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List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon

Although many attempts have been made to illustrate and itemize those records mentioned within the Book of Mormon,1 I feel that a comprehensive updated list is in order.

 

Key: Scriptural references to the cited Records are enclosed in parenthesis ( )

Major or minor quotations from the cited Records are enclosed in brackets [ ]

 

1. The Record of Lehi2

     a. “Record of my father” (1 Ne 19:1-2) [1 Ne 1-10]

           1. Visions & Dreams (1 Ne 1:16)

           2. Genealogy of Lehi’s fathers (1 Ne 19:2)

     b. “Journeyings in the wilderness” (1 Ne 19:1-2) [1 Ne 16-18]

     c. “Prophecies of my father” (1 Ne 19:2) [2 Ne 1-4]

           1. Doctrines & Teachings [2 Ne 2:15– ] [Jacob 2:34]

           2. Blessings [2 Ne 1:1-4; 12] [2 Ne 2:10-22] [2 Ne 3,4]

 

2. The Plates of Brass3 (1 Nephi 3:3)4

     a. Five books of Moses (1 Ne 5:11)

           1. Creation (1 Ne 17:36) (2 Ne 2:14)

           2. Fall of Adam (2 Ne 2:18) [2 Ne 2:14-26]

           3. “All the holy prophets from Moses to Abraham” (Hel 8:16,18) [Alma 46:24-26]

           4. Prophecies of Joseph (2 Ne 4:1-2) [2 Ne 3:5-21]

           5. Life of Moses (Hel 8:11,14-15,16)

           6. Law of Moses (2 Ne 25:24-25) (Alma 25:15) (2 Ne 9:17; 15:28) (Hel 13:1; 15:5)

     b. Record of the Jews down to the reign of Zedekiah (1 Ne 5:12)

     c. Prophecies of the Holy Prophets including many by Jeremiah (1 Ne 5:13)

           1. Ezias (Helaman 8:20)

           2. Isaiah [1 Ne 20,21] [2 Ne 6,7,8,12-24] [Mos 14] (Hel 8:20) [3 Ne 22 (Savior’s quote)]

           3. Jeremiah (Hel 8:20)

           4. Neum (1 Ne 19:10)

           5. Zenock (1 Ne 19:10) (Alma 33:15) (Hel 8:20) (3 Ne 10:16)

           6. Zenos (1 Ne 19:10-17) [Jacob 5] (Alma 33:13) (Hel 8:19) (3 Ne 10:16)

           7. Unknown Prophets5 (2 Ne 32:4) (2 Ne 9:10-13) (Mos 3:10) (Alma 11:40-45) (Hel 5:8,12,25; 10:7; 12:25-26)

     d. Genealogy of Lehi’s fathers (1 Ne 5:14-16)

 

3. The (Small) Plates of Nephi6

(1 Nephi 9:2) (1 Nephi 1:17) (1 Nephi 6:1) [1 Nephi 1:1 – Omni 1:30]

     a. Plates of Nephi [1 Nephi 1 – 2 Nephi 33]

           1. The First Book of Nephi (First Edition) [1 Nephi 1-22]

                 a. Nephi abridges the Record of Lehi (1 Ne 1:16-17) (1 Ne 19:1-4)

                 b. For quotations from Brass Plates–See above #2. Brass Plates (1 Ne 3:3; 1 Ne 19:1-4);

                 c. Nephi writes (1 Ne 1:1; 19:1)

           2. The Second Book of Nephi (First Edition) [2 Nephi 1-33]

     b. Plates of Jacob (Jacob 3:14) [Jacob 1 – Omni 1]

           1. The Book Of Jacob, The Brother Of Nephi (First Edition) [Jacob 1-7]

                 d. Jacob, the brother of Nephi writes (Jacob 1:1-4)

           2. The Book Of Enos (First Edition) [Enos 1]

                 e. Enos, the son of Jacob writes (Jacob 7:27)

           3. The Book Of Jarom (First Edition) [Jarom 1]

                 f. Jarom, the son of Enos writes ( Jarom 1:1)

           4. The Book Of Omni (First Edition) [Omni 1]

                 g. Omni, the son of Jarom writes (Jarom 1:15)

                 h. Amaron, the son of Omni writes (Omni 1:4)

                 i. Chemish, the brother of Amaron writes (Omni 1:8)

 

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Continued)

                 j. Abinadom, the son of Chemish writes (Omni 1:10)

                 k. Amaleki, the son of Abinadom finishes record and turns it over to King Benjamin (Omni 1:12)

                       (W.ofM 1:3,10)

                 l. Miscellaneous additional records referred to in the Book of Omni:

                       a. Record of the “People of Zarahemla” (the Mulekites) (Omni 1:18)

                       b. Mosiah’s interpretation of the large stone (account of Coriantumr) (Omni 1:20-22)

 

4. The (Large) Plates of Nephi (Record of the Kings — Jarom 1:14; Omni 1:11, W. Of M. 1:10) (1 Nephi 9:2, 1 Ne 19:1-4)      

Although what is written in the abridgment of Mormon and Moroni is an indirect reflection of those events originally recorded on the large plates of Nephi, the only direct evidence of the contents of the large plates are “first person” quotations of actual words spoken by the individuals involved in the story. The following is a list of those direct quotations which apparently were part of the original source material used to make up the large plates of Nephi and left intact during the abridgment process. The scriptural reference to the cited record will be enclosed in parenthesis ( ), while the actual direct quotation verses will be enclosed in brackets [ ]. For the sake of order, I will assume the same number and the same names for the book divisions contained in Mormon’s abridgment.

