Library
Title Page of the Book of Mormon


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 thereofSealed 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.

Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.

      • abridgment (noun)

        A shortened version of a record that keeps the meaning of the original.

      • account (noun)

        A story; a description or record, written or verbal.

      • by way of (prepositional phrase)

        As a.

      • by the hand of (prepositional phrase)

        Personally by.

      • cast out, cast off, cast away (verb)

        To throw out; to chase away.

      • Christ (noun)

        A title for Jesus Christ. The titles Christ and Messiah both mean a king or priest sent by God to save the world.

      • come forth (verb phrase)

        To be brought forward; to be revealed.

      • commandment (noun)

        Law; order; binding instruction (especially from God).

      • condemn (verb)

        To criticize; to find fault with.

      • confound (verb)

        To mix up; to throw into confusion; to change a language so the people can no longer understand one another.

      • convincing (noun)

        Persuading; proving.

      • covenant (noun)

        A promise God makes to a person or group if they will obey Him.

      • destroy (verb)

        To ruin; to cause something to cease to exist.

      • in due time, in due course (adverb phrase)

        In the proper or chosen time.

      • eternal (adjective)

        Lasting forever.

      • Ether (proper noun)

        The last prophet of the Jaredites, author of the record of his people, which was another source for the Book of Mormon.

      • fathers (noun)

        Ancestors (one’s parents, their parents, theirs, and so on).

      • fault (noun)

        Mistake; error.

      • found (verb)

        Considered; judged.

      • Gentile (proper noun)

        Member of a nation or tribe other than Israel.

      • gift (noun)

        A special ability, power, or blessing given to someone by God.

      • God (proper noun)

        God the Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. God the Father rules all things with perfect justice, mercy, and love. Jesus Christ often speaks and acts for His Father. He suffered so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected. The Father and Son are separate individuals but are united in purpose.

      • by the hand of (prepositional phrase)

        By; through the actions of; with one’s own hands.

      • hath (verb, archaic)

        Has.

      • heaven (noun)

        The sky; figuratively, the place where God lives.

      • hide up unto (verb phrase)

        Hide something to be used for the Lord’s purpose, placing it in the Lord’s care.

      • interpretation (noun)

        Translation; explanation.

      • house of Israel (proper noun)

        God’s ancient covenant people, as described in the Bible (house means a nation or tribe); members of God’s Church.

      • Jaredites, people of Jared (proper noun)

        A people of the Book of Mormon who lived earlier than the Nephites. They descended from Jared, his brother, and others who followed them.

      • Jesus (proper noun)

        Personal name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The name means “Savior.”

      • Jew (proper noun)

        Member of the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel; people who lived in the land of Judah.

      • judgment-seat (noun)

        The place of the Final Judgment; the Final Judgment itself, in which Christ will judge every human being for their acts during this life.

      • Lamanites (proper noun)

        A people of the Book of Mormon, often enemies of the Nephites, who descended from Nephi’s brother Laman and of those who followed him.

      • language (noun)

        The words and grammar that a group of people use to speak with or write to one other.

      • Lord (noun)

        A term of respect for God the Father or Jesus Christ.

      • manifest (verb)

        To show; to reveal.

      • might (verb)

        Can; could.

      • Mormon (proper noun)

        The prophet who compiled the Book of Mormon.

      • The Book of Mormon (proper noun)

        The inspired record of a branch of the house of Israel that lived in the Americas from about 600 B.C. to A.D. 421.

      • Moroni (proper noun)

        Prophet who completed the Book of Mormon; son of Mormon.

      • nation (noun)

        A large group of people who are related to each other or who have the same language, history, or government; the country where they live.

      • plates of Nephi (noun)

        Records of the Nephites, which Mormon drew on to write the Book of Mormon.

      • Nephites, people of Nephi (proper noun)

        A people of the Book of Mormon descended from Nephi and from those who followed him.

      • of men (adjective phrase)

        Of an imperfect person.

      • plates (noun)

        Books or other records made from thin sheets of metal.

      • spirit of prophecy (noun)

        A gift from God to be able to foretell future events or deliver messages from Him.

      • record (noun)

        A written description or account.

      • remnant (noun)

        Those left when members of a group of people die or disappear.

      • spirit of revelation (noun)

        A gift from God to be able to foretell future events or deliver messages from Him.

      • scattered (adjective)

        Separated from others; thrown into confusion; exiled.

      • seal, seal up (verb)

        To mark or bind something to protect it from alteration or unauthorized use; to place something under the Lord’s protection.

      • show (verb)

        To give evidence for.

      • Joseph Smith, Jun. (proper noun)

        Prophet who translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.

      • spotless (adjective)

        Innocent; without sin.

      • taken from (verb phrase)

        Abridged from; based on.

      • thereof (adverb)

        Of it; of him; of them.

      • tower (noun)

        The Tower of Babel, mentioned in the Bible. (See Genesis 11:1–9.)

      • translate (verb)

        To tell or write the meaning of something in another language.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        Sufficient for; resulting in.

      • by way of (prepositional phrase)

        Through.

      • wherefore (adverb)

        So you see; therefore.

      • ye (pronoun, archaic)

        You.