BoM Translation Guide



Mormon 1

Mormon 1:1 [LDS 1:1]
[And now] I, Mormon, make [a record] [of the things] which [I have both seen] [and heard,] [and call] it [the book] [of Mormon.]

Mormon 1:2 [LDS 1:2] [Note]
[And about the time] [that Ammoron] [hid up] [the records] unto [the Lord,] [he came] [unto me,] (I [being about ten] years [of age;] [and I began] [to be learned] [somewhat after the manner] [of the learning] [of my people,)] [and Ammoron] said [unto me,] [I perceive] that [thou art] [a <sober> child,] [and art quick] [to observe;]

Mormon 1:3 [LDS 1:3]
[Therefore when ye are about twenty] [and four] years old, [I would] [that ye should remember] [the things] that [ye have observed] concerning this people;

Mormon 1:4 [LDS 1:3]
[And when ye are] [of <that> age,] go to [the land] [of Antum,] unto [a hill,] which [shall be called] Shim; [and there] [have I deposited] unto [the Lord,] all [the <sacred> engravings] concerning this people.

Mormon 1:5 [LDS 1:4]
[And behold,] [ye shall take] [the plates] [of Nephi] [unto yourself,] [and the remainder] [shall ye leave] [in the place] [[ where <they> are:]] [and ye shall engrave] upon [the plates] [of Nephi,] all [the things] that [ye have observed] concerning this people.

Mormon 1:6 [LDS 1:5]
[And I,] Mormon, being [a descendant] [of Nephi,] [(and my father's] name [was Mormon,)] [I remembered] [the things] which Ammoron [commanded me.]

Mormon 1:7 [LDS 1:6]
[And it came to pass] [that I,] [being eleven] years old, [was carried] [by my father] into [the land] southward, [even to] [the land] [of Zarahemla;] [the whole] face [of the land] [having become covered] [with buildings,] [and the people] were [as numerous] almost, [as it were] [the sand] [of the sea.]

Mormon 1:8 [LDS 1:8]
[And it came to pass] [in this year,] [there began] [to be] [a war] between [the Nephites,] who consisted [of the Nephites] [and the Jacobites,] [and the Josephites,] [and the Zoramites;] [and <this> war] [was between] [the Nephites] [and the Lamanites,] [and the Lemuelites,] [and the Ishmaelites.]

Mormon 1:9 [LDS 1:9] [Note]
[Now the Lamanites,] [and the Lemuelites,] [and the Ishmaelites] [were called] Lamanites, [and the two parties] [were Nephites] [and Lamanites.]

Mormon 1:10 [LDS 1:10]
[And it came to pass] [that the war] began [to be] [among them] [in the borders] [of Zarahemla,] [by the waters] [of Sidon.]

Mormon 1:11 [LDS 1:11]
[And it came to pass] [that the Nephites] [had gathered together] [a <great> number] [of men,] [even to] exceed [the number] [of thirty] thousand.

Mormon 1:12 [LDS 1:11]
[And it came to pass] [that they did have] [in <this> <same> year] [a number] [of battles,] [in the which] [the Nephites] [did beat] [the Lamanites,] [and did slay] many [of them.]

Mormon 1:13 [LDS 1:12] [Note]
[And it came to pass] [that the Lamanites] withdrew [their design,] [and there was] peace settled [in the land,] [and peace] [did remain] [for the space] [of about four] years, [that there was] no blood shed.

Mormon 1:14 [LDS 1:13]
[But wickedness] [did prevail] upon [the face] [of the whole] land, [insomuch that the Lord] [did take away] [his <beloved> disciples,] [and the work] [of miracles] [and of healing] [did cease,] [because of the iniquity] [of the people.]

Mormon 1:15 [LDS 1:14]
[And there were] no gifts [from the Lord,] [and the <Holy> Ghost] [did <not> come] upon any, [because of their wickedness] [and unbelief.]

Mormon 1:16 [LDS 1:15] [Note]
[And I,] [being fifteen] years [of age,] [and being somewhat of a <sober> mind,] therefore [I was visited] [of the Lord,] [and tasted,] [and knew] [of the goodness] [of Jesus.]

Mormon 1:17 [LDS 1:16]
[And I did endeavor] [to preach] unto this people, [but my mouth] [was shut,] [and I was forbidden] [that I should preach] [unto them;] for behold [they had <willfully> rebelled] against [their God,] [and the <beloved> disciples] [were taken away out] [of the land,] [because of their iniquity.]

