Chapter I: Preface

The Book of Mormon is the record of God's dealings with the peoples of ancient America, from the age of the building of the Tower of Babel to four hundred and twenty-one years after the birth of Christ. It is the stick of Ephraim, spoken of by Ezekiel: the Bible of the western continent. Not that it supersedes the Bible or in any way interferes with it, any more than the history of Peru interferes with or supersedes the history of Greece; but, on the other hand, in many places it confirms Bible history, demonstrates Bible truths, sustains Bible doctrines, and fulfills Bible prophecy.

For many years we have taken great pleasure in perusing its sacred pages and studying its truths. The more we read it the more we found it contained. Like other inspired records, every time it was opened we discovered new and oft-times unexpected testimonies of its divinity. From reading it we turned to writing of it; and much that this volume contains has been penned at various intervals, from the days we were in prison for conscience sake, where portions were written, to the present. And now we present it to the reader with the feeling that the work is but commenced; that what remains unsaid is probably as important as what is given, but with the hope that what we have done will not prove ineffectual in spreading the truth, in increasing knowledge concerning God's dealings with mankind, and aiding in the development of the purposes of Jehovah. If this be accomplished we shall feel that great has been our reward.

This volume presents one unique feature, in that it is the first attempt made to illustrate the Book of Mormon; and we have pleasure in realizing that the leading illustrations are the work of home artists. To break fresh ground in such a direction is no light undertaking; the difficulties are numerous, none more so than the absence of information in the Book of Mormon of the dress and artificial surroundings of the peoples whose history it recounts. Each artist has given his own ideas of the scenes depicted, and as so much is left to the imagination, some readers will doubtless praise where others will blame; and the same effort will be the subject of the most conflicting criticism.

Not the least interesting feature of the book will, we believe, be found in the reproductions of portions of certain ancient Aztec historical charts. These have been the subjects of controversy for centuries past; many efforts have been made at their translation; but all such attempts have been ineffectual, and in many cases ludicrous. It required the publication of the Book of Mormon to turn on them the light of divine truth, when their intent at once became apparent. Others, we trust, in time will be discovered which will be added testimonies to its genuineness and divine authenticity, as well as to the sacred mission of the instrument in God's hands in bringing it forth--the youthful Prophet, Joseph Smith.

GEO. REYNOLDS

December, 1888.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

America the first inhabited of all Lands--Its Ancient Peoples--The
Garden of Eden--The Antediluvians--The Jaredites--The Nephites
and Lamanites 15

CHAPTER I.

Ancient Jerusalem--Lehi--His Vision--His Call to Preach to the
Jews--They Persecute Him--He is Commanded of God to take
his Family into the Wilderness--Their Departure--The Return
of his Sons to Jerusalem to obtain the Records. They are
ill-treated by Laban--His Death--Zoram Accompanies the Brothers
into the Wilderness 18

CHAPTER II.

The Rejoicing Over the Records--Nephi and his Brothers again
Return to Jerusalem--They Conduct Ishmael and his Family into
the Wilderness--Lehi's Dream--The Tree of Life--The Rod of
Iron--The Boturini Manuscript--Nephi's Vision 25

CHAPTER III.

Marriages in the Company--The Liahona--The Journey Continued--Nephi
Breaks his Bow--Death of Ishmael--They Reach the
Ocean--Nephi Builds a Ship--They Cross the Great Waters and
Reach the Promised Land 35

CHAPTER IV.

The Promised Land--Chili--Its Natural Productions--The Death of
Lehi--His Blessing on his posterity--Prophecies of his Ancestor
Joseph 44

CHAPTER V.

The Nephites and Lamanites Separate--The Nephites seek a New
Home--Nephi Chosen King--He Builds a Temple--Instructs his
People in the Arts of Peace--War with the Lamanites--The
Sword of Laban--Nephi's Death--Jacob, his Brother, Becomes
the Chief Priest--Jacob's Teachings on Marriage 47

CHAPTER VI.

