“His Word Shall Hiss Forth from Generation to Generation”

Brant Gardner

The phrase “hiss forth” occurs only twice in all of the modern scriptural canon; here and in 2 Nephi 29:2. In both cases, the context is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Moroni’s specific introduction here confirms that he sees the Book of Mormon as fulfilling the prophecy of a voice from the dust. Based on the reference to “hiss[ing] forth,” I suggest that he borrowed the phrase from Nephi. The small plates were clearly in his possession or he could not have added them to his father’s text. Certainly he had read them. (See commentary accompanying Ether 12:24 for a similar reference to the small plates.)

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 6

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