Answer the Call
For Our Day Parallel
PROMISE: A record of scripture is translated by the gift and power of God from gold plates containing the history and warning of a fallen people who formerly inhabited America, but were destroyed when they ripened in iniquity.
Book of
Mormon
c. 121 B.C – 92 B.C.
For
Our Day
1823 – March 1830
Lesson 19: Gold Plates — Warnings & Witnesses
The following video will become available on May 1, 2024.
Set the Course
The Lord will always prophesy and foretell the history of Israel. The Nephites were given the Jaredite gold plates as a witness and warning to them. They rejected this counsel and their abridged history was left as a foreshadowing of our own history. In fact, Mormon specifically highlights the acquisition, translation and usage of the Jaredite history by the Nephites—illustrating the comparable history in our own day, the Book of Mormon.
3 Chief Scriptural Records
For Our Day Parallel
PLATES: The Lord’s people are given three primary collections of revelation or scriptural records.
Book of
Mormon
Contemporary Revelation
For
Our Day
Doctrine and Covenants
The Nephite nation flourished as it adhered to its foundation on the word of God. The Lord’s Church among the Nephites was founded upon three chief collections of revelation or scriptural records. The first was initially kept from Lehi and other prophets and held in the hand of a wicked man and an apostate church. It required persistence, great faith and sacrifice for the family of Lehi to obtain this record. The record was carried by Lehi to the Promised Land of America and contained a record of the creation of the Earth, a genealogy of the fathers and the dealings of the Lord with His people for nearly 3400 years. This record became the perpetuator of Nephite culture and faith, both ecclesiastically and politically. To the degree that the Nephites followed the teachings contained in the record, they prospered and became an example that is still powerfully felt throughout the world today. This record was and is the Brass Plates.
Our modern world has been blessed with a comparable record. This record of scripture was possessed and kept almost secret by a wicked and apostate ecclesiastical body during the dark ages. It required determination, great sacrifice and devotion to obtain, and once obtained was carried to the New World. This record contains the dealings of the Lord with His people from the Creation of the world down to the life and teachings of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. After being carried here to America, it became the foundation of our civilization and government. This record has raised the United States and other modern Christian nations out of obscurity and made them a light to the world, to the degree that they have followed its teachings. This record is the Bible. The Book of Mormon compares the Bible with the Brass Plates declaring that the one is “like unto” the other.
Book of Mormon/Nephite History
Brass Plates are likened unto the Bible
Brass Plates are kept from populace by wicked man and apostate church
Wealth and safety sacrificed for the records
Brass Plates Come to America
Brass Plates of great worth, go forth to all nations
Our Day
Bible is likened unto the Brass Plates
Bible was restricted and kept from the common people by a wicked and apostate church during the Dark Ages. (See Lesson 2 Podcast, Fighting for Scripture: Lehi & the Reformation Martyrs)
The Nephites also had a second record of scripture. This record contained the admonition and testimony of previous inhabitants of America who had been a righteous people led out from among the rest of the world because of wickedness. As this civilization grew, when the people remembered the Lord and obeyed the commandments they were blessed, but as they forgot the Lord they were eventually destroyed. The record of these people was written upon 24 gold plates. After being found it was delivered to a seer and translated using interpreters. The record was written primarily for the benefit of future inhabitants of America. This record concludes with a massive struggle between two armies near the hill Cumorah, then known as the Hill Ramah. This is the history of the Jaredites.
The corresponding record of scripture in this dispensation contains the witness and warning of another fallen people that inhabited America. This record tells of a people that were led out from the wicked, became a chosen and righteous nation and prospered as few have in history. After receiving these great blessings of the Lord the nation degenerated. The record of this people was recorded upon gold plates and was translated by a seer through the gift and power of God using the Urim and Thummim. The record was not commonly used as scripture by the people who are described in the record. It concludes describing the entire destruction of the former Christian inhabitants of America in a bloody confrontation near the hill Cumorah. This record is known as the Book of Mormon.
Finally, the Nephites possessed other records that contained the revelations and writings of prophets as recorded in speeches, personal writings and their prophetic history. Mormon was in possession of many of these during his abridgment of the Book of Mormon. In our day we have a record that contains the covenants between the Lord and His people in this dispensation. This record is kept and added to as additional revelations come from God. It is known as the Doctrine and Covenants. Additionally we have the Pearl of Great Price and other inspired writings of the prophets in our day.
The three primary latter-day records mentioned above contain the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. The three comparable records that were possessed by the Nephites contained the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ among the Nephites.
Jaredite Gold Plates Parallel the Nephite Gold Plates
The Jaredite record was a warning to the Nephites. Their record was recorded on gold plates, translated by a seer named Mosiah and discovered in or near the Hill Cumorah, known to the Jaredites as the Hill Ramah.
