Always Before Our Eyes......

I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.  (Mosiah 1:5)

King Benjamin in speaking with his sons before his death emphasizes the importance of those things that are always before our eyes.  He admonishes his sons that the purpose of scripture is to keep before our eyes the commandments of God in order that we might gain an understanding of His mysteries and that we might not dwindle in unbelief.  King Benjamin indicates that without scripture it is impossible to remember the things of God and that dwindling in unbelief an inevitable outcome.

Then King Benjamin says:

6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true.  And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes. (Mosiah 1:6)

The Nephites were blessed to have a tangible reminder as a testimony to them that the sayings of their fathers were true.  The brass plates, the plates of Nephi and the Liahona were a physical reality.  In my mind, the Book of Mormon plays that role for us today.  It is physical, real-time evidence of the restoration through Joseph Smith.  It is a tangible presence “before our eyes” and a constant testimony of the surety of the Lord’s work in our day.