THE BOOK OF MORMON: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Resource Description

Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.

Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830 (first English edition)

 

The following is my brief outline of The Book of Mormon. I’ve included the number of pages in each section just to give you an idea of the size of the work. I have not attempted to give a critique as there are other sources for that purpose. However, to give you a brief summary of The Book of Mormon I have taken the following two paragraphs from the internet.

The Book of Mormon is considered a sacred text in the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. Many members of the Latter Day Saint movement believe that the Book of Mormon is historically accurate. Most, but not all, Mormons hold the book’s connection to ancient American history as an article of their faith.

Who wrote The Book of Mormon? According to some, the simplest explanation is that Joseph Smith authored it himself, without the intentional complicity of anyone else. One argument for this theory is that the Book of Mormon reflects Smith’s life experiences.)

 

An Account Written by The Hand of Mormon upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi (1 page)

Introduction (1 page) “The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scriptures compatible 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 Testimony of Three Witnesses (½ page) Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom the work shall come: That we through the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record. … (signed by Oliver Cowdery,  David Whitmer, and Martin Harris)

The Testimony of Eight Witnesses (½ page) Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom the work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown us the plates of which has been spoken, which have the appearance of gold … (signed by Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jun., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sen., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith)

The Testimony of Joseph Smith (3 pages) The Prophet Joseph Smith’s own words about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon are: “On the evening of the twenty-first of September (1823) … I betook myself to prayer and application of Almighty God. … While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light coming into my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my  bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. He had on a loose robe of most expensive whiteness. … He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants. …

A Brief Explanation about THE BOOK OF MORMON (1 page) The Book of Mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient America, and was engraved upon sheets of metal. Four kinds of metal record plats are spoken of in the book itself: (1) The Plates of Nephi, (2) The Plates of Mormon, (3) The Plates of Ether, and (4) The Plates of Brass.

The Book of Mormon comprises fifteen main parts or divisions, known, with one exception, as books each designated by the name of its principal author. …

In or about the year A.D. 431, 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.

Illustrations, i.e. prints of eight beautiful paintings: (1) The Lord Jesus Christ, (2) The Prophet Joseph Smith, (3) Lehi discovers the Liahona, (4) Lehi and his people arrive in the promised land. (5) Alma baptizes in the Waters of Mormon, (6) Samuel, the Lamanite prophecies. (7) Jesus Christ visits the Americas, and (8) Maroni buries the Nephite record

Names and Order of Books in THE BOOK OF MORMON (1 page)

First Book of Nephi His Reign and Ministry (52 pages) Summary: An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah, and his four sons, being called (beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. The Lord warns Lehi to depart out of the land of Jerusalem because he prophesieth unto the people concerning their iniquity, and they seek to destroy his life. He taketh three days journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi taketh his brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews. The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters of Ismael to wife. They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their travels. They come to the large waters.  Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. He confoundeth them and buildeth a ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the large waters into the promised land, and so forth. This is the account of Nephi; or, in other words, I Nephi wrote this record.

Second Book of Nephi (64 pages) Summary: An account of the death of Lehi, Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. The Lord warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeyings in the wilderness and so forth.

Book of Jacob (19 pages) Summary: The words of his preaching unto his brethren. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few words concerning the history of the people of Nephi.

Book of Enos (2 pages) Summary: Enos prays mightily and gains a remission of his sins. The voice of the Lord comes into his mind promising salvation for the Lamanites in a future day – Nephites sought to reclaim the Lamanites in their day – Enos rejoices in his Redeemer.

Book of Jarom (2 pages) Summary: The Nephites keep the law of Moses, look forward to the coming of Christ and prosper in the land. Many prophets labor to keep them in the way of truth.

Book of Omni (3 pages) Summary: Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and Amaleki, each in turn keep the records – Mosiah discovers the people of Zurahemia who come from Jerusalem in the days of Zedekiah – He is made king over them – The Mulakites had discovered Coriantumr, the last of the Jaredites – King Benjamin succeeds Mosiah – Men should offer their souls as an offering to Christ.

The Words of Mormon (2 pages) Summary: Mormon abridges their history onto the plates of Mormon – He inserts the plates of Nephi into the abridgement – King Benjamin establishes peace in the land.

Book of Mosiah (62 pages) Summary: King Benjamin teaches his sons the  languages and prophecies of their fathers – Their religion and civilization have been preserved because of the records kept on the various plates – Mosiah is chosen as king, and is given custody of the records and other things.

Book of Alma (161 pages) Summary: The accounts of Alma, who was the son of Alma, the first and chief judge over the people of Nephi, and also the high priest over the Church. An account of the reign of the judges and the wars and contentions among the people. An also an account of a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, according to the record of Alma, the first and chief judge.

Book of Helaman (38 pages) Summary: An account of the Nephites. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ, And also many of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their conversion. An account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and the abominations of the Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down the coming of Christ, which is called the Book of Helaman.

Third Nephi (57 pages) Summary: And Helaman was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Alm, who was the son of Alma, being a descendent of Nephi who was the son of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.

Fourth Nephi who is the son of Nephi, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ (4 pages) Summary: An account of the people of Nephi, according to his record.

Book of Mormon (18 pages) Summary: Ammaron instructs Mormon concerning the sacred records – War commences between the Nephites and the Lamanites – the three Nephites are taken away – Wickedness, unbelief, sorceries,  and witchcraft prevail.

Book of Ether (31 pages) Summary: The record of the Jeredites taken from the twenty-four plates found by the people of Lemhi in the days of king Mosiah.

Book of Moroni (13 pages) Summary: Maroni writes for the benefits of the Lamanites. The Nephites who will not deny Christ are put to death.

Abbreviations and Designations in Footnotes and Index (1 page)

Pronouncing Guide (Key to Symbols Used) (4 pages)

Index (242 pages)