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Ether abridged by Moroni, not Mormon
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Mormon is an account of the events which occurred during Mormon's life, after the enlightened society of 3 and 4 Nephi had deteriorated yet again into warring groups.
Mormon is an account of the events which occurred during Mormon's life, after the enlightened society of 3 and 4 Nephi had deteriorated yet again into warring groups.


Ether is another abridgement by [[Mormon (prophet)|Mormon]], this time of the records of a much earlier civilization beginning at the time of the [[Tower of Babel]]. In this account, a man named Jared, his family and others were led by God to the Americas before the languages were confounded and formed a civilization long before Lehi's family arrived. Mormon placed this account after the end of his own work, before turning over the record to his son [[Moroni (Mormonism)|Moroni]].
Ether is an abridgement by [[Moroni (Mormonism)|Moroni]], written shortly after his father, [[Mormon (prophet)|Mormon's]], death, of the records of a much earlier civilization beginning at the time of the [[Tower of Babel]]. In this account, a man named Jared, his family and others were led by God to the Americas before the languages were confounded and formed a civilization long before Lehi's family arrived.


Moroni witnesses the final destruction of his people and the idolatrous state of the remaining society. He adds a few spiritual insights and mentions some important doctrinal teachings, as well as an invitation to pray to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.
Moroni witnesses the final destruction of his people and the idolatrous state of the remaining society. He adds a few spiritual insights and mentions some important doctrinal teachings, as well as an invitation to pray to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.

Revision as of 19:57, 1 September 2004

The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of Mormonism first published in Palmyra, New York, USA, in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. The book's self-declared main purpose is to testify of Jesus Christ, through the writings of ancient American prophets. It asserts that its principal author was the prophet Mormon, who compiled most of its contents in the 4th century A.D., and that Smith later translated the record by divine inspiration. Other authorship theories propose that the book was an original or derivative work of fiction by Joseph Smith or one of his associates.

Along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon is esteemed as part of the scriptural canon of numerous churches that grew out of the religious movement begun by Joseph Smith, Jr., sometimes called the Latter Day Saint movement. It is one of the four books of scripture accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Contents of the Book of Mormon

The book's organization

The format of The Book of Mormon is similar to that of the Bible. The book is composed of the following books, which have been divided into chapters and verses similar to the Bible:

For the most part, the book is arranged chronologically, with earlier books depicting earlier events. Notable exceptions include "Words of Mormon", which is an editorial insertion by the purported author Mormon, and the "Book of Ether", which is a purported translation of an even earlier work. The books of "1 Nephi" through "Omni" are first-person narratives, as are "Mormon" and "Moroni". The remainder of The Book of Mormon is purportedly a third-person historical narrative and commentary compiled by Mormon and Moroni.

In the version of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the book also contains introductory text concerning the origins of the book, its contents and purpose. This material is divided as follows:

  • Title Page text
  • Introduction text
  • The Testimony of Three Witnesses text
  • The Testimony of Eight Witnesses text
  • The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith text
  • A Brief Explanation About The Book of Mormon text

Summary of the book's narrative

1 Nephi begins in ancient Jerusalem around 600 BC, at roughly the same time as the Book of Jeremiah in the Bible. It tells the story of Lehi, his family, and several others as they are led by God to travel from Jerusalem to the Americas. The books from 1 Nephi to Omni recount the group's dealings from around 600 BC to around 130 BC, in which they grow to a sizeable number, and eventually split into two groups, the Nephites and the Lamanites. The information from the latter two thirds of this time span is extremely sparse.

The Words of Mormon, allegedly written in AD 385, is a short introduction to the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi and 4 Nephi. Mormon compiled The Book of Mormon (thus the name). He included the original records comprising 1 Nephi - Omni, then abridged a large quantity of collected records detailing the national history from the end of Omni until his own time.

3 Nephi contains an account of the visit of the glorified, resurrected Jesus Christ to the Americas after his ministry in Jerusalem. Here he gives much of the same instruction given in the Gospels of the Bible, and establishes an enlightened, peaceful society which endures several generations.

Mormon is an account of the events which occurred during Mormon's life, after the enlightened society of 3 and 4 Nephi had deteriorated yet again into warring groups.

Ether is an abridgement by Moroni, written shortly after his father, Mormon's, death, of the records of a much earlier civilization beginning at the time of the Tower of Babel. In this account, a man named Jared, his family and others were led by God to the Americas before the languages were confounded and formed a civilization long before Lehi's family arrived.

Moroni witnesses the final destruction of his people and the idolatrous state of the remaining society. He adds a few spiritual insights and mentions some important doctrinal teachings, as well as an invitation to pray to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.

