During Sunday School today something hit me. I love Sunday School because that is probably when I learn the most at church on Sundays. We had lesson 14 ("For a Wise Purpose") as our lesson today, which goes over books Enos through Words of Mormon in the Book of Mormon. The main thing we talked about were all the records that were kept, as well as how they were kept and by whom. Of course, this led to a discussion on our own record keeping of today, be it journal writing, blogging, scrap booking, etc. We talked about how important it was for the people in the Book of Mormon to keep their records for many reason. Some of which were to preserve their language, as well as pass down their beliefs in Christ. We also discussed what can happen if records are not kept, and a language not preserved. In Omni, verses 17-18, it tells us of some of the side-effects the Mulekites suffered because they did not 1) bring any records with them to the New world, and 2) did not keep their own records when they got here. Their language was corrupt, they did not have a 100% reliable source for their genealogy (it was written down solely from memory), they denied the existence of their Creator, and they fought many wars (language barriers/differences between cities and tribes most likely playing a significant part in their lack of unity). We also know that many - if not all - of the same things happened to the Lamanite people after the destruction of the Nephites and the record keepers. The natives of North and South America did not have a written language when the Europeans came to the New World, and they suffered many of the same consequences that the Mulekites suffered 1700 years earlier. So we see that record keeping is very important to the people of the Book of Mormon for many reasons, which are outlined over the course of the book. God even had Nephi kill a man for the sole purpose that he could preserve his people's language (by obtaining the Brass Plates) and therefore the ability to know and keep the commandments and write his own record.
As I was thinking about a certain question asked (which I cannot recall now) I found an answer I don't think many of us have thought about much before. I was pondering the difficulty these men - Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, Moroni, et.al. - had to endure in order to write their words on plates of gold. All of the major writers of the Book of Mormon indicate to us the difficulty of writing as they were required to by the Lord. Nephi says "I...cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking..." (2 Nephi 33:1) Moroni said this as he abridged the Jaredite record: "And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing...And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them. Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words." (Ether 12:23-25) We see from these two men's records alone that they did not enjoy writing, and Moroni even expressed his anxiety that the Gentiles would mock his words.
Sometimes we don't realize ourselves just how difficult it was to write like the Nephite prophets had to, or how time consuming the process was. We can look to chapter 28 of 3 Nephi for an example. This chapter is about Christ's last few moments with the Nephites. He asks his 12 disciples what they would wish of him before he leaves. Nine of them are blessed with life up until their 72nd year. The three others seemed ashamed to ask what they desired. They all desired to never taste of death, but to live until the 2nd coming of Christ. After quoting this account, Mormon writes his own words that he is not sure if at this time (after being taken up to heaven to experience a change to their bodies allowing for extended life) the Three Nephites are still mortal or immortal. (3 Nephi 28:17). Now, 19 verses later (a mere two columns on the page, about 2 minutes worth of reading) we have Mormon's response to his own uncertainty. He says, "And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom they Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality- But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste death;" (3 Nephi 28:36-37; italics added) So, during his abridging, two things could have happened. 1) Mormon took a break from his work, and during that time inquired of the Lord, and received and answer (something that usually doesn't happen right away). Or, 2) As he's abridging, Mormon's curiosity on the matter leads him to ponder on this issue. The abridging takes so long that he has so much time to really think about this issue, and pray about it many times, and then get his answer from the Lord. The abridging of these 19 verses took him at least a couple days, therefore allowing for the process I just described. I believe the latter possibility (and there may be more than two) is how things happened. It is consistent with how most people - even prophets - receive revelation. It usually doesn't come all at once, but over many ponderous and prayerful days. Therefore, it most likely took Mormon at least 2 days just to abridge this little section of scripture! Talk about commitment. Add on top of the time consumption the fact that these men were weak in writing. How strenuously painful would that have been for these ancient prophets.
I would say that writing on the gold plates was the most difficult task these prophets had to endure, except for the suffering they experienced due to their people's wickedness. It wasn't easy, but it was necessary for, really, the fate of the whole human race. So what is our most difficult task? What are we required to do (or at least what are we supposed to do) that we don't enjoy doing? What is asked of us that we feel people will make fun of us for doing? What is the one most difficult thing for us to do that may make us shudder at the thought of doing it? The one thing that we always put off for later? I have a few things myself. But now I can think about those prophets of old and remember that what they had to do was far more difficult, and far more strenuous. It may lead to greater blessings than me doing anything that I find difficult to do, but that doesn't mean doing whatever my most difficult task is will not bring blessings that could affect my life for the better. We'll never know how great the blessing will be unless we just do it.