 

     A. Record (Book) of Lehi (1 Ne 19:1-4)

     B. Record (Book) of Nephi (1 Ne 19:1) (Jacob 1:9-11) (Omni 1:11)(Jarom 1:14)

     C. Record (Book) of Mosiah

           1. Record of Mosiah1 (Omni 1:11,12,14) (W. of M. 1:10)

           2. Record of Benjamin (Mos 1:15-16)

                 a. King Benjamin’s teachings to his sons concerning the records. (Mos 1:3,8) [Mos 1:3-7]

                 b. King Benjamin’s asks Mosiah to make an official proclamation. (Mos 1:9-10) [Mos 1:10-14]

                 c. King Benjamin’s final address. (Mos 2:8-9) [Mos 2:9-41; 3:1-27; 4:2,4-30; 5:2-15]

           3. Record of Mosiah2, son of Benjamin (Mosiah2 was the last of the Nephite kings) (Mos 1:10,16)

           4. Record of Zeniff.7 (Mos 8:5)(Mos 9 Subtitle)(Mos 22:14)(Mos 25:5)

                 a. Writings of Zeniff [Mos 9:1-19; 10:1-22]

                 b. Prophecies & Story of Abinadi [Mos 11:20-25, 27-28; 12:1-16, 18, 20-37; 13:1-4, 6-35; 14:1-12;

                       15:1-31; 16:1-15; 17:7-20]

                 c. Account of Gideon’s Insurrection [Mos 19:7]

                 d. Limhi meets wounded Lamanite king (Mos 20:12-13) [Mos 20:13-24]

                 e. Official meeting of King Limhi, Ammon, Amaleki, Helem, and Hem. (Mos 7:8) [Mos 7:9-15]

                 f. Limhi rehearses history to his people (Mos 7:18) [Mos 7:18-33]

                       1. How they came to be in bondage (Mos 7:21) [Mos 7:18-25]

                       2. Abinadi and transgressions (Mos 7:26-28) [Mos 7:26-33]

                 g. Limhi to Ammon on 43 man expedition & 24 gold plates. (Mos 8:6-7) [Mos 8:7-21]

                 h. Escape plan presented by Ammon to Limhi (Mos 22:3) [Mos 22:3-8]

           5. Record of Alma1 (17:4) (Mos 23 Subtitle) (Mos 25:6)

                 a. Record of 1st baptisms [Mos 18:8-13]

                 b. Alma’s discourse in the land of Helam on kingship [Mos 23:7-14]

                 c. Account of deliverance of Alma & followers from Amulon [Mos 24:13-14, 16-17, 23]

           6. Account of Alma1 and unbelievers (Mos 26:1-7, 14, 33) [Mos 26:11-32]

           7. Account of Alma the younger’s conversion (Mos 27:8) [Mos 27:13-16, 24-31]

           8. King Mosiah’s written words on kingcraft (Mos 29:4,33) [Mos 29:4-32]

     D. The Book of Alma, the Son of Alma

           1. Record of Alma2, son of Alma1 (Mos 29:42) (Alma 37:1-2)

                 A. Court proceedings of Alma2 and Nehor (Alma 1:10) [Alma 1:12-14]

                 B. War with Amlicites–Words of Nephi quoted (Alma 3:14) [Alma 3:14-17] From Large or Small

                       plates?

                 C. Alma’s Missionary Journal (Alma 5 subtitle, 7 subtitle, 9 subtitle)

                       1. Alma’s call to repentance in city of Zarahemla (Alma 5:1) [Alma 5:3-62]

                       2. Alma’s testimony of Redeemer to people of Gideon [Alma 7:1-27]

                       3. Alma & people of Ammonihah (Alma 8:8) [Alma 8:11-12, 15-17, 19-20, 23-26, 29]

                       4. Words of Alma & Amulek to Ammonihah (Alma 9 subtitle) [Alma ch. 9-14]

                             a. Alma to people [Alma 9]

 

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Continued)

                             b. Part of Amulek’s words to people (Alma 9:34) [Alma 10:1-29]

                             c. Zeezrom & Amulek (Alma 11:21) [Alma 11:21-45]

                             d. Alma to Zeezrom & multitude (Alma 12:2; 13:31) [Alma 12:3-6, 9-37; 13:1-30]

                             e. Alma & Amulek on deaths of converts (Alma 14:10) [Alma 14:10-15, 19-21, 24,

                                   26]

