In Mosiah 10, we get a compact list of thirteen items in verses 12-16:
12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—
- Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers (1),
- and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren (2),
- and they were also wronged while crossing the sea (3);
13 And again, that
- they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea (4),
- and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord (5),
- for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them (6),
- and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness (7).
14 And his brethren were wroth with him
- because they understood not the dealings of the Lord (8);
- they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord (9).
15 And again,
- they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands (10);
- and they sought to kill him (11).
16 And again, they were wroth with him
- because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him (12),
- and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them (13).
I listed each of the thirteen items below, followed by the corroborating verses from Nephi's record:
#1 Mosiah 10:12 Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers
1 Nephi 17:22 And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people...and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words;
#2 Mosiah 10:12 ...they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren
1 Nephi 17:20 And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years;
#3 Mosiah 10:12 ...they were also wronged while crossing the sea
1 Nephi 18:10 And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.
#4 Mosiah 10:12 ...they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance
2 Nephi 5:3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words.
#5 Mosiah 10:13 ...and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord
1 Nephi 3:5 And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord. 6 Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord,
#6 Mosiah 10:13 ...the Lord heard his prayers and answered them
1 Nephi 2:16 “...I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father;”
#7 Mosiah 10:13...he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball. 31 And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families.
#8 Mosiah 10:14 ...his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord
1 Nephi 2:12 ...they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.
#9 Mosiah 10:14 ...they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.
1 Nephi 18:19 And Jacob and Joseph also, being young...were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me. 20 And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts;
#10 Mosiah 10:15 ...they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands;
2 Nephi 5:3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.
#11 Mosiah 10:15 ...they sought to kill him
2 Nephi 5:4 ...it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my life.
#12 Mosiah 10:16 ...they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him
2 Nephi 5:5 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness,
#13 Mosiah 10:16 ...they said that he robbed them.
2 Nephi 5:7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days.
In many instances, the list above offers us two different perspectives of the same incident. It is notable that the author of the Book of Mormon was able to keep track not only of the details of the events, but also the different perspectives.
Keep in mind that Mosiah 10 was the 10th chapter in the dictation sequence, whereas the writings of Nephi begin at the 174th chapter.
Of course, the lost 116 pages dealt with these same stories, and Joseph Smith had already dictated those records before Mosiah 10, so that fact muddies the waters at least a little bit. (I really wish we knew what was contained on the lost 116 pages!)
Even so, this is another remarkable display of the amazing internal consistency of the Book of Mormon.
I also see this as clear evidence that Mormon studied the writings of Nephi (a fact we already know from Mormon himself, see WofM 1:3-4).
