THE BOOK OF MORMON

AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON
UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI

Where, it is an short account of the record of the men of Nephi, and of the Lamanites — Written to the Lamanites, who are a last bit of the house of Israel ; and in addition to Jew and Gentile —Written by way of law, and also by the spirit of saying of the future and of newly let out knowledge — Written and kept, and kept secret by the Lord, that they might not be given destruction — To come forward as given by the power of God to make clear thereof — Kept by the hand of Moroni, and made secret by the Lord, to come forward in good time by way of the Gentile — The clear sense thereof given by God. An account taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the tribe of Jared, who were sent in all directions at the time the Lord angrily mixed the language of the men, when they were building a tower to get to heaven — Which is to give view to the last of the House of Israel what great things the Lord had done for their fathers; and that they may have knowledge of the laws of the Lord, that they are not lost forever — And also to give to the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, making clear about himself to all nations — And now, if there are errors they are the wrongs of men ; and so, say not the errors of God, that you may be seen as clean at the judge's-seat of Christ.
TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.
First English edition published in 1830

The Statements of Three Witnesses

Be it said to all nations, families, tongues, and persons, to whom this work shall come : That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which have in it this record, which is a record of the tribe of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the tribe of Jared, who came from the tower of which had been said. And we are certain that they have been made clear by the grace and power of God, for his voice has said it to us ; therefore we are certain that the work is true. And we also state that we have seen the words cut in metal which are upon the plates; and they have been seen by us by the power of God, and not of man. And we make public statement with serious words, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he came with and put down before our eyes, that we saw the plates, and the words cut thereon; and we are certain that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we saw and give record that these things are true. And it is great in our eyes. though that is so, the voice of the Lord give orders to us that we would be right to make record of it ; and so, to do what is ordered by the words of God, we give statement of these things. And we are certain that if we are true in Christ, we shall get the blood of all men off of our clothes, and be seen as clean before the judge's-seat of Christ, and shall live with him forever in the heavens. And the respect be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery , David Whitmer , Martin Harris.

The Testimony of Eight Witnesses

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come : That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold ; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
Christian Whitmer , Jacob Whitmer , Peter Whitmer, Jun. , John Whitmer , Hiram Page , Joseph Smith, Sen. , Hyrum Smith , Samuel H. Smith.

Table of Contents

THE BOOK OF MORMON:
AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI.

Where it is an account of the Record of the Tribe of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites ; written to the Lamanites, which are a part of the House of Israel ; and also to Jew and Gentile ; written by way the law, and also by the spirit of sayings of the future and of newly let out knowledge. Written and kept secret by the Lord, that they might not be given destruction ; To come forward as given by the power of God to make clear ; kept by the hand of Moroni, and made secret by the Lord, to come forward in good time by way of the Gentile ; the clear sense thereof given by God ; an account taken from the Book of Ether
In addition,also, a record of the tribe of Jared, who were sent in all directions at the time the Lord angrily mixed the language of the men, when they were building a tower to get to heaven ; which is to give view to the last of the House of Israel what great things the Lord had done for their fathers; and that they may have knowledge of the laws of the Lord, that they are not lost forever ; and also to give to the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, making clear about himself to all nations ; and now, if there are errors they are the wrongs of men ; and so, say not the errors of God, that you may be seen as clean at the judge's-seat of Christ.
BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUNIOR,
AUTHOR AND PROPRIETOR.
PALMYRA ;
PRINTED BY E.B. GRANDIN FOR THE AUTHOR.
1830.

This is not a Basic English translation
Northern District of New-York, to wit: BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the eleventh day of June, in the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A.D. 1829, JOSEPH SMITH, JUN. of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words flowing, to wit: "The Book of Mormon : an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon the plates taken from the plates of Nephi. Wherefore it is an abridgement of the Record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the House of Israel ; and also to Jew and Gentile ; written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophesy and of Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord that they might not be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of God, unto the interpretation thereof ; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of God ; an abridgement taken from the Book of Ether. Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel, how great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever: and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgement seat of Christ. -- By Joseph Smith, Jun. Author and Proprietor."
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An set for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to an act, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
R.R.LANSING,
Clerk of the Northern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

To The Reader--
As a number of false accounts have been given respecting the this work, and more than a few unlawful measures taken by the evil designing persons to put an end to me, and the work, I would say to you that I made copy, given by the power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon ; which said account, some person or persons have taken and kept from me, notwithstanding my best work to get it back again -- and being ordered of the Lord that I would be right to copy the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to question the Lord their God, by making changes to the words, that they did read opposite from that which I gave sense of the words and caused to be written ; and If I would make the same words again, or in other words, if I would copy the same over again, they would state that which they had taken, and Satan would trouble their hearts of the persons across the earth, that they might not get this work : but behold, the Lord said to me, I will not troubler that Satan shall do his evil design in this thing : for this reason you will copy my sense from the plates of Nephi, till you come to that which you have copied, which you have kept ; and behold you shall put forward as the record of Nephi ; and in this way I will make at a loss those who have made change to my words. I will not trouble that they shall make destruction to my work ; you, I will give view to them that my knowledge is greater than the tricks of the Devil. and so, to be doing what is ordered to the laws of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, do that which he has ordered me respecting this thing. I would say to you that the plates of which has been said, were discovered in the Township of Manchester, Ontario County, New-York.
THE AUTHOR.