The Chronology and Geographical Setting of Moroni’s Writings

Appendix A. October 29, 2000

There are a number of verses in Moroni’s writings and elsewhere which might have a bearing on the chronological and geographical scenario of Moroni’s wanderings, and ultimately where Moroni would “hide up the records in the earth” (Mormon 8:4) for the final time. In order to evaluate these verses, a review is in order. (Note* While reading this review, the reader is advised to use the accompanying chart detailing the scriptures cited )

Preparatory to the final battles of the Nephites, Mormon gathered his people around the hill Cumorah (Mormon 6:4) and hid up in the hill “all the records” which had been entrusted to him by the hand of the Lord, save it were “these few plates” which he gave unto his son Moroni (see Mormon 6:6). Mormon never specifies what the phrase “these few plates” refers to, but most logically it would have to refer to at least Mormon’s abridgment of the large plates of Nephi along with the small plates of Nephi (W of M 1:1-9). After the final battles, Mormon finished his record concerning the destruction of his people (Mormon 6:1), leaving things in the hands of Moroni.

Moroni begins his writings with the following:

Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but a few things to write, which things I have beencommanded by my father. . . . Therefore I will write and hide up the records and whither I go it mattereth not. How long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not. (Mormon 8:1-4, emphasis added)

Moroni does not elaborate on what “few things” he has been commanded to write by his father, yet one gets the idea that he is apparently ready to proceed to the end with this task. One is also left to wonder whether the process of “writing” and then “going wherever” is to be chronologically consecutive (all the writing first, then “going wherever”) or concurrent (a repeated cycle of writing and wandering). This leads us to the next verse where Moroni says the following:

Behold, 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 . . . and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not. Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior. (Mormon 8:5-6; emphasis added)

Again, Moroni does not elaborate on what he refers to as Mormon’s “intent”–what it was or even where Mormon might have written it on his plates. Perhaps Moroni was hinting at the idea that Mormon had written a Title Page which stated his intent (see the Title Page), or perhaps Mormon had brought it to the attention of Moroni that in his abridgment he had informed the reader of his intention to write the history of the Jaredites (see Mosiah 28:17-19). Or perhaps Mormon felt that some clarification was in order regarding some things that the Savior did when he was with them (see 3 Nephi 16:4, 23:4). Whatever the case, Moroni did not give a direct answer, yet he did give a number of reasons why, in the year 401, he apparently did not write his father’s intent:

     (1) he did not have room upon the plates

     (2) he was alone

     (3) he feared he might not live long enough.

Yet rather than ending abruptly, Moroni apparently had enough room to address all unbelievers and to bear his testimony concerning Christ (Mormon 8:7–9:37). .

Even more strangely, Moroni then proceeds to give an account of the Jaredites (Ether 1:1) without letting the reader know where he found or made additional plates, whether he was still alone, and what made him feel safe enough to tackle such a project. The reader should keep in mind that what Moroni was destined to write amounted to not only an abridgment of the history of the Jaredites (the book of Ether), but the vision of the brother of Jared (Ether 3:21-28; 4:1-7) or what is referred to as the sealed portion of the plates. Such a project would involve a significant a significant number of plates, an amount some have claim would yield over twice the content of our present Book of Mormon.” Furthermore, from the time Moroni declares, “Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior” (Mormon 8:6), until the plates are sealed up after “more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ” (Moroni 10:1), a time period of about 20 years, Moroni does not provide any other direct chronological dates.

So one might ask, When did Moroni start to write the book of Ether and how long did it take? When did Moroni write what we consider the sealed portion of the plates that were handed over to Joseph Smith? When did Moroni write the Title Page? Or was it Mormon who wrote the Title Page in showing the “intent” of his writings to his son Moroni? And though we find a reference on the Title Page–“sealed up by the hand of Moroni,” and though Moroni has previously said that he intends to “write and hide up the records in the earth,” there is no confirmation that Moroni ever “hid” the records up prior to A.D. 421 (Moroni only notes that “I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord”–Mormon 8:14) nor is there any textual confirmation that Moroni ever “sealed up” Mormon and Moroni’s plates prior to A.D. 421. Nor can we even be sure that “sealing” is equated with “hiding up in the earth.” So when did Moroni deposit the plates in the stone box on the hill in New York close to where the home of Joseph Smith would come to be? Let us proceed.