The book's major themes

Stated purposes

The purpose of The Book of Mormon as stated on its original title page "is to show the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord has done for their fathers" and to convince "Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations."

Major doctrinal teachings

The following teachings are especially notable in The Book of Mormon:

  • Inasmuch as ye keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land, but inasmuch as ye keep not my commandments, ye shall be cut off from my presence (1 Nephi 2:20; 4:14; 2 Nephi 1:20; 4:4; Jarom 1:9; Omni 1:6; Mosiah 1:7; 2:22; 2:31; Alma 9:13; 36:1; 36:30; 37:13; 38:1; 48:15; 48:25; Helaman 3:20; 50:20; 3 Nephi 5:22 LDS).
  • The land of the Jaredites, Nephites, and Lamanites (usually presumed the Americas) is choice above all other lands (1 Nephi 2:20; 13:30; 2 Nephi 1:5; 10:19; Jacob 5:43; Ether 1:38, 42; 2:7; 2:10-12, 15; 9:20; 10:28; 13:2 LDS).
  • All mankind must be born again, for the natural man is an enemy to God until he yields to the holy spirit and is born of Christ, being changed to a state of righteousness, becoming his son or daughter (Mosiah 3:19; 27:25; Alma 22:15-18; Moroni 10:34 LDS).
  • Between death and the resurrection the spirit returns to God and awaits the resurrection in either a place of rest or a place of darkness and torment. At the resurrection, the spirit and body shall be reunited, not one hair of the head shall be lost, and this resurrection shall come to all (Alma 11:42-45; 40:11-14, 23 LDS).
  • Giving to the poor is a key facet of staying right with God (2 Nephi 9:30; Mosiah 4:26 LDS)

Dominant narrative themes

The following narrative themes are especially consistent in The Book of Mormon:

  • The Pride Cycle. At the moment God blesses his people most, they forget him in pride until by tribulation they are brought to humility and repentance, which brings the blessings of God. Pride of heart because of exceeding riches unto wearing costly apparel and despising the poor is a beginning of wickedness (2 Nephi 26:20; 28:13; Jacob 2:13; Alma 1:6, 27, 32; 4:6-13; 5:53; 31:28; 32:2-3; Hel. 4:12; 6:39; 4 Nephi 1:24; Mormon 8:37 LDS).

Origin of the Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith's official account

According to Joseph Smith and his associates, this is how the records comprising The Book of Mormon were found and translated:

The original record was engraved on thin, pliable sheets of metal with the appearance of gold and bound with rings at one edge, much like a modern book. At the end of Moroni's ministry (around AD 421), he hid these gold plates along with several other artifacts in a stone box.
In 1823, Joseph Smith was directed by God to the place where the plates were stored. He was not immediately allowed to take them, but was eventually entrusted with them. With God's help he was able to translate the characters (some apparently related to 600 B.C. Egyptian with Hebrew influence (Mormon 9:32,34)) into English.
The heavy plates were assumed to be of gold, and were consequently much sought-after by some monetarily inclined individuals. Joseph Smith and his family reported many attempts by others to find and take the plates.
Joseph Smith was allowed to show the plates to several people, and these accounts are recorded in the front of The Book of Mormon as "The Testimony of Three Witnesses" and "The Testimony of Eight Witnesses". Most of the witnesses became disaffected with Joseph Smith or the church he founded, but did not disavow their statements on the origin of the book.
After translation was complete, the angel received the plates from Joseph Smith, and no public account of their whereabouts has been made since.

See Golden Plates

Alternate explanations

A complete list of various alternate explanations offered for the origin of The Book of Mormon is given below. Since no consensus has formed around any one of them as a plausible substitute for Smith's controversial claims, they all continue among critics as contending candidates.

Smith as author

Smith wrote, not translated, the book himself.

Smith colleague as author

Someone else (Sidney Rigdon or some close friend of Smith) wrote the book and allowed Smith to take credit for it.

Smith as plagiarist

Smith plagiarised the book either: from the manuscript of another book relating to early American inhabitants which was stolen and altered, from the actual plates themselves, having inserted material not in the original, or from an unpublished novel about early American inhabitants which Smith read and from which he used ideas to compose the book.

See Linguistics and the Book of Mormon for additional information and analysis on authorship.

Latter Day Saint views concerning the book's historicity

The dominant and widely accepted view among Latter Day Saints is that the Book of Mormon is a true account of the people whose history it purports to document. But not all Latter Day Saints consider the Book of Mormon to be a work of history. Some see the book as a work of inspired or divine fiction, similar to the Book of Job or the parables of Jesus Christ.

