BoM Translation Guide



Words of Mormon 1

Words of Mormon 1:1 [LDS 1:1]
[And now] I, Mormon, [being about to deliver up] [the record] which [I have been making,] [into the hands] [of my son] Moroni, behold, [I have witnessed] almost all [the destruction] [of my people,] [the Nephites.]

Words of Mormon 1:2 [LDS 1:2]
[And it is <many> <hundred> years] after [the coming] [of Christ,] [that I deliver] these records [into the hands] [of my son;] [and it supposeth me] that [he will witness] [the entire] destruction [of my people.]

Words of Mormon 1:3 [LDS 1:2]
[But may God] grant [that he may survive them,] [that he may write somewhat] [concerning them,] [and somewhat concerning] Christ, [that perhaps] [some day] [it may profit them.]

Words of Mormon 1:4 [LDS 1:3]
[And now,] [I speak somewhat] concerning [that which] [I have written:] for after [I had made] [an abridgment] [from the plates] [of Nephi,] down [to the reign] [of <this> <King> Benjamin,] [of whom] Amaleki spake,

Words of Mormon 1:5 [LDS 1:3]
[I searched] among [the records] which [had been delivered] [into my hands,] [and I found] these plates, which contained this small account [of the prophets,] [from Jacob,] down [to the reign] [of <this> <King> Benjamin:] [and also] many [of the words] [of Nephi.]

Words of Mormon 1:6 [LDS 1:4]
[And the things] which [are upon] [these plates] [pleasing me,] [because of the prophecies] [of the coming] [of Christ;] [and my fathers] knowing that [many of them] [have been fulfilled;]

Words of Mormon 1:7 [LDS 1:4]
Yea, [and I also] know that [as many] things [as have been prophesied] [concerning us] [down to <this> day,] [have been fulfilled;] [and as many as] [go beyond] this day, [must surely] [come to pass;]

Words of Mormon 1:8 [LDS 1:5]
[Wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} I chose] these things, [to finish] [my record] [upon them,] [which remainder] [of my record] [I shall take] [from the plates] [of Nephi;] [and I cannot] write [the hundredth part] [of the things] [of my people.]

Words of Mormon 1:9 [LDS 1:6]
[But behold,] [I shall take] these plates, which contain these prophesyings [and revelations,] [and put] them [with the remainder] [of my record,] for [they are] choice [unto me;] [and I know] [they will be] choice [unto my brethren.]

Words of Mormon 1:10 [LDS 1:7]
[And I do] this for [a <wise> purpose;] for thus [it whispereth me,] [according to the workings] [of the Spirit] [of the Lord] [which is] [in me.]

Words of Mormon 1:11 [LDS 1:7]
[And now,] [I do <not> know] [all things;] [but the Lord] knoweth [all things] which [are to come;] [wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} he worketh] [in me] [to do] [according to his will.]

Words of Mormon 1:12 [LDS 1:8]
[And my prayer] to God, [is concerning] [my brethren,] [that they may once] again come [to the knowledge] [of God;] yea, [the redemption] [of Christ;] [that they may once] again [be a <delightsome> people.]

Words of Mormon 1:13 [LDS 1:9]
[And now] I, Mormon, proceed [to finish] [out my record,] which [I take] [from the plates] [of Nephi;] [and I make it] [according to the knowledge] [and the understanding] which God [has given] me.

Words of Mormon 1:14 [LDS 1:10]
[Wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} it came to pass] [that after] Amaleki [had delivered up] these plates [into the hands] [of King] Benjamin, [he took them] [and put] them with [the <other> plates,] which contained records which [had been handed down] [by the kings,] [from generation] [to generation,] until [the days] [of King] Benjamin;

Words of Mormon 1:15 [LDS 1:11]
[And they were handed down] [from King] Benjamin, [from generation] [to generation,] until [they have fallen] [into my hands.]

Words of Mormon 1:16 [LDS 1:11]
[And I,] Mormon, pray to God [that they may be preserved,] [[from [this time] henceforth. ]]

Words of Mormon 1:17 [LDS 1:11]
[And I know] that [they will be preserved:] for [there are great things] written [upon them,] [out of which] [my people] [and their brethren,] [shall be judged] [at the great] [and last] day, [according to the word] [of God] which [is written.]

Words of Mormon 1:18 [LDS 1:12]
[And now,] [concerning <this> <King> Benjamin:] [he had somewhat contentions] among [his own people.]

Words of Mormon 1:19 [LDS 1:13]
[And it came to pass] also, [that the armies] [of the Lamanites] [came down] [out of the land] [of Nephi,] [to battle] against [his people.]

Words of Mormon 1:20 [LDS 1:13]
[But behold,] King Benjamin [gathered together] [his armies,] [and he did stand] [against them;] [and he did fight] [with the strength] [of his own arm,] [with the sword] [of Laban;]

Words of Mormon 1:21 [LDS 1:14]
[And in the strength] [of the Lord] [they did contend] against [their enemies,] until [they had slain] many thousands [of the Lamanites.]

Words of Mormon 1:22 [LDS 1:14]
[And it came to pass] [that they did contend] against [the Lamanites,] [until they had driven them] [out of all] [the lands] [of their inheritance.]

Words of Mormon 1:23 [LDS 1:15]
[And it came to pass] [that after] [there had been] false Christs, [and their mouths] [had been shut,] [and they punished] [according to their crimes;]

Words of Mormon 1:24 [LDS 1:16]
[And after] [there had been] false prophets, [and <false> preachers] [and teachers] among [the people,] [and all] these [having been punished] [according to their crimes;]

Words of Mormon 1:25 [LDS 1:16]
[And after] [there having been much] contentions [and <many> dissensions,{incorrect punctuation} away] unto [the Lamanites,] behold, [it came to pass] [that King] Benjamin, [with the assistance] [of the <holy> prophets] who [were among] [his people;] for behold, King Benjamin [was a <holy> man,] [and he did reign] over [his people] [in righteousness.]

Words of Mormon 1:26 [LDS 1:17]
[And there were] many holy men [in the land;] [and they did speak] [the word] [of God,] [with power] [and with authority;] [and they did use <much> sharpness] [because of the stiff-neckedness] [of the people;]

Words of Mormon 1:27 [LDS 1:18]
[Wherefore,{incorrect punctuation} with the help] [of these,] King Benjamin, [by laboring] with all [the might] [of his body] [and the faculty] [of his whole] soul, [and also] [the prophets,] [did <once> more] establish peace [in the land.]