“About the Book of Mormon,” Book of Mormon Stories (2023)
About the Book of Mormon
Jesus Christ and His people in the Americas
The Book of Mormon is scripture. It teaches us about the Lord Jesus Christ and His visit to the Americas long ago. From the Book of Mormon, we can learn about Jesus’s gospel. It teaches us how to have peace now and how we can live with God and Jesus again someday.
Title page of the Book of Mormon; introduction to the Book of Mormon; 3 Nephi 11
The Book of Mormon was written by prophets of God. They wrote on metal pages called plates. Their stories and testimonies help us have faith in Jesus. They wrote about many groups of people who lived in the Americas long ago.
Title page of the Book of Mormon; introduction to the Book of Mormon
One group came from Jerusalem to the Americas about 600 years before Jesus was born. They became two nations called the Lamanites and the Nephites.
Introduction to the Book of Mormon; 1 Nephi 1:4
Much earlier, another group came from the Tower of Babel to the Americas. They were called the Jaredites.
Introduction to the Book of Mormon; Ether 1:33–43
The prophets of God taught the people. When the people listened and kept the commandments of God, He helped them. The prophets taught about Jesus and said that He would be born at Jerusalem. The Nephites and Lamanites learned that Jesus would visit them after His death.
2 Nephi 1:20; 25:12–14; 26:1, 3, 9; Mosiah 3:5–11; Alma 7:9–13; Helaman 3
Jesus came just as the prophets said. After Jesus died and was resurrected, He visited the people. He let each person feel the nail prints in His hands and feet. They knew Jesus was the Son of God. He taught His gospel, and the people wrote it down. They talked about Jesus’s visit for many years.
3 Nephi 11:7–15, 31–41; 16:4; 4 Nephi 1:1–6, 13–22
Mormon was a prophet who lived a few hundred years after Jesus visited. During Mormon’s life, the people stopped following the Lord. Mormon had the writings of the prophets who lived before him. He put many of their writings into one set of plates. These plates became the Book of Mormon.
Introduction to the Book of Mormon; Words of Mormon 1:2–9; Mormon 1:2–4, 13–17
Before Mormon died, he gave the plates to his son Moroni. During Moroni’s life, the people were doing very bad things. They wanted to put to death anyone who believed in Jesus. Moroni wanted to help people in the future, so he wrote more on the plates and buried them to keep them safe.
Introduction to the Book of Mormon; Words of Mormon 1:1–2; Mormon 8:1–4, 14–16; Moroni 1
Many years later, in 1823, Moroni came as an angel to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Moroni told Joseph where to find the plates. With God’s help, Joseph translated what was written on the plates.
Introduction to the Book of Mormon; Joseph Smith—History 1
God sends the Holy Ghost to help you know when something is true. When you read the Book of Mormon, you can pray and ask God if it is true. In the same way, you can know that Jesus is your Savior and that He loves you.