BOOK OF MORMON: AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON, UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI.
1The Book of Mormon An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi
Wherefore it is an abridgment 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 prophecy and of revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be de stroyed; 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:
2Wherefore, it is an abridgment 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 prophecy 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 way of the Gentile— The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgment taken from the book of Ether: also, which is a record of the people of Jared; who 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 what 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 are faults, they are the mistakes of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ.
3An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who 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 show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what 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 are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment- seat of Christ.
TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jr. printed by o. cowdery & co. for AND J. GOODSON.1837. Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year1829, by Joseph Smith, Jr., in the Clerk’ s Office of the Northern District of The publishers of the following volumes hav ing obtained leave to issue five thousand cop ies of the same, from those holding the copy rights, would respectfully notice a few items for the benefit of the reader. The1830 edition of the book of Mormon having some time since been distributed, the pressing calls for the same, as well as the book of Doctrine and Covenants, and the vast impor tance attached to their contents, have induced the undersigned to seek the privilege of sup plying those calls by presenting, in one vol ume, both books, in a condensed form, render ing greater convenience to elders, and others, who convey the same to different parts. Individuals acquainted with book printing, are aware of the numerous typographical er rors which always occur in manuscript edi tions. It is only necessary to say, that the whole has been carefully re- examined and compared with the original manuscripts, by Joseph Smith, Jr. the translator of the book of Mormon, assisted by the present print er, brother who formerly wrote the greatest portion of the same, as dictated by brother Smith. Expecting, as we have reason to, that this book will be conveyed to places which circum stances will render it impossible for us to visit, and be perused by thousands whose faces we may never see on this side of eternity, we can not consistently let the opportunity pass, with out expressing our sincere conviction of its truth, and the great and glorious purposes it must effect, in the restoration of the house of Israel, and the ushering in of that blessed day when the knowledge of God will cover the earth, and one universal peace pervade all people. JOHN GOODSON. Kirtland, Ohio,1837.
4Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.