Mormon had already written the history of his people from Lehi through King Benjamin. But as he reviewed the records which had been handed down to him, he found a spiritual record which had been kept by Nephi and his descendants. He loved this record and decided to include it, without alteration, in his book. This chapter is his explanation for the duplication and his testimony that he is guided in these editorial decisions by the Spirit of the Lord.
Chapter Outline
- I am about to deliver these records to my son, Moroni (v. 1-2)
- Why I included these small plates of Nephi in my record (v. 3-8)
- Introduction of King Benjamin (v. 9-18)
My Takeaways
- God knows all things including the future. When we follow His instructions, He can use our efforts to accomplish His work.
- A great leader can champion truth and establish peace. Leadership requires effort and patience.
Featured Blog Posts
In What Order Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon?
After writing the history of his people on metal plates, the prophet Nephi was instructed by the Lord to create a second set of plates, which are known today as the small plates of Nephi. On these, he was to engrave a record of the ministry of his people. Nephi obeyed this commandment even though…
What Is the Book of Lehi?
The first 116 pages which Joseph Smith translated came from a record known as the Book of Lehi. As he wrote in the preface to the first edition of the Book of Mormon: I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen…
A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions
Book of Mormon authors made it clear how much they were leaving out as they wrote this “abridgment” of their history. Here’s a diagram showing how many words are dedicated to each of the 103 decades in the book.
❖ Why Mormon included the small plates – Words of Mormon 1:3-8
“I Do Not Know All Things” – Words of Mormon 1:7
When Nephi was asked a difficult question, he responded first with something he knew—”I know that [God] loveth his children”—but then followed up with an acknowledgement of his limitations—”nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17). When Ammon asked King Lamoni if he believed in God, Lamoni answered, “I do…
The Workings of the Spirit – Moroni 6:9
9 And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done. (Moroni 6:9) Moroni…
For Other Wise Purposes – 1 Nephi 19:1-3, Words of Mormon 1:7
1 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of…
❖ King Benjamin – Words of Mormon 1:9-18
Out of Which My People…Shall Be Judged – Words of Mormon 1:11
11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into my hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which my…
By Laboring with All the Might of His Body – Words of Mormon 1:17-18
17 For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness; 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 stiffneckedness of the people– 18 Wherefore,…
Church History Connections
“He Worketh in Me” – Words of Mormon 1:7
When Mormon decided to insert 142 pages of unabridged text into his book (1 Nephi through Omni), he knew it was a strange editorial decision. He explained to his future readers that he was doing this “for a wise purpose,” even though he did not know what that purpose was. “I do not know all…
All Posts Referencing Words of Mormon
- Unlocking Spiritual Knowledge (6/29/2025)
- “I Am Mormon” (9/20/2024)
- “The Workings of the Spirit of the Lord” (4/21/2024)
- A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions (1/3/2024)
- “He Worketh in Me” – Words of Mormon 1:7 (12/9/2021)
- John Whitmer, Record-keeper (6/25/2021)
- Record-keeping (3/7/2021)
- Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6 (12/5/2020)
- “Hid up unto the Lord” – Mormon 1:2, 4:23, 5:12 (10/31/2020)
- “A Wise Purpose” – Alma 37:2, 12, 14, 18 (7/22/2020)
- The “Hundredth Part” – Mormon’s Prioritization of Events in the Book of Alma (6/7/2020)
- Ammon Was a Mulekite. (4/30/2020)
- King Benjamin and Contention (4/14/2020)
- “I Do Not Know All Things” – Words of Mormon 1:7 (3/28/2020)
- What Is the Book of Mormon? (12/27/2019)
- What Is Wisdom? (12/13/2019)
- What Is Authority? (10/15/2019)
- In What Order Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon? (5/20/2019)
- What Is the Book of Lehi? (1/22/2019)
- For Other Wise Purposes – 1 Nephi 19:1-3, Words of Mormon 1:7 (9/6/2018)
- Out of Which My People…Shall Be Judged – Words of Mormon 1:11 (1/2/2017)
- He Worketh in Me – Words of Mormon 1:7 (1/2/2017)
- Thus It Whispereth Me – Words of Mormon 1:7 (1/22/2016)
- The Lord Knoweth All Things Which Are to Come – Words of Mormon 1:7 (1/2/2016)
- By Laboring with All the Might of His Body – Words of Mormon 1:17-18 (4/14/2015)
- Words of Mormon 1:7 I Do Not Know All Things (10/9/2014)