The heading to the book of Ether reads: “The record of the Jaredites, taken from the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of king Mosiah.” However, this heading was not in the Printer’s Manuscript nor in any 19th century edition. This language appears to have been introduced by James E. Talmage first in 1920. However, the wording here agrees with the statement made on the Title Page:”An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also . . .” and the wording closely parallels that found in Ether 1:2. Here Moroni says,

“I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether. And I suppose that the first part of this record, which speaks concerning 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, is had among the Jews–Therefore 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. But behold, I give not the full account, but a part of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed.” (Ether 1:2-5)

Thus, our first assumption must be that Moroni was retranslating at least “part” of the 24 plates. Moroni would not have been able to read the 24 plates of Ether without divine help. Limhi, who apparently spoke the same Nephite language the Moroni spoke, could not read them. But Ammon declared that king Mosiah [or king Benjamin¹, who had “interpreters” could. Thus we find from Mosiah 28:10-17 that Mosiah₂ did indeed translate the 24 plates “by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.”

But having made this first assumption, there are a few items in the text which might lead one to reassess what we have assumed:

(1) Moroni states that he did not write “those things which transpired from the days of Adam until that time; but they are had upon the plates.” Since Moroni had just previously mentioned the 24 plates of Ether, it seems very likely that the phrase “the plates” refers to anything else. One might reason that if Moroni would have been referring to Mosiah’s translation he would necessarily had said, “the plates of Nephi.” Nevertheless, Moroni left the term unspecific.

(2) Moroni makes it only part way through his abridgment of the Book of Ether when he notes that he has already sealed up the interpreters (see Ether 4:5). One might ask, Could Moroni retranslate the remaining part of the 24 plates of Ether without the interpreters? Granted that Moroni notes in Ether 5:1 that he has “written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory” giving some students of the Book of Mormon the idea that Moroni might have written what he did from memory,(note***) but Moroni made this statement directly after discussing the vision of the brother of Jared and the Lord’s commandment to record that vision. Thus, the more logical assumption is that Moroni remembered the Lord’s commands to his best memory only what was to be written concerning the content of that vision, for that is the context of Ether 5:1.

(3) If Mosiah₂ spoke the same Nephite language as Moroni, why would Moroni retranslate a record which had already been translated by a previous prophet-king and record keeper?

(4) Mormon makes an editorial note in Mosiah 28:18-19 to the effect that “this account shall be written hereafter.” The term “this account” appears here to refer to Mosiah’s translation, for Mormon had just previously mentioned that “this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly” (Mosiah 28:18). Nevertheless, it is possible that the phrase “this account” may refer not to Mosiah’s translation but to the content of the 24 plates as described in Mosiah 28:17. Still, Mormon seems to have been very familiar with the contents of the 24 plates of Ether. We find evidence of this in Mormon’s knowledge of the Jaredite experience with secret combinations, for example (see Helaman 2 through 3 Nephi 7, and in 4 Nephi 1:42). If Mormon took his abridgment from the large plates of Nephi (W of M 1:9), it would appear that Mormon would have worked from Mosiah’s translation in the same manner in which he abridged other Nephite records. One may assume that Moroni would have done likewise, especially since his introductory words (Ether 1:1-5, 33) are so similar to Mosiah₂‘s statement in Mosiah 28:17.

Thus, a second assumption concerning the expression “I take my account from the twenty and four plates” might be that it is vague enough to allow Moroni to have worked from king Mosiah’s translation. Whether Mosiah’s inspired translation was detailed enough for Moroni to abridge is hard to say, however we do get clues from the text. Along those lines it is worthy to note that Mosiah and later Nephite leaders also tried to keep silent about the oaths, covenants, agreements, signs, and wonders found on these plates, so that Nephites would not “fall into darkness also and be destroyed” (Alma 37:27). Such concerns suggest that his translation was quite detailed.

Whether Moroni was retranslating the Book of Ether (from an unknown language to “reformed Egyptian”), or whether he was translating what Mosiah had written (from Hebrew to “reformed Egyptian–Mormon 9:32), it could conceivably have taken Moroni years to abridge “from the tower down until they were destroyed” (Ether 1:5). Moroni notes that he only wrote “the hundredth part” of what was contained in the Book of Ether (Ether 15:33). He would have had to painstakingly inscribe the text onto numerous metal plates which he would have had to either acquire or make. And in making his abridgment, he could not have proceeded little by little, he would have had to have understood the whole from the beginning in order to know what to leave in and what to take out so that his abridgment of Jaredite history would parallel aspects of Nephite history. He also would have needed to gain insight as to when he might insert comments relative to conditions among the people in the latter-days (see Ether 4, 5, 12) .

The time required for Moroni to write “upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw” (Ether 4:4), is an additional matter. The record of the brother of Jared could conceivably have been separate and distinct from the Book of Ether.² As mentioned previously, the content of this section of plates (or the sealed portion) has been estimated at double that of our present Book of Mormon.

