The structure of the Book of Mormon is simple. It is a composite record of sacred writings from ancient American prophets.
But before we explore the record Apparently the Jews considered God would do this, because when the revelation came to take the gospel to all the world, this came as a stunning blow to some during that time.
But the Lord loves all His children – equally. Why then would He not share the gospel of Jesus Christ equally? The Book of Mormon illustrates this love beautifully. Within its pages we see that the Lord does indeed love His children, regardless of what continent they reside upon. Just as the Lord wanted those in the Old World to understand His teachings and precepts, He wanted those in the Americas to benefit also, as all through the world.
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Indeed, is anything too hard for the Lord? Can He not speak equally as well with one people as with another? Why would He only teach some of His children? The Book of Mormon shows that He desires ALL to come unto Him – all. It is a companion volume to the Bible as a witness that God loves us and wants us home.
So within the Book of Mormon we have several ancient records abridged into one, by the ancient prophet-historian Mormon. He took the following records listed below and excerpted from them the most important pieces, transcribing them onto golden plates. Why golden plates? Because this particular kind of metal has been shown to stand the test of time.
What excerpts of records did Mormon select? From “A Brief Explanation About the Book of Mormon”, contained in the front matter at the beginning of the Book of Mormon, we read Mormon chose for inclusion portions from:
* The Plates of Nephi
* The Plates of Mormon
* The Plates of Ether
* The Plates of Brass
In fact, the Book of Mormon includes fifteen main divisions from these four sets of plates. And when Mormon finished his laborious work transcribing these records, he then gave his work to his son Moroni. Soon after, Moroni saw his father with the rest of their people, destroyed by another civilization. Both he and his father knew that had his people turned to Christ, they could have been redeemed. (One of the main urgent messages in the Book of Mormon is that salvation can only be found through the Lord Himself.)
But Mormon and Moroni’s people had refused the Lord’s extended hand. And Moroni, one of the last few who refused to deny the Christ, wandered for years alone. Approximately in 421 A.D. we are told that Moroni sealed up his sacred record and buried it, trusting in the Lord that a future people would hold it sacred and value its teachings.
I pray that now that his and his father’s record has been placed in our hands, that we choose wisely what we do with it.
For more information and to read “A Brief Explanation About the Book of Mormon,” visit this link. To read from the Book of Mormon itself, visit here.