Mormon 1:18 [LDS 1:17]
[But I did remain] [among them,] [but I was forbidden] [to preach] [unto them,] [because of the hardness] [of their hearts;] [and because of the hardness] [of their hearts,] [the land] [was cursed] [for their sake.]

Mormon 1:19 [LDS 1:18]
[And these] Gadianton robbers, who [were among] [the Lamanites,] [did infest] [the land,] [insomuch that the inhabitants thereof] began [to hide up] [their treasures] [in the earth;] [and they became] slippery, because [the Lord] [had cursed] [the land,] [that they could <not> hold them] nor [retain them] again.

Mormon 1:20 [LDS 1:19]
[And it came to pass] [that there were] sorceries, [and witchcrafts,] [and magics;] [and the power] [of the <evil> one] [was wrought] upon all [the face] [of the land,] [even unto] [the fulfilling] [of all] [the words] [of Abinadi,] [and also] Samuel [the Lamanite.]

Mormon 1:21 [LDS 2:1]
[And it came to pass] [that in that same] year, [there began] [to be] [a war] again between [the Nephites] [and the Lamanites.]

Mormon 1:22 [LDS 2:1]
[And notwithstanding] [I being young,] was large [in stature,] therefore [the people] [of Nephi] appointed me [that I] [should be their leader,] [or the leader] [of their armies.]

Mormon 1:23 [LDS 2:2]
[Therefore it came to pass] [that in my sixteenth] year [I did go forth] [at the head] [of an army] [of the Nephites,] [against the Lamanites;] [therefore three] hundred [and twenty] [and six] years [had passed away.]

Mormon 1:24 [LDS 2:3]
[And it came to pass] [that in the three] hundred [and twenty] [and seventh] year, [the Lamanites] [did come] [upon us] [with <exceeding> <great> power,] [insomuch that they did frighten] [my armies;] therefore [they would <not> fight,] [and they began] [to retreat] [towards the <north> countries.]

Mormon 1:25 [LDS 2:4]
[And it came to pass] [that we did come] to [the city] [of Angola,] [and we did take possession] [of the city,] [and make preparations] [to defend ourselves] [against the Lamanites.]

Mormon 1:26 [LDS 2:4]
[And it came to pass] [that we did fortify] [the city] [with our mights;] [but notwithstanding] all [our fortifications,] [the Lamanites] [did come] [upon us,] [and did drive us out] [of the city.]

Mormon 1:27 [LDS 2:5]
[And they did <also> drive us forth] [out of the land] [of David.] [And we marched forth] [and came] to [the land] [of Joshua,] [which was] [in the borders] west, [by the sea] shore.

Mormon 1:28 [LDS 2:7]
[And it came to pass] [that we did gather] [in our people] [as fast] [as it were possible,] [that we might get them together] [in <one> body.]

Mormon 1:29 [LDS 2:8]
[But behold,] [the land] [was filled] [with robbers] [and with] Lamanites; [and notwithstanding] [the <great> destruction] which hung over [my people,] [they did <not> repent] [of their <evil> doings;]

Mormon 1:30 [LDS 2:8]
[Therefore there was] blood [and carnage] spread [throughout all] [the face] [of the land,] [both on the part of the Nephites,] [and also on Lamanites:] [and it was] one complete revolution [throughout all] [the face] [of the land.]

Mormon 1:31 [LDS 2:9]
[And now] [the Lamanites] had [a king,] [and his name] [was Aaron;] [and he came] [against us] [with an army] [of forty] [and four] thousand.

Mormon 1:32 [LDS 2:9]
[And behold,] [I withstood him] with forty [and two] thousand. [And it came to pass] [that I beat him] [with my army,] [that he fled] [before me.]

Mormon 1:33 [LDS 2:9]
[And behold,] all this [was done] [and three] hundred [and thirty] years [had passed away.]

Mormon 1:34 [LDS 2:10]
[And it came to pass] [that the Nephites] began [to repent] [of their iniquity,] [and began] [to cry] [even as had been prophesied] [by Samuel] [the prophet;] for behold no man could keep [that which was] [his own,] [for the thieves,] [and the robbers,] [and the murderers,] [and the magic art,] [and the witchcraft] which [was in the land.]