Thus, Moroni’s book of Ether could easily have consumed a number of year’s worth of his effort.

Now one might ask, Can we tell from the text where Moroni buried the plates? During his abridgment of the Book of Ether, Moroni notes that he was commanded to “hide . . . up again in the earth” the record of the brother of Jared (and possibly the 24 plates of Ether) (see Ether 4:3). This tells us that these records had been buried in the earth before (see Mormon 6:6), no doubt prior to Moroni using them. Additionally, Moroni comments that he was to seal up the “very things which the brother of Jared saw” and also “the interpretation thereof.” He then notes that he had “sealed up the interpreters.” (Ether 4:5) Whether this “sealing up” the interpreters implies a sealing up the record, or whether sealing up the record implies “burying” the record is not detailed by Moroni. Nevertheless, some of the first words that we have from Moroni after completing his abridgment of the Book of Ether is that he “had supposed not to have written any more” (Moroni 1:4). Thus, one might be justified in theorizing that if Moroni “had supposed not to have written any more,” then he presumably had already buried his record in what he supposed was it’s final resting place, and that place was in the vicinity of where all the records were hid up in the hill Cumorah. If this were the sole criteria for choosing between a Mesoamerican setting or a New York setting, then New York might be considered,³ but there are multiple criteria and other possible scenarios.

One of the more logical scenarios has Moroni remaining in the vicinity of the hill Cumorah (in Mesoamerica) only until the abridgment of the Book of Ether was completed.⁴

Having reburied all the records in the hill except Mormon’s abridgment, the small plates of Nephi, and his own abridgment of the Book of Ether, and possibly having written the Title Page for the set of plates, Moroni then apparently considered his mission as the Lord’s scribe for his people complete and his life possibly in jeopardy (see Ether 12:38). Being careful not to make himself “known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy [him]” (Moroni 1:1), yet fortified with the knowledge and power of Christ (see Ether 12:39-41; Moroni 1:3), Moroni was in perfect position to “bid farewell” unto his brethren the Lamanites (see Ether 12:38) in Mesoamerica and embark on a great missionary journey to the lands northward. One might wonder to whom Moroni would have gone if all the Nephites had apparently been destroyed in the final battles at Cumorah. Didn’t Moroni declare himself “alone” (Mormon 8:3)? Yet the reader is informed in Moroni 1:2 that even after the time required for Moroni to finish his father’s writings and abridge the Book of Ether, there were still Nephites that would not deny the Christ and they were being put to death by the Lamanites. Thus the need for these believers to receive a confirming testimony and spiritual fortification from Moroni.

Within this scenario, it is easy to realize how and why Moroni chose to add the material of his own book. All the information recorded in his book of Moroni can be viewed as suitable for basic instruction and verification of basic principles and ordinances among isolated pockets of believers in Christ. Having to refer to material over and over that was not specifically recorded on the plates would have prompted Moroni to etch these onto the remaining space. Moroni could have conceivably taught every bit of this material either from memory (see Ether 12:32-33 as related to Moroni 2-6) or from a few manuscript pages which he might have carried with him (see Moroni 7, 8 & 9) without any trouble. Just when he did this during his journeys after leaving Cumorah in Mesoamerica would be a matter of conjecture. The important point to convey here is that under this scenario, Moroni could have ultimately ended up at the “hill Cumorah” in New York to ultimately “hide up” (Mormon 8:4) in a stone box both the plates which he “sealed up” and the breastplate with Interpreters (or Urim & Thummim) when “more than four hundred and twenty years [had] passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ” (Moroni 10:1).

According to Mormon folklore, Moroni wandered through North America. Numerous ancient Native American stories follow the same pattern in proclaiming the existence of a “prophet” who would come into a village by surprise, teach peace and love, and then leave (see Hansen, He Walked the Americas). This scenario would have fit Moroni very well. LDS Church history is also the source of a number of instances where Moroni is said to have dedicated temple sites.

Another scenario that I would like to inform the reader about is the idea that Moroni might have buried up his record, the breastplate and interpreters in the Mesoamerican Cumorah and traveled to New York without them, having turned them over to a guardian angel (Mormon?) for safe transport. Upon arrival, Moroni would have been met by the guardian angel who would have returned the records for burial. This manner of transporting the plates is not without precedence.⁵ A variation on this theory has Moroni transporting the records, breastplate & Interpreters after his death (thereby becoming the guardian angel himself).