The Condition of the Lamanites--Sherem, the First Anti-Christ--His
Recantation and Dreadful End 50

CHAPTER VII.

Enos, the Son of Jacob--The Nephites and Lamanites of his Day--His
Testimony and Prophecies 53

CHAPTER VIII.

Jarom--Omni--Amaron--Chemish--Abinadom--Amaleki--Mosiah--Review
of Nephite History for Four Hundred Years 55

CHAPTER IX.

Causes that Led to the Migration from the Land of Nephi--The
People of Zarahemla--Mulek and his Colony--The Fusion of the
Two Nations--Mosiah made King--His Happy Reign 59

CHAPTER X.

The Reign of King Benjamin--The Progress of his People--His
Last Great Speech--He Establishes the Church of Christ--All
the People Covenant with God--Mosiah II. Anointed King 64

CHAPTER XI.

Zeniff Returns to the Land of Nephi--His Treaty with the
Lamanites--The Prosperity of the People of Zeniff--The Treaty
Broken--War--Peace and Wars Again--The Death of Zeniff--Noah's
Wicked Reign--His Wars with the Lamanites--The Prophet
Abinadi--His Terrible Message of God's Wrath--He is
Martyred--Alma--He Pleads for Abinadi--Is Cast Out--Flees to
the Place of Mormon 69

CHAPTER XII.

The Waters of Mormon--Alma, Helam and Others Baptised Therein--The
Church Organized--The King Warned--He Sends Troops--Alma
and his People Flee to the Land of Helam--They Build a City 77

CHAPTER XIII.

King Noah's Subjects Rebel--Gideon--The Lamanites Invade
Lehi-Nephi--The Nephites Retreat--A Part Surrender--The New
Terms of Peace--Noah is Burned to Death--Limhi made
King--Noah's Priests Escape--They seize some Lamanite
Maidens--Another War--The Nephites Victorious--The King of the
Lamanites wounded--Mutual Explanations 80

CHAPTER XIV.

The Bondage of the People of Limhi--An Expedition North--Finding
of the Jaredite Records--The Arrival of Ammon--The
People of Limhi Escape--The Pursuit--The Amulonites--The
People of Alma--They are Brought into Bondage--Their
Deliverance 84

CHAPTER XV.

Mosiah's Good Reign--The Circumstances of his Advent--He Assembles
the People--The Baptism of Limhi--Churches Organized Throughout
the Land 89

CHAPTER XVI.

The Unbelief of the Youth of Zarahemla--The Younger Alma and
the Sons of Mosiah--They Encourage the Persecutions Against
the Church--They are Met by an Angel--His Message--Alma's
Awful Condition--His Vision and Testimony--The Changed Life
of the Young Men 92

CHAPTER XVII.

The Growth of the People in Zarahemla--They Build Many
Cities--Mosiah's Sons Desire to Take a Mission to the
Lamanites--Mosiah Inquires of the Lord--The Divine Answer 96

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mosiah's Sons Refuse the Kingdom--He Grants the People a
Constitution--The People to Elect their Rulers--Alma, the
Younger, First Chief Judge 98

CHAPTER XIX.

The Mission of the Sons of Mosiah to the Lamanites--Their Journey
in the Wilderness--Ammon Brought before King Lamoni--The
Conflict at the Waters of Sebus--The Miraculous Conversion
of Lamoni and his Family--Abish the Waiting Woman 100

CHAPTER XX.

Ammon and Lamoni Start for the Land of Middoni--They Meet the
Old King--His Rage at Seeing Ammon--He Endeavors to Kill
his Son--Aaron and his Brethren Liberated--A Sketch of their
Labors and Sufferings--The Conversion of Lamoni's Father and
his Household 106

CHAPTER XXI.

