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 |
| [APPENDIX.] | 381 |