President oaks and fellow students, i am honored by the invitation to be here today. Shreve observes a recent embrace of the book by literature scholars, and predicts that the book of mormon will continue to find positive academic exposure in courses on american literature. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormon s son, moroni. The reason the book of mormon runs in chronological order is because this dude mormon made an abridged record of the history and teachings of his people. How can the book of mormon be abridged and trusted. Oct 18, 20 the book of mormon is a book of ancient scripture written by dozens of prophets in the americas over the course of hundreds of years and then compiled and condensed by a man named mormon during the 4th century a. Both volumes of scripture are a compilation of teachings as recorded by ancient prophets. However, ideas of archival science and provenance are recent developments in the western world, unknown to biblical authors or to anyone at joseph.
What was it like to be there as mormon abridged the records of over a thousand years of history. The book of mosiah and the five books that followalma, helaman, 3 nephi, 4 nephi, and mormonwere all abridged or condensed by mormon from the large plates of nephi, and these abridged versions were written by mormon on the plates that bear his name, the plates of mormon. The first six books of the book of mormon, from first nephi to omni are said to be a translation of the small plates of nephi. Why is the book of mormon named after mormon, who is he. Jun 09, 2016 what was it like to be there as mormon abridged the records of over a thousand years of history. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon. If you knew that the bible, the word of god was abridged by a man, edited and shortened, would you trust it to be truly godbreathed. However, in other portions of the book of mormon where this sort of biblical lineage record might be expected, it likewise does not occur mormon, for example, simply notes that he was a descendant of nephi and my fathers name was mormon mormon 1. His doctrinal teachings are some of the most valuable in the book of mormon, clarifying the purpose of the law of moses, identifying who the redeemer would be, and declaring some facts about the resurrection not previously mentioned in the book of mormon. While the bible details events in the eastern hemisphere, the book of mormon documents the lives of the inhabitants of the ancient americas. It is an abridgment by an ancient prophet named mormon of the records of ancient inhabitants of the americas.
Unfortunately mormon died before it was totally complete, so his son moroni the gold dude on the top of mormon temples finished it. One passage says that the book of mormon shall establish the truth of the bible and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the lamb of god is the son of the eternal father, and the savior of the world. Moroni later abridged the translated plates and, together with his commentary, included them in his record, thus producing the final form of the book of ether. The title of this volume of the book of mormon commentary serieswould more appropriately be called the records of helaman,since there are the two helamans whose records were abridged bymormon. Palmyra, known as swifts landing and tolland before being renamed palmyra, 1796. The reader has to wait with growing tension almost until the. The book of mormon is fraught with other errors as well. One of the four volumes of scripture accepted by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
For example, benjamin was changed to mosiah when mormon leaders realized that in the chronology of the book of mormon king benjamin had already died thus he would have been hard pressed to interpret the engravings mentioned in. First, he is seen as the son of the father, the only begotten of the father, anda point not made clear in the biblethe organizer and creator of the earth which rejoiced at least in the americas with radiant light at his mortal birth and was. The book of mormon abridged for reddit ploni almoni. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon for young readers presents key scripture stories in an abridged, creative, and engaging format designed to make it easy for children to understand and love the scriptures. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormons son, moroni. Young readers ages 712 can enjoy the scriptures on their own and establish a habit of personal scripture study, which will strengthen their faith and. Why are so few women mentioned in the book of mormon. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith. The book of mormon has not been universally considered by its critics as one of those books that must be read in order to have an opinion of it. Many ancient documents such as king benjamins speech or the plates of brass were quoted or abridged by the ancient authors who compiled the books found on the small and large plates of nephi. Moroni knew that the record he was keeping would help many people of the future find the truth of the gospel of jesus christ. And in 2000, the church achieved a milestone, bringing the total number of translations of the book of mormon to 100, including english.
Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. Mormons believe the following about the book of mormon. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on.
Jun 25, 2019 the book of mormon is set up as follows. What emerges, then, from mormons abridgmentthe book of mormonof the lord jesus christ. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and. In 1851 the book of mormon was translated into danish, its first translation to a nonenglish language. Americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. May 26, 2016 if you knew that the bible, the word of god was abridged by a man, edited and shortened, would you trust it to be truly godbreathed. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Smith claimed to have received a revelation from god who told him the truth about jesus. A comparison of book of mormon, bible, and traditional.
The crowning event recorded in the book of mormon is the personal ministry of the lord jesus christ among the nephites soon after his resurrection. I have spoken with a lawyer who would represent me if need be they said that what is ed is the topical guide references, the chapter headings summary of each chapter and the full name book of mormon which is why my app will be called the book that. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Oct 20, 2016 mormon was the primary author, editor, and compiler of the book of mormon.