The King Issues a Proclamation--The Results of the Labors of the
Sons of Mosiah--The People of Anti-Nephi-Lehi--They Bury
their Weapons of War--Are Massacred by the Thousand--They
Remove to the Territory of the Nephites, who give them the
Land of Jershon 110

CHAPTER XXII.

Review of the Mission of the Sons of Mosiah--Its Importance and
Great Length--Its Results to Both Races--The Dates of its
Leading Occurrences 114

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Days of the Judges--Their Names and Reigns--The Heresy of
Nehor--He Slays Gideon and is Executed--Amlici's Rebellion--The
Battle of Amnihu--The Conflict at the Crossing of the Sidon--A
Third Battle 117

CHAPTER XXIV.

Alma Resigns the Chief Judgeship--Nephihah Chosen--Alma Ministers
in Zarahemla, Gideon, Melek and Ammonihah--Condition of
the Last Named City--It Rejects the Message Alma Bears--An
Angel Meets Him--Amulek--The Lawyer Zeezrom--The Great
Controversy--Zeezrom Converted and Cast Out--The Martyrdom
of the Believers--Alma and Amulek in Prison--Their Deliverance 124

CHAPTER XXV.

Zeezrom Sick with Fever--His Miraculous Recovery--The Destruction
of Ammonihah--The Invasion of the Land of Noah--Zoram,
the Nephite Commander, Seeks the Mind of the Lord--It is
Given--Its Results--The War Ended--Alma's Ministrations 131

CHAPTER XXVI.

Korihor, the Anti-Christ--His False Teachings and Blasphemy--He
is Taken before Alma--Is Struck Dumb--His Miserable End--The
Heresy Rooted Out 135

CHAPTER XXVII.

Zoram and the Zoramites--Their Peculiar Heresy--The Land of
Antionum--The Rameumptom--Alma's Mission to these People--Those
Who Receive His Teachings Persecuted--They Flee to Jershon 139

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Another War--Moroni the Leader of the Nephites--The Tactics of
the Lamanites--Zerahemnah--The Battle at Riplah--Defeat of the
Lamanites 144

CHAPTER XXIX.

Alma's Charge to His Sons--He Transfers the Records to Helaman--He
Leaves This World--Zeezrom's Latter Days--Helaman's
Ministrations 147

CHAPTER XXX.

Amalickiah--His Apostasy and Treason--Moroni's Title of Liberty--The
Nephites Respond to His Call--Lehonti--He is Poisoned by
Amalickiah--The King of the Lamanites Treacherously
Slain--Amalickiah Marries the Queen and is Proclaimed
King--A Disastrous Lamanite Raid 149

CHAPTER XXXI.

A Few Years of Peace--Teancum--The Contention Between Lehi and
Morianton--Amalickiah's Terrible Invasion--His Success--He is
Stopped at Bountiful by Teancum--Teancum Slays
Amalickiah--Ammoron Made King of the Lamanites 156

CHAPTER XXXII.

Jacob the Zoramite--His Characteristics--The Strategy by Which
Mulek Was Taken--The Fierce Battle between Jacob and the
Nephite Forces--Jacob's Death 159

CHAPTER XXXIII.

The War in the South-west--Antipus--Helaman and His Two Thousand
Sons--Their Valor and Faith--The Repulse of the Lamanites 162

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Relief of Manti--The Overthrow of the Kingmen--Pachus
Slain--The Struggle at Moroni--Teancum Slays Ammoron, but at
the Cost of His Own Life--Teancum's Noble Character 167

CHAPTER XXXV.

