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Edition:	Doubleday Religion (Hardcover)
Author:
Published:	October 2006
Pages:	608
ISBN 10:	0385519478
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Introduction

The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel.

The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.

The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.

In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto him and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel may be saved. Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

In addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Their written testimonies are included herewith as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.”

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.) Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.

First Book of Nephi

Chapter 1 Lehi, a prophet of God, and his family live in Jerusalem during the first year of the reign of Zedikiah, King of Judah. Nephi, Lehi's son, writes that his father after having prayed to the Lord was carried away in a vision where he saw many great things. He saw the heavens open and "One descending out of the midst of heaven, an he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day." He was followed by 12 others and carried with him a book which he bade Lehi to read. The book prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem. It also spoke of the coming of a Messiah who would redeem the world. After the dream Lehi prophesied unto the people of Jerusalem pleading with them to repent and foretelling their destruction.

Chapter 2 Lehi had a dream in which he was commanded to take his family--Sariah (his wife), Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi, and depart into the wilderness. They left everything and took only the provisions they would need to survive in the wilderness. Laman and Lemuel murmur against their father. Nephi prays and believes in the words of his Father. The Lord spoke to Nephi and tells him that he will be a ruler and teacher over his brethren and that as long as he will keep the Lord's commandments he will prosper in the land.

Chapter 3 Lehi is told in a dream that Nephi and his brothers are to go back to Jerusalem to get the Plates of Brass from a Laban. The plates contained a history of Lehi's ancestors and the writings of the prophets from the creation till the present. Upon entering Jerusalem the 4 brothers cast lots and Laman was chosen to retrieve the plates. Laban accused Laman of trying to rob him and Laman fled. On their next attempt the brother gathered all their valuable possessions that their family left behind and tried to barter for the plates, but Laban commanded his guards to take their possessions and chased the brothers into the wilderness. Laman and Lemuel at this time were very mad and started to beat Sam and Nephi with a rod. An angel appeared and commanded the brothers to go again into Jerusalem and that the Lord would deliver Laban into their hands.

"And it came to pass that I Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Chapter 4 Nephi convinces his brethren to go with him one more time to Jerusalem to get the plates. His brothers wait outside the city while Nephi journeys in alone, being guided by the spirit. Nephi happens upon a man who is laying on the ground drunk with wine. He recognizes the man to be Laban, the keeper of the plates. Nephi is constrained by the spirit to kill Laban but has a hard time killing another man. Nephi reasons "behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. Is it better for one man to perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."

Nephi chops of Laban's head with his own sword and dons his clothing and armor. On his way to the treasury Nephi see Zoram the keeper of the treasury and the servant of Laban. Nephi under the guise of Laban commands Zoram to get him the plates and with the plates they both leave the city.

Once outsite the city Nephi and Zoram meet up with Nephi's brothers and Zoram makes an oath that he will be free and live with Nephi's family in the wilderness.

Chapter 5 Sariah is upset with Lehi for being a visionary man--both in leaving Jerusalem and commanding their sons to return for the plates. When Nephi and his brethren return Sariah realizes she was wrong to doubt the Lord. Lehi reads though the brass plates and finds he is a decedent of Joseph of Egypt. The plates will preserve the Lord's commandments for Lehi and his family as the journey in the wilderness.

Chapter 6 Nephi writes the genealogy on the other plates. These plates he writes in order to "persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved."

Chapter 7 Nephi and his brethren are commanded of the Lord to return unto Jerusalem to enlist Ishmael and his family to join them on their journey. Ishmael had daughters that Nephi and his brethren would later marry. On their return journey from Jerusalem some of the family of Ishmael and Laman and Lemuel began to rebel. Nephi rebuked them and told them that Jerusalem would be destroyed and they would be destroyed if they returned. Nephi's words made them even more angry to the point that they tied Nephi up with cords and wanted to leave him behind to be killed by wild beasts. Nephi prayed and the cords that bound him were loosed. In the end those that rebelled asked for forgiveness and the company made it back to the Lehi's tent.

