Читать книгу Essentials in Church History - Joseph Fielding Smith - Страница 125

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The lost manuscript contained the abridgment made by Mormon of the record of Nephi, from the time Lehi left Jerusalem down to the reign of King Benjamin, or to the words of Mormon, in the Book of Mormon. When Mormon made his abridgment of the records of the Nephites, the Lord directed him to attach also the small plates of Nephi, which contained the record of the people covering the same period of time as the abridgment down to the reign of King Benjamin. In this manner there were two accounts of that history, the abridgment and the original. Now the translation of the abridgment was lost; but the better account could still be translated, and the designs of Satan be defeated. Thus the “wise purpose” of the Lord, in directing Mormon to include Nephi’s plates, was made known to Joseph Smith.