For example, benjamin was changed to mosiah when mormon leaders realized that in the chronology of the book of mormon, king benjamin had already diedthus he would have been hard pressed to interpret the engravings mentioned in mosiah 21. Ten littleknown facts about the book of mormon meridian. It was translated and produced by joseph smith who founded the church in 1830. Jun 06, 2019 with admirable skill, mormon and moroni drew from these various historical records to create the final textthe abridged version of nephite and jaredite history as we know it. 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. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. Smith claimed to have received a revelation from god who told him the truth about jesus. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they.
The book of mormon for young readers presents key scripture stories in an abridged, creative, and engaging format designed to make it easy for children to understand and love the scriptures. Mormon was the primary author, editor, and compiler of the book of mormon. How can the book of mormon be abridged and trusted. Each reads very much like the bible in type and breadth of thematic concerns and literary forms history, law, psalm.
The first portion the first six books, ending with omni is a translation from the small plates of nephi. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Aug 08, 2012 the latterday saint canon consists of four books. The book of mormons warning about the nsa huffpost.
According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormons son, moroni. May 26, 2016 if you knew that the bible, the word of god was abridged by a man, edited and shortened, would you trust it to be truly godbreathed. The book of mormon is fraught with other errors as well. The book follows the development of a western town as well as the family of the narrator. Jun 25, 2019 the book of mormon is set up as follows. What does the book of mormon teach about the temple. The book of mormon, as abridged from various nephite records, did not include many specifics regarding the internal operations of their temples and their holy ordinances. Moronis abridgement of, and commentary on, this record appears within the book. If the lord will give me utterance and grant his spirit to help me and all of us, in the spirit of brother hickmans prayer, i would like to address a few words to. These books are described as being abridged from a large quantity of existing records called the large plates of nephi that detailed the peoples history from the. The book of mormon is one of four books considered to be scripture by the. Joseph smith felt that a preface was necessary to address the loss of the 116 pages.
An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi is a sacred text of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. The book of mosiah and the five books that followalma, helaman, 3 nephi, 4 nephi, and mormonwere all abridged or condensed by mormon from the large plates of nephi, and these abridged versions were written by mormon on the plates that bear his name, the plates of. Preface to book of mormon, circa august 1829, page iii. The people described in this book came from jerusalem in 600 b. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. His doctrinal teachings are some of the most valuable in the book of mormon, clarifying the purpose of the law of moses, identifying who the redeemer would be, and declaring some facts about the resurrection not previously mentioned in the book of mormon. However, ideas of archival science and provenance are recent developments in the western world, unknown to biblical. The title page of the book of mormon refers to its. If you knew that the bible, the word of god was abridged by a man, edited and shortened, would you trust it to be truly godbreathed. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith.
When asked by the new york times to name a book that people might be surprised to discover on his bookshelf, the illustrious physicist and. This abridgement, with additions by mormons son, moroni, was part of the set of gold plates moroni delivered to joseph smith. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches.
Their records and the records of around one thousand years of history were abridged by mormon, one of the last prophets of the book of mormon, from whom the volume of scripture gets its name. The people of limhi later found these plates while searching for the city of zarahemla, and king mosiah translated them around 120 b. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. What was it like to be there as mormon abridged the records of over a thousand years of history. Young readers ages 712 can enjoy the scriptures on their own and establish a habit of personal scripture study, which will strengthen their faith and. The nephite prophet abinadi holds a singular place in the book of mormon. Aint nobody got time for that when asked by the new york times to name a book that people might be surprised to discover on his bookshelf, the illustrious physicist and mathematician freeman dyson responded, the book of mormon. The phrase, being about to deliver up the record, makes it sound like mormon is ready to give moroni the records now, but later in this chapter we learn that mormon has not yet abridged the large plates of nephi from mosiah to mormon see v. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of. More specifically, the book of mormon is named after mormon, a fourthcentury prophethistorian who compiled and abridged many records of his ancestors into the book of. The book of mormon abridged anew byu scholarsarchive. Apr 10, 2012 the reason the book of mormon runs in chronological order is because this dude mormon made an abridged record of the history and teachings of his people. With admirable skill, mormon and moroni drew from these various historical records to create the final textthe abridged version of nephite and jaredite history as we know it. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ.
As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, i would inform you that i translated by the gift and power of god, and. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. However, ideas of archival science and provenance are recent d. Moroni had been commanded by his father to complete the nephite record, which mormon had abridged from previous records. Mormon is a term used to describe the members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The picture and the video are available online, or they can be checked.