                       5. Alma, Amulek, & Zeezrom in Sidom (Alma 15:5) [Alma 15:6-10]

                 D. Account of Sons of Mosiah (Alma 17 subtitle)

                       1. Ammon & king Lamoni (Alma 18:1) [Alma 18:2-4, 10-11, 13-41]

                       2. Ammon, queen, & people [Alma 19:4-5, 8-10, 12-13, 19-21, 29]

                       3. Ammon & Lamoni journey to Middoni [Alma 20:2-5, 7, 9-10, 13, 15, 17-19, 22-27]

                       4. Aaron in synagogue (Alma 21:5) [Alma 21: 5-8]

                       5. Aaron & king of land of Nephi (Alma 22:1) [Alma 22:2-11, 15-16, 18, 20, 22]

                       6. Official command concerning Anti-Nephi-Lehi matter (Alma 24:6) [Alma 24:7-19]

                       7. Ammon recounts blessings-Aaron rebukes him (Alma 26:1) [Alma 26:1-37]

                       8. Official voice of Nephites concerning people of Ammon [Alma 27:22-24]

                 E. Alma’s desire to cry repentance [Alma 29:1-17]

                 F. Account of anti-Christ Korihor (Alma 30:12)

                       1. Manner of preaching [Alma 30:13-16]

                       2. Korihor & High Priest of Gideon [Alma 30:22-28]

                       3. Korihor & Alma (30:30) [Alma 30:32-49, 51-53, 55]

                 G. Alma’s Mission to the Zoramites (Alma 31:5-6)

                       1. Worship of Zoramites (Alma 31:14) [Alma 31:15-18]

                       2. Prayer of Alma (Alma 31:26) [Alma 31:26-35]

                       3. Poor people & Alma on hill Onidah (Alma 32:5) [Alma 32:5, 8-43; 33:2-23]

                       4. Amulek’s testimony on hill Onidah (Alma 34:1) [Alma 34:2-41]

                 H. The commandments of Alma to his son Helaman (Alma 36 subtitle) [Alma ch. 36, 37]

                 I. The commandments of Alma to his son Shiblon (Alma 38 subtitle) [Alma 38]

                 J. The Commandments of Alma to his son Corianton (Alma 39 subtitle) [Alma ch. 39-42]

           2. Record of Helaman1, son of Alma2 (Alma 37:1-2)

                 A. Alma to Helaman – prophecies (Alma 45:2) [Alma 45:2-14, 16]

                 B. Moroni’s official military account (Alma 43:16-17)

                       1. Moroni & Zerahemna (Alma 44:1) [Alma 44:1-11, 14]

                       2. Moroni’s Title of Liberty (Alma 46:12) [Alma 46:12, 18, 20, 23-27]

                       3. Moroni quotes from Brass Plates-Joseph’s coat [Alma 46:24-26]

                       4. Epistle of Moroni to Ammoron (Alma 54:4) [Alma 54:5-14]

                       5. 2nd Epistle of Ammoron to Moroni (Alma 54:15) [Alma 54:16-24]

                       6. Moroni’s words [Alma 55:2-3]

                       7. Laman’s account of freeing prisoners from city of Gid [Alma 55:8-12]

                       8. Helaman’s epistle to Moroni (Alma 56:1-2) [Alma 56:2-57, ch 57, 58]

                       9. Official report of Gid (Alma 57:29-30) [Alma 57:30-35]

                       10. 2nd epistle from Moroni to Pahoran (Alma 60:1) [Alma 60:1-36]

                       11. Epistle of Pahoran to Moroni (Alma 61:1) [Alma 61:2-21]

           3. Record of Shiblon, son of Alma2 (Alma 63:1) (Alma 37:1-2)

     E. The Book of Helaman

           1. Record of Helaman2, son of Helaman1 (Alma 63:11)

           2. Record of Nephi2, son of Helaman2 (Hel 3:37) (3 Ne 1:2) (3 Ne 2:9)

                 a. Teachings of Helaman to Nephi & Lehi (Hel 5:5, 13) {Hel 5:6-12]

                 b. Account of Nephi & Lehi in prison (Hel 5:26) [Hel 5:26, 29, 32, 38-41, 47]

                 c. Garden tower prophecy of Nephi (Hel 7 subtitle) (Hel 7:6) [Hel 7:6-9, 13-29; 8:1-2, 5-9, 11-28; 9:12,

                        16-17, 20-36; 10:4-11, 14]

                 d. Nephi to the Lord about famine (Hel 11:3,9) [Hel 11:4, 10-16]

                 e. Account of Samuel the Lamanite (Hel 13 subtitle)(Hel 14:1) [Hel 13:5-39; 14:2-31; 15:1-17]

     F. The Book of Nephi, the Son of Nephi, which was the Son of Helaman (First Edition) (3 Ne 1:2) (3 Ne 2:9)

           1. Record of Nephi3 son of Nephi2 (3 Ne 1:2) (3 Ne 2:9) (4 Nephi title)

                 a. Epistle of Giddianhi to Lachoneus (3 Ne 3:1) [3 Ne 3:2-10]

 

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Continued)

                 b. Words & prophecies of Lachoneus to people (3 Ne 3:15, 16) [3 Ne 3:15]

                 c. Account of Zemnarihah [3 Ne 4:29-30, 32]

                 d. Account of destruction at Christ’s crucifixion (3 Ne 9:1) [3 Ne 9:2-22; 10:4-7]

                 e. Account of Christ’s visit & part of his teachings (3 Ne 11 subtitle)(3 Ne 26:7,11) (3 Ne 26:6)

                       [3 Ne 11:7, 10-11, 14, 17, 21-41; ch 12, 13, 14; 15:1, 3-24; ch 16; 17:1-4, 6-8, 14, 16-17,

                       20,23; 18:5-7, 10-16, 17-25, 27-35; 19:20-23, 26, 28-29, 35-36; 20:8, 10-46; ch 21, 22;

                       3:1-7, 9-11; 26:2-11; 27:2-33; 28:1-11]

                       1. Christ recites and has recorded the record of Malachi (3 Ne 24:1) [3 Ne 24:1-18; 25:1-6]

     G. The Book of Nephi, which is the Son of Nephi, One of the Disciples of Jesus Christ (First Edition)

           a. Record of Nephi4, son of Nephi3

           b. Record of Amos1, son of Nephi4 (4 Ne 1:19-21)

           c. Record of Amos2, son of Amos1 (4 Ne 1:21) (4 Ne 1:47)

           d. Record of Ammaron, brother of Amos2 (4 Ne 1:47)

     H. Book of Mormon (First Edition)

           a. Record of Mormon2, son of Mormon1 (Mormon 1:1-5) (Mormon 2:18)