Peace Once More--The Results of the War--The Labors of
Helaman--Shiblon Receives the Records--Hagoth, the
Ship-builder--Another War--Moronihah--Pahoran's
Death--Contention Regarding the Chief Judgeship--Paanchi's
Rebellion--The Gadianton Bands--Assassination of Pahoran
II.--Another Lamanite Invasion 171

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Pacumeni Slain--Helaman Chosen Chief Judge--The Conspiracy to
Slay Him--Kishkumen Killed--The Prosperity of the Nephites
under Helaman 175

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Sons of Helaman--Nephi's Righteous Rule--The Lamanites
Again Invade Zarahemla--They Drive the Nephites into the
Northern Continent--The Ministrations of Nephi and Lehi--The
Manifestations of God's Power in the City of
Nephi--Aminadab--The Conversion of the Lamanites--Universal
Peace 177

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Growth of Evil amongst the Nephites--The Increase of the Gadianton
Robbers--Nephi's Announcement of the Murder of the Chief
Judge--The Discovery--Nephi Arrested--He is Proven
Innocent--God's Covenant with Him--Increase of Iniquity--A
Terrible Famine--The Welcome Rain--The Trend to Death 184

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Samuel, the Lamanite--His Mission and Prophecies--The Vain Attempt
to Destroy Him--He Returns to His Own Country 189

CHAPTER XL.

Nephi Translated--His Son Nephi--Time of the Savior's Coming--The
Conspiracy to Slay the Believers--The Revelation to Nephi--The
Promised Signs Appear--Increase of the Gadianton
Robbers--War--Lachoneus Gathers all the People to One Land--The
End of the Struggle 193

CHAPTER XLI.

The Last Chief Judge Murdered and the Republic Overthrown--The
Signs of the Savior's Death Appear--A Terrible Storm--The
Universal Darkness--The Unparalleled Destruction--The Terror
of those Hours 197

CHAPTER XLII.

The Voice from Heaven--The Savior Testifies of Himself--Silence
Throughout the Land--How oft would Christ have Gathered
His People--The Darkness Departs 202

CHAPTER XLIII.

Christ Appears in the Land Bountiful--The Testimony of the
Father--Jesus Calls Twelve Disciples--His Teachings to Them
and to the Multitude 205

CHAPTER XLIV.

The Fulfillment of the Mosaic Law--"Other Sheep Have I"--The
Ten Tribes--The Events of the Latter Days 208

CHAPTER XLV.

The Savior Heals the Sick--He Blesses the Children of the
Nephites--Angels Minister unto them 210

CHAPTER XLVI.

The Sacrament Administered--The Savior's Teachings Regarding
it--He Confers on His Disciples the Power to Give the Holy
Ghost--He Ascends into Heaven 213

CHAPTER XLVII.

Jesus Returns and Renews His Teachings--He Administers the
Sacrament--He Explains the Teachings of the Prophets--The Words
of Malachi 216

CHAPTER XLVIII.

The Savior Continues His Ministrations--He Raises a Man from the
Dead--The Labors of the Twelve--The Name of the Church--The
Three who should Remain 220

CHAPTER XLIX.

The Long Continued Era of Peace and Righteousness--Death of
Nephi--His Son Amos--Amos the Second 223

CHAPTER L.

The Commencement of the Apostasy--It Grows in Intensity--The
Persecution of the Disciples--Lamanites Again--Re-appearance
of the Gadianton Bands--War--Ammaron Hides the Records 226

CHAPTER LI.

The Last Long Series of Wars--Mormon--The Final Conflict at
Cumorah--The Last of the Nephites 229

CHAPTER LII.

The Historians of the Nephites--The Plates of Nephi--List of
their Custodians--Their Lengthened Years 232

CHAPTER LIII.

The Women of the Book of Mormon--Their Condition and
Position--Abish--Isabel--Marriage--Amulek--Moroni's Title of
Liberty--The Mothers of the Ammonites--Two Extremes 237

CHAPTER LIV.

Domestic Life Among the Nephites--Household Duties--Dress--
Ornaments--Homes--Food--Manufactures--Transportation 241

CHAPTER LV.

Agriculture Among the Nephites--Grains--Stock Raising--Irrigation 247

CHAPTER LVI.

Science and Literature Among the Nephites--Their Astronomy and
Geography--The Learning of Egypt 250

CHAPTER LVII.