Mormon 1:35 [LDS 2:11]
Thus [there began] [to be] [a mourning] [and a lamentation] [in all] [the land,] [because of these] things; [and more especially] among [the people] [of Nephi.]

Mormon 1:36 [LDS 2:12]
[And it came to pass] [that when I,] Mormon, saw [their lamentations,] [and their mourning,] [and their sorrowing] before [the Lord,] [my heart] [did begin] [to rejoice] [within me,] knowing [the mercies] [and the long] suffering [of the Lord,] [therefore supposing] that [he would be merciful unto them,] [that they would <again> become] [a righteous] people.

Mormon 1:37 [LDS 2:13] [Note]
[But behold] this [my joy] was vain, [for their sorrowing] was not [unto repentance,] [because of the goodness] [of God,] [but it was] [rather the sorrowing] [of the damned,] because [the Lord] [[would <not> <always> suffer them]] [to take happiness] [in sin.]

Mormon 1:38 [LDS 2:14]
[And they did not] come unto Jesus [with broken] hearts [and <contrite> spirits,] [but they did] curse God, [and wish] [to die.]

Mormon 1:39 [LDS 2:14]
Nevertheless [they would struggle] [with the sword] [for their lives.]

Mormon 1:40 [LDS 2:15] [Note]
[And it came to pass] [that my sorrow] [[did return [unto me] again,]] [and I saw] [that the day] [of grace] [was past] [with them,] [both temporally] and spiritually, for [I saw] thousands [of them] [hewn down] [in <open> rebellion] against [their God,] [and heaped up] [as dung] upon [the face] [of the land.]

Mormon 1:41 [LDS 2:15]
[And thus] three hundred [and forty] [and four] years [had passed away.]

Mormon 1:42 [LDS 2:16]
[And it came to pass] [that in the three] hundred [and forty] [and fifth] year, [the Nephites] [did begin] [to flee] before [the Lamanites,] [and they were pursued] until [they came] [even to] [the land] [of Jashon,] before [it was possible] [to stop them] [in their retreat.]

Mormon 1:43 [LDS 2:17]
[And now] [the city] [of Jashon] [was near] [the land] where Ammoron [had deposited] [the records] unto [the Lord,] [that they might <not> be destroyed.]

Mormon 1:44 [LDS 2:17]
[And behold,] [I had gone] [according to the word] [of Ammoron,] [and taken] [the plates] [of Nephi,] [and did make] [a record] [according to the words] [of Ammoron.]

Mormon 1:45 [LDS 2:18]
[And upon] [the plates] [of Nephi] [I did make] [a <full> account] [of all] [the wickedness] [and abominations;] [but upon] these plates [I did forbear] [to make] [a <full> account] [of their wickedness] [and abominations,] for behold, [a <continual> scene] [of wickedness] [and abominations] [has been before] [mine eyes] [ever since] [I have been sufficient] [to behold] [the ways] [of man.]

Mormon 1:46 [LDS 2:19]
[And wo is] me, [because of their wickedness,] for [my heart] [has been filled] [with sorrow] [because of their wickedness,] all [my days;] [nevertheless,{incorrect punctuation} I know] that [I shall be lifted up] [at the last] day.

Mormon 1:47 [LDS 2:20]
[And it came to pass] [that in this year] [the people] [of Nephi] again [were hunted] [and driven.]

Mormon 1:48 [LDS 2:20]
[And it came to pass] [that we were driven forth] until [we had come] northward to [the land] which [was called] Shem.

Mormon 1:49 [LDS 2:21]
[And it came to pass] [that we did fortify] [the city] [of Shem,] [and we did gather in] [our people] [as much as] [it were possible,] [that perhaps] [we might save them] [from destruction.]

Mormon 1:50 [LDS 2:22]
[And it came to pass] [in the three] hundred [and forty] [and sixth] year, [they began] [to come] [upon us] again.

Mormon 1:51 [LDS 2:23]
[And it came to pass] [that I did speak] unto [my people,] [and did urge them] [with <great> energy,] [that they would stand] boldly before [the Lamanites,] [and fight] [for their wives,] [and their children,] [and their houses] [and their homes.]

Mormon 1:52 [LDS 2:24]
[And my words] [did arouse them] [somewhat to vigor,] [insomuch that they did <not> flee] [from before] [the Lamanites,] [but did stand] [with boldness] [against them.]

