This book was 'translated' by Joseph Smith, Jr.

It is a volume of holy Scriptures comparable to the Bible, originally published in 1830. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel.

The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group was known as the Jaredites.

After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified resurrected being, appeared to Joseph Smith and instructed him concerning the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.

In due course, the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The plates that contained this record were divided into two sections: the sealed books, and "the words that were not sealed." Joseph Smith read the latter. Three other persons gave a written testimony of having seen the plates. Then eight others gave a similar written testimony. None of these witnesses ever denied his testimony.

This book is also known as The Record of the Nephites, The Nephite Records, and The Stick of Joseph, depending on which group published it. At least three groups call it The Book of Mormon.

The edition of the version being reviewed here was published by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1954.