"the" book, not "this" book

Regarding the two sets of plates, readers recently reminded me of this point that I've discussed before.

Notice Nephi did not refer to "this book" but "the book." If he knew that his own writings were going to be witnessed by the Three Witnesses, he naturally would have written "this book."

Therefore the original plates of Nephi (the small plates) that included what is now 1 and 2 Nephi were not the plates that the 3 witnesses testified of.

Notice also that the 3 witnesses did "testify to the truth of the book and the things therein" when they declared "And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true."

(Testimony of Three Witnesses, 1)

But the eight witnesses did not testify to the truth of the book. They merely testified that they saw and handled the plates.

That's one reason I infer that the eight witnesses saw the plates of Nephi, not the abridged plates.

I've discussed aspects of this here:

https://www.lettervii.com/2024/11/ether-5-answers-questions.html

https://www.lettervii.com/2025/01/d-5-only-3-witnesses-saw-abridged-plates.html

https://www.lettervii.com/2019/02/martin-harris-no-on-else-saw-plates.html

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Verse 13 is sometimes interpreted to extend to the 8 witnesses. 

13 And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.

That's a reasonable interpretation, but it does not seem to explicitly refer to the 8 witnesses because they did not "bear testimony of his word," only that they saw and handled plates.

Another way to interpret verse 13 uses this punctuation and indicates that others may have seen "the book" (the abridged plates) without testifying about their experience. For example, Josiah Stowell never "testified" that he had seen the abridged plates until he was asked in court, when he did bear that testimony, but even then he did not "testify to the truth of the book" as the Three Witnesses did. 

Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein (and there is none other which shall view it save it be a few according to the will of God) to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.

(2 Nephi 27:12–13)

Yet another way to look at this is in parallel format, suggesting that these passage are merely restating the point (i.e., that "three witnesses" and "a few" refer to the same people).

Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world,

that the eyes of none shall behold it

save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God,

besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and

they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.

And there is none other which shall view it,

save it be a few according to the will of God,

to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men;

for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.

Always fun to consider multiple working hypotheses.

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(2 Nephi 27:6–32)

6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.

7 And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof.

8 Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.

9 But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another;

10 But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.

11 And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.

12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.

13 And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.

14 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!

15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read them.

16 And now, because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God.

 17 And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed.

 18 Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.

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 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.

21 Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.

22 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men.

23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.

 24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him:

25 Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—

26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.

27 And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord! And their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding?

28 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.

29 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

30 And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

31 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off;

32 And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught.

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Our current Book of Mormon is Mormon’s  abridgment. Minus the lost manuscript replaced with the small plates of Nephi and the sealed portion which contains a revelation of the world similar to John’s - seen and mentioned as proof that it exists for a future time. Maybe not to come forth until after the Second Coming-similar to the Brother of Jared’s record to not come forth until after the Savior was raised on the cross and resurrected.

Mormon used the small plates which contained Nephi’s prophecies of the future, as a guide to write his abridgment to prove those prophecies came true.

Thus Mormon being the last of his civilization was passing on its knowledge of God to the next civilization, in an abridgment.

The loss of the manuscript revealed the guide for or outline of Mormon’s writings. Which the Lord said had greater views on his gospel. D&C 10:45

Then in 46 he says the remainder of Mormon’s abridgment contains the fulfilled history.

45 Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephiwhich 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.