This is an unabridged edition of the holy text of Mormonism, as transcribed by the founder of the Mormon church - Joseph Smith.
Divided into specific books in much the same manner as the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon is believed by followers of The Church of Latter-Day Saints to contain the writings of various prophets who resided in North America. This collection of texts is also known by its full name: The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi.
Joseph Smith claimed to receive religious guidance from an angel of God named Moroni, who first appeared to him when he was aged seventeen. Announcing that a variety of writings upon plates of dazzling gold were present - buried on a hilltop in rural New York state. It was with Moroni's divine instruction that Smith said he made the discovery.
The Book of Mormon begins with two sets of witness testimonies - people who claimed to have seen and, in some instances, felt the gold tablets excavated by Joseph Smith. After the testimonies, the individual books which comprise the compilation of the Book of Mormon begin with the Books of Nephi. The final book is by Moroni, the same angel who introduced Smith to the buried plates.
Given its length of some 291,000 words, the effort to transcribe the texts to English for printing took several years. The first accounts are said to have taken place in Jerusalem circa 600 BC, while later texts claim the arrival of various observant families to America from the Middle East. The texts delve into and discuss deeply the various theological and philosophical principles of Mormonism, establishing a lengthy canon which the Church of Latter-Day Saints holds as important and holy to this day.
This edition of the Mormon scriptures is published in an attractive format for ease of comprehension and reading. The chapters and passages receive their original numbering, and a table of contents present at the beginning of the edition allows for ease of navigation and ready reference of specific areas of the text.
