I just found this third video on the Scripture Notes channel, in which Oak Norton interviews Jonathan Neville on various aspects of the Book of Mormon translation. In this video, the focus is on the “two sets of plates” used as the source of the translation of the Book of Mormon. The first set is considered to be the original plates housed in a “stone box” that was delivered to Joseph Smith by the angel Moroni, which included the “book of Lehi,” which was the first thing that Joseph Smith translated—comprising the first “116 pages” of the translated record that was lost by Martin Harris. The second set of plates was an abridgement of the record of Nephi by Nephi himself, which the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to translate as a substitute for the 116 lost pages of the initial translation attempt. The Lord commanded Joseph Smith not to retranslate the book of Lehi, or the portion that he had initially translated; but instead to translate this abridgement by Nephi (which contained the same material as the book of Lehi—and a bit more). Jonathan Neville argues that this second set of plates, which Joseph Smith translated as a substitute for the translation of the book of Lehi which was lost, was not included in the original set of records housed in the “stone box” that was delivered to Joseph Smith by Moroni; but was a separate set of records kept in the original “repository” of all the records; and was give to Joseph Smith separately later by one of the famed “three Nephites”. That is the main theme of the video. The Book of Mormon itself, however, does not support this account. The Book of Mormon is our most reliable source of information on this subject, and it tells a different story. It does not confirm the account favored by Jonathan Neville. Nephi in the Book of Mormon provides us with the following information:
1 Nephi 9:
2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these [smaller] plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.
3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these [smaller] plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
4 Upon the other [larger] plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these [smaller] plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the other [larger] plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.
5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [smaller] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
1 Nephi 19:
1 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. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.
2 And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these [smaller] plates; wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraven upon those first [larger] plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these [smaller] plates are, of a truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates.
3 And after I had made these [smaller] plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these [smaller] plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord.
4 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other [larger] plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people. And this have I done, and commanded my people what they should do after I was gone; and that these [smaller] plates should be handed down from one generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until further commandments of the Lord.
2 Nephi 4:
14 For I, Nephi, was constrained to speak unto them, according to his word; for I had spoken many things unto them, and also my father, before his death; many of which sayings are written upon mine other [larger] plates; for a more history part are written upon mine other plates.
15 And upon these [smaller plates] I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
2 Nephi 5:
29 And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made, of my people thus far.
30 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.
31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these [smaller] plates upon which I have engraven these things.
• • •
33 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other [larger] plates.
What that tells us is that God knew in his foreknowledge that the translation of the initial part of the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith would be lost, through the transgression of Martin Harris, and an error of judgment by Joseph Smith; and he made contingency arrangements to ensure that the text of the Book of Mormon would not be compromised, or suffer any loss as a consequence. The smaller plates of Nephi fully compensate for the loss of the initial translation pages—and add more to it. The second thing that the Book of Mormon informs us is that this smaller account prepared by Nephi was included by Mormon in the original set of plates deposited in the “stone box”:
Words of Mormon:
3 And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
4 And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—
5 Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
6 But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.
What that proves is that the original smaller account, or abridgement made by Nephi, which Joseph Smith translated as a substitute for the translation of the book of Lehi, which had been lost, was included by Mormon in the original set of plates housed in the stone box, which contained the complete text from which the Book of Mormon was later translated. Nothing needed to be imported from outside of that original collection, delivered to Joseph Smith by Moroni. And in Doctrine and Covenants section 10, the Lord provides us with additional clarification and insight into the whole affair, as follows:
Doctrine and Covenants 10:
38 And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands [lost], is engraven upon the plates of Nephi;
39 Yea, and you remember it was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of these things upon the [smaller] plates of Nephi.
40 And now, because the account which is engraven upon the [smaller] plates of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account—
41 Therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on the [smaller] plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated, which you have retained;
42 And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words.
43 I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.
44 Behold, they have only got a part, or an abridgment of the account of Nephi.
45 Behold, there are many things engraven upon the [smaller] plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.
46 And, behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my disciples, desired in their prayers should come forth unto this people.
Note especially that in verse 42, the Lord identifies the text of the Book of Mormon as his words, not Joseph Smith’s words (contrary to Jonathan Neville’s implied suggestions). And further into the Book of Mormon we have the following interesting reference:
2 Nephi 27:
19 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned [i.e. Joseph Smith] shall say: I am not learned.
20 Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.
All of which is contrary to Jonathan Neville’s wild speculations. Joseph Smith was not learned, and he could have only translated the Book of Mormon by means of a revelation from God. So to summarize, we note the following:
1. God knew in his foreknowledge that the initial part of the translation of the Book of Mormon made by Joseph Smith would be lost.
2. Therefore God, in his infinite wisdom, made contingency arrangements to ensure that the loss of the initial translated pages would not compromise the integrity and essential content of the Book of Mormon.
3. He did this by first instructing Nephi to make a smaller, abridged version of his record, which focused less on the historical details, and more on the teachings, preaching, and instructions.
4. Secondly much later on, when Mormon compiled his sacred history which was later on to come forth as the Book of Mormon, he was instructed by the Lord to include in it this smaller account, or abridgement that had been previously prepared by Nephi.
5. Interestingly, neither Nephi, nor Mormon were informed by the Lord as to the reasons why this additional material needed to be written by Nephi, or later on, to be added to the collection of plates comprising the text of the Book of Mormon compiled by Mormon. What the Lord had required of them seemed superfluous and puzzling to both. Nephi, and later on Mormon, were both puzzled by the Lord’s requirement to add this extra material to the collection of records, which seemed superfluous to both. But they trusted the Lord that he knew what he was doing, or knew something that they didn’t know, and did what he commanded them to do. We are the lucky ones to have this information now supplied to us in Doctrine and Covenants section 10.
Conclusion: Jonathan Neville’s theorizing about the “two sets of plates” (like his theories about the translation of the Book of Mormon) is entirely baseless and speculative, and has no foundation in history, scholarship, revelation, scripture, or the Book of Mormon. All the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated were fully contained in the original set of plates delivered to Joseph Smith in a stone box by Moroni, with no extraneous material needing to be added to it later from any other source.
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