Comments on 1 Nephi 9 This chapter is a parenthesis informing us Nephi stops abridging Lehi's record (cf. 1:17) and starts writing his own. Nephi also informs us the present record is not the historical account of their travels (v. 2), but is a "more particular" (cf. D&C 10:38-40) version of the ministry of his people (v. 3). Making a more inclusive historical account and keeping it separate from a religious account is a method found in the Torah. For example, compare and contrast the two accounts of the manna and quail incident found in Exod. 16:12-13 and Num. 11:18-20, 31- 33. Verse 5-6 are typically taken to be referring to the Lord's foreknowing that Martin Harris would lose the 116 pages of the Book of Lehi. I don't see that as being the case. Nephi is talking about maintaining two separate written records, the second being a selectively religious history, at the command of the Lord. As it states in D&C 10:38-40, this account is "more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people". Thus, what the Lord intended is a specifically religious record omitting less relevant historical details in favor of spiritual matters. The purpose was not immediately apparent to Nephi, hence his statement in v. 5. As Nephi had already written the longer and more inclusive record, which was certainly no small task, he doesn't see why a briefer and more selective record is necessary. However, as the task goes on he perceives their importance, cf. 19:1-6, 2 Ne. 5:30-34. These verses might be referring to the Lord's foreknowing the loss of the text, but I see nothing in the text or D&C 10 to suggest that. Rather, in both the present text and D&C 10 the subject is the creation of a more particular religious record, and neither text suggests anything about the Lord's foreknowledge of the loss of the 116 pages of manuscript. And, if the primary purpose were to mitigate the loss of the 116 pages, then Nephi could have stopped doing it at this point, but he doesn't, so it doesn't stand to reason that is what he is talking about. Furthermore, Mormon makes a very similar statement in WofM 1:7. Again the comments made there indicate Mormon's intent is not to mitigate some future loss, but to aprise future generations of the teachings and revelations of their fathers. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.