Part 14: 1 Nephi 10 – 2 Nephi 31
The introduction to this series on internal consistency in the Book of Mormon is found in part 1 here.
This part covers the rest of 1 Nephi and all of 2 Nephi. You will notice that there is quite a big leap from 2 Nephi 5 to 26. This is the largest gap in this series and primarily due to most of the chapters between being quotes directly from Isaiah. Except for this gap, you may notice from the arc graph that there are no other really large gaps, indicating that internally consistent details are found frequently all throughout the Book of Mormon.
107. 1 Nephi 10:5 and 1 Nephi 11:27 — “Redeemer of the world”
As Nephi is describing what he saw in vision, he writes:
And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken (1 Nephi 11:27)
Obviously, this is a reference to 1 Nephi 10:5
And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
Nephi really sees in vision what his father prophesied and uses much of the same language.
108. 1 Nephi 15:7 and 1 Nephi 10:12, 14 — “the natural branches of the olive tree”
In 1 Nephi 15:7, Laman and Lemuel complain
Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.
This is a reference to 1 Nephi 10, where Lehi talks to his family about these things. Verses 12 and 14 read:
12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth…
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.
109. 1 Nephi 16:28-29 and Mosiah 1:16-17 — “heed and diligence”
Here is Nephi discussing how the Liahona worked (from 1 Nephi 16):
28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.
29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
Here is King Benjamin teaching his son, Mosiah, about the Liahona (from Mosiah 1):
16 …the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him.
17 Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven back, and incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and therefore they were smitten with famine and sore afflictions, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty.
110. 1 Nephi 19:5 and 2 Nephi 5:28-32 — “an account of my making these plates”
In 1 Nephi 19:5, Nephi states:
And an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter
We have seen several examples of editorial promises by Mormon. This time it is Nephi making such a promise. He keeps his word. In 2 Nephi 5:28-32, we get an account of Nephi making the small plates.
111. 2 Nephi 1:24-26 and 1 Nephi 2, 16, 17, and 18 — Lehi refers to prior events
As he is pleading with his eldest sons, Lehi refers to several prior events:
| Event | Reference in 2 Nephi 1 | Reference in 1 Nephi |
| Rebellions on the waters; “they were not swallowed up in the sea” | 2 Nephi 1:2 | 1 Nephi 18:20 |
| Fleeing the land of Jerusalem | 2 Nephi 1:3 | 1 Nephi 2:2 |
| The land of promise | 2 Nephi 1:5 | 1 Nephi 2:20 |
| “were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the wilderness;” | 2 Nephi 1:24 | 1 Nephi 16:32 |
| “ye sought to take away his life” | 2 Nephi 1:24 | 1 Nephi 16:37; 1 Nephi 17:48; |
| “and he hath suffered much sorrow because of you” | 2 Nephi 1:24 | 1 Nephi 18:15 |
| “ye have accused him that he sought power and authority over you” | 2 Nephi 1:25 | 1 Nephi 16:38; 1 Nephi 18:10 |
| “Ye say that he hath used sharpness…his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God,” | 2 Nephi 1:26 | 1 Nephi 17:48 |
112. 2 Nephi 4:25 and 1 Nephi 14:28 — “even too great for man”
In a passage often referred to as Nephi’s psalm, he writes:
And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
This is a reference to 1 Nephi 14:28:
And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard
113. 2 Nephi 5:19-20 and 1 Nephi 2:21-22 — “cut off” and “ruler and teacher”
In 2 Nephi 5:19-20, Nephi points out the fulfillment of the words of the Lord:
19 And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren, which he spake concerning them, that I should be their ruler and their teacher. Wherefore, I had been their ruler and their teacher, according to the commandments of the Lord, until the time they sought to take away my life.
20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his presence.
He is referring to an incident described in 1 Nephi 2:21-22
21 And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
22 And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.
114. 2 Nephi 26:7 and 1 Nephi 12:19 — “the anguish of my soul”
In 2 Nephi 26:7, Nephi laments what he saw in vision:
O, the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it.
He is referring to what he recorded in 1 Nephi 12:19:
And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed.
115. 2 Nephi 31:4 and 1 Nephi 11:27 — “the prophet who should prepare the way”
In 2 Nephi 31:4, Nephi reminds us that he has spoken about the prophet who should baptize Jesus:
4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.
This is a reference to 1 Nephi 11:27
27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him
End of Part 14
As we finish up part fourteen, let’s take a look at our updated arc diagram.
Jeff Markham has been an avid student of the Book of Mormon his entire life. He recently joined the FairMormon group. He has practiced radiology in the Dallas, Texas area since 2011, having obtained his undergraduate education at Brigham Young University (B.S. in 2000), a medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA (M.D. 2005), and post-graduate training in diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology at University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX. He served as a full-time missionary in the Germany Hamburg Mission from 1996-1998. His favorite callings include teaching primary and early morning seminary. He lives in the Dallas area with his wife and children. He blogs at BookofMormonNotes.com.
