February 1, 2022
I've been wanting to commit to memory a high-level overview of The Book of Mormon, such that any time I see a scripture reference, I'll now what's going on in that chapter. For example:
2 Nephi 2:25
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
Wouldn't it be great to know, without looking anything up, that this verse came from Lehi's last words to his son Jacob?
Alma 41:10
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
Alma 41 is a continuation of Alma's words to his son Corianton, who had rebelled from his father's teachings but eventually came back (probably as a result of them). Alma has just explained all about the spirit world and the resurrection and this verse could be thought of as a sort of 'moral of the story'.
So, this document will serve as a convenient reference and memorization aid.
The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Introductory Materials
- Moroni's declaration of the Book of Mormon's origins and ultimate purpose as a testament of Jesus Christ to all nations.
- The Book of Mormon is a book of ancient scripture, written on gold plates by prophets in the Americas and containing an account of the ministry of the resurrected Jesus Christ to them, translated by Joseph Smith, a modern-day prophet, who restored the Church of Jesus Christ, and we can know it is all true by the power of the Holy Ghost if we ask God with faith and in the name of Jesus Christ if it is true.
The Testimony of Three Witnesses:
- Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris were shown the gold plates containing the record of The Book of Mormon by an angel of God.
- They testify to the world that the record and its translation are true.
The Testimony of Eight Witnesses:
- Several members of the Whitmer family, the Smith family, and Hiram Page (8 in all) were shown, and allowed to handle, the gold plates by Joseph Smith.
- Each testified to the world that the record had the appearance of an ancient work, and of curious workmanship.
The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
- A summary of Joseph Smith-History, which explains the series of events leading up to Joseph Smith translating and publishing The Book of Mormon.
A Brief Explanation about The Book of Mormon:
- The source materials making up the record, the 'books' or divisions in the text, and the layout of Mormon's abridgment.
1 Nephi
Nephi's first-person account of his family's journey from Jerusalem to the American continent.
- Lehi called as a prophet to warn Jerusalem of impending destruction unless the people repent (they don't).
- Lehi's family leaves Jerusalem and all their property behind.
- The Lord declares that if they keep the commandments they shall prosper and will be led to a land of promise.
Chapters 3-5 - First return to Jerusalem: for the Brass Plates
- How should we respond to a command from God?
- Nephi, Sam, Laman, and Lemuel return to Jerusalem to retrieve the brass plates from Laban
- It doesn't go well.
- Nephi slays Laban to acquire the brass plates and fulfill the Lord's command.
- Zoram, one of Laban's servants, returns with them to the wilderness.
- Nephi, Sam, Laman, Lemuel, and Zoram make their way back to Lehi and Sariah, who rejoice, offer sacrifice.
- What did Lehi learn from the brass plates about his lineage in the House of Israel?
- What did Lehi learn about the eventual reach of the brass plates in the future?
- What is Nephi's purpose in keeping records on the plates?
- Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem a second time to invite Ishmael and his family to join them in their journey, and Ishmael accepts.
- Laman, Lemuel and some of Ishmael's family rebel on the return trip but Nephi is saved by faith, after which his brethren beg forgiveness.
- Nephi relates Lehi's telling of his vision of the tree of life. (See chapters 11 and 15 for additional details and interpretation.)
- Nephi explains his obedience to the Lord's commandment that he keep two records: for a wise purpose in Him.
- Lehi prophesies of the eventual scattering of Israel, coming of Messiah, and gathering of Israel in the latter days.
Chapters 11-14 - Nephi's Vision
- "Knowest thou the condescension of God?"
- Who will assist the Savior in Judgement?
- What will become of the family of Lehi?
- Who did Jesus visit after his resurrection?
- What is the motivation of the great an abominable church?
- Who would eventually settle the Americas?
- How did the Bible come to lose many plain and precious truths?
- What is the purpose of The Book of Mormon relative to the Bible?
- The Church of the Lamb of God and the accompanying "marvelous work and a wonder" counter the Great and Abominable Church of the Devil.
- The apostle John's revelatory contribution on the end of the world.
- Why does God scatter and gather the children of Israel?
- What is the interpretation of Lehi's dream of the Iron Rod and the Tree of Life?
- How does God bless us as we '[arise] in the morning, and [go] forth to the tent door' in response to his instruction to 'take [our] journey into the wilderness'? (see verses 9-10)
- What hardships can we expect on the difficult path of life, even when we are trying to follow God's commandments and the instructions of his prophets?
- What's an effective way to react to a difficult assignment?
- How does the story of Lehi and Nephi parallel the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt?
- How is the way Nephi went about building a ship like magnifying a calling?
- What was Nephi's approach to record keeping?
- What means did Nephi employ that he might more fully persuade his brethren to believe in the Lord their Redeemer?
Chapter 20 (Compare Isaiah 48)
- Why do bad/hard things happen even when we choose the right?
- "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction..." (Affliction may be a sign that the Lord has chosen us and is preparing and molding us for his wise purposes.)
- What (straightforward) instructions does the Lord give the house of Israel?
- "Come ye near unto me...Go ye forth from Babylon!"
- It is more likely for a mother to forget her child than for the Lord to forget us, for we are graven in the palms of his hands!
- We are in for some adventure and excitement!
- During the Millennium, will Satan be bound so that we can finally become righteous, or will he be bound because we have actually already become righteous?
2 Nephi
Chapters 1-4 - Lehi's farewell and blessings to his children
- What is one of the most important themes of The Book of Mormon?
- Lehi concludes his preaching and ministry by declaring:
- that Jerusalem is destroyed
- the Lord hath obtained a land of promise and liberty
- the Lord has redeemed his soul from hell and encircles him eternally in the arms of his love
- "Awake!" from a deep sleep, arise from the dust, put on the armor of righteousness
- the main theme: keep the commandments and prosper
- blessings for Lamen, Lemual, Sam, and Zoram and their posterity
- Lehi blesses, a word which here also means "unloads an amazing amount of doctrine" on Jacob.
- How is everything going to be ok? Because "all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things."
- How many Josephs are referred to in this chapter?
Jacob
Enos
Jarom
Omni
Words of Mormon
Mosiah
Alma
Helaman
3 Nephi
4 Nephi
Mormon
Ether
Moroni
-Michael Whatcott