     I. Record of Moroni ??? , son of Mormon (Mmn 6:6; 8:1) (Eth 5:1) – Answer = NO! (Mormon 8:5)8 (Moroni 1:1-4)

 

5. Record of the “People of Zarahemla” (the Mulekites) (Omni 1:18)

 

6. Mosiah’s interpretation of the large stone (account of Coriantumr) (Omni 1:20-22)

 

7. 24 gold plates— Book of Ether (Ether’s abridgement?)9

(Mosiah 8:9) (Ether 1:2)

     A. “The creation of the world, and also of Adam, and an account from that time even to the great tower and whatsoever things transpired among the children of men until that time” (Ether 1:3)

     B. “From the tower down until they were destroyed” (Ether 1:5)

     C. The vision of the brother of Jared (Ether 3:27)

     D. Miscellaneous additional records

           1. There were “many prophets in the days of Com who prophesied” (Ether 11:1)

           2. “An account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms” (Eth 8:9-22)

 

8. Record of Zeniff (Mosiah 9 subtitle) (Mosiah 25:5)

 

9. Record of Alma I (Mosiah 23 subtitle) (Mosiah 25:6)

 

10. Record of Sons of Mosiah (Alma 17 subtitle)

 

11. Mosiah’s translation of the 24 gold plates (Mosiah 28:11-17)

     A. “The creation of the world, and also of Adam, and an account from that time even to the great tower and whatsoever things transpired among the children of men until that time” (Ether 1:3)

     B. “From the tower down until they were destroyed” (Ether 1:5)

     C. The vision of the brother of Jared (Ether 3:27) (Ether 4:1-2)

     D. Miscellaneous additional records

           1. There were “many prophets in the days of Com who prophesied” (Ether 11:1)

           2. “An account concerning them of old, that they by their secret plans did obtain kingdoms” (Eth 8:9-22)

 

12. Records of the “Land Northward” (Helaman 3:13-16)

 

13. The Set of Plates (Plates of Mormon & Moroni) compiled by Mormon & Moroni and given to Joseph Smith:

     A. Mormon and Moroni’s Title Page (History of the Church 1:71)

     B. Mormon’s Abridgement of the Large Plates of Nephi (3 Ne 5:9-20) (Mormon 2:18) (See #4 “Large Plates of Nephi”)

        (Lost 116 Pages of the Original Manuscript) — “Plates of Lehi”

 

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Continued)

 

           1. Book Of Lehi10

                 a. Nephi “engraves” Record of Lehi (1 Ne 19:1-4)

           2. Book Of Nephi

                 a. Prophecies of Nephi1 (1 Ne 19:1)

                 b. Record of Kings –(Nephi II —> Nephi XI ? (Jacob 1:9-11 — See Chronology)11

(Omni 1:11)(Jarom

                       1:14)

           3a. Book Of Mosiah (Title & subscript, part of Chapter 1)12

                 a. Record of Mosiah1 (Omni 1:11,12,14) (W. of M. 1:10) (Remainder of the Original Manuscript)

           3b. Book Of Mosiah [Mosiah ch 1-29]

                 a. (Chapter 1, Chapter 2 were translated but not published) (D&C 10:41)13

                 b. Record of Benjamin (Mos 1:15-16)15

                             c. Limhi (Mos 19:26)

                       2. Record of Alma1 (Mosiah 23)

                             a. Prophecies of Abinadi (Mos 17:4) [Mosiah 12-16]

           4. The Book of Alma, the Son of Alma (First Edition) [Alma ch 1 – 63]

                 a. Record of Alma2, son of Alma1 (Mos 29:42) (Alma 37:1-2)

                       1. Miscellaneous additional records not written by Alma2 but incorporated into the record of

                             Alma2 on the Large plates and/or Mormon’s abridgement of the Large Plates:

                             a. Amulek’s personal record of his conversion [Alma 10:1-11]

                             b. Record of the Sons of Mosiah [Alma 17-27]

                                   1. Record of Ammon (Alma 17:1) [Alma 17-20]

                                   2. Record of Aaron, and Muloki and their brethren [Alma 21-26]

                 b. Record of Helaman1, son of Alma2 (Alma 37:1-2)

                       1. Miscellaneous additional records not written by Helaman1 but incorporated into the record of Helaman1 on the Large plates and/or Mormon’s abridgement of the Large Plates:

                             a. The first epistle of Ammaron to captain Moroni (Alma 54: 1)

                             b. The epistle of captain Moroni to Ammoron [Alma 54:4-14] (Alma 54:4)

                             c. The 2nd epistle of Ammaron to Moroni (Alma 54:15) [Alma 54:15-24]

                             d. The epistle of Helaman to Moroni [Alma 56-58] (Alma 56:1)

                             e. The 1st epistle of Moroni to Pahoran (Alma 59:3)

                             f. The 2nd epistle of captain Moroni to Pahoran [Alma 60] (Alma 60:1)

                             g. The epistle of Pahoran to captain Moroni [Alma 61] (Alma 61:1)

                 c. Record of Shiblon, son of Alma2 (Alma 63:1) (Alma 37:1-2)

           5. The Book of Helaman (See subtitle) [Helaman ch 1-16]

                 a. Record of Helaman2, son of Helaman1 (Alma 63:11)

                       1. Miscellaneous additional records not written by Helaman2, but referred to or incorporated

                             into the record of Helaman2 on the Large plates and/or Mormon’s abridgement of

                             the Large Plates:

                             a. The records of the Nephites up to the time of Helaman (Alma 63:12)16

                             b. records of the “Land Northward” (Helaman 3:13-16)

