The Rest of the Story

The Rest of the Story 

in the Book of Mormon.

The commentator Paul Harvey used to host a show he called The Rest of the Story.  These stories would be referenced to a well known historic event, but he would research other unknown facts to add to, clarify or amplify the story.  These were always interesting accounts.  

In the Book of Mormon there are a number of unfinished stories. Events that are only mentioned briefly and never amplified or discussed thereafter.  I have always wondered about these events and pondered what the "rest of the story" might be.  I would imagine that they are included in the full account of the Nephite history and some day (probably during the millenium) we will be able to know the full story.  Some of these accounts are listed below.

1.  The wife of Lamoni had a servant named Abish who was converted to the Lord because of a miraculous vision of her father. What was this miraculous vision?   Alma 19:16

2.  Amulek was the descendant of Aminadi who interpreted God's handwriting on the wall of the temple.  This is similar to the account in Daniel.  What might this message have been?  Alma 10:2.

3.  The brother of Jared moved mount Zerin by faith.  The Lord tells us that if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed we can move mountains.  Apparently Mohonri had such faith.  It would be nice to know the details.  Ether 12:30.

4.  Coriantumr was the last survivor of his kingdom.  Sorely wound, and battle weary, he was discovered by the people of Zarahemla and lived with them for a month.  What an interesting story this would make.  Omni 1:21.  

5.  Mulek somehow survived the execution of his siblings at the hands of the Babylonians and came across the sea to the Americas with a group of supporters or friends.  I'm sure their journey and trials would be as interesting as that of the Nephites or Jaredites but it remains in the shadows of history.  Omni 1:15-16.

6.  We are informed in one short sentence that Nephi had sisters.  In contrast to the volume of information we have about his brothers, these sisters are incognito.  What were their names?  Did they ever marry?  Did they have children?  So much to wonder about.   2 Ne. 5:6.

7.  There is a huge gap in Nephite history between 420 and 130 BC.  Negligent historians condensed their entire life histories into one or two sentences. During this time period, about 279 BC, we are briefly told that the "more wicked part" of the Nephites was destroyed.  Was this an event similar to the annihilation at Cumorah?  What happened to the righteous ones?  Again we are left in the dark.  Omni 1:5.

8.  The story of "curious" Hagoth covers only 4 verses in the book of Alma.  He builds ship and sends them north.  They return and are sent out again.  But this second group never returns.  Some say that they were the originators of the Polynesian culture.  It would be nice to know. Alma 63:5-8.

9.  The Lord told the escaping people of Alma to leave the Valley of Alma as the Lamanites were in hot pursuit.  He said he would stop them there, and we are left to wonder how?  Another hidden miracle.   Mosiah 24:23.

10.  In his old age Alma leaves Zarahemla as if to journey to Melek.  He is never heard of again.  Mormon conjectures that he was translated, but we don't know for sure.  Certainly he was worthy.  But maybe he had a heart attack as he traveled through the wilderness and was never found.  Alma 45:18-19.  

11.  Mosiah translated Ether's 24 gold plates that king Limhi had given him.  He did this using a Urim and Thummim.  Where did he get this sacred instrument?  The Nephites never had one before.  Did he receive it from an angel, or perhaps the Mulekites had brought it with them from Jerusalem.  Another unfinished story.  Mos.28:13.

12.  Nephi, the son of Helaman, disappears in a manner similar to Alma.  Was he translated?  We are not told.  3 Ne. 1:2-3.  2:9.

13.  Samuel the Lamanite made a short appearance on the wall of Zarahemla then disappears from the view of history.  He must have led an interesting life afterwards.  It would be nice to know.  Helaman 16:6-8.

14.  The Jaredites were blocked from entering the land southward for four generations.  Finally during the reign of king Lib the plague of snakes was destroyed, or they disappeared by natural means.  How did Jaredites achieve this miracle that had eluded their predecessors?  Ether 9:30-33.  10:19.

15.  Ether had a sad life.  He witnesses the entire destruction of his people, save Coriantumer only, then finished his record.  What happened then?  Did he wander alone for many years as Moroni did later, or was he translated as were other prophets?  Ether 15:33-34.  

16.  And finally, one of the greatest mysteries of the Book of Mormon.  What did Moroni do during the 36 years he wandered around the lands of the Americas following the battle at Cumorah, before he buried the plates in a hill in New York?  Whatever he did, I would imagine he was lonely.  But it is difficult to share his pain if we don't know the details.