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An Overview of the Book of Mormon
"The Prophet Joseph Smith called the Book of Mormon "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone
of our religion" and said that a person "would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book"
(TPJS, p. 194), for it contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:8-9). To members of THE
CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon forms the doctrinal foundation of the
Church and speaks the word of God to all the world." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Title Page of the Book of Mormon
"Joseph Smith once wrote, "I wish to mention here that the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation,
taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record
which has been translated; …and that said title-page is not…a modern composition, either of mine or of any other
man who has lived or does live in this generation" (HC 1:71.)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
First Book of Nephi
"Written by Nephi1, an ancient prophet who fled Jerusalem with his father, Lehi, and Lehi's family shortly after 600
B.C., this book tells of their travels under divine guidance to the Western Hemisphere." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism
Second Book of Nephi
"The Second Book of Nephi (2 Nephi) is a work written about 550 B.C. by the same author who wrote 1 Nephi
and included it on his small plates." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Jacob
"Written by Jacob, fifth son of Lehi, sometime after 545 B.C., the work follows the pattern outlined by Nephi1 for
making entries on the small plates by including sacred sermons, significant revelations, prophecies, and some
historical information. Jacob, a Nephite prophet, wrote to persuade all men to "come unto Christ" (Jacob 1:7)."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Enos
"Following the pattern set by his father and predecessors (Jacob 1:2-4; cf. Enos 1:13-16), Enos, son of Jacob,
personally recorded the testimony and prophetic promises granted to him." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Jarom
"Jarom, son of Enos, recorded a brief summary of the fortunes of the Nephites during his lifetime (c. 440-355
B.C.)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Omni
"This book concluded and filled the small plates of Nephi. It contains brief statements by a succession of record
keepers who were descendants of Jacob but apparently not spiritual leaders: Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom,
and Amaleki (fourth-second centuries B.C.)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Words of Mormon
"Mormon assumed the prerogative of an editor and appended this historical postscript to the small plates to bring its
conclusion into correlation with the opening of the book of Mosiah. This appendage, called the Words of Mormon,
was composed about A.D. 385." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Mosiah
"The book of Mosiah is religiously rich, symbolically meaningful, chronologically complex, and politically significant.
Although its disparate events range from 200 to 91 B.C., they are unified particularly by the theme of deliverance
and by the reign of the Nephite king Mosiah 2." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Alma
"The book of Alma is the longest book in the Book of Mormon. It was abridged by Mormon, principally from the
records of three men, Alma2 (chaps. 1-16, 27-44), Ammon (chaps. 17-26), and Alma's son Helaman1 (chaps.
45-62), and concludes with remarks by Mormon (chap. 63). Its broad theme is that the preaching of the word of
God in pure testimony is mightier than politics or the sword in establishing peace, justice, equality, and goodness
(Alma 4:19; 31:5)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Helaman
"The book of Helaman chronicles one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the Nephites and Lamanites
(52-1 B.C.)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Third Nephi
"The book of 3 Nephi is the dramatic and spiritual climax of the Book of Mormon. It focuses on three advents of
Jesus: first, as the child born in Bethlehem; second, as the resurrected Lord visiting the Nephites; and third, at his
second coming as the final judge at the end of the world." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Fourth Nephi
"The first section of 4 Nephi briefly summarizes four generations of peace, righteousness, and equality that resulted
from the conversion of the people to the gospel of Jesus Christ after the visit of the resurrected Savior. In contrast,
the last section foreshadows the later destruction of the Nephite nation that followed a gradual and conscious
rejection of the gospel message." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Mormon
"The short Book of Mormon (A.D. 320-400/421), within the Book of Mormon, documents the extraordinary
collapse of Nephite civilization, as had been foretold." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Ether
"The book of Ether is Moroni 2's abbreviated account of the history of the jaredites, who came to the Western
Hemisphere at the time of the "great tower" of Babel and lived in the area later known as the Nephite "land
northward," much earlier than Lehi's colony." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Book of Moroni
"Between A.D. 400 and 421, Moroni 2, the last custodian of the gold plates, compiled the final book in the Book
of Mormon record." Encyclopedia of Mormonism
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