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.
1:2 And about the time that Ammaron 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
Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art
quick to observe;
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; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill
which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord
all the sacred engravings concerning this people.
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 on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed
concerning this people.
1:5 And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my father’s name
was Mormon) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me.
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.
1:7 The whole face of the land had become covered with buildings, and
the people were as numerous almost, as it were the sand of the sea.
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.
1:9 Now the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites were
called Lamanites, and the two parties were Nephites and Lamanites.
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.
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. And
it came to pass that they did have in this same year a number of
battles, in which the Nephites did beat the Lamanites and did slay many
of them.
1:12 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 bloodshed.
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.
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.
1:15 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.
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 wilfully rebelled against their God; and the beloved disciples
were taken away out of the land, because of their iniquity.
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.
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.
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.