In summary, the task of determining when and where Moroni was when he wrote all that he wrote and said all that he said is not easy or simple. Nevertheless, by listing all the criteria, one is better able to determine if a theory is plausible. Using these criteria, I will now propose a chronological and geographical setting for Moroni’s wanderings and writings:

Proposed Chronology and Geographical Setting for Moroni’s Writings.

3100- 2600 B.C.            Jared & His Brother Come Forth From the Tower

Ether 1:33                  Which Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered.

Ether 3:21                  And it came to pass that the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt not suffer these things which ye have seen and heard to go forth unto the world, until the time cometh that I shall glorify my name in the flesh; wherefore, ye shall treasure up the things which ye have seen and heard, and show it to no man.

Ether 3:22                  And behold, when ye shall come unto me, ye shall write them and shall seal them up, that no one can interpret them; for ye shall write them in a language that they cannot be read.

Ether 3:23                  And behold, these two stones will I give unto thee, and ye shall seal them up also with the things which ye shall write.

Ether 3:24                  For behold, the language which ye shall write I have confounded; wherefore I will cause in my own due time that these stones shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall write.

Ether 3:25                  And when the Lord had said these words, he showed unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth which had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them not from his sight, even unto the ends of the earth.

Ether 3:26                  For he had said unto him in times before, that if he would believe in him that he could show unto him all things–it should be show unto him; therefore the Lord could not withhold anything from him, for he knew that he the Lord could show him all things.

Ether 3:27                  And the Lord said unto him: Write these things and seal them up; and I will show them in mine own due time unto the children of men.

Ether 3:28                  And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that he should seal up the two stones which he had received, and show them not, until the Lord should show them unto the children of men.

Ether 4:1                        And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah [Benjamin] keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people. (see Mosiah 28:11)

2600-250 B.C.            [NO FURTHER MENTION OF THE BROTHER OF JARED’S RECORD IN THE BOOK OF ETHER⁶ ]

ABT 200 B.C.            MOSIAH₁ TRANSLATES ENGRAVINGS “BY THE GIFT AND POWER OF GOD” (INTERPRETERS?)

Omni 1:20                  And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with

                 engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.

Omni 1:21                  And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.

ABT 124 B.C.                  BENJAMIN HAS KNOWLEDGE OF PREEXISTENT CHRIST

Mosiah 3:1                  . . . for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that which is to come.

Mosiah 3:2                  And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me. . . .

Mosiah 3:5                  For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay . . .

Mosiah 6:4                  And Mosiah began to reign in his father’s stead. . . . about four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

Mosiah 6:5                  And king Benjamin lived three years and he died.

Mosiah 7:1                   . . . after king Mosiah had had continual peace for the space of three years, he was desirous to know concerning the people who went up to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for his people had heard nothing from them from the time they left the land of Zarahemla . . .

Mosiah 7:2                  And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted that sixteen of their strong men might go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi to inquire concerning their brethren.

ABT 122 B.C.                  BENJAMIN HAD “A GIFT FROM GOD” (INTERPRETERS?)

Mosiah 21:28                  And now Limhi was again filled with joy in learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah [Benjamin] had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.

Mosiah 22:14                  And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he also received their records, and also the records which had been found by the people of Limhi.

ABT 92 B.C.            MOSIAH₂ TRANSLATES THE PLATES OF GOLD FOUND BY THE PEOPLE OF LIMHI

Mosiah 28:11                  Therefore he took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which he had kept and preserved according to the commandments of God, after having translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi;

Mosiah 28:17                  Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.

Mosiah 28:18                  Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.

Mosiah 28:19                  And this account shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account.

Mosiah 28:20                  And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

Alma 37:27                  And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed.

Helaman 2–3 Ne 7            [Secret societies from ancient times]

A.D. 34                  SAYINGS OF JESUS (INCLUDING BROTHER OF JARED RECORD?) WRITTEN UPON PLATES OF NEPHI (SEE ETHER 4:1)

3 Nephi 16:4                  And I command you that ye shall write these sayings after I am gone, . . .

3 Nephi 23:4                  Therefore give heed to my words; write the things which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles.

3 Nephi 26:6-12                  And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. And these things have I written which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto the people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. . . . And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation. Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.

4 Nephi 1:42                  And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.

A.D. 367                  ALL THE NEPHITES ARE WICKED

Mormon 4:10                  And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty and sixth year had passed away, and the Lamanites came again upon the Nephites to battle; and yet the Nephites repented not of the evil they had done, but persisted in their wickedness continually.

Mormon 4:11                  And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually.

A.D. 385                  NEPHITES GATHER TO CUMORAH / MORMON HIDES UP PLATES (EXCEPT “THESE FEW”)

Mormon 6:5                  And when three hundred and eighty and four years had passed away, we had gathered in all the remainder of our people unto the land of Cumorah.