Mormon 1:53 [LDS 2:25]
[And it came to pass] [that we did contend] with [an army] [of thirty] thousand, against [an army] [of fifty] thousand.

Mormon 1:54 [LDS 2:25]
[And it came to pass] [that we did stand] [before them] [with such firmness,] [that they did flee] [from before us.]

Mormon 1:55 [LDS 2:26]
[And it came to pass] [that when they had fled,] [we did pursue them] [with our armies,] [and did meet them] again, [and did beat them;]

Mormon 1:56 [LDS 2:26]
Nevertheless [the strength] [of the Lord] was not [with us;] yea, [we were left] [to ourselves,] [that the Spirit] [of the Lord] [did <not> abide] [in us;] therefore [we had become weak,] [like unto our brethren.]

Mormon 1:57 [LDS 2:27]
[And my heart] [did sorrow] [because of this] [the <great> calamity] of my people; [because of their wickedness] [and their abominations.]

Mormon 1:58 [LDS 2:27]
[But behold] [we did go forth] [against the Lamanites,] [and the robbers] [of Gadianton,] until [we had <again> taken possession] [of the lands] [of our inheritance.]

Mormon 1:59 [LDS 2:28]
[And the three] hundred [and forty] [and ninth] year [had passed away.]

Mormon 1:60 [LDS 2:28]
[And in the three] hundred [and fiftieth] year, [we made] [a treaty] with [the Lamanites] [and the robbers] [of Gadianton,] [in which] [[we did get [the lands] [of our inheritance] divided. ]]

Mormon 1:61 [LDS 2:29]
[And the Lamanites] [did give] [unto us the land] northward; [yea,{incorrect punctuation} even] [to the <narrow> passage] which led [into the land] southward.

Mormon 1:62 [LDS 2:29]
[And we did give] [unto the Lamanites] all [the land] southward.

Mormon 1:63 [LDS 3:1]
[And it came to pass] [that the Lamanites] [did <not> come] [to battle] again until ten years more [had passed away.]

Mormon 1:64 [LDS 3:1]
[And behold,] [I had employed] [my people,] [the Nephites,] [in preparing] [their lands] [and their arms] [against the time] [of battle.]

Mormon 1:65 [LDS 3:2]
[And it came to pass] [that the Lord] [did say] [unto me,] Cry unto this people, [Repent ye,] [and come] [unto me] [and be ye baptized,] [and build up] again [my church,] [and ye shall be spared.]

Mormon 1:66 [LDS 3:3]
[And I did cry] unto this people, [but it was] [in vain,] [and they did <not> realize] [that it was the Lord] [that had spared them] [and granted] [unto them] [a chance] [for repentance.]

Mormon 1:67 [LDS 3:3]
[And behold] [they did harden] [their hearts] against [the Lord] [their God.]

Mormon 1:68 [LDS 3:4]
[And it came to pass] [that after] this tenth year [had passed away,] [making,{incorrect punctuation} in the whole,] three hundred [and sixty] years [from the coming] [of Christ,] [the king] [of the Lamanites] sent [an epistle] [unto me,] which gave [unto me] [to know] that [they were preparing] [to come again] [to battle] [against us.]

Mormon 1:69 [LDS 3:5]
[And it came to pass] [that I did cause] [my people] [that they should gather themselves together] [at the land] Desolation, to [a city] [which was] [in the borders,] by [the narrow] pass which led [into the land] southward.

Mormon 1:70 [LDS 3:6]
[And there we did place] [our armies,] [that we might stop] [the armies] [of the Lamanites,] that [they might <not> get possession] [of any] [of our lands;] therefore [we did fortify] [against them] [with all] [our force.]

Mormon 1:71 [LDS 3:7]
[And it came to pass] [that in the three] hundred [and sixty] [and first] year, [the Lamanites] [did come down] to [the city] [of Desolation] [to battle] [against us;] [and it came to pass] [that in that year,] [we did beat them,] [[insomuch that they did return <to> [their own lands] again.]]

Mormon 1:72 [LDS 3:8]
[And in the three] hundred [and sixty] [and second] year, [they did come down] again [to battle.]

Mormon 1:73 [LDS 3:8]
[And we did beat them] again, [and did slay] [a <great> number of them,] [and their dead] [were cast] into [the sea.]

