testament but were in the record on the plates of brass.
This is the only reference made in the Book of Mormon to Neum.