It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon central. The title page to the book of mormon announces the book to be the result of the spirit of prophecy and of revelationwritten by way of commandment. Jun 06, 2019 with admirable skill, mormon and moroni drew from these various historical records to create the final textthe abridged version of nephite and jaredite history as we know it. Book of mormon central archive the book of mormon abridged anew. Jun 11, 2009 the book of mormon is fraught with other errors as well. Book of mormon, 1830, page iii the joseph smith papers. Their records and the records of around one thousand years of history were abridged by mormon, one of the last prophets of the book of mormon, from whom the volume of scripture gets its name. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Moroni wrote chapters eight and nine of the book of mormon, the book of moroni, the title page, and also abridged the records of the jaredites into the book of ether. Mormon did not abridge the small plates of nephi but he did include them in the records he gave to his son moroni words of mormon 1. While not directly explaining the title page of the book of mormon, rust nevertheless uses it as a prompt to discuss other topics. For example, benjamin was changed to mosiah when mormon leaders realized that in the chronology of the book of mormon, king benjamin had already diedthus he would have been hard pressed to interpret the engravings mentioned in mosiah 21. If you need a real world comparison, you could imag.
The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. And in 2000, the church achieved a milestone, bringing the total number of translations of. One element of the book of mormon that is troubling to some modern readers is that it rarely mentions women. The book of mormon was first published in english in new york in 1830.
According to the book of mormon, the plates of nephi, consisting of the large plates of nephi and the small plates of nephi, are a portion of the collection of inscribed metal plates which make up the record of the nephites. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon after an angel revealed to him the location. Smith and joseph smith 2006, hardcover, abridged at the best online prices at ebay. The remainder of the book of mormon is written in thirdperson historical narrative, said to be compiled and abridged by mormon with moroni abridging the book of ether and writing the latter part of mormon and the book of moroni. Aint nobody got time for that when asked by the new york times to name a book that people might be surprised to discover on his bookshelf, the illustrious physicist and mathematician freeman dyson responded, the book of mormon. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. Rust, richard dilworth, the book of mormon, designed for our day. The nephites cared deeply about their records, and mormon documented a thorough chain of custody for the plates he edited. The people of limhi later found these plates while searching for the city of zarahemla, and king mosiah translated them around 120 b.
How is the book of mormon, the word of god, if it was. It was translated and produced by joseph smith who founded the church in 1830. Mormon was the primary author, editor, and compiler of the book of mormon. Book of mormon prophets emphatically rejected the notion of infallible scripture. From the hill shem, by commandment, mormon carefully constructed the gold plates which would. It was written to testify that jesus is the christ. With admirable skill, mormon and moroni drew from these various historical records to create the final textthe abridged version of nephite and jaredite history as we know it. Apr 10, 2012 the reason the book of mormon runs in chronological order is because this dude mormon made an abridged record of the history and teachings of his people. The book of mormons warning about the nsa huffpost. Explain that after mormon abridged the large plates of nephi, he found the small plates of nephi and included them in his record words of mormon 1. Only six women are mentioned by name,1 and there are just over 150 passages that explicitly reference women. If the lord will give me utterance and grant his spirit to help me and all of us, in the spirit of brother hickmans prayer, i would like to address a few words to you about the christ of the book of mormon. The book tells a dramatic story in fine biblical style. Preface to book of mormon, circa august 1829, page iii.
In 1070 there was a civil war in the time of com mentioned in the book of mormon. Dec 19, 2017 one element of the book of mormon that is troubling to some modern readers is that it rarely mentions women. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. Each reads very much like the bible in type and breadth of thematic concerns and literary forms history, law, psalm. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi is a sacred text of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. The nephite prophet abinadi holds a singular place in the book of mormon. Olmec archaeological finds have discovered a city near san lorenzo beginning at the same time with the same social organization and the makings of monuments that coincide with the account in the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the. In it, mormon, who abridged the record, states that if there are faults they are the mistakes of men.
Jan 29, 2018 these citations from prominent non mormon voices concerning the book of mormon, and others like them which could be multiplied, may, however, mislead an unsuspecting reader into believing that the book is worthy of any sort of genuine scrutiny or god forbid fair, evenhanded analysis free of prejudice or ideological partiality. Mormon abridged this record in his plates, and joseph smith translated it, but since it was lost by martin harris, very little is now known about it except what can be inferred from references in other texts brown, pp. For example, benjamin was changed to mosiah when mormon leaders realized that in the chronology of the book of mormon king benjamin had already died thus he would have been hard pressed to interpret the engravings mentioned in mosiah 21. While not directly explaining the title page of the book of mormon, rust nevertheless uses. The prophet mormon, who is a prophet for the nephite people has been given the responsibility to keep and record his peoples religioushistorical record. The people described in this book came from jerusalem in 600 b. Underlined type indicates the person was a historian or record keeper. The book of mormon abridged anew book of mormon central. The book of mormon is a book of ancient scripture written by dozens of prophets in the americas over the course of hundreds of years and then compiled and condensed by a man named mormon during the 4th century a. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. For example, bold italic indicates an individual was both a religious and secular leader. The first six books of the book of mormon, from 1 nephi through omni, are a translation of these small plates. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophethistorian named mormon. This paper looks at the book of mormon through the lens of library science and the concept of archival provenance.
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