WHAT THE BOOK OF MORMON REALLY IS.
The Book of Mormon is the record of God's dealings with the people of
ancient America from the era of the building of the Tower of Babel to
four hundred and twenty-one years after the birth of Christ. It is
the stick of Ephraim spoken of by Ezekiel--the Bible of the western
continent. Not that it supersedes, or in any way interferes with the
Bible, any more than the history of Mexico supersedes or interferes
with the history of Rome; but on the other hand, in many places it
confirms Bible history, demonstrates Bible truths, sustains Bible
doctrine, and fulfils Bible prophecy.
* * * * *
The Book of Mormon contains the history of two distinct races. The
first came from the Tower of Babel and was destroyed a little less
than six hundred years before Christ. The story of their national life
is given very briefly, but sufficient is said to prove that they were
one of the mightiest nations of antiquity, and in the days of their
righteousness a people highly blessed of the Lord. Their fall and final
destruction were the result of their gross wickedness and rejection of
God's prophets. These people were called the Jaredites, their history
in the Book of Mormon is contained in "the Book of Ether." Ether was
one of their last prophets who wrote his account on twenty-four plates
of gold. Moroni, the last prophet of the Nephites, abridged Ether's
history and it is his abridgment that has been translated and published
in this generation, and which forms a portion of the Book of Mormon.
The next race that inhabited this continent were of Israelitish origin,
the descendants of Joseph and Judah. The Nephites, the ruling branch,
were principally the descendants of Manasseh. By divine guidance their
first prophet and ruler, Lehi, was brought out of Jerusalem with a
small company of his relatives and friends, eleven years before the
Babylonian captivity (B. C. 600). They sailed from southeastern Arabia
across the Indian and Pacific oceans, and landed on the American shore
not far from where the city of Valparaiso now stands. In the first
year of the captivity another small colony was led out from Jerusalem,
Mulek, one of the sons of King Zedekiah, being their nominal leader.
This party landed in North America some distance north of the Isthmus
of Darien, and soon after migrated into the northern portion of the
southern continent, where for nearly four centuries they grew in
numbers, but not in true civilization.
In the meantime the descendants of the colonists under Lehi had also
grown numerous. Early in their history they had separated into two
nationalities; the first, called Nephites, observing the laws of
Moses, the teachings of the prophets, and developing in the decencies
and comforts of civilized life; the others, called Lamanites (after
the cruel, rebellious elder brother of Nephi), sank into barbarism
and idolatry. These latter gradually crowded the Nephites northward
until the latter reached the land occupied by the descendants of
Mulek's colony, now called the people of Zarahemla, with whom they
coalesced and formed one nation. From their national birth to B. C.
91, the Nephites had been ruled by kings, but at that time the form
of government was changed and a republic founded. The nation was then
ruled by judges elected by the people. This portion of the history
of the Nephites is a very varied one. One third of their time they
were engaged in actual war with the Lamanites, and at other times
they were distracted with internal convulsions and rebellions. About
A. D. 30, the republic was overthrown and the people split up into
numerous independent tribes. At the crucifixion of the Savior this
continent was the scene of terrible natural convulsions, which resulted
in a great change in the face of nature and an immense loss of human
life. Shortly after these days of terror the Redeemer appeared to the
surviving remnants, taught them His gospel and organized His Church. A
lengthened period of blessed peace followed in which all men served the
Lord. Gradually, however, the old evils again crept in, many returned
to the sins of their forefathers, the spirit of darkness and bloodshed
again held sway, and finally the whole Nephite race was overpowered
and destroyed (A. D. 384) by the other faction who had assumed the old
name of Lamamites. The descendants of these Lamanites are found in the
American Indians, not of the United States alone, but as the aborigines
of the whole continent from Patagonia to the Arctic ocean.
The records of this people, engraved on various plates were hid by the
last of the Nephite prophets, Mormon, and his son Moroni. A portion
thereof has, by God's grace, been restored to the knowledge of mankind
in this age, and translated into many languages, that the truths
contained therein, whether they be history, doctrine, or prophecy, may
be known by all men.