                             c. The prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite (3 Ne 23:9-13) [Helaman 13-15]

                 b. Record of Nephi2, son of Helaman2 (Hel 3:37) (3 Ne 1:2) (3 Ne 2:9)

           6. The Book of Nephi, the Son of Nephi, which was the Son of Helaman (First Edition)17 [3 Nephi ch 1-30]

                 a. Record of Nephi3, son of Nephi2 (3 Ne 1:2) (3 Ne 2:9) (Subtitle of 4th Nephi) (4 Ne 1:18-19)

                       1. Miscellaneous additional records not written by Nephi3, but referred to or incorporated into

 

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Continued)

the record of Nephi3 on the Large plates and/or Mormon’s abridgement of the Large Plates:

                             a. The epistle of Giddianhi to Lachoneus [3 Ne 3:2-10];

                             b. A “true” record of Christ’s visit and teachings (3 Ne 5:8-9) [3 Ne 11-26]

           7. The Book of Nephi, which is the Son of Nephi, One of the Disciples of Jesus Christ (First Edition)18

                 4 Nephi 1] 

                 a. Record of Nephi4, son of Nephi319

                 b. Record of Amos1, son of Nephi4 (4 Ne 1:19-21)

                 c. Record of Amos2,20 son of Amos1 (4 Ne 1:21) (4 Ne 1:47)

                 d. Record of Ammaron, brother of Amos3 (4 Ne 1:47)

           8. Book of Mormon (First Edition) [Mormon ch 1 – 9]21

                 a. Record of Mormon2, son of Mormon1 (Mormon 1:1-5) (Mormon 2:18)

                       1. Miscellaneous additional records not written by Mormon but incorporated into the record of

                             Mormon on the Large plates and/or Mormon’s abridgement of the Large Plates:

                             a. The epistles of the Lamanite king(s) to Mormon (Mormon 3:4) (Mormon 6:2-3)

     

C. Writings of Moroni: Moroni included these writings:

           1. Mormon 8-9; Moroni finishes father’s record

           2. Moroni’s abridgement of the Record of Ether [Ether 1-4, 6-15]22

                 a. Creation –> Tower (Not included) (Ether 1:3)

                 b. Tower –> Vision of Brother of Jared (Ether 1:5) [Ether 1:1-3:28]

          (SEALED)      c. Moroni’s Translation?/Abridgement?/Copying? of the experiences of the Brother of Jared while with

           I            Christ on the mount) (Ether 3:27-4:1)(Ether 4:4-7)

           I            1. Experiences beyond the veil (Ether 3:19-21)

          (SEALED)        2. “The unfolding of all my (Christ’s) revelations” (Ether 4:7)23

 

                 d. End of Moroni’s writings of Brother of Jared –> Destruction of Jaredites [Ether 4-15]

                       1. The Lord commands Moroni to seal words of the brother of Jared & seal interpreters(?)

                             [Ether 4:5-19]

                       2. Moroni to future translator. [Ether 5]

                       3. Ether’s Predictions [Ether 13:2-12]

                       4. Moroni forbidden to write more (Ether 13:13)

           3. Moroni will write “a few things contrary to that which I had supposed” (Moroni 1)

                 a. Teachings related to ordinances enacted at Christ’s visit and recorded by Nephi (Moroni 2-6)

                 b. Mormon’s teachings on faith, hope, charity [Moroni 7]

                 c. Mormon’s previous epistles to Moroni [Moroni 8-9]

                 d. Moroni’s farewell [Moroni 10]

 

D. The Small Plates of Nephi24

 (W. of M. 1:3-7) [1 Nephi 1 – Omni 1]

 

E. Words of Mormon [W of M. 1]

           1. Mormon seems to give the explanatory basis for putting the small plates with his record (W.ofM. 1:3-7)

           2. Mormon connects the message on the small plates with the history of the reign of king Benjamin (W.ofM. 1:9, 18)

 

Measures Used to Preserve the Records

1. The records were engraven on metal plates. (1 Ne 19:1) (Jacob 4:1) (Mormon 8:5)

2. The records were kept by kings. (Jarom 1:14) (Omni 1:11) (W. of M. 1:10)

3. The records were kept by covenant. (1 Ne 19:1-4) (Enos 1:16-18) (3 Ne 5:14) (3 Ne 5:20)

4. The records were kept away from the Lamanites or dissenters who sought to destroy them. (2 Ne 26:17) (Enos 1:14) (Alma 14:8) (Mormon 6:6)

5. The records were hidden in the ground. (Mormon 1:3) (Mormon 4:23) (Mormon 6:6) (Mormon 8:4) (Ether 15:11)

 

A Comprehensive List of Records Mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Continued)

Fate of the Records

There are multiple prophecies contained in the Book of Mormon which tell of the coming forth of all the records to the world. The following is a list of scriptures which deal with the promises concerning the fate of the records:

     1. Title Page: The record of Mormon & Moroni is “to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile.”

     2. 1 Nephi 14:26: The things that the Lord showed Nephi were the same as those written by John and are “to come forth in their purity” and “in the own due time of the Lord.”

     3. Alma 37:1-7: The plates of brass will “go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.”

     4. 3 Nephi 26:6-10: The teachings of the Savior to the Nephites were partially written by Mormon “to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.”

     5. 3 Nephi 27:23-26: The Savior makes the command “to write the works of this people,” because “out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged.”

     6. 4 Nephi 1:48-49: Ammaron hid up all the sacred records “that they might come again unto the remnant of the house of Jacob according to the prophecies and the promises of the Lord.”

