Nephi received an extended tutorial from an angel that resulted in prophecy about events now happening. The prophecy mentions “other books” that would come by the power of the Lamb of God to the gentiles. 1 Ne. 3:24
At the time the Book of Mormon was translated and published in 1829-1830 there was nothing available to help Joseph Smith and early believers understand what these “other books” would include. Work on the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible would not begin until June 1830. Work on the Book of Abraham would not begin until July 1835. Neither of these would be finished for many years following the Book of Momon translation and publication. Yet the Nephi prophecy anticipated both of these, and more. The Teachings & Commandments include two centuries of additional material provided by the power of the Lamb of God to the gentiles from 1820 to 2019.
The purpose of these other books is to convince three groups of today’s people. Nephi explains they are: “unto the convincing of the gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.” These “other books” are to first persuade the gentiles, so they will undertake the effort required to bring them to the other two groups.
The second group are “the remnant of the seed of my brethren” or the Native American descendants living today. Although a poor effort has been attempted in the past, we are today actively working to bring these records to the second group.
The third group are “the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth.” Essentially no effort has been made in the past to accomplish this work. But we are now also actively working to accomplish this as well.
The objective of the records is explained by Nephi: “These last records which thou hast seen among the gentiles shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them, and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world, and that all men must come unto him or they cannot be saved.”
There needed to be a Savior. The Jewish Messiah was and is the only one who can save all mankind. The twelve apostles who accompanied Him in His mortality at Jerusalem testified that He lived, sacrificed His life, and rose from the grave. He promised to likewise raise all mankind from the grave and reverse the fall of Adam. They testified that His blood was shed for all sin, and to fully reconcile mankind to God.
Just as Nephi foretold, the “other books” not only confirm the testimony of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, but also make known many plain and precious things that have been removed from existing scripture. The Book of Mormon and “other books” combine to restore plain and precious truths we need to understand. They help us awaken and arise, and flee from the coming wrath.