The Book of Mormon

A Reader's Edition

Grant Hardy

• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Year: 2003
• Print ISBN: 9780252073410, 9780252027970
• eBook ISBN: 9780252093883
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Regarded as sacred scripture by millions, the Book of Mormon -- first published in 1830 -- is one of the most significant documents in American religious history. This new reader-friendly version reformats the complete, unchanged 1920 text in the manner of modern translations of the Bible, with paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multichapter headings, indention of quoted documents, italicized reworkings of biblical prophecies, and minimized verse numbers. It also features a hypothetical map based on internal references, an essay on Book of Mormon poetry, a full glossary of names, genealogical charts, a basic bibliography of Mormon and non-Mormon scholarship, a chronology of the translation, eyewitness accounts of the gold plates, and information regarding the lost 116 pages and significant changes in the text.

The Book of Mormon claims to be the product of three historical interactions: the writings of the original ancient American authors, the editing of the fourth-century prophet Mormon, and the translation of Joseph Smith. The editorial aids and footnotes in this edition integrate all three perspectives and provide readers with a clear guide through this complicated text. New readers will find the story accessible and intelligible; Mormons will gain fresh insights from familiar verses seen in a broader narrative context. This is the first time the Book of Mormon has been published with quotation marks, select variant readings, and the testimonies of women involved in the translation process. It is also the first return to a paragraphed format since versification was added in 1879.

Moimon₂’s Abridgment of the Large Plates of Nephi

Mosiah – Mormon 7

The Book of Mosiah^a

Benjamin Teaches His Sons

1 ¹ And now, there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to King Benjamin, so that King Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days. ²And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.

³And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the Plates of Brass, saying, “My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. ⁴For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians, therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time. ⁵I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things—which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes—that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.

⁶“O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the Plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes. ⁷And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may ‘prosper in the land,’^a according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.” ⁸And many more things did King Benjamin teach his sons, which are not written in this book.

Benjamin Confers the Kingdom upon Mosiah₂

⁹And it came to pass that after King Benjamin had made an end of teaching his sons, that he waxed old, and he saw that he must very soon go the way of all the earth; therefore, he thought it expedient that he should confer the kingdom upon one of his sons. ¹⁰Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying, “My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people (or the people of Zarahemla and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land), that thereby they may be gathered together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine own mouth, that thou art a king and a ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God hath given us.

¹¹“And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord. ¹²And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression.^b

¹³“Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this highly favored people of the Lord should fall into transgression, and become a wicked and an adulterous people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that thereby they become weak like unto their brethren; and he will no more preserve them by his matchless and marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our fathers. ¹⁴For I say unto you, that if he had not extended his arm in the preservation of our fathers, they must have fallen into the hands of the Lamanites, and become victims to their hatred.”

¹⁵And it came to pass that after King Benjamin had made an end of these sayings to his son, that he gave him charge concerning all the affairs of the kingdom. ¹⁶And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the Plates of Brass; and also the Plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball (or director), which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him—¹⁷Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven back,^a and incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and therefore they were smitten with famine^b and sore afflictions, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty.

¹⁸And now, it came to pass that Mosiah went and did as his father had commanded him, and proclaimed unto all the people who were in the land of Zarahemla that thereby they might gather themselves together, to go up to the temple to hear the words which his father should speak unto them.

King Benjamin’s Discourse: Mosiah 2:1–6:3

The People Gather at the Temple

2 ¹And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land; that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which King Benjamin should speak unto them. ²And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.

³And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses; ⁴and also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.

⁵And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another. ⁶And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which King Benjamin should speak unto them. ⁷For the multitude being so great that King Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.

⁸And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written^a and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.

Benjamin Recounts His Achievements

⁹And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying, “My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and

open your ears that ye may hear,

and your hearts that ye may understand,

and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.

¹⁰“I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye should fear me, or that ye should think that I of myself am more than a mortal man. ¹¹But I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen by this people, and consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand of the Lord that I should be a ruler and a king over this people; and have been kept and preserved by his matchless power, to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto me.

¹²“I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend my days in your service, even up to this time, and have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you; ¹³neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you—¹⁴And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.”

Serving God

¹⁵“Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day. ¹⁶Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• The Small Plates of Nephi
• Mormon2’s Explanatory Comments
• Mormon2’s Abridgment of the Large Plates of Nephi
• Moroni2’s Additions to his Father’s Records
• Appendixes
• Suggestions for Further Reading