THE
BOOK
OF MORMON
AN
ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY
THE
HAND OF MORMON
UPON
PLATES
TAKEN
FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI
Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record
of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites-Written to the Lamanites, who
are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile-Written by
way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation-Written
and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed-To
come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof-Sealed
by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by
way of the Gentile-The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether
also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time
the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower
to get to heaven-Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what
great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the
covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever-And also to the
convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD,
manifesting himself unto all nations-And now, if there are faults they are the
mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found
spotless at the judgment–seat of Christ.
Who wrote the preface?
Moroni wrote the preface to the Book of
Mormon.
“After adding the
book of Ether to the gold plates, Moroni writes a preface to the Book of
Mormon… The preface also refers to the record being sealed and ‘hid up unto the
Lord to come forth in due time.’ This
strongly suggests that after completion of the preface, the gold plates with
the interpreters are secured in their final place of hiding (Emphasis in
original) …
“Joseph Smith informs us that the preface was
‘from the very last leaf’ of the plates. This final placement brings
immediately to mind the possibility that the title page was inscribed after the
Book of Moroni and that the order of the leaves in the plates could relate to
their writing sequence.”[1]
In writing the preface, Moroni intended to
give us specific information about what would be the Book of Mormon. Let’s
examine what we learn about the record.
Wherefore, it is an abridgment
of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites.
The record we are is an abridgement of
records kept over a millennium. The two main civilizations we study are the
Nephites and Lamanites. Later, we will read a short account of the Jaredites.
Written to the Lamanites, who
are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentiles.
The Book of Mormon was written specifically
for the Lamanites.
The records divide the descendants of Lehi
into different tribes. The tribes were called Nephites after Nephi, the son of
Lehi; Jacobites, after Jacob, son of Lehi and brother of Nephi; Josephites
after Joseph, son of Lehi and brother of Nephi; Zoramites after Zoram, a
servant to a Jewish leader, who was given the opportunity to join with Nephi
(see 1 Nephi 4:20-37); Lamanites after Laman, the eldest son of Lehi and
brother of Nephi; Lemuelites after Laman, the second son of Lehi; and
Ishmaelites after Ishmael, head of a family who was convinced by Lehi’s sons to
take his family and join with Lehi’s party (see 1 Nephi 7:1-5).
Jacob would begin the tradition of dividing
the people into two groups – the Lamanites and the Nephites.
“Now the people which were not Lamanites were
Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites,
Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
“But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter
distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to
destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call
Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings” (Jacob
1:13-14).
Lehi’s descendants were a part of the house
of Israel.
“Yea, even my father spake much concerning
the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be
compared like unto an olive-tree, whose branches should be broken off and
should be scattered upon all the face of the earth” (1 Nephi 10:12).
“And after the house of Israel should be
scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the
Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the
olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or
come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer” (1
Nephi 10:14).
“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld
that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried
forth among them.
“The book that thou beholdest is a record of
the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the
house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy
prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates
of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants
of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are
of great worth unto the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 13:20, 23).
“And it came to pass that the angel spake
unto me, Nephi, saying: Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall
be well with them; and thou also knowest concerning the covenants of the Lord
unto the house of Israel; and thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth not
must perish” (1 Nephi 14:5).
The Book of Mormon was also written for the
Gentiles and the Jews. The plates were kept with the intention of it being
given to a later generation. As we read the Book of Mormon, we see common problems,
issues, and concerns faced by both societies. We are to use it as a guide for
dealing with a society that is turning away from God and His gospel.
“And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew,
and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ;
and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe
in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and
he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good” (2
Nephi 33:10).
“Now these things are written unto the
remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because
it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and
they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due
time” (Mormon 5:12).
“And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles,
that ye may know the decrees of God-that ye may repent, and not continue in
your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness
of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done”
(Ether 2:11).
[1] Two Points of Book of Mormon Geography: A Review,
John E. Clark, FARMS Review of Books
8/2 (1996): 9, 17.
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