The Book of Mormon is a warning to us today. It was also recorded on gold plates, was translated by the great Latter-day Seer Joseph Smith and discovered in the Hill Cumorah.
Are there similarities between the Jaredite record and the discovery and role of the Book of Mormon itself in our day? Did Mormon foreshadow the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the Book of Mormon?
The well-known martyrdom of Abinadi was followed by the re-establishment of the church by Alma, a church that was subsequently driven out of the land. Consequently, the persecutors of these true saints, the wicked people of Noah, were slaughtered and enslaved by the Lamanites. (The details regarding the parallels between this Church organization and persecution with the Latter-day Restoration and being driven from Kirtland, Missouri, and Nauvoo are detailed in Lesson 20, 21, and 22.) After the people humbled themselves, the Lord sent deliverance in the form of a man named Ammon.
King Limhi relates to Ammon a previous attempt of his people to find the city of Zarahemla to secure help. They were not able to find Zarahemla but they did discover a land covered with the remains of a destroyed civilization.
. . . a land which had been peopled; yea, a land which was covered with dry bones; yea, a land which had been peopled and which had been destroyed;
In this desolate land, they discovered 24 plates of gold, written in an unknown language. They returned home carrying the plates, swords and breastplate artifacts as evidence of their journey. The people of Limhi were without the means to translate the record until the plates were delivered to a seer. The translated record gave the people “much knowledge” and played a primary role in the Nephite civilization.
This story correlates incredibly with the role and history of the Book of Mormon in our own day.
Jaredite Record
Jaredites lived on American continent
Jaredite nation as “numerous as the hosts of Israel.”
Jaredite record is discovered in “. . . a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts . . .”
Jaredite record discovered in land “among many waters”
Jaredite record found somewhere near Hill Cumorah/Ramah/among scattered bones and final battle sites of Jaredite nation
Jaredite record hid up by lone witness and survivor of Jaredite destruction, Ether
Jaredite record required someone who could interpret languages
Jaredite plates translated with Urim & Thummim by seer, Mosiah
Seer is a “great benefit to his fellow beings”
Nephite Urim & Thummim described as “two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow”
Physical plates are witness themselves
“Witness” of Jaredite plates includes swords
“Witness” of Jaredite plates includes breastplates
Plates were pure gold
Plates contain engravings in unknown language to anyone alive at the time
Jared records of great importance and give Nephites “much knowledge”
“Great mystery” contained on Jaredite plates
Jaredite plates reveal “cause” of their destruction
Interpreters prepared for Jaredite plates to unfold “mystery”
Nephites had great desire for record to be translated
Sealed portion of Jaredite record came forward at Christ’s coming to Nephites
Nephite Record
Nephites lived on American continent
Nephite civilization was “as numerous almost, as it were the sand of the sea.”
Early American settlers record evidence of decayed human bones in United States heartland.1
Nephite record discovered in upstate New York near Lake Ontario and other surrounding lakes including Canandaigua, Seneca, and Cayuga. (see map)
Nephite record found near Hill Cumorah/Ramah
Nephite record hid up by lone witness and survivor of Nephite destruction, Moroni
Nephite record interpretation locked except to someone who could interpret
Nephite plates translated with Urim & Thummim by seer, Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith “has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.”
Joseph Smith received Nephite Urim & Thummim, described as “two stones in silver bows”
Three and Eight Witnesses shown plates as witness to Book of Mormon
Witnesses shown Sword of Laban, found with Nephite plates
Witnesses shown breastplate, found with Nephite plates
Book of Mormon written on gold plates
Book of Mormon plates contain Reformed Egyptian engravings, unknown language
Book of Mormon is written for our day
Book of Mormon “reveal[s] all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.”
Nephite plates reveal what led to the Nephites’ downfall.
- Mormon 2:8 “did not repent of their evil doings”
- Mormon 5:11 “people had not repented”
- Mormon 6:22 “O that ye had repented”
- Moroni 8:27 “pride . . . hath proven their destruction except they should repent”
- Moroni 9:22 “must perish except they repent and return unto him”
Urim & Thummim prepared for translating Nephite Plates
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had a desire to translate the Book of Mormon
Sealed portion of Book of Mormon to come forward
- Ether 4:5-7
- Elder Bruce R. McConkie, This Final Glorious Gospel Dispensation
Embark on the Journey
Monthly “I Am a Latter-day Nephite” Theme!
I will humbly repent and turn my heart to my Nephite, Israelite, and Patriarchal forefathers.