     7. Mormon 5:8-14: Mormon writes these things “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.”

     8. Ether 1:3,4: Moroni writes concerning the Book of Ether and the 24 plates, “I do not write those things which transpired from the days of Adam until that time; but they are had upon the plates; and whoso findeth them, the same will have power that he may get the full account.

     9. Ether 4:5,6,7: Moroni writes concerning the “very things which the brother of Jared saw” and which “I have written upon these plates”: “For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ.”

  1. See the following: "Sources, plates, records, and manuscripts of the Book of Mormon," in John W. Welch ed., Reexploring The Book Of Mormon, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1992), 17; Verla Birrell, The Book of Mormon Guide Book, (Salt Lake City: Birrell Book Company, 1948), 29-58; Church Educational System, Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121 and 122, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1989), 155-157; "Book of Mormon Plates and Records, in Daniel H. Ludlow ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 1, (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 199 ), 195-201.
  2.  Within our present Book of Mormon, there is no scriptural mention of the phrase "Record of Lehi,""Book of Lehi," or "Plates of Lehi." The closest reference is to the "record of my father" (1 Nephi 19:1-2). For an excellent article on the record of Lehi see S. Kent Brown, "Nephi's use of Lehi's Record," in John L. Sorenson and Melvin J. Thorne, eds, Rediscovering the Book of Mormon, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and F.A.R.M.S., 1991), 3-14.
  3. This record is always scripturally referred to as being engraven on the "plates of brass," and never on "brass plates." For an excellent article comparing the teachings from the Plates of Brass cited in the Book of Mormon with the teachings from the Book of Moses (Pearl of Great Price) later revealed to Joseph Smith, and how these contrasted with the Book of Abraham, see Noel B. Reynolds, "The Brass Plates Version of Genesis," in John M. Lundquist and Stephen D. Ricks, eds., By Study And Also By Faith, Vol. 2, (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Company and Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1990), 136-173.
  4. There are 27 occurrences of the phrase "plates of brass" in our current Book of Mormon: 1 Ne 3:3,12,24; 4:16,24,38; 5:10,14,18,19; 13:23; 19:21,22; 22:1,30; 2 Ne 4:2,15; 5:12; Omni 1:14; Mosiah 1:3,16; 10:16; 28:11,20; Alma 37:3; 3 Ne 1:2; 10:17
  5. See Monte S. Nyman, "The Restoration of Plain and Precious Parts: The Book of Helaman," in Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., eds, Helaman Through 3 Nephi 8, According To Thy Word (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft and Religious Studies Center Brigham Young University, 1992), 147-61
  6. According to 1 Nephi 9:2, what we have come to refer to as the "Large" plates and the "Small" plates were both known as the "plates of Nephi." The term "small" might come from a verse in Jarom (v. 14) in which he says, "And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are small." It also might have come from Words of Mormon 1:3 where Mormon says that he "found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi."

    Within the record of the Small Plates (1 Nephi 1- Omni), besides 1 Nephi 9:2, the only two verses that refer to the "plates of Nephi" (Jacob 7:26; Jarom 1:14) expand the phrase to say "other plates of Nephi" and thus refer to the Large plates.

    From Words of Mormon forward through Mormon's abridgment of the Large plates, the phrase "plates of Nephi" always refers to the Large plates. (Mosiah 1:6,16; 28:11; Alma 37:2; 44:24; 3 Nephi 26:7,11; 4 Ne 1:19,21; Morm 1:4; 2:17,18). There is one key partial exception. In Mormon 6:6 Mormon says that "I made this record out of the plates of Nephi." For reasons covered in part-1 of this paper, we understand this statement to not only mean the large plates, but to also connote the small plates of Nephi.

  7. The reader should notice that Mormon considers the Record of Zeniff to span from "the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites." (Subtitle Mosiah 9, Mosiah 25:5). However, the record of Zeniff was apparently kept during the reigns of three different kings: Zeniff, Noah, and Limhi. How it was kept or by whom it was kept after Zeniff is unknown because the account shifts from the "first person" quotation of Zeniff himself to a "third person" abridgment by Mormon. However, it seems to be tied to the official duties of the king. For an excellent article, see John Gee, "Limhi in the Library, in Stephen D. Ricks ed., Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 1, Num. 1, (Provo: F.A.R.M.S., 1992), 54-66.
  8. The reader should notice that Moroni's wish in Mormon 8:5 was that "my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone." This raises the possibility that if Moroni had had more plates he might have written his own story. Did Moroni mean that he wanted to make a record on the Large Plates in the same way as his father, and then abridge that record onto the abridgment of Mormon? (Mormon 2:18). Moroni tends to discount this idea with his own words in after finishing the book of Ether, saying "I supposed not to have written more" (Moroni 1:1-4). In addition, at the end of the Book of Moroni, he says "And now I bid unto all farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God (Moroni 10:34)." Thus, Moroni probably didn't have the time or circumstances to make any addition to the large plates. Besides, the large plates were kept by the kings (Omni 1:11) or prominent leaders (Jarom 1:14) of the Nephite nation. There was no more Nephite nation.
  9. In Ether 15:33 the comment is made, "and [Ether] finished his record; (and the hundredth part I have not written) and he hid them in a manner that the people of Limhi did find them." The question then becomes, Did Limhi's party find and carry back over 100 times the 32 pages in our present edition? (pp. 487-518) This would mean that the 24 gold plates would have had to contain over 3200 pages. If the "24 gold plates" represented only an abridgement of the Jaredite history by Ether, then Mormon might have been comparing Ether's writings to the entire Jaredite record collection. Ether would have probably had access to all the Jaredite records in order to make his abridgement, and most probably made some comments relative to the amount of records there were. An interesting, though unproven thought here is that if the prophet Ether finished his record as he viewed the final battles of his people from a cave (Ether 13:13-14); roughly 1000 years later, there were two points of geography that Mormon distinctly correlated between the Jaredite history and the Nephite history: the hill Shim (Ether 9:3) (Mormon 1:3; 4:23) and the hill Ramah/Cumorah (Ether 15:11) (Mormon 6:2-22). If there were many Jaredite records besides the record of Ether, they would have had to have been deposited somewhere, and it is my opinion that Mormon's(& Moroni's) correlation went beyond geography. I feel that the detailed requirements of such a correlation might have had to do with the location of Jaredite records.