Mormon 1:74 [LDS 3:9]
[And now] [because of <this> <great> thing] which [my people,] [the Nephites,] [had done,] [they began] [to boast] [in their own strength,] [and began] [to swear] before [the heavens,] [that they would avenge themselves] [of the blood] [of their brethren] who [had been slain] [by their enemies.]

Mormon 1:75 [LDS 3:10]
[And they did swear] [by the heavens,] [and also] [by the throne] [of God,] [that they would go up] [to battle] against [their enemies,] [and would cut them off] [from the face] [of the land.]

Mormon 1:76 [LDS 3:11]
[And it came to pass] [that I,] Mormon, [did <utterly> refuse] [from this time forth,] [to be] [a commander] [and a leader] [of <this> people,] [because of their wickedness] [and abomination.]

Mormon 1:77 [LDS 3:12]
Behold, [I had led them,] notwithstanding [their wickedness,] [I had led them] many times [to battle,] [and had loved them,] [according to the love] [of God] [which was] [in me,] [with all] [my heart;]

Mormon 1:78 [LDS 3:12]
[And my soul] [had been poured out] [in prayer] unto [my God] all [the day long,] [for them;] [nevertheless,{incorrect punctuation} it was] without faith, [because of the hardness] [of their hearts.]

Mormon 1:79 [LDS 3:13]
[And thrice] [have I delivered them out] [of the hands] [of their enemies,] [and they have repented] not [of their sins.]

Mormon 1:80 [LDS 3:14]
[And when they had sworn] [by all] [that had been forbidden them,] [by our Lord] [and Savior] Jesus Christ, [that they would go up] unto [their enemies] [to battle,] [and avenge themselves] [of the blood] [of their brethren,] behold, [the voice] [of the Lord] came [unto me,] saying, Vengeance [is mine,] [and I will repay;] [and because] this people repented not after [I had delivered them,] behold, [they shall be cut off] [from the face] [of the earth.]

Mormon 1:81 [LDS 3:16]
[And it came to pass] [that I <utterly> refused] [to go up] against [mine enemies;] [and I did] [even as the Lord] [had commanded me;] [and I did stand] [as an <idle> witness] [to manifest] [unto the world] [the things which] [I saw] [and heard,] [according to the manifestations] [of the Spirit] which [had testified] [of things] [to come.]

Mormon 1:82 [LDS 3:17]
Therefore [I write] [unto you,] Gentiles, [and also] [unto you,] house [of Israel,] [when the work] [shall commence,] [that ye shall be] [about to prepare] [to return] to [the land] [of your inheritance;]

Mormon 1:83 [LDS 3:18]
Yea, behold, [I write] unto all [the ends] [of the earth;] yea, [unto you,] twelve tribes [of Israel,] who [shall be judged] [according to your works,] [by the twelve] whom Jesus chose [to be] [his disciples] [in the land] [of Jerusalem.]

Mormon 1:84 [LDS 3:19]
[And I write] also unto [the remnant] [of <this> people,] who [shall <also> be judged] [by the twelve] whom Jesus chose [in <this> land;] [and they shall be judged] [by the <other> twelve] whom Jesus chose [in the land] [of Jerusalem.]

Mormon 1:85 [LDS 3:20]
[And <these> things] [does the Spirit] manifest [unto me;] therefore [I write] [unto you] all.

Mormon 1:86 [LDS 3:20]
[And for <this> cause] [I write] [unto you,] [that ye may know] that [ye must <all> stand] before [the <judgment> seat] [of Christ;] yea, every soul [who belongs] [to the <whole> <human> family] [of Adam;]

Mormon 1:87 [LDS 3:20]
[And ye must stand] [to be judged] [of your works,] whether [they be good] [or evil;] [and also] [that ye may believe] [the gospel] [of Jesus] Christ, which [ye shall have] [among you;]

Mormon 1:88 [LDS 3:21]
[And also] [that the Jews,] [the <covenant> people] [of the Lord,] [shall have <other> <witness> besides him] whom [they saw] [and heard,] [that Jesus] whom [they slew,] [was the very] Christ, [and the very] God;

Mormon 1:89 [LDS 3:22]
[And I would that] [I could persuade] all [ye ends] [of the earth] [to repent] [and prepare] [to stand] before [the <judgment> seat] [of Christ.]