One of the most common scriptures used by antagonists to support the idea of a closed scriptural cannon is from the final chapter of the New Testament, Revelation 22, where in verse 18, John the Revelator warns that “if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

This argument has proven to hold no verifiable ground, and even the staunchest informed evangelists will concede that “these things” and “this book” refer to the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) specifically, not the entire Bible as a whole.

That said, it should be noted that this warning is indeed valid within the scope of Apocalypse. The conclusion of our account of Nephi’s vision explains that Nephi sees John the Revelator, presumably exiled on the island of Patmos, and then sees John’s entire vision. It is interesting to see that the instructions that Nephi subsequently receives regarding what he sees are notably harmonious with John’s warning not to add to his account of it.

When Nephi sees John, he notes that John will “write concerning the end of the world,” (1 Nephi 14:22) and the angel tells Nephi that “the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see.” (1 Nephi 14:24)

However, before the heavens unfold the epic revelation before Nephi’s view, the angel gives him a strict command:

“But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them.” (1 Nephi 14:25)

Nephi accepts the admonition, and says the following:

“And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw.” (1 Nephi 14:28)

In the course of the vision, Nephi was told on no uncertain terms that the publication of the Apocalypse fell under John’s stewardship, and no one else’s. It’s also very likely that Nephi learned the consequences that would follow if he did overstep his bounds by “add[ing] unto these things,” in that “God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

So we see that the Book of Mormon, while it does assume a role of companionship and supplement to the Bible, does in fact leave untouched the contents of Nephi’s vision that are protected by the Apocalyptical warning. Book of Mormon readers who wish to read the continuation of Nephi’s vision are referred to the Bible, where they can read John’s own account of it.