A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon
The
Book of Mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient America and was
engraved upon metal plates. Sources from which this record was compiled
include the following:
1. The Plates of Nephi,
which were of two kinds: the small plates and the large plates. The
former were more particularly devoted to spiritual matters and the
ministry and teachings of the prophets, while the latter were occupied
mostly by a secular history of the peoples concerned (1 Nephi 9:2–4). From the time of Mosiah, however, the large plates also included items of major spiritual importance.
2. The Plates of Mormon,
which consist of an abridgment by Mormon from the large plates of
Nephi, with many commentaries. These plates also contained a
continuation of the history by Mormon and additions by his son Moroni.
3. The Plates of Ether,
which present a history of the Jaredites. 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.”
4. The Plates of Brass brought by the people of Lehi from Jerusalem in 600 B.C.
These contained “the five books of Moses, … and also a record of the
Jews from the beginning, … down to the commencement of the reign of
Zedekiah, king of Judah; and also the prophecies of the holy prophets” (1 Nephi 5:11–13). Many quotations from these plates, citing Isaiah and other biblical and nonbiblical prophets, appear in the Book of Mormon.
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. The first portion (the first six books, ending with
Omni) is a translation from the small plates of Nephi. Between the books
of Omni and Mosiah is an insert called the Words of Mormon. This insert
connects the record engraved on the small plates with Mormon’s
abridgment of the large plates.
The
longest portion, from Mosiah through Mormon chapter 7, is a translation
of Mormon’s abridgment of the large plates of Nephi. The concluding
portion, from Mormon chapter 8 to the end of the volume, was engraved by
Mormon’s son Moroni, who, after finishing the record of his father’s
life, made an abridgment of the Jaredite record (as the book of Ether)
and later added the parts known as the book of Moroni.
In or about the year A.D. 421,
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.
About this edition:
The original title page, immediately preceding the contents page, is
taken from the plates and is part of the sacred text. Introductions in a
non-italic typeface, such as in 1 Nephi and immediately preceding
Mosiah chapter 9, are also part of the sacred text. Introductions in
italics, such as in chapter headings, are not original to the text but
are study helps included for convenience in reading.
Some
minor errors in the text have been perpetuated in past editions of the
Book of Mormon. This edition contains corrections that seem appropriate
to bring the material into conformity with prepublication manuscripts
and early editions edited by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
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