Chapter 8 Lehi's sees a vision and in his Lehi is traveling in darkness for many hours at which point he begins to pray. Lehi then saw a large field and a tree which he ate the fruit from. The fruit "was white, to exceed all whiteness that I have ever seen" and it was also "most sweet, above all that I have ever before tasted." Lehi wanted his family to taste the fruit because as Lehi says "And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy." Nephi, Sam and Sariah all make it to the tree, but Laman and Lemuel choose not to. There is a large building filled with may people who are scoffing those who are eating the fruit. Lehi worries for his two wayward sons and exhorts them to follow the commandments.

Second Book of Nephi

Book of Jacob

Chapter 1 Jacob is commissioned by his brother Nephi to write 'a few of the things which I [Jacob] considered to be most precious' upon the smaller plates. Jacob and Nephi labor diligently among their people to persuade them to come unto Christ and enter into his rest. Nephi anointed a king to rule over his people who out of love for Nephi called themselves by his name. Nephi dies. After Nephi's death wicked practices creep into the lives of his people (desiring many wives and concubines -- like unto David and Solomon), searching for much gold and silver, and being lifted up in pride. Jacob and his brother Joseph teach the people the word of God will all diligence.

Chapter 2 Jacob, Nephi's bother, speaks to the people of Nephi at the temple after Nephi's death. Jacob is commanded of the Lord to chastise the people for their pride. Many of the people have sought and found gold and silver in the land, but some of them "obtained more abundantly than that of (their) brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they." Jacob tells them to repent and to "Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be right like unto you." Jacob is also commanded to preach "For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none." Many of the men had taken concubines and had broken the tender hearts of their wives and lost the trust of their children for it.

Chapter 3 Jacob addresses the pure in heart, exhorting them to 'Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions'. Jacob then addresses those who are not pure in heart 'warning them against fornication and lasciviousness and every kind of sin'.

Chapter 4 Jacob engraves upon the plates that his brethren and children would know that he knew Christ and that they had faith in him many years before his coming. Seek counsel from the Lord and 'be reconciled unto him trough the atonement of Christ'. The Jews will 'reject the stone [Jesus Christ], upon which they might build and have safe foundation'.

Book of Enos

Chapter 1 Enos went into the forest to hunt, but while hunting the words that his father had spoken to him caused him to pray all day long asking God for forgiveness. A voice came unto Enos and told him that his sins had been forgiven him because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Enos then prays on behalf of his brethren the Nephites, and then for his brethren the Lamanites. The Lord promises Enos that he would preserve the records and bring them to the Lamanites at some future time. Enos preaches and prophecies unto his people for the remainder of his days.

Book of Jarom

Book of Omni

The Words of Mormon

Book of Mosiah

Chapter 27 King Mosiah declares that the unbelievers should not persecute those that belonged to the church of God--this being a problem in the land. He further commanded "that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands for their support." Some of the son's of King Mosiah and one of the sons of Alma were unbelievers and they persecuted those that belonged to the church and lead many away from the church. Then, on their way to go about destroying the church of God, an angel "descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder" saying, "Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecuteth thou the church or God?" Alma was commanded to go and to seek to destroy the church no more. The angel left and Alma was struck dumb--he couldn't use his limbs and he couldn't speak. He was taken back to his father's house and his father rejoiced because he knew it was the power of God. Alma lay lifeless for two days and two nights. When he woke he said "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit." He preached of the importance of being born again and of changing. He and the sons of Mosiah--Ammon, Arron, and Omner--went about the kingdom preaching the Gospel and testifying of their experience.

Book of Alma

Chapter 18 The servants of King Lamoni recount their experience when Ammon killed or cut off the arms of the men who were trying to kill him and steal the King's flocks. The King believes Ammon is the "Great Spirit of whom our fathers have spoken", because of his great strength. Lamoni inquires about Ammon's whereabouts and learns he is out feeding his horses and preparing his chariots as Lamoni instructed earlier; Lamoni is even more impressed. After Ammon finished the preparations he went in unto the King. The King was at a loss for words but finally asked Ammon Who art thou? Ammon taught the King about God and the creation. He told King Lamoni about the scriptures and the mission of Christ to redeem the world. And he taught the King about their scriptures and their people's history even from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. After all this the King cried to the Lord for mercy for himself and his people. Then the King fell to the earth and lay as if he were dead for two days and two nights.

