The Lost 116 Pages
By Don Bradley
Synopsis: This book is an exhaustively-researched and very thoughtful attempt to try to reconstruct the contents of the famous Lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon, which were lost by Martin Harris early in the translation process. Among many of the startling conclusions of the author is that the lost pages were far more than 116 (since 116 was actually the number of pages for their replacement text of 1 Nephi to the Words of Mormon), but that we are actually missing a full third of the original book! (see p. 94-95).
Strong Points: This book is an enthralling read, with so many startling and amazing insights! It is simply packed with extraordinary conclusions, which include: how the Urim & Thummim was fastened to the plates, and how they made a compass and square configuration both on the plates and apart from the plates (); how the Urim & Thummim folded to make a Star of David configuration (p. 47-50); Lehi’s family left Jerusalem during Passover, explaining why Laban was drunk and in his ceremonial armor (ch. 7); the Brass Plates being a the record begun personally by Joseph of Egypt, and the Sword of Laban being the very sword crafted for Joseph in Egypt; Lehi having a makeshift tabernacle in the wilderness, and not merely a tent, and a very conscious parallel in the narrative with Moses and the Children of Israel leaving Egypt (ch. 8); the establishment of 7 Tribes, which are a similitude of the 12 Tribes of Israel (ch. 9); a conquest of the new world by Nephi akin to the conquest of Canaan by Joshua, wherein the remnant of Jaredite (giants!) were swept off the land (ch. 10); insights into Nephi’s right as a king over his brethren, thanks to his retrieval of the Brass Plates and the sword of Laban; insights into the king/priest hierarchy of Nephite leadership, and the relics that pertained to the Nephite Temple similar to the contents of the ark of the covenant (ch. 11); an entire lost era of Nephite history that necessitated the movement out of the Land of Nephi into the northern country, which was a type and shadow of the original Nephite journey out of Jerusalem (ch. 12); a great reform movement by King Mosiah, which is very reminiscent of the great reform movement by the Biblical king Josiah (ch. 14); insights in Mulek/Muloch, who was very likely named after the false god Moloch due to King Zedekiah’s wickedness (p. 258-260); the reason why the Mulekites subordinated themselves to the Nephites being that the line of Nephi held the greater (i.e. Melchizedek) priesthood (p. 261- 262); the Book of Mosiah, if not for a mistake between the lost pages and later manuscripts, should have been called the Book of Benjamin (ch. 15). This is a very important book for anyone who loves the Book of Mormon.
Weak Points: Not much for weak points with this book, but I must say that you are left with a lingering sense of melancholy for not having access to the lost pages of the Book of Mormon!
Interesting: 5/5
Must Read: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Pages: 318
Selected Quote: “Another of the more surprising things emerging from this research is how central temple worship was within the lost pages. As noted in Chapter 11, all the major early events of Lehi and Nephi’s exodus culminate in one major event after Nephi’s conquest: the re-establishment of the worship of Israel’s God in the temple of Nephi. Lehi’s prophesying, Nephi’s conflict with Laban, Lehi’s finding of the Liahona, the use of the Liahona during their wandering in the wilderness, Nephi taking David-like leadership of his older brothers—these all eventuate, as if by grand design, in Nephi being able to establish a temple like Solomon’s that is led with the royal priesthood authority and stocked with relics paralleling those of the Tabernacle and Jerusalem temple. In the lives of Lehi and Nephi, everything builds toward the temple.” (p. 286).