“And these plates of brass which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning. And behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers that they should be kept, and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon. And now, behold, if they are kept, they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness, yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ.” -Alma 17:32-34 [37:3-5]
According to the Book of Mormon, the Plates of Brass played a significant role in the lives of Lehi and his descendants. Time and time again in the text, they served as a source of religious and historical knowledge that shaped their beliefs and actions. Most importantly, they testified of Jesus Christ and contained the Torah, the teachings from God to mankind to help us grow closer to the Lord.
Religious Guidance and Practices
We know that the plates of brass contained the Torah as given to the tribe of Joseph, the five Books of Moses. This provided Lehi’s descendants with the commandments of God, which they sought to keep. While the Nephites did believed in the coming of Christ and did not believe salvation came by the law of Moses, they kept the Torah as it served to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. Nephi emphasized the importance of the plates, stating that his descendants “could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law” (1 Nephi 1:117 [4:15]). The plates guided them in their religious practices. They even offered “sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord” until the coming of Jesus Christ, and gave thanks to the God of Israel throughout their generations, until they fell away from the faith (1 Nephi 1:157 [5:9]).
Scriptural Learning and Teaching
Nephi found the plates to be “desirable” and “of great worth,” allowing them to “preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children” (1 Nephi 6:2 [19:22b]). He “did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old” (1 Nephi 6:5 [19:23c] ). Nephi “likened all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning,” using them to teach and persuade his people (1 Nephi 6:5 [19:23c]). The plates served as a source of comfort and reassurance for Lehi’s wife, Sariah, who, upon seeing them, expressed her conviction in the Lord’s guidance and protection.
As the Plates of Brass were handed down among the generations of the Nephites, they continued to be used to teach the people. King Benjamin “taught them concerning the records which were
engraven on the plates of brass” (Mosiah 1:4 [1:3]). When Alma passed them down to this son, Helaman, he told hims that the plates “should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon” (Alma 17:33 [37:4]). It is clear that they were not only important to Nephi, but his descendants as well. And they must be important to us as well, seeing that are spoken of so highly in the Book of Mormon and the prophecies that they will be sent forth in our day.
Historical Understanding and Identity
The plates contained a genealogy of Lehi’s fathers, revealing their lineage back to Joseph, son of Jacob. This discovery affirmed their identity as descendants of Joseph and explained why Laban, also a descendant of Joseph, possessed the plates. Nephi viewed this genealogical connection as significant, emphasizing that they were “a descendant of Joseph.” The plates provided a broader historical context for Lehi’s descendants, as they contained a “record of the Jews from the beginning” and “the prophecies of the Holy prophets.”
The contents of the plates of brass
The plates contained the five Books of Moses, which provided Lehi’s descendants with the Torah of Moses. Lehi discovered a genealogy of his ancestors on the plates, revealing his lineage back to Joseph, who was sold into Egypt. Laban also descended from this lineage. The plates also contained a record of the Israelites from the beginning, down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, King of Judah. Lehi also found the prophecies of the Holy prophets down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah. While some prophets are mentioned and quoted, the full extent of these writings is not specified in the Book of Mormon.
The Future of the Plates of Brass
Lehi, filled with the spirit after reading the plates, prophesied that the plates would go forth to all nations and never perish. The plates of brass were not merely historical artifacts but served as a living testament in the lives of Lehi and his descendants, shaping their religious practices, informing their identity, and guiding their understanding of God’s dealings with humanity. These plates are currently being translated today.