Mormon 6:6                  . . . I, Mormon began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.

A.D. 401                  MORONI BEGINS HIS WRITINGS (STILL NEAR CUMORAH)

Mormon 8:1                  Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.

Mormon 8:2                  And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.

Mormon 8:3                  And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.

Mormon 8:4            Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.

Mormon 8:5                  Behold, 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 . . . and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.

Mormon 8:6            Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior.

Mormon 8:7–9:37                  And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place, even until they are no more; and great has been their fall . . . Amen.

Mormon 8:14                  And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord . . .

Mormon 9:37                  . . . Amen

Ether 1:1                        And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face ofthis north country.

Ether 1:2                        And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether.

Ether 1:3                        And I suppose that the first part of this record, which speaks concerning 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, is had among the Jews–

Ether 1:4                        Therefore 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.

Ether 1:5                        But behold, I give not the full account, but a part of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed.

Ether 1:33                  Which Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered.

Ether 3:21                  And it came to pass that the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt not suffer these things which ye have seen and heard to go forth unto the world, until the time cometh that I shall glorify my name in the flesh; wherefore, ye shall treasure up the things which ye have seen and heard, and show it to no man.

Ether 3:22                  And behold, when ye shall come unto me, ye shall write them and shall seal them up, that no one can interpret them; for ye shall write them in a language that they cannot be read.

Ether 3:23                  And behold, these two stones will I give unto thee, and ye shall seal them up also with the things which ye shall write.

Ether 3:24                  For behold, the language which ye shall write I have confounded; wherefore I will cause in my own due time that these stones shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall write.

Ether 3:25                  And when the Lord had said these words, he showed unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth which had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them not from his sight, even unto the ends of the earth.

Ether 3:26                  For he had said unto him in times before, that if he would believe in him that he could show unto him all things–it should be show unto him; therefore the Lord could not withhold anything from him, for he knew that he the Lord could show him all things.

Ether 3:27                  And the Lord said unto him: Write these things and seal them up; and I will show them in mine won due time unto the children of men.

Ether 3:28                  And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that he should seal up the two stones which he had received, and show them not, until the Lord should show them unto the children of men.

Ether 4:1                        And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah[Benjamin] keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people.

Ether 4:2                        And after Christ truly had showed himself unto his people he commanded that they should be made manifest.

Ether 4:3                        And now, after that, they have all dwindled in unbelief; and there is none save it be the Lamanites, and they have rejected the gospel of Christ; therefore I am commanded that I should hide them up again in the earth.

Ether 4:4                        Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.

Ether 4:5                        Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.

Ether 4:6                        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.

Ether 4:7                        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, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.

Ether 4:19            . . . Amen.

Ether 5:1                        And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God.

Ether 5:6                  . . . Amen

Ether 12:24                  And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou has not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.

Ether 12:32                  And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope . . .

Ether 12:33                  And again, I remember that thou has said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world . . .

Ether 12:41            And now I would commend you to seek this Jesus. . . Amen

A.D. 401-421            MORONI FINISHES HIS ABRIDGMENT OF THE BOOK OF ETHER

Ether 13:1                  And now I, Moroni, proceed to finish my record concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing.

Ether 15:11                  And it came to pass that the army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah; and it was that same hill where my father Mormon did hide up the records unto the Lord, which were sacred.

Ether 15:33                  And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled; and he 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.

A.D. 401-421            MORONI LEAVES THE AREA OF CUMORAH (MESOAMERICA) TO TESTIFY OF CHRIST

Moroni 1:1                  Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.

Moroni 1:2                  For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.

Moroni 1:3            And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.

Moroni 1:4                  Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord.

Moroni 2,3,4,5,6            [Moroni’s teachings]

                 “The Words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples”

                 Chp. 2      (Concerning the bestowal of the Holy Ghost by the Nephite Twelve)

                 Chp. 3      (Concerning the ordination of priests and teachers)                  

                 Chp. 4      (Mode of administering the sacramental bread)

                 Chp. 5      (Mode of administering the sacramental wine)

                 Chp. 6      (Conditions and mode of baptism–Church discipline)

Moroni 7,8,9            [Moroni includes Mormon’s teachings & Epistles to Moroni] (Note* For a chronology of Mormon’s epistles, see the commentary on Moroni 8-9)

                 Chp. 7      Mormon’s teachings on faith, hope, charity.

                 Chp. 8      Mormon’s epistle to Moroni “soon after [his] calling to the ministry” on baptism of children

                 Chp. 9      Mormon’s epistle to Moroni [Atrocities committed by Lamanites and Nephites–Mormon’s

                             admonition to Moroni

Moroni 9:22                  I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their

                 utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.