The Art of War Among the Nephites--Their Weapons, Armor and
Fortifications--Moroni's Line of Defense 255

CHAPTER LVIII.

The Laws of the Nephites--The Roman and Nephite
Civilizations--The Laws under the Kings--Position of the
Priesthood--Slavery--Criminal Offenses 262

CHAPTER LIX.

The Laws under the Judges--The Voice of the
People--Elections--Rights of the People--Church and State--The
Criminal Procedure 269

CHAPTER LX.

Laws of the Nephites, Continued--The Division into Tribes--The
Messianic Dispensation--The Final Convulsion 277

CHAPTER LXI.

The Money of the Nephites--Their Coins--Barley the Standard of
Value 281

CHAPTER LXII.

Personal Appearance of the Nephites--Their Beauty--Testimony of
Remains Found--The Dark-Skinned Lamanites 284

CHAPTER LXIII.

Language of the Nephites--The Influence of the Egyptians--Nephite
Words--Rameumptom--Liahona--Rabbanah--The Lamanite
Tongue--Word Building 287

CHAPTER LXIV.

Nephite Proper Names--Bible Names--Sariah--Nephi--Sam--Melek--
Jershon--Isabel--Aha, etc.--Prefixes and Suffixes 294

CHAPTER LXV.

The Lands of the Nephites--Mulek and Lehi--Zarahemla and
Nephi--The Wilderness--The Land of First Inheritance--The
Journeys Northward--The Waters of Mormon--Lehi--Nephi 300

CHAPTER LXVI.

Nephi in the Hands of the Lamanites--The Lands of Shemlon, Shilom,
Helam, Amulon, Ishmael, Middoni, Jerusalem, etc. 310

CHAPTER LXVII.

The Lands of the Nephites, Continued--Zarahemla--Jershon--
Antionum--Manti--Gideon 314

CHAPTER LXVIII.

Lands of the Nephites, Continued--Minon--Melek--Ammonihah--Noah--
Sidom--Aaron--Lehi--Mulek--Bountiful--The South-west Border 318

CHAPTER LXIX.

The Lands of Antum, Teancum, Joshua, David, etc.--Cumorah--The
Hills of the Nephites--The River Sidon 325

CHAPTER LXX.

Religion of the Nephites--It is Stated by Nephi--The Priesthood
and Ordinances Thereof--Baptism--Confirmation--Ordination--The
Sacrament--Spiritual Gifts 329

CHAPTER LXXI.

Miracles Among the Nephites--The Miracles of Christ--John and
the Three Nephites--Translations 336

CHAPTER LXXII.

The Prophecies Regarding the Savior--Their Completeness and
Detail--Names and Titles Given to Christ 341

CHAPTER LXXIII.

Nephite Apostates--The Order of Nehor--Amalekites--
Amalickiahites--Amulonites--Abinadi's Prophecy--The
Gadiantons 343

CHAPTER LXXIV.

Church Discipline Among the Nephites--Treatment of the
Unrepentant--The Word of the Lord Regarding Transgressors--The
Testimony of Moroni 349

CHAPTER LXXV.

The Discovery of the Jaredite Records--Coriantumr--Ether--The
Dispersion at Babel--The Journey of the Jaredites--Atlantis 352

CHAPTER LXXVI.

Moriancumer--Building the Barges--The Finger of the Lord--The
Appearing of the Savior--The Voyage 356

CHAPTER LXXVII.

The Land of Promise--A Monarchy Established--The Kings of the
Jaredites from Orihah to Omer--Akish--The Daughter of Jared 359

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

The Kings of the Jaredites from Omer to Coriantumr--The Material
Prosperity of this Race 361

CHAPTER LXXIX.

The Judgments of God on the Jaredites--The Extinction of the
Race--The Hill Ramah--Shiz and Coriantumr--Ether 363

BOOK OF MORMON CHRONOLOGY 368