Words of Mormon 1:3-7

The Book of Mormon consists of multiple books much like the Bible. Within the Book of Mormon there is a book called ‘Words of Mormon’. In Words of Mormon we get some commentary from Mormon about how he compiled the plates which Joseph Smith recieved from Moroni. In verse 3 Mormon discusses how he found a small record from Nephi, Jacob and others. Then in verse 4 we read some statements about prophecy and the future¹.

4 And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass-

Mormon then explains in verses 5 and 6 about the struggle he had putting the words of his people into a record and how he decided to include the small record because it was choice unto him. With Mormon’s explanation of the small plates in verse 6 he goes on in verse 7 to explain that he was guided by God and we get to our important phrase - the Lord knoweth all things which are to come.

7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

Words of Mormon 1:7

Mormon explicitely states that he ‘does not know all things’ and then states that ’the Lord knoweth all things which are to come’ as a justification for his actions that didn’t have the strongest argument.²

‘All things’

The phrase ‘all things’ is used repeatedly in scripture. Below is a summary of how often this phrase is used in each book of scripture. I have included one reference for an example and to help articulate my point about the phrase ‘all things.’ There are many other verses in each book that will require a future conversation about the phrase ‘all things.’

• Old Testament (49): Exodus 23:13. And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

• New Testament (152): John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

• Book of Mormon (130): Ether 8:19 For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.

• Doctrine and Covenants (166): Section 47:1 Behold, it is expedient in me that my servant John should write and keep a regular history, and assist you, my servant Joseph, in transcribing all things which shall be given you, until he is called to further duties.

• Pearl of Great Price (21): Abraham 3:25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

Notice how in Exodus 23:13 (I have said), Abraham 3:25 (that God commands), John 14:26 (I have said), and Section 47:1 (given him) that the ‘all things’ is conditioned. Then review Ether 8:19 and see how this reference has no explicit condition but a pretty strong implicit condition. The Book of Mormon and Old Testament histories both demonstrate times when man has shed blood righteously and even at His bidding.

Now back to Words of Mormon 1:7, could Mormon mean that there are “things which are to come” and of these things that “are to come” God knows all of them. There are also ’things’ that don’t have to come to pass. That is there are future events that are not necessary for His plan that don’t have to be known from all eternity.

As the grand chess master, He knows the key events or moves that must happen. I imagine some of these are,

1. that Jesus will redeem through the atonement,
2. that Adam would move to a fallen earth, and
3. that Abraham would make his covenants with God to save his posterity.

There may be an infinite number of ‘are to come’ events but there can also be an infinite number of events that are unknown. As in mathematics, one infinite set does not negate another infinite set³. The important point is that there are some future events that are known and necessary to bring His plan to pass and there are contingent future events that are not currently known (only in their possibilities). We don’t need to know how all of the events fall into unknown or known. It does appear that we need to know that certain events will come.

I know that God is all knowing and all powerful in His plan. That He uses his knowledge, wisdom, agency, and power to actuate those events that must come. Because we excelled in the pre-existence our growth put many of us, the noble and great ones, into the right moments to have the ability to actuate these “are to come” moments. These planned moves do not have to make the entirety of our lives have to happen in only one path known to God. I believe that we teamed with God in the pre-existence to order our entries to make sure that ‘all things’ that needed to come would come to pass.

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