Moroni 9:23            And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites . . .

Moroni 9:23            I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.

Moroni 9:26            Mormon says “Amen.”

Moroni 10:1                  Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know thatmore than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.

Moroni 10:2            And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.

Moroni 10:34            . . . Amen.

A.D. 421—>            MORONI SEALS UP THE RECORDS AND BURIES THE PLATES, BREASTPLATE, & INTERPRETERS IN THE NEW YORK “HILL CUMORAH”

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites–#1

     Alan C. Miner

                                         Moroni writes from “this north country” (1:1)

                                         Account taken from the 24 plates found by Limhi’s group (1:2)

                                         Moroni writes only a portion of total history on plates (1:4)

GREAT TOWER

Jared comes forth from the great tower (1:33) —————>

     Jared travels northward down into valley of Nimrod (2:1) —————>

           They travel into that quarter where “never had man been” (2:5) —————–>

                 They travel in the wilderness–across many waters (2:6) —————>

                       They stop at that “great sea which divideth the lands” (2:13) —–>

                                                           MORIANCUMR

                                                     They dwell at Moriancumr for 4 years (2:13)

                                                     The Lord appears to brother of Jared (2:14)

                                                     They construct barges (2:22)

                                                     Vision of the brother of Jared (3)

                                                     Driven 344 days across the ocean (6:11)

They land upon the PROMISED LAND (6:12)

LAND of MORON (Where the king dwells) (7:6)

ORIHAH becomes first king (6:27)

Orihah begets Kib (7:3)

KIB reigns (7:3)

Kib begets Corihor (7:3)

Corihor goes “over” to Nehor (7:4) ———>                              LAND of NEHOR

                                         <—————–      Corihor goes “up” to Moron (7:5)

Corihor takes Kib captive to Nehor (7:5) ———->

                                                     CORIHOR reigns from Nehor (7:7,9)

                                                     Kib begets Shule (7:7)

                                                     Shule defeats Corihor (7:9)

                                         <—————–      Kib restored to Kingship (7:9)

KIB reigns (7:9)

Kib bestows kingdom to Shule (7:10)

SHULE reigns over Moron + Nehor (7:10)

Shule gives Corihor some power (7:13) —————————–>                  Corihor “reigns” in Nehor (7:13)

                                                     Corihor begets Noah (7:14)

                                                     Noah rebels (7:15)

                                         <——————      Noah gives battle to Shule (7:16)

                                                     Noah obtains land of 1st Inheritance (Nehor)                                                      (7:16)

                                                     NOAH reigns over Nehor (7:16)

                                   <——————————      Noah gives battle again to Shule (7:17)

           <——————————– Shule taken captive into Moron (7:17)

Noah about to reign over Moron + Nehor (7:18)

Sons of Shule kill Noah (7:18)

SHULE restored to kingship over Moron (7:18)

                                                     COHOR rules in Nehor (7:20)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #1 (Miner–Continued)

SHULE restored to kingship over Moron (7:18)

                                                     COHOR rules in Nehor (7:20)

                                         <——————      Cohor gives battle to Shule (7:21)

Shule beats & slays Cohor (7:21)

                                                     Nimrod (Cohor’s son) gives up power in Nehor                                                      (7:22)

SHULE reigns over Moron + Nehor (7:22)

                                                     Shule gives Nimrod some power (7:22)

MORON #1 + NEHOR ARE UNITED = MORON #2

 (Reasoning: Nehor as a separate land is never mentioned after this)

LAND of MORON #2

SHULE reigns (7:22)

Shule begets Omer (8:1)

OMER reigns (8:1)

Omer begets Jared (8:1)

                                                     HETH

Jared rebels & “comes” to Heth (8:2) ———>

                                                     Jared flatters & gains half of kingdom (8:2)

                                   <——————————-      Jared gives battle to Omer (8:3)

Jared carries Omer into captivity (8:3) ————————————–>

                                                     JARED reigns over Heth + Moron #2

                                                     Omer begets Esrom & Coriantum (8:4)

                                                     They battle Jared (8:5)

                                                     Jared gives up power (8:6)

OMER reigns (over just Moron #2?) <———————

                                                     Jared plots with Akish (8:11-18)

Akish overthrows Omer (9:1) <—————————————————————————-

Omer “comes over” to Ablom (9:3) ————————————>      ABLOM

JARED annointed king over Moron #2 & Heth <——————————————————————-

Akish kills Jared (9:5)

AKISH reigns (9:6)