    On the other hand, if the "24 gold plates" did indeed contain 3200 pages worth of material, then I would have to rethink the definition of "plates." Each of the 24 "plates" might have been equivalent to the "plates of Nephi." Thus, the 24 gold plates might have been equivalent to 24 volumes. But then again, it would have been quite difficult for Mosiah (to say nothing of Moroni) to translate 24 volumes, .

    Finally, the comment by Mormon might have been just a paraphrase of a comment he came across by Ether in Mosiah's translation. Thus, Ether might have been describing the fact that he was making an abridgment of the history of the Jaredites which only represented the hundredth part of that which had already been written.

  10. The following is found in the Preface to the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon: "As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again--"
  11. Chronology of Nephite Kings: All the subsequent kings after Nephi were named Nephi II, Nephi III, etc. (Jacob 1:9-11). If we assume that Lehi & Nephi (age 16) left Jerusalem in 600 BC, and if we assume that the average age of the father king was 38 when the son king was born, and if we assume that the average son king began his reign at the age of 30 which would make the father kings live to an age of 68, then there were 11 kings named Nephi who were caretakers of the large plates of Nephi, which Abinadom referred to as the record "engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, according to the generations" (Omni 1:11).

     

    584 BC      Nephi made king of Nephi at age 32 (2 Nephi 5:18)

    545 BC      Nephi anoints another king --Nephi II (Jacob 1:9-11) [Nephi is 71 and Nephi II is 30]

    507 BC      Nephi II (68) anoints Nephi III (30)

    469 BC      Nephi III (68) anoints Nephi IV (30)

    431 BC      Nephi IV (68) anoints Nephi V (30)

    393 BC      Nephi V (68) anoints Nephi VI (30)

    355 BC      Nephi VI (68) anoints Nephi VII (30)

    317 BC      Nephi VII (68) anoints Nephi VIII (30)

    279 BC      Nephi VIII (68) anoints Nephi IX (30)

    241 BC      Nephi IX (68) anoints Nephi X (30)

    204 BC      Nephi X (67) anoints Nephi XI (30)

    234 BC      Mosiah I is born

    204 BC      Mosiah I becomes of age to become King (Mosiah I corresponds to Nephi XI)

    200 BC      Mosiah I leads people from Nephi to Zarahemla (Omni 1:12)-takes Liahona, Large Plates,

                     Brass Plates, Sword of Laban (2 Ne 5:12,14) (Omni 1:11,25)

  12. According to John Tvedtnes, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon , Volume 3, 1991, pp. 201-202:

    "The [Printer's] manuscript, as originally copied, does not show a title for the book of Mosiah, presumably because that title appeared on one of the 116 lost pages. Even more important is the fact that there is, on the manuscript, no original indication of a separation between Words of Mormon and Mosiah. Rather, Mosiah begins with the notation "Chapter III," as if it were a continuation from Words of Mormon.

    Nevertheless, in the writer's view, the Printer's Manuscript is not the equivalent of the Original Manuscript. Thus, we don't know why Oliver Cowdery made up his Printer's Manuscript in such a manner.

  13. According to an article by Royal Skousen in Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (F.A.R.M.S., 1994), 135-139, there is a "III" crossed out and replaced by a "I" at the beginning of the Book of Mosiah in the Printer's Manuscript. There is also no subscripts to the Book of Mosiah. This might mean that the first two chapters of Mosiah were lost with the 116 pages of manuscript. How much these chapters contain is not known. D&C 10:41 says that Joseph Smith had translated "to the reign of king Benjamin," but it is still uncertain as to how much of the beginning chapters of Mosiah were devoted to the reign of king Benjamin or how long those chapters were. In addition, we do not know whether these chapters were part of the 116 pages lost or whether they were part of the manuscript that was "translated and retained." (D&C 10)
  15. The large plates were originally supposed to contain "a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people"(1 Ne 19:4), while the small plates contained "the ministry and the prophecies" (1 Ne 19:3); however, it is interesting to note that once the small plates were finished and handed to king Benjamin by Amaleki (W of M 1:3,10), we find many spiritual parts inserted into Mormon's abridgment of the large plates, which means that the content and purpose of the large plates had changed.

                     c. Record of Mosiah2, son of Benjamin (Mosiah2 was the last of the Nephite kings) (Mos 1:10,16)

                     d. Miscellaneous additional records not written by Mosiah1, Benjamin, or Mosiah2, but incorporated into their records on the Large plates and/or Mormon's abridgement of the Large

                           Plates:

                           1. Record of Zeniff (Mosiah 9 subtitle)

                                 a. Zeniff (Mos 9:1)

                                 b. Noah (Mos 10:22; 11:1)

                                       1. Prophecies of Abinadi? [Mos 12-16]14If Alma1 wrote down the prophecies of Abinadi (Mos 17:4) how did they get into the record of Zeniff (Noah)? especially if Noah was a wicked king? Some possibilities are that (1) the prophesies were written down because it was an official trial, or (2) the prophecies were possibly written by Alma and distributed by the converts of Alma among the people of Noah (Mos 18:33), (3) these prophesies were originally contained in the Record of Alma, however they were mixed in with the story of Noah during the recording of the writings of Mosiah II and incorporated that way into the abridgement of Mormon, or (4) Both Alma and the scribes of Noah could have written accounts (Note* Limhi referred to Abinadi while Alma was gone-(Mosiah 7:26-27).

