| Book of Mormon |
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The Book of Mormon is a sacred record of peoples in
ancient America and was engraved upon metal plates. Sources from which this
record was compiled include the following:
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- The Plates of Nephi, which were of
two kinds: the small plates and the large plates. The former were more
particularly devoted to spiritual matters and the ministry and teachings of
the prophets, while the latter were occupied mostly by a secular history of
the peoples concerned (1 Nephi 9:2–4). From the time of Mosiah, however, the
large plates also included items of major spiritual importance.
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- The Plates of Mormon, which consist
of an abridgment by Mormon from the large plates of Nephi, with many
commentaries. These plates also contained a continuation of the history by
Mormon and additions by his son Moroni.
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- The Plates of Ether, which present a
history of the Jaredites. This record was abridged by Moroni, who inserted
comments of his own and incorporated the record with the general history
under the title “Book of Ether.”
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- The Plates of Brass brought by the
people of Lehi from Jerusalem in 600 B.C. These contained “the five books of
Moses, … and also a record of the Jews from the beginning, … down to the
commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah; and also the prophecies
of the holy prophets” (1 Nephi 5:11–13). Many quotations from these plates,
citing Isaiah and other biblical and nonbiblical prophets, appear in the Book
of Mormon.
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The Book of Mormon comprises fifteen main parts or
divisions, known, with one exception, as books, usually designated by the
name of their principal author. The first portion (the first six books,
ending with Omni) is a translation from the small plates of Nephi. Between
the books of Omni and Mosiah is an insert called the Words of Mormon. This
insert connects the record engraved on the small plates with Mormon’s
abridgment of the large plates.
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The longest portion, from Mosiah through Mormon chapter 7,
is a translation of Mormon’s abridgment of the large plates of Nephi. The
concluding portion, from Mormon chapter 8 to the end of the volume, was
engraved by Mormon’s son Moroni, who, after finishing the record of his
father’s life, made an abridgment of the Jaredite record (as the book of
Ether) and later added the parts known as the book of Moroni.
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In or about the year A.D. 421, Moroni, the last of the
Nephite prophet-historians, sealed the sacred record and hid it up unto the
Lord, to be brought forth in the latter days, as predicted by the voice of
God through His ancient prophets. In A.D. 1823, this same Moroni, then a
resurrected personage, visited the Prophet Joseph Smith and subsequently
delivered the engraved plates to him.
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About this edition: The original title page, immediately
preceding the contents page, is taken from the plates and is part of the
sacred text. Introductions in a non-italic typeface, such as in 1 Nephi and
immediately preceding Mosiah chapter 9, are also part of the sacred text.
Introductions in italics, such as in chapter headings, are not original to
the text but are study helps included for convenience in reading.
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Some minor errors in the text have been perpetuated in
past editions of the Book of Mormon. This edition contains corrections that
seem appropriate to bring the material into conformity with prepublication
manuscripts and early editions edited by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
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