1 AND it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an end of speaking to his people, [ What did he say? See Mosiah 7:17-31 Lift up your heads; rejoice, trust in God, we are in the state that we are in because of wickedness and abomination, that same God who delivered our forefathers will deliver us, because we have sowed filthiness the Lord has not blessed us; we have no one to blame but outselves. ] for he spake many things unto them and only a few of them have I written in this book, he told his people all the things concerning their brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla.

2 And he [ King Limhi ] caused that Ammon should stand up before the multitude, and rehearse unto them all that had happened unto their brethren from the time that Zeniff went up out of the land even until the time that he [ Ammon ] himself came up out of the land.

3 And he [ Ammon ] also rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had taught them, and explained them to the people of king Limhi, so that they might understand all the words which he [ King Benjamin ] spake.

4 And it came to pass that after he had done all this, that king Limhi dismissed the multitude, and caused that they should return every one unto his own house.

5 And it came to pass that he [ King Limhi. ] caused that the plates which contained the record of his people from the time that they left the land of Zarahemla, should be brought before Ammon, that he might read them.

6 Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king [ King Limhi. ] inquired of him to know if he could interpreted [ In the Hebrew traddition to interpret something means to make a connection with something in the Torah ( The first 5 Books of Moses in the Old Testament ). This is done to communicate greater teachings, and direct the reader to specific scriptures and teachings. When the word interpreted is used it is a key for us that there are hidden teachings for in the Torah relating to this topic, go look for it. ] languages, and Ammon told him that he could not.

7 And the king [ King Limhi ] said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage.

8 And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.

9 And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold. [ The party of 43 men that went looking for help came across a great city littered with bones; and they also returned with gold plates from that city. These will become known as the Jaradite plates and will eventually be translated in Mosiah 28:11.]

10 And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, [ Does this mean that they covered a-lot of the body, or does it mean that the Jaradites were larger men? ] , and they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound.

11 And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with rust; [ So it had been some time since the destruction. Years. ] and there is no one in the land that is able to interpreted [ In the Hebrew traddition to interpret something means to make a connection with something in the Torah ( The first 5 Books of Moses in the Old Testament ). This is done to communicate greater teachings, and direct the reader to specific scriptures and teachings. When the word interpreted is used it is a key for us that there are hidden teachings for in the Torah relating to this topic, go look for it. ] the language or the engravings that are on the plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate?

12 And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate? For I am desirous that these records should be translated into our language; for, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been destroyed, from whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to know the cause of their destruction.

13 Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; [ The twenty four plates. ] for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, [ Urim and Thummin see Mosiah 8:13; Anciently, the Mayans are known to have something similar to glasses, although the symbolism and use is unclear. Attached is a picture of the Yax K’uk Mo’ from Copan, which is estimated to have been a Mayan King circa 500AD. Joseph Smith described them as “two transparent stones set in a rim of a [silver] bow fastened to a breast plate” HofC 4:537; JS-H 1:35. Martin Harris, WS: The two stones set in a bow of silver were about two inches in diameter, perfectly round, and about five-eighths of an inch thick at the center; but not so thick at the edges where they came into the bow. They were joined by a round bar of silver, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and about four inches long, which, with the two stones, would make eight inches The stones were white, like polished marble, with few gray streaks. (Interview with Martin Harris Tiffany's Monthly 1859 New York: Published by Jc Tiffany, No. 6 4th Ave) Martin Harris, WS: The two stones set in a bow of silver were about two inches in diameter, perfectly round, and about five-eighths of an inch thick at the center; but not so thick at the edges where they came into the bow. They were joined by a round bar of silver, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, and about four inches long, which, with the two stones, would make eight inches The stones were white, like polished marble, with few gray streaks. (Interview with Martin Harris Tiffany's Monthly 1859 New York: Published by Jc Tiffany, No. 6 4th Ave) According to this description it would appear that they were made for a man much larger in size than Joseph Smith, because they appear to be about 4 inches apart and they were too large for Joseph as we read in the next description from William Smith the son of Joseph Smith. Explaining the expression as to the stones in the Urim and thummim being set in two rims of a bow he said: A silver bow ran over one stone, under the other, around over that one and under the first in the shape of a horizontal figure 8 much like a pair of spectacles. That they were much too large for Joseph and he could only see through one at a time using sometimes one and sometimes the other. By putting his head in a hat or some dark object it was not necessary to close one eye while looking through the stone with the other. In that way sometimes when his eyes grew tired he relieved them of the strain. He also said the Urim and Thummim was attached to the breastplate by a rod which was fastened at the outer shoulder edge of the breastplate and to the end of the silver bow. This rod was just the right length so that when the Urim and Thummim was removed from before the eyes it would reach to a pocket on the left side of the breastplate where the instrument was kept when not in use by the Seer. (Statement of J.W. Peterson Concerning William Smith," Smith," 11 May 1921, Community of Christ Library-Archives, Independence, MO.) so when we read in the scriptures that the brother of Jared was a large man we are not comprehending the whole story as too how large. ] and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.

14 And behold, the king [ King Mosiah ] of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God.

15 And the king [ King Limhi ] said that a seer is greater than a prophet. [ This appears to be King Limhi paraphrasing Ammon - maybe reaffirming it through inspiration that he received while Ammon was teaching him in verse 13. Elder John A Widtsoe of the Twelve Apostles further described a seer as one who “perceives the meaning of that which seems obscure to others; therefore he is an interpreter and clarifier of eternal truth. He foresees the future from the past and the present. This he does by the power of the Lord operating through him directly, or indirectly with the aid of divine instruments such as the Urim and Thummim. In short, he is one who sees, who walks in the Lord’s light with open eyes” (Evidences and Reconciliations, arr. G. Homer Durham [1960], 258).]

16 And Ammon [ Ammon employs good teaching techniques; he takes what Limhi has learned and now expand on it further. ] said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God.

17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.

18 Thus God has provided [ The source ] a means [ A way ] that man, [ Each of us as individuals ] through faith, [ What is required of and from us. ] might work mighty miracles; [ All things are possible for God as a result all those who exercise great faith can call down the powers of heaven to work many miracles for themsleves ] therefore he [ Those who have made the effort to call down the powers of heaven, to live their life in a manner that would allow such. ] becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings. [ How are they a benefit to others? Well they bless the lives of those who believe but have not yet learned to call down the powers of God, These are the elect - on whom God sent to help others; these are those who are given specific assignments from time to time like Bishops and such; given sacred responsibilities to bless and help others. So in essense God puts these people in our lives to bless us. See also Moroni 7:31, 2 Tim. 1:9, D&C 46:9, D&C 93:46. Also cp. Matt. 5:13, 3 Ne. 12:13, D&C 101:39-40 ]

19 And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking these words the king [ King Limhi ] rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God, saying: Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men. [ Limhi's curiosity in the gold plates is probably a result of Abinadi's comments concerning such a record in 12:8, as Limhi was clearly familiar with Abinadi's preaching as he noted in Mosiah 7: 26-28. ]

20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them! [ In Semitic literature the use of the word or idea of "Wisdom" is presented as a "she"; the one whom the men of Israel are to befriend. It's classic presentation comes from Prov. 1-9 wherein a father counsels his son to befriend Wisdom and reject the wanton harlots who would drag him down to hell. ]

21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest. [ King Limhi seems to be paraphrasing the words of Abinadi here see Mosiah 17:17 ]