Chapter 19 The Queen asks Ammon what she should do because she doesn't know if her husband is dead. Ammon, at her request, visits the King and tells the Queen that "he is not dead, but he sleepth in God, and on the morrow he shall rise again; therefore bury him not." When the King woke he spoke of God and said "I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name." The Queen, Ammon, and many of the servants "sunk to the earth" and lay as if they were dead. One servant woman Abish who was a believer knew is was the power of God and went to tell everyone about the miracle. A large crowd gathered and contended the cause of the happenings--evil spirits, punishment, and that Ammon was the Great Spirit were all contended. One of the men whose brother Ammon had slain saw Ammon and went to kill him, but dropped dead. They all finally woke and started preaching. Many were converted and baptized.

Chapter 20 Lamoni wishes Ammon to meet his father, but Ammon is commanded by God that he not go, but instead he is to go to Middoni to free his brethren who were cast into prison. Lammoni travels with Ammon because he knows the King of Middoni and may be able to help free Ammon's brethren. They meet Lammoni's father on the road to Middoni and he is angry that Lamoni is traveling with Ammon (a Nephite) and that Lamoni missed the great feast he planned. Lammoni's father was going to smite Lamoni when Ammon interjected and told him he'd be spilling the blood of an innocent man. Lamoni's father agreed and turned to fight Ammon, but Ammon withstood his blows and smote his arm that he could not use it. When Lamoni's father realized that Ammon could slay him he offered up to half of his kingdom, that his life be spared. Ammon asked that his brethren be let out of prison and that Lamoni keep his kingdom. Lamoni's father happily consented and being impressed with Ammon's love for his son and the words which both Lamoni and Ammmon had spoken, Lamoni's father invited them both to his kingdom in the land of Nephi. Ammon and Lamoni traveled to Middoni and released his brethren.

Chapter 32 Alma teaches a multitude of people who were cast of their synagogues because of their poverty on the hill Onidah. One of the people asked "what shall these my brethren do...for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God." Alma was happy because he knew this had made the people humble and that they were prepared to hear the word. Alma teaches that they can worship God at anytime and anywhere not just once a week in their synagogue. It is good that the people are humble because it may lead to repentance. Alma then teaches the people about faith, "faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if you have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." Alma then issues a challenge and compares believing on his words to planting a seed. I they have enough faith to believe even a little it is like having the faith to plant a seed. Then if the seed through nourishment and diligence sprouts and begins to grow and produce good fruit then it must be that the seed is a good or true seed. Just like if they would make a place for Alma's words in their heart, and if his words begin to swell and enlarge their soul they must know it is good.

Chapter 53 Moroni fortifies the city Bountiful after his armies overtake the city. The people of Ammon wish to break their oath to never fight again so they can help their brethren the Nephites in battle. Helaman forbids them. Their sons--those who had not taken the oath--volunteer to fight and they make a covenant to defend their country and to protect their liberty. They are called the 2000 stripling warriors. Heleman agrees to be their leader.

Book of Helaman

Chapter 1 Pahoran dies and there was a dispute as to which of his sons should have the judgment-seat. The people elected Pahoran, but another of the contenders Pannachi tried to rebel that he might take the position. The people discovered his plot and sentenced him to death. Pannachi's followers were angry and sent Kishkumen to kill Pahoran. Pacumeni was later appointed as chief judge by the people to reign in the stead of his murdered brother Pahoran.

The Lamanites raised a very large army and appointed Coriantumr as it head. The army marched and overtook the great Nephite city of Zarahemla. In the battle for the city Coriantumr killed Pacumeni as he was fleeing the city. After capturing the city Coriantumr lead his army to the land Bountiful, but as they were marching Lehi's Nephite army flanked the Lamanite army and Moronihah's army blocked their retreat back to Zarahemla so that the Lamanite army was surrounded. Corianturm was killed in the battle and the Nephites won.

Chapter 5 Nephi was voted out of the judgement-seat and begins preaching with his brother Lehi. The words of their father Heleman are shared. Nephi and Lehi got their names from their ancestors. Their names are to remind them to do good. Men are saved only through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Nephi and Lehi preach repentance to the people and have great success. They are taken by the Lamanite army and cast into prison. Nephi and Lehi are sanding in a pillar of fire, but are not burned. They converse with angels. Their fellow prisoners hear a voice commanding them to repent. They repent and are converted. They preach the gospel.

