The Book of Mormon
Chapter 1
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. About A.D. 321–326.
We are approaching the end of the Nephite civilization. Mormon
is making “a record of the things which I have both seen and heard” (Mormon
1:1). “Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which
remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot
write the hundredth part of the things of my people” (Words of Mormon 1:5).
“And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto
the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said
should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among
them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of
the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received,
and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of
this people” (Mormon 5:9).
Mormon refers back to Ammaron hiding the plates. “And it
came to pass that when three hundred and twenty years had passed away, Ammaron,
being constrained by the Holy Ghost, did hide up the records which were
sacred—yea, even all the sacred records which had been handed down from
generation to generation, which were sacred—even until the three hundred and
twentieth year from the coming of Christ” (4 Nephi 1:48).
He approached Mormon, who was ten years-old. He was
impressed by Mormon. “Captain Mormon was evidently born during the end of this
extended era of peace, ca. A.D. 310-11, somewhere in or near the land northward
(see Mormon 1:6). He was a descendant of Nephi, and ‘in all likelihood he was
the senior male in the senior branch of the [Nephite] line.’ When he was about
ten years old, Mormon states he ‘began
to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of [his] people’
(Mormon 1:2; italics added).”[1]
Merrill adds some background information. “This statement
corresponds extremely well with what is known about later Aztec society. Among
the Aztecs (who claimed to have inherited the mantle of earlier Toltec
political preeminence), by the age of ten most boys began ‘to attend either
their wards’ military schools, telpochcalli, or particularly if they belonged
to the nobility [as was probably the case with Mormon], schools connected with
the temples, calmecac, where they received a more religiously oriented
education that explicitly trained them for the priesthood or to be leaders in
their communities.’”[2]
Ammaron gave Mormon instructions. He told him where he had
hidden the records and, when he was twenty-four, he was to obtain the records.
“For most of the history of the Nephites in the promised
land, sacred records are kept and preserved by the supreme leaders, whether
king, prophet, priest, or general. As the society begins to disintegrate, the
preservation of records by leaders, regardless how righteous, becomes more
problematic. Near the end, stewards of the records begin hiding and even
compiling them in caves or in other secure natural repositories. Hence the hill
Shim and hill Ramah play an important role among the Nephites and their
counterparts among the Jaredites (Mormon 1:3; 4:23; Ether 9:3; 13:13–14;
15:11). Not being able to secure sacred records in the traditional way is a
sign that society has so completely forgotten their covenants that they are ‘ripe
for destruction,’ in accordance with the covenants’ curse.”[3]
Ammaron told him to record all things he had seen among the
Nephites in his lifetime. Mormon would later write an explanation about his
purposes.
“But behold there are records which do contain all the
proceedings of this people; and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi.
“Therefore I have made my record of these things according
to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the plates which were called the
plates of Nephi.
“And behold, I do make the record on plates which I have
made with mine own hands.
“And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land
of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people,
yea, the first church which was established among them after their
transgression” (3 Nephi 5:9-12).
[1] Nephite
Captains and Armies, A. Brent Merrill, Maxwell Institute website.
[3] Memory
and Identity in the Book of Mormon, Steven L. Olsen, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22/2
(2013): 50.
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