Mormons believe the following about the book of mormon. Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of. The book is named for mosiah, who was a son of king benjamin. This paper looks at the book of mormon through the lens of library science and the concept of archival provenance. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
Moroni later abridged the translated plates and, together with his commentary, included them in his record, thus producing the. Palmyra, known as swifts landing and tolland before being renamed palmyra, 1796. 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. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. Olmec archaeological finds have discovered a city near san lorenzo beginning at the same time with the same social organization and the makings of monuments that coincide with the account in the book of mormon. In 1070 there was a civil war in the time of com mentioned in the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation essay abridged ive noticed that the gospel topics essays tend to use some wordy and sometimes obfuscatory language. 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. The book is suffused with the charm of a time and place few know or appreciate. Book of mormon, 1830, page iii the joseph smith papers. You will also need the picture of mormon abridging the plates from the gospel art picture kit, the book of mormon stories video dvd, a television, and a dvd player. The book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Jan 29, 2018 these citations from prominent non mormon voices concerning the book of mormon, and others like them which could be multiplied, may, however, mislead an unsuspecting reader into believing that the book is worthy of any sort of genuine scrutiny or god forbid fair, evenhanded analysis free of prejudice or ideological partiality. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. If you need a real world comparison, you could imag. Answer mormon and moroni were two inhabitants of the ancient. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophethistorian named mormon. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. However, the books numerous references to the temple would likely have served to emphasize to joseph smith and the early saints the significance of building and worshipping.
This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon after an angel revealed to him. The term mormon comes from the name given to one of their scriptures, the book of mormon. How is the book of mormon, the word of god, if it was. The reader has to wait with growing tension almost until the. The reason the book of mormon runs in chronological order is because this dude mormon made an abridged record of the history and teachings of his people. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. Oct 20, 2016 mormon was the primary author, editor, and compiler of the book of mormon. Jun 09, 2016 what was it like to be there as mormon abridged the records of over a thousand years of history. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. Smith and joseph smith 2006, hardcover, abridged at the best online prices at ebay. The nephites cared deeply about their records, and mormon documented a thorough chain of custody for the plates he edited. Ive decided to cut each paragraph down to its core message in one or two sentences.
Moroni is the ascribed author of chapters 8 and 9 of mormons record within the larger book of mormon, the entire book of moroni, and the title page of the book of mormon. From the hill shem, by commandment, mormon carefully constructed the gold plates which would. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the. Shreve observes a recent embrace of the book by literature scholars, and predicts that the book of mormon will continue to find positive academic exposure in courses on american literature. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible.
Between the books of omni and mosiah is an insert called the words of mormon. Mormon compiled and abridged the records of several other writers to create the book of mosiah. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Mosiah was a prophet, seer, revelator, and king who ruled in zarahemla from approximately 124 bc to 91 bc. Americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The story tells of a family group led by an israelite prophet named lehi. According to the book of mormon, the plates of nephi, consisting of the large plates of nephi and the small plates of nephi, are a portion of the collection of inscribed metal plates which make up the record of the nephites. One passage says that the book of mormon shall establish the truth of the bible and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the lamb of god is the son of the eternal father, and the savior of the world. As a childhood fan of fitzgerald the great brain series, i was eager to read his semiautobiographical work, papa married a mormon. President oaks and fellow students, i am honored by the invitation to be here today. Unfortunately mormon died before it was totally complete, so his son moroni the gold dude on the top of mormon temples finished it. If the lord will give me utterance and grant his spirit to help me and all of us, in the spirit of brother hickmans prayer, i would like to address a few words to you about the christ of the book of mormon. Jun 11, 2009 the book of mormon is fraught with other errors as well.
Why is the book of mormon named after mormon, who is he. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. The book of mormon is called such because mormon abridged the writings of the prophets before him that were on the american continent. The book of mormon is a book of ancient scripture written by dozens of prophets in the americas over the course of hundreds of years and then compiled and condensed by a man named mormon during the 4th century a. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on.
Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of. His doctrinal teachings are some of the most valuable in the book of mormon, clarifying the purpose of the law of moses, identifying who the redeemer would be, and declaring some facts about the resurrection not previously mentioned in the. As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, i would inform you that i translated by the. May 05, 2017 the book of mormon, as abridged from various nephite records, did not include many specifics regarding the internal operations of their temples and their holy ordinances. Moroni later abridged the translated plates and, together with his commentary, included them in his record, thus producing the final form of the book of ether. The remainder of the book of mormon is written in thirdperson historical narrative, said to be compiled and abridged by mormon with moroni abridging the book of ether and writing the latter part of mormon and the book of moroni. Many ancient documents such as king benjamins speech or the plates of brass were quoted or abridged by the ancient authors who compiled the books found on the small and large plates of nephi. Selections annotated and explained 2005, annotated by jana riess. The book tells a dramatic story in fine biblical style. The book of mormon abridged for reddit ploni almoni. The prophet mormon, who is a prophet for the nephite people has been given the responsibility to keep and record his peoples religioushistorical record. Aug 18, 2010 according to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormon s son, moroni.
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