Akish imprisons & kills one son (9:7)

Akish’s son (Nimrah) flees to be with Omer in Ablom (9:9) ——–>      ABLOM

Civil War (9:12)

30 remain (of royal house?) (9:12)

                 <———————————————      Omer restored to power (9:13)

OMER reigns (9:12)

Omer begets Emer (9:14)

EMER reigns (9:14)

Emer begets Coriantum (9:21)

CORIANTUM reigns (9:21)

Corianatum begets Com (9:25)

COM reigns (9:25)

Com begets Heth (9:25)

People had spread AGAIN over all the face of the land (9:26)

MORON #2 + HETH + ABLOM = MORON #3

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #1 (Miner–Continued)

LAND of MORON #3

Heth kills Com (9:27)

HETH reigns (9:27)

NO RAIN (9:30)

Flocks Flee to Land Southward (9:31) —————————–>

People Follow (9:33) —————————–>

                                   Narrow neck? (Alma 22:31-32)

                                   Serpents hedge up the way (9:33)

“North countries” = LAND OF MORON #3 (9:35)

North countries become fruitful (9:35)

LAND of MORON #3

People (return to ?) settle in north countries

Heth perishes in the famine (10:1)

SHEZ reigns (10:1)

The people began to spread over all the face of the land (10:4)

Shez begets Riplakish (10:4)

RIPLAKISH reigns (10:4)

People rebel (10:8)

Family of Riplakish driven out (10:8) ————->       ?

                       <—————–      Morianton (descendant of Riplakish) “went” forth to battle (10:9) (outlying cities?)

Morianton gains some power (10:9)

Morianton becomes king over all (10:13)

MORIANTON reigns (10:13)

Morianton begets Kim 10:13)

KIM reigns (10:13)

Brother puts Kim in prison (10:14)

BROTHER OF KIM reigns (10:14)

Kim begets Levi (10:14)

Levi battles the king (10:15)

LEVI reigns (10:15)

Levi begets Corom (10:16)

COROM reigns (10:16)

Corom begets Kish (10:17)

KISH reigns (10:17)

Kish begets Lib (10:17)

LIB reigns (10:17)

Poisonous serpents destroyed (10:19)

City of “Lib” built where the sea divides the land (10:20) (what land? Jaredite land?)

Lib begets Hearthom (10:29)

HEARTHOM reigns (10:30)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #1 (Miner–Continued)

HEARTHOM reigns (10:30)

Kingdom overthrown———– (10:30      Hearthom lives in Captivity

                             Hearthom begets Heth (10:31)

                             Heth begets Aaron (10:31)

                             Aaron begets Amnigaddah (10:31)

                             Amnigaddah begets Coriantum (10:31)

                             Coriantum begets Com (10:31)

AMGID is king (10:32) (where does he have his throne?)

                                                 COM obtains 1\2 kingdom(?)

                            <—————–      Com defeats Amgid (10:32)

COM reigns over all (10:32) (from where?)

Com begets Shiblom (11:4)

SHIBLOM reigns (11:4)

Brother of Shiblom rebels & starts war (11:4)

Shiblom slain (11:4)

Seth (Shiblom’s son) brought into captivity (11:9)

Ahah (Shiblom’s son) obtains kingdom (11:10)

AHAH reigns (11:10)

ETHEM (Ahah’s descendant) reigns (11:11)

Ethem begets Moron (11:14)

MORON reigns (11:14)

                 <——————      Mighty man overthrows Moron & gains 1\2 of kingdom (11:15)

Moron regains all of kingdom (11:15)

LAND of MORON #4

MORON reigns (11:15)

                 <—————–      Mighty man (Desc. of Bro. of Jared) overthrows Moron (10:17-18)

           MIGHTY MAN reigns (from where?)

                  (Captivity)

                 Moron begets Coriantor (11:18)

                 Coriantor begets Ether (11:23)

CORIANTUMR reigns (from where? during the days of Ether) (12:1)

     1st Year: (13:18)

Many people slain (13:18)

     2nd Year:

Ether prophesies to Coriantumr (13:20)

(All to be slain except him if no repentance)

People seek Ether’s life (13:22)

Ether flees to cave (13:22) —————>      Cave

Shared gives battle to Coriantumr (13:23)

     3rd Year:

Shared brings Coriantumr into captivity (13:23)

SHARED reigns (13:23)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #1 (Miner–Continued)

SHARED reigns (13:23)

     4th Year:

Sons of Coriantumr beat Shared (13:24)

Corianatumr reigns (13:24)

     Battle in Valley of Gilgal

     Coriantumr beats Shared (13:28)

