Mosiah 1

Mosiah 1:16

“And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him.”

This verse mentions objects that are important to the Mormon tradition that began with Nephi and his family. These objects include the plates of brass, the plates of Nephi, the sword of Laban, and the ball of Liahona. That is two sets of plates, a rod-shaped object, and a spherical-shaped object. These objects resonate significantly with the contents of the Ark of the Covenant: Two sets of plates of the covenant (the broken ones and the newer ones), the Rod of Aaron, and the jar of Manna (Hebrews 9:4). Items inside the Ark were: the tablets of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 25:16)  Aaron's budding staff (Numbers 17:10), and a jar of Manna from heaven (Exodus 16:32). Just as the ark’s contents are important to the Jewish tradition, the Mormon tradition emphasizes the same feature with Nephi’s objects.

Written 9-23-14

The plates continue to be passed down:
Mosiah hands the records down to Alma (Mosiah 28:20). After this Alma will hand them down to Helaman (Alma 37:1-2), who will hand them down to his younger brother Shiblon (Alma 63:1), who will not hand them down to his younger brother Corianton but instead pass them down to Helaman's son Helaman (Alma 63:10-13).

Written 11-26-14