Things were tough back in the day. Nephi didn’t just have to build a boat—he even had to build the tools he was going to use to build the boat. Sheesh. It makes you wonder how things might have been different if they had access to some of our modern conveniences. Like, say … text messaging.
1. 1 Nephi 5:2 — Sariah and her kids
For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.
2. Alma 60: 5,7 — Captain Moroni and Pahoran
But behold, great has been the slaughter among our people; yea, thousands have fallen by the sword, while it might have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and succor for them. Yea, great has been your neglect towards us …
Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren—
3. Exodus 20 — Moses on Mt. Sinai
It sure would have been nice for Moses to not have to carry two stone tablets down a mountain.
4. 1 Nephi 3 — Nephi, Laban and Zoram
It sure would have been nice for Nephi to have gotten the brass plates without involving poor Zoram (though it all seemed to work out nicely in the end anyway).
5. Mosiah 2 — King Benjamin’s speech
And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.
6. Alma 56: 42-43 — Helaman and Antipus
But it came to pass that [the Lamanites] did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month.
And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare;
7. Alma 63: 6-8 — Shiblon and the explorer, Hagoth
And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship …
And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built other ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.
And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea.
8. Alma 17: 27-28 — Ammon and King Lamoni
Therefore, as Ammon and the servants of the king were driving forth their flocks to this place of water, behold, a certain number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to water, stood and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of the king, and they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways.
Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying: Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks were scattered by the wickedness of these men. And they began to weep exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already.
9. Alma 19:17-18 — Abish gathering a crowd
Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when [Abish] saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.
And they began to assemble themselves together unto the house of the king.
BONUS: Martin Harris and the “lost” 116 pages
Sure would have been nice if Joseph could have not given Martin the only copy of the Book of Mormon manuscript.
