The Prophets’ Exclamation Point: "And Thus We See" in the Book of Mormon

Nephi observes how the ball or Liahona shows how the Lord can make use of small things to accomplish great things (1 Nephi 16:2). He uses the Lord’s blessings upon his family in the wilderness to show how the Lord succors, strengthens, and prospers those who keep his commandments (1 Nephi 17:3). In his account of the destruction of the Jaredites, Moroni observes how the wickedness and abominations of a people prepare the way for their destruction (Ether 14:25).

Mormon stands out as the speaker who uses the phrase most. He never uses it in a doctrinal discussion, as do Alma and Antionah; rather, his usage is similar to Nephi and his son Moroni, although their usage is less frequent.

When we examine the use of the phrase by Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni, we can see how the phrase "and thus we see" is like a laser pen that points to important lessons that Book of Mormon speakers want the reader to glean from their narrative.

1 Nephi 16:28-29

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

Nephi describes his family’s experience with the Liahona, which provided directions on their journey through the wilderness. Although the ball was a gift from the Lord, it functioned well enough that the family may have come to take it for granted. The words and their changing messages were something new and surprising. The Lord took what had at first seemed to be a rather simple instrument and used it to provide miraculous changing instructions suitable to their circumstances. Lehi’s family only prospered on their journey to the extent that they were diligent and faithful in following the instructions and commandments of God. Nephi shows us that the Lord can use fairly simple things as a way to teach us new and useful things, if we are diligent and obedient.

1 Nephi 17:3

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

Nephi tells us that during the most difficult part of their journey, the Lord blessed them with the resources and help they needed to be obedient and successful. The message is that obedience to God’s commandments brings additional power, even during the hardest of times.

Alma 24:19

And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.

The firmness of the Lamanite converts was remarkable because it realized the hopes of their ancestral father Lehi, which were not fulfilled in Laman and Lemuel. Later, when the Church of God was broken up due to wickedness, one of the few bright spots was the faithfulness of such converts. Mormon speaks of "a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord" (3 Nephi 6:14), which was precisely what Lehi had hoped for with his eldest sons (1 Nephi 2:10).

Mormon observes that the key was that they were brought to "believe" through the good examples and selfless love and sacrifices of Ammon and his brethren. By acting in faith upon the Lord’s words, they were able to know these things for themselves, providing a secure foundation for their remarkable stability.

Alma 24:27

And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people.

Mormon relates the martyrdom of more than a thousand Lamanites converts by unbelievers. In the aftermath, many Lamanites who had been involved were deeply penitent and were converted; their number exceeded the number who had been slain. Mormon also emphasizes that those who were killed had all been righteous and were not lost. Mormon’s purpose is to show how the Lord can miraculously accomplish his divine purposes and change hearts, even in the face of terrible and traumatic events.

Alma 28:13-14

And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing---sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.

Mormon was fully aware of the inequality that existed in society, but emphasized that the greatest inequality of all was when people inflicted needless sorrow and misery upon themselves by yielding to sin and refusing to turn to Christ. Sharing the gospel in our day is just as important as it was for the people of Lehi.

Alma 30:60

And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.

The example of Korihor shows that the devil ultimately abandons those who serve and follow him to misery and destruction, a stark contrast to the Lord, who offers eternal mercies and blessings to those who place their trust in Him.

Alma 46:8-10

Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity and to be led away by the evil one.

Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.

Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake.

Mormon emphasizes how easily and quickly the unguarded can fall from grace and be led to destruction by the worldly wicked, who are often skilled and influential. Captain Moroni’s response to this serious threat shows how it is sometimes necessary to rally the righteous against such influences and provide ways to remind each of us of the power and mercies of God; otherwise, we can be seduced by the flattery of unrighteous influencers.

Alma 50:19-23

And thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words unto the children of men; yea, we can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi, saying:

Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

And we see that these promises have been verified to the people of Nephi; for it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions.

And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites. But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.

Mormon’s "thus we see" emphasizes that the Lord always keeps His promises. When they kept the Lord’s commandments, the people of Nephi were blessed with the means to protect themselves from deadly enemies, but cursed when they permitted wickedness to grow and fester in their society. It is notable that, although this was a time of war, Mormon considered it one of the happiest periods of Nephite history because the people faithfully kept the Lord’s commandments. As we read the Book of Mormon today, it is important to remember that the Lord is the same today and will bless us when we remember and keep his commandments.

Helaman 3:27-30

Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.

Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked---

And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

Mormon recounts how the Lord blessed the Nephites so abundantly at one time that even the Church leaders were "astonished beyond measure" at the number of conversions to the Church of God (Helaman 3:25). There is a dangerous gulf of misery that is ready to swallow up the human family. However, the gospel of Christ in the Lord’s plan of mercy has power to cut through all of the snares of the devil and lead men and women across that abyss to sit down in peace with the Saints "to go no more out;" but only if they choose to lay hold upon the word of God.

Helaman 6:34-36, 40

And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations, while the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God; yea, they did begin to keep his statutes and commandments, and to walk in truth and uprightness before him.

And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts.

And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words …

And thus we see that [the Nephites] were in an awful state, and ripening for an everlasting destruction.

The phrase "thus we see" appears more times in Helaman Chapter 6 than in any other chapter of the Book of Mormon. Mormon charts the apostasy of the Nephites during a time of great prosperity, due to the tempting influence of secret combinations to get gain. The contrast between the Nephites, who are usually presumed to be more faithful, and the Lamanites, who are usually associated with wickedness and unbelief, is striking, as traditional assumptions about each group are turned on their heads. The Nephites have become largely impenitent and the Lamanites are humble and faithful to the covenant.

Mormon explains the reason for the new trajectory of behavior. The Nephite wickedness is due the "hardness of their hearts;" that is, their unwillingness to heed and follow the Lord’s teachings because they yielded to the flashy but fleeting temptations from the Gadiantons, "having come down to believe in their works, and partake of their spoils" (Helaman 6:38), actions that place them on a path to destruction. The key to Lamanite peace and happiness was "their easiness and willingness to believe" in the Lord’s words, which caused them to "grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God." Mormon encourages his readers to cultivate the same willingness.

Helaman 12:3

And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

Here, Mormon’s "thus we see" appears after he has shown several examples of the Nephites’ rapid return to apostasy, even after experiencing great examples of the Lord’s power and mercy. It was often at the very time when the Lord was blessing the Nephites that they began to take His blessings for granted and fell back into disobedience and works of darkness (Helaman 12:1-2). Mormon’s lesson shows the importance of gratitude and daily remembrance of His kindness and mercy. As we remember each day the many ways that the Lord has blessed us and evaluate how we are showing our love for Him, we can avoid becoming like the Nephites of old.

Ether 14:24

And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the fulness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abominations had prepared a way for their everlasting destruction.

In his description of the destruction of the Jaredites, Moroni highlights the self- destructive nature of sin and rebellion against God. The Lord’s commandments provide physical and spiritual safety. Sin and abomination often create the very traps that will destroy us if we persist in wrongdoing.

Key Insights

If we watch for the phrase, "and thus we see," we can receive insights from the lessons of the past to guide us in our lives today.