  16. According to Alma 63:12, "all those engravings which were in the possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should not go forth (Alma 37:27-32)
  17. According to Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976), 252: In the first edition of the Book of Mormon, the book that is now known by the title of "Third Nephi" was known only as "The Book of Nephi the son of Nephi, who was the son of Helaman." This original title was used until the edition of 1879 when, at the recommendation of Orson Pratt, the heading "Third Nephi" was added before the title of this book and the words "Fourth Nephi" were added before the title of the book that follows."
  18. Ibid, 252.
  19. Although there is no specific mention of a transfer of records from Nephi3 to Nephi4, there is a Nephi4 listed in the 1989 Book of Mormon Student Manual for Religion 121 and 122 in the chart of Nephite Record Keepers on page 155. A problem arises: If Nephi3 was given "charge" of the plates in 1 BC and "was the eldest son" (3 Nephi 1:2) and "did keep the records" (3 Ne 1:3), then Nephi3 would have probably been between 20-30 years of age at that time. When the scriptures say that the plates were finally given over to Amos by Nephi (4 Ne 1:19) the year was A.D. 111 (4 Ne 1:18), which would mean that Nephi3 would have had to live to the age of 131 or 141. The solution to this problem is found in the title of 4th Nephi, "The Book of Nephi, Who is the Son of Nephi, One of the Disciples of Jesus Christ (First Edition). According to 3 Nephi 11:18-21 and 3 Nephi 5:13, it was Nephi3 who was made a disciple of Christ.
  20. Although there is no specific mention of an "Amos 3," according to Verla Birrell, The Book of Mormon Guidebook,(Salt Lake City: Verla Birrell, 1948), 52: "Notice that Amos II was historian from 194 A.D. until 305 A.D. or for 111 years. This is out of keeping with the rest of the record and may be explained, therefore, by supposing that there existed an Amos III." On the other hand, according to Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1976), 295: "The life expectancy of the [historians] was quite long during this period; [Nephi4] kept the record for 77 years, [Amos1] for 84 years, and [Amos2] for 112 years! Of course, their age when they obtained the record would have to be added to the figures listed above to determine their age at the time of death."
  21. Chapter's 8 & 9 of the Book of Mormon were written by Moroni.
  22. It is not known on the Book of Ether whether Moroni used Mosiah's translation (Mosiah 28:1-20) or whether he translated directly from the 24 gold plates. Ether 1:2 might imply the latter) (Ether 1:3-5; 4:1-2 might imply an abridgment of the former). It is the opinion of the writer that Moroni made an abridgment of Mosiah's translation of the 24 gold plates not only because of the verses noted, but because otherwise he would have had to translate AND abridge over a hundred times (Ether 15:33) what he wrote.
  23. Ether 4:1-7 tells us that Moroni recorded this record upon the same plates that he made his abridgement of the Book of Ether, but he sealed it up, to come forth in the latter days. Orson Pratt maintained that the sealed portion comprised 2/3 of the plates, whereas George Q. Cannon believed it was 1/3. Joseph Smith simply said,"a part".) The exact quotation comes from Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book Of Mormon, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976), 320, and is as follows:

    "Moroni wrote his account of the vision of the brother of Jared on the plates of Mormon, but he was commanded by the Lord to "seal up" this account. (Ether 4:4-5) Joseph Smith was commanded not to translate this sealed portion. It is not absolutely clear what portion of the plates of Mormon was sealed. Joseph Smith simply said: "The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed." (History of the Church, 4:537) George Q. Cannon said that "about one-third" was sealed (Young Peoples' History of Joseph Smith, p. 25), whereas Orson Pratt maintained that the sealed portion comprised "about two-thirds" of the plates. (Journal of Discourses, 3:347) Neither of these two brethren indicate where they obtained their information.

  24. According to Eldin Ricks, "The Small Plates of Nephi and the Words of Mormon," in Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr. eds, The Book of Mormon: Jacob Through Words of Mormon, To Learn With Joy, (Provo, Religious Studies Center Brigham Young University, 1988), 209-219:

    "Notwithstanding the fact that Amaleki, the last writer of the small plates of Nephi closed the volume with the words, ". . . and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking" (Omni 1:30), we are still obliged to conclude that Mormon, more than five centuries later, actually added the Words of Mormon to the small plates of Nephi. Whether he did so on a kind of cover sheet, which may have been employed to protect the sacred engravings from getting scratched or damaged, or whether he simply inserted an extra leaf, or found and utilized a little unused space at the end of the record, there can be little question but that he added the Words of Mormon to the original small plates of Nephi. This interpretation seems to be confirmed by his statement, "Wherefore, I chose these things (the small plates of Nephi) to finish my record upon them . . ." (WofM 1:5) (Thus in the Words of Mormon) the opening verse identifies the late period of his writing: "And now I Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites"(v1). Quite clearly the months or years of careful composing and engraving were at an end when he inscribed these lines. Interestingly enough, after explaining how he found the small plates of Nephi during an early period of his abridgment work (v 3), why he treasured them (v 4), and how he felt impressed to include them with his own metal book (vv6-7),