Since the time of its publication, it has been common among Latter Day Saints to view and explain the Book of Mormon as a comprehensive history of the American Indians. But in the light of careful research, which consistently shows the book and the archeological record speaking in much more limited terms, many Latter Day Saint scholars have suggested that the book is a history of only a small group of Native Americans in Central America. See Archaeology and the Book of Mormon.

Role of the Book of Mormon in Mormonism

Many find the role of the Book of Mormon in Mormonism enigmatic.

Apologetic Point of View

Most Latter Day Saints view the Book of Mormon as equivalent to the Bible in its authority as a work of scripture. In fact, Joseph Smith, Jr. told his early followers 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." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:461.)

But many Mormons and critics have observed that since its first publication, the Book of Mormon has been used in Mormonism chiefly as an evidence of the divine prophetic calling of Smith. It has not consistently been used as a basis for Mormon doctrine, teaching, and practice.

This phenomenon was decried in a revelation of Smith's that pronounced a condemnation on the "whole church" for treating the Book of Mormon "lightly" until they should "repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom" (D&C 84:55-58 LDS) It was also decried repeatedly and unmistakedly by Ezra Taft Benson, 13th President of the LDS Church.

Critical Point of View

Critics of Mormonism have also noted that the Book of Mormon does not seem entirely consistent with Mormon (LDS) doctrine. Though called "the fullness of the everlasting gospel," it does not dictate doctrines important to most Mormons (LDS) including the origin of God, baptism for dead, and preexistence. It also does not dictate the doctrine of plural marriage, or polygamy, which some 'fundamentalist' Mormons maintain (LDS Church members currently practicing are excommunicated). Some LDS members, however, point to a statement made by Joseph Smith to the effect that the only real doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Faith, Repentance, and Baptism, and that all other doctrines and practices are but appendages to those tenets. They comment that no official statement on the origin of God has been been made since it is unrelated to those three things; that no sanction is given of plural marriage since it is not a doctrine but a practice, rarely entered into and then only by commandment of God; that Baptism for the Dead is included in the doctrine of Baptism; and that knowledge of the preexistence has been given by divine revelation in our day, and increases the knowledge and understanding of Our Heavenly Father, but may not be included in the Book of Mormon precisely because our salvation is not contingent upon that knowledge. Other Mormons (especially outside the LDS Church) might agree to some extent with critics.

The following passages are some that appear to casual observers to conflict with Mormon (LDS) doctrines:

  • There is only one God, says Mosiah 15:4. Critics argue that this means the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit cannot be three individuals, and man cannot be made like God. Most Mormons, however, interpret this passage as a reference to the unity of the Godhead, and specifically to the Father of Spirits (God the Father, or Our Father in Heaven), as the only object of worship, at the head of that presidency. Likewise, believers might add, to state that there is only one Pope would not imply that there had never been a Pope before, or that there would never be another. Nor would it imply that the Pope does not or cannot operate as the head of some quorum of leadership.
  • God is static (Mormon 9:9: "the same yesterday, today, and forever"), so, critics argue, he could not have evolved from a man. Most Mormons believe this refers to God's constancy for the duration of time or his transcendence of time, rather than to his having never gone through any changes, growth, or development himself.
  • Desiring many wives is "wicked" (Jacob 1:15). Critics argue that the doctrine of plural marriage contradicts the Book of Mormon. Few Mormons would argue that desiring many wives is good, but since the same passage states indirectly that God sometimes commands his people to have more than one wife, this passage can also be interpreted as being consistent with the doctine of plural marriage.
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

Book of Mormon Editions

The Book of Mormon is published today in the following forms:

  • by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the expanded title The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
  • for the Community of Christ by Herald House as Book of Mormon - Revised Authorized Version (1966) and Book of Mormon - Authorized Version (1908)
  • by Zarahemla Research Foundation as The Book of Mormon - Restored Covenant Edition

Some critics have suggested that some of the changes across editions significantly affect the meaning of the Book of Mormon and indicate an agenda inconsistent with the idea of a revealed or inspired book. Most of these changes have been discussed in publications including the Ensign, Improvement Era, Millennial Star and Times and Seasons, and usually are consistent with early pre- and post-publication edits made by Joseph Smith. See Linguistics and the Book of Mormon.

For the first time since its original publication, a special edition of The Book of Mormon will be printed by a trade publisher for commercial distribution. While it will contain all the original text of the English edition of the Book of Mormon, it will lack the footnotes and cross-references of the church-published version. This hardcover edition of the book will be available November 16 2004 from Doubleday.

See also

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