     Coriantumr pursues Shared (13:28) ————–>       Plains of Heshlon

                                   Shared beats Coriantumr (13:29)

                       <—————–      Shared drives Coriantumr (13:29)

     Coriantumr slays Shared (13:30)

     Coriantumr wounded (13:31)

     5th Year:

No battles (13:31)

     6th Year:

No battles (13:31)

     7th Year:

Coriantumr beats Brother of Shared (14:3)

Coriantumr pursues him (14:3) —————->            wilderness of Akish

                                   Coriantumr lays siege (14:5)

                 <——————-      Brother of Shared escapes (14:5)

Brother of Shared places himself on throne (Where?) (14:6)

                             Coriantumr dwells in wilderness (14:7)

     8th Year:

Brother of Shared (Gilead) murdered by Lib       Coriantumr dwells in wilderness (14:7)

LIB reigns

     9th Year:

                 <—————–      Coriantumr fights with Lib (14:11)

Lib flees (14:11)——————————————————————->      Borders upon the Seashore

                                         Lib battles Coriantumr (14:13)

                 wilderness of Akish <———Coriantumr flees (14:14)

                             <———-Lib pursues Coriantumr

                                   Coriantumr flees “had come” (14:15-16)——————->      Plains of Agosh

                                   Lib did come against him (14:16) ——————–>

                                                                 Coriantumr kills Lib                                          (14:16)

                                                                 Brother of Lib (Shiz)                                          fights Coriantumr (14:16)

                                         < ———————-      Coriantumr flees (14:16)

                                         <—————      Shiz pursues him (14:17)

TOTAL WAR (14:19-20)

UNKNOWN LOCATION ?

Shiz pursues Coriantumr “eastward” (14:26)—–>      Borders of the Seashore

                                   Shiz battles Coriantumr (14:26)

     Land of Corihor                  <———-      Shiz flees to Corihor (14:27)

     Shiz camps in Valley of Corihor (14:28)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #1 (Miner–Continued)

Land of Corihor                  <———-      Shiz flees to Corihor (14:27)

     Shiz camps in Valley of Corihor (14:28)

                       Valley of Shurr

                       Coriantumr camps in Valley of Shurr (14:28)

                                     <—–Coriantumr gathers people to hill Comnor (14:28)

     Shiz “comes” forth to battle (14:29)—–>

           Shiz smites Coriantumr (14:30)

           Wounded Coriantumr carried away (14:30) –>      

           <—-Shiz returns to camp (14:31)

                       Coriantumr recovers–writes to Shiz desiring peace (15:1-4)

     Shiz desires Coriantumr’s death (15:5)

     Shiz gives battle to Corianatumr (15:6)—–>

                 Coriantumr flees (15:7)—————>      Waters of Ripliancum

                                         Coriantumr pitches tents (15:8)

                 Shiz pursues—–>                  Shiz pitches tents (15:8)

                                         Coriantumr beats Shiz (15:9–10)

Ogath                  <———————–      Coriantumr pursuees Shiz “southward” (15:10)

Shiz pitches tents (15:10)

           Ramah

           Coriantumr pitches tents (15:11)

     10th, 11th, 12th, 13th Year:

All people gathered for four years, except Ether (15:12)

     Coriantumr and Shiz battle for 2 days (15:15-17)

     Coriantumr offers Shiz the kingdom for the lives of his people (15:18)

     The people are hardened (15:19)

     The people battle for five days (15:20-26)

     Coriantumr is wounded and flees (15:17-18)————————>

     Shiz pursues and catches Coriantumr on day six (15:29)——->

                                 Coriantumr kills Shiz (15:30-31)

                       Coriantumr falls to the earth (15:32)

                 Cave

                 Ether goes forth and beholds the scene (15:33)

                 Ether finishes his record (15:33)

                 Ether hides the records in a manner that the people of Limhi did find “them” (15:33)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites–#2

     Bruce W. Warren

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     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #2 (Warren–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #2 (Warren–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #2 (Warren–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites–#3

     Randall Spackman

[Note: These chronologies have been saved as JPEG images]

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites–#4

     Robert F. Smith

[Note: These chronologies have been saved as JPEG images]

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #4 (Smith–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #4 (Smith–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #4 (Smith–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites–#5

     John L. Sorenson

[Note: These chronologies have been saved as JPEG images]

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #5 (Sorenson–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #5 (Sorenson–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #5 (Sorenson–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #5 (Sorenson–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology of the Jaredites #5 (Sorenson–Continued)

     Proposed Chronology Of The Jaredites–#8

     John W. Welch

[Note* These chronologies have been saved as JPEG images]