1The 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
2wherefore it is an abrid gment of the record of the People of Nephi & also of the Lamanites written to the Lamanites which are a remnant of the house of Israel & also to Jew & Gentile written by way of commandment & also by the spirit of Prophesy & of revelation written & sealed up & hid up unto the Lord that they might not be destroid to come forth by the gift & power of God unto the interpretation thereof sealed by the hand of Moroni & 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.
3an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also which is a re cord of the People of Jared which were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the lan guage 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 & that they may know the covenants of the Lord that they are not cast off forever & also to the convinceing of the Jew & Gentile that Jesus is the Christ the Eternal God manifesting himself unto all Nations & now if there be fault it be the mistake of men wherefore conde mn 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.
4By Joseph Smith Juniour Author & proprietor Be it remembered that on the eleventh day of June in the fifty third year of the independance of the A. D1829 Joseph Smith Junior of the said Destrict hath deposited in this office the title of a Book the right whereof he claims a author in the words following to wit Tthe Book of Mormon.. &. C.—— By Joseph Smith Junor Author propriet[or] Cherk of the Destrict cort for the Northren District of[p.[i]][][p. To the Reader—— As mang fals reports have been Sirculated respecting the following work & also many unla wful measures taken by evil desineing persons to destroy me & also the work I would inform you that I translated by the gift & power of God & caused to be written one hundred & sixteen pages the which I took from the Book of Lehi which was an acc ount abridged from the plates of Lehi by the hand of Mormon which said account some person or persons have stolen & kept from me notwithstanding my utmost exer sion to recover it again & being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God by altering the words that they did read conterary from that which I translated & caused to be written & if I should bring forth the same words again or in other words if I should translate the same over again they would publish that which they had stolen & Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation that they might not receive this work but behold the Lord said unto me I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi untill ye come to that which ye have translated which ye have retained & behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi & thus I will confound those who have altered my words I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work yea I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater then the cunning of the Devil wherefore to be obediant unto the commandments of God I have through his grace & mercy accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken was found in the township of Ontario County New Yorkk The Author[p.[iii]][][p.
4Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.