2 Nephi 27:9 He shall deliver the words of the book

‘The first man, who will “deliver the words of the book,” is Joseph Smith, through whom “the words of those who have slumbered in the dust” were given to the world. The verse also identifies “another” man, traditionally Charles Anthon, professor of Greek and Latin at Columbia College (now Columbia University). Unnamed in this prophecy is a third man, “Dr. Mitchell,” to whom Martin Harris showed the material prior to his meeting with Charles Anthon.’ (Brant Gardner, Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon)

2 Nephi 27:12 Three witnesses

‘No other book in the world has ever had a witness borne to it as dynamic and powerful as the one the Master provided to sustain the Book of Mormon in what is known as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses.” The ancient American prophets had predicted that through the power of the Lord the plates would be shown to three others besides the prophet to whom the records would be given for the purpose of their bearing witness. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris asked for that privilege.’ Milton R Hunter, General Conference, April 1969)

2 Nephi 27:16 Not for the glory of God

‘What “gain” might Anthon have received? While Joseph knew that many wanted the plates for their gold, Anthon may have wanted the plates for their antiquity and the academic honors perhaps associated with translating an authentic ancient American document. Nephi understands that there are more ways than one to get the glory of the world. Whether we sell our souls for money or for acclaim, we have purchased that which has little value with that which is of incalculable value.

Veiled in this description of the “other” man’s motives is probably a continued warning to Joseph Smith to avoid such temptations.’ (Brant Gardner, Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon)

2 Nephi 27:22 Seal up the book again, and hide it up into me

“The question has been asked many times of our elders: Where are the plates? Does the Church have in its possession the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith?

“When the answer is given that the plates were received again by the Angel Moroni, who through the centuries since they were hid up unto the Lord has been their special guardian, the reply is generally made: What a wonderful aid it would be to your people in convincing the world of the truth of your story if you could show the plates to prove that Joseph Smith really had them.

“Perhaps it is natural for a man who hears for the first time the story of Joseph Smith and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to propound such a question and to think that the plates, if they had been placed in some museum where the public could examine them, would have added much to prove the authenticity of the Prophet’s story. With deeper reflection we discover that this would not have been the case, for it is not the way the Lord proves his truth, now or at any other time. However, in surprise, and in some cases with an incredulous smile, the propounder of this question turns away feeling that such an answer as he has received is an admission that Joseph Smith never had the plates and practiced a fraud upon the public.

“EXISTENCE OF PLATES WOULD NOT PROVE DIVINITY OF BOOK. It is well in considering this matter to remember the words of the Lord to Isaiah: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.'(Isa 55:8)

“If the Lord had followed the thoughts of men and had commanded Joseph Smith to place the plates in some repository where they could have been inspected by the curious public, it would have led to endless disputations. Enemies of the Church would not have been convinced and would have contended most bitterly that the plates were spurious. No one could have read them for the characters engraved on them are unknown to the savants of the present age.

“The Lord does not convince men of his truth by placing before their eyes and in their hands tangible evidence, as a lawyer may do before the court, marking it exhibit A and exhibit B, and then expect it to be accepted. The Lord expects the searcher after truth to approach him with a contrite spirit and with sincerity of purpose; if he will do this and keep the commandments of the Lord, he shall receive the witness through the Holy Spirit and shall know the truth.”     (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 227-8)