Mormonism Minute: History of Mormonism: Learning from the Scriptures

History of Mormonism and Learning from the Scriptures

My favorite example in the history of Mormonism of learning from the scriptures is the story of the prophet Lehi and his family. Lehi was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem but had to flee with his family in order to save his life. After leaving Jerusalem and traveling for some distance, Lehi received revelation to get the sacred records; he told his sons to return to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates, which held the record of the Jews -- the Biblical recordings up to 600 B.C. It was a great struggle with many obstacles for Lehi's sons to obtain these scriptural records. One of Lehi's sons, Nephi, trusted his father and Heavenly Father's commandment: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." So Nephi withstood all obstacles and eventually obtained the brass plates for his family to take with them into the wilderness, away from Jerusalem, and toward a land promised to them from God.

Lehi knew that his family needed the brass plates in order to teach the words of God for the generations to come. Having the brass plates also helped preserve their language and writing. Teaching one's children is a commandment from God; God wants all His children to learn of His ways, follow His ways and return to Him.

Nephi loved the writings of Isaiah (Biblical records) and followed Isaiah's guidance to apply the scriptures to his own life: "I did liken all the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." (1 Nephi 20:23) Nephi studied and preached all the words from this Biblical record. Nephi's words can be read in the Book of Mormon. This is one way the history of Mormonism includes the Bible today and the Bible records the Book of Mormon people possessed as well.

CHAT live with a Mormon missionary about Learning from the Scriptures