Third Nephi

Fourth Nephi

Book of Mormon

Chapter 1 Ammaron instructs Mormon (10 years old) that when he is 24 years of age to retrieve the plates and record the history of the people he had observed over the last 14 years. Mormon moved with his father to a land called Zarahemla. There were wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites. At age 15 Mormon was 'visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the godness of Jesus.' Mormon attempts to peach to the people but he was forbidden because of the hardness of the people's hearts. The Gaddianton robbers infest the land and treasures hidden up cannot be retained; the land is cursed.

Chapter 8 Moroni writes "after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah." In which, all of his people (the Nephites) including his father were killed. He remains alone and has no where to go. Now, the Lamanites are fighting each other and the only people left in the land are Lamanites and Robbers. Moroni tells prophecies of the time when this record will be revealed. It will come in a time when people believe that miracles have ceased. It will come forth at a time when there shall be wars, fires, tempests, and earthquakes in diverse places. A time of murdering, great pollution, robbing, lying, deceiveings, and whoredoms. A time of great pride where people "adorn (themselves) with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick, and the afflicted to pass by."

Chapter 9 Moroni calls upon those who do not believe in Christ to repent. Moroni teaches that miracles and revelation from God have not ceased, but that God is unchanging. He teaches that God created both the heavens and the earth. He created Adam who fell and because of the fall Jesus came to redeem man. An by Jesus also came to pass the resurrection, which frees all men from the bands of temporal death. Then comes the judgment and the 'filthy shall still be filthy' and that the 'righteous shall be righteous still'. Strip yourselves of all uncleanliness and ask God for what things you stand in need of. Morion also says that the is writing in reformed Egyptian (a language that has evolved and it know only to them). And that if the plates on which he is writing had more space that they would have written in Hebrew (or at least a modified form of Hebrew.)

Book of Ether

Chapter 1 Moroni gives an account of the Jaradite People and their destruction. The account contains the history of the world from its beginning, Moroni only gives the account from the time of the tower until their destruction. The brother of Jared cries to the Lord that he will not confound their language and that of their friends and family. The Lord leads Jared and his brother to a choice land and promises 'there shall be none greater than the nation I will raise up unto me.'

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4 The brother of Jared came down from the mountain and wrote all that had happened, sealing the record because the writings were forbidden to come unto man until after Christ had been lifted up on the cross. Now, Moroni hides the records up again because of the unbelief of the Lamanites. The record will come forth "in that day they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did." Whatever persuadeth men to do good is true and comes from Christ. Christ exhorts us to believe, repent, and be baptized in order to be saved.

Chapter 6 Moroni gives an account of the Jaredites and their journey to the promised land. After having built barges; prepared food, water, and animals, and having the lighted stones the Jaredites were brought to the promised land on a mighty wind that never ceased to blow. The people of Jared thanked the Lord for their safe journey and began to till the earth and multiply. The brother of Jared became old and ask the people before he was to die what they would have him do. The people wanted that one of this sons would become their king. The brother of Jared said 'Surely this thing leadeth into captivity', but complied. None of his 4 sons would take the position and none of the sons of Jared would take the position except for one: 'and it came to pass that Orihah did walk humbly before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had done for his father, and also taught his people how great things the Lord had done for their fathers'.

Book of Moroni

Chapter 1 Moroni is one of the last surviving Nephites left. He just finished abridging the record of the Jaredites and is now in hiding from the Lamanites who are in a violent civil war. If they find him and he refuses to deny Christ he will be put to death. He now writes a few more things that perhaps they may be of worth for his brethren the Lamanites in some future day.

Chapter 2 On Christ's first appearance to the Nephites he gave the 12 apostles power to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost. 'Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall you give it...'

Chapter 3 Elders in the church ordain priest and teachers by the laying on of hands. Priest and teachers are to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ.

Chapter 4 Sacrament prayer of the bread.

Chapter 5 Sacrament prayer of the wine.

Chapter 6 Only those who 'brought forth fruit' that they were worth of it; those with a broken heart and contrite spirit; those who had truly repented of all their sins; and those who took upon them the name of Christ having a determination to serve him to the end were baptized. Their names were taken down that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God to keep them in the right way. The church members met often and meetings were conducted by the spirit.