Bare Record: The Nephite Archivist, The Record of Records, and the Book of Mormon Provenance

Title

Bare Record: The Nephite Archivist, The Record of Records, and the Book of Mormon Provenance

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2017

Authors

Wells, Anita (Primary)

Journal

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Pagination

99-122

Volume

24

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

This paper looks at the Book of Mormon through the lens of library science and the concept of archival provenance. The Nephites cared deeply about their records, and Mormon documented a thorough chain of custody for the plates he edited. However, ideas of archival science and provenance are recent developments in the western world, unknown to biblical authors or to anyone at Joseph Smith’s time. Understanding this aspect of Mormon’s authorship and Joseph Smith’s translation provides additional evidence to the historical validity of the Book of Mormon.

Translation
Mormon
Ancient Near East
Historicity
Record Keeping
Record
Authenticity
Provenance
Archival Work

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