Remember: While you absolutely may do every activity suggested if you would like, it is certainly not needed, nor are you limited by the ideas given here. Choose one or more that will work with your learning style, available time, or the group that you are working with. Even if you are an adult, don’t hesitate to choose an activity originally aimed at children—those can be the most fun!
Feel free to run with any other ideas that come to your mind! Allow the Lord to guide you in choosing the best activities for you. The ultimate goal is to engage with the material and become a “doer of the word.”
- If this is your first week here, welcome! Please review our “Welcome & How to Join the Quest” for some helpful information on how to use this resource. You may also want to check out the Embark on the Journey section of Lesson 1 for some activities that will be helpful in getting you started on this quest. In particular, you’ll want a journal, and perhaps the “I Am a Latter-day Nephite” resolution and a fun Book of Mormon reading chart. Just start where you are in the year—don’t feel like you have to backtrack and do every lesson, but grab these helpful tools and you’ll be good to go from here!
- If you choose to download or purchase a designed cardstock version of the “I’m a Latter-day Nephite” resolution, you may want to post it where you will see it every day—on the fridge or your mirror, for example. Ponder on this month’s statement “I will humbly repent and turn my heart to my Nephite, Israelite, and Patriarchal forefathers.”
- Read Doctrine and Covenants 2 and consider the different words that Moroni used when quoting Malachi 4:5-6, then read Doctrine and Covenants 128:18.
- Ponder and journal your impressions to the following questions:
- Do you think that Malachi 4:5-6, Doctrine & Covenants 2, and Doctrine & Covenants 128:18 are referring only to your genealogical line? Why or why not?
- What does it look like for you to turn your heart to your forefathers?
- What promises have been planted in your heart as a result of the restoration of sealing keys by Elijah?
- Why will the earth be utterly wasted or cursed if we do not participate in this sealing work?
- What does it mean that sealing power can weld together dispensations, and why does this matter?
- Divide your family or class into two groups and give one group the scripture references relating to the Jaredite record and the other group the references relating to the Nephite record. Give the groups time to look up the scriptures and make notes on the characteristics of their record. Come back together and have each group share what they discovered and lead a discussion on the similarities between the records.
- Alternate version: Do this activity, but have a “team captain” for each group. The Jaredite group captain can dress up as Mosiah, and the Nephite group captain can dress up as Joseph Smith. If they can’t dress up, give them name tags identifying them. Include in your discussion the role each of these seers played in bringing forth a sacred record that benefited their people greatly.
- Print and cut out this handout, double-sided. It may be nice to print on cardstock, if you can. Play a matching game to pair together the characteristics of the Jaredite record and the Book of Mormon.
- Make two sets of gold plates, one for the Jaredite record and one for the Nephite record. Bury them in your yard near to each other and have a scavenger hunt for your family to find them. Discuss the similarities between the two records and how miraculous it was for them to be preserved and brought forth for the benefit of the people to prepare for Christ’s coming (Jaredite record for His first coming, recorded in 3 Nephi, and the Nephite record for His second coming, for our day).
Unless otherwise stated, reference to any products, services, hypertext link to third parties or other information by trade name, trademark, supplier or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement or sponsorship by us. They are for convenience only.
All Hands on Deck
- Pray each morning this week for the Lord to give you an opportunity to share your thoughts on the Book of Mormon and/or what you’ve learned this week with someone.
- Join the For Our Day community on social media for uplifting shareable content, ideas on how to implement For Our Day in your home and classes, and to connect with others on the journey. You can find us here: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Share one of the Embark on the Journey activities on your social media for other families to do.
- Invite some friends or family over to do one of the Embark on the Journey activities together.
Footnotes
“Early historians recorded that the first settlers in this part of the state found the topsoil white with a lime substance which comes from decayed human bones. In addition, the first farmers in the area plowed up thousands of arrowheads and spear points that were scattered over the surface of the land. Many hills had been fortified with trees, some large and some short, showing evidence of one time being felled and logged with sharp cutting tools (McCauley’s History of New York, 1828).
Joseph Smith also wrote about crossing over the land of the Nephites, picking up their bones and weapons, in a letter to his wife Emma on June 4, 1834: “We arrived this morning on the banks of the Mississippi . . . we left the eastern part of the state of Ohio . . . The whole of our journey, in the midst of so large a company of social honest and sincere men, wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionally the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity, and gazing upon a country the fertility, the splendor and the goodness so indescribable, all serves to pass away time unnoticed . . .” (JS, Letter, [Pike Co., IL], to Emma Smith, Kirtland Township, Geauga Co., OH, 4 June 1834., Joseph Smith Papers, CHL)
Find the Treasure
Content coming soon!
