| Books of theBook of Mormon |
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| Small Plates of Nephi |
| Contribution ofMormon |
| Additions byMoroni |
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The Words of Mormon is one of the books that make up theBook of Mormon, a text that is held sacred in theLatter Day Saint movement. It consists of a single chapter of eighteen verses and is the only book in the text which is not titled as a "book."[1] According to the text, it is a comment inserted by the prophetMormon while compiling the records which became the Book of Mormon.
Textually, Words of Mormon serves to link theSmall Plates of Nephi, which precede it in the current printed version, but which would have been placed after Mormon's full record in thegolden plates, with the rest of the Book of Mormon.
Mormon explains that, while abridging the history of theNephites, he came across the Small Plates of Nephi and decided to make them an appendix to his finished work.[2] He then briefly summarises the reign ofKing Benjamin, the last king named in the Small Plates.
Mormon writes thatKing Benjamin, wielding the sword ofLaban, stood against the Lamanites. With his efforts, and wisdom, and the help of the prophets, King Benjamin established peace in the land. Mormon also talks about how false Christs went among the people and were confounded.[3]
| Topic | Verses |
|---|---|
| Future of the Nephite people | 1-2 |
| The small plates | 2-8 |
| King Benjamin | 12-14 |
| False Christs; peace restored | 15-18 |
Words of Mormon verses 12–18 have continuity with the first part of Mosiah; Jack M. Lyon and Kent R. Minson hypothesize it was originally dictated as part of a now missing portion of theBook of Mosiah.[5] Brant Gardner suggests thatJoseph Smith wrote verses 12–18 as a summary or bridge back into the large plates and that these verses were not part of the original dictation.[6] In another perspective, religious studies scholarGrant Hardy states that that Mormon's mention of King Benjamin links theBook of Omni with theBook of Mosiah.[7]
Mormon narrates that he doesn't know why he is including the small plates with the large. Latter-day Saints believe that the inclusion serves as a replacement for the116 pages that were lost during translation of the Book of Mormon.[8] Author Benjamin Keogh suggests that Mormon's explanation indicates that he views the inclusion of the small plates as an appendix to the larger record. Keogh further suggests that, for the small plates, Words of Mormon may serve a similar purpose as the title page of the Book of Mormon.[9]
Donald W. Parry broke up the Book of Mormon into its chiastic and other poetic patterns. In Words of Mormon he identified two instances ofchiasmus: The first appears in verses 3-11 with an “ABcbcacababCDEFFEDCBabcA” pattern; the second is in verses 15-16 with an “abcabc” pattern.[10]
In an article about the Words of Mormon, Benjamin Keogh searches for meaning in Mormon's frequent use of "these." Mormon, he suggests, may be referencing prophets, holy men, or the plates themselves.[11]
Authors Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Hemming claim that throughout the narrative of the Book of Mormon the Nephites are prejudiced toward the Lamanites. They point out that in Words of Mormon the author calls the Lamanites the brethren of his people and avoids calling them his own brethren. This, Salleh and Hemming claim, is connected to Nephite prejudice.[12]
Works related toWords of Mormon at WikisourceWords of Mormon Contribution ofMormon | ||
| Preceded by | Book of Mormon | Succeeded by |