Evidence #244 | September 27, 2021
Book of Mormon Evidence: Colophons (Complexity)
Post contributed by
Scripture Central
Abstract
Book of Mormon colophons manifest several patterns, demonstrating one aspect of the Book of Mormon’s editorial complexity and internal continuity.Colophons in the Book of Mormon
Nephite authors frequently supplied editorial comments, often referred to as colophons, at the beginning and end of the Book of Mormon’s literary units. Some colophons can be identified by their use of a sentence fragment, rather than a complete sentence, to formally introduce a textual unit. For instance, the first words of the ancient heading for the book of 1 Nephi read: “An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah, and his four sons, being called, (beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi.” Such headings will be defined as “formal colophons” in this summary.
Less formal colophons, utilizing complete sentences, are also found near the beginning (and also the end) of many Book of Mormon texts. Together, these formal and informal editorial insertions “serve as markers and natural divisions in the text.”1
Nephi’s introduction—which contains a lengthy formal colophon, followed by an informal colophon—provides an apt example. In the earliest manuscripts, Nephi’s first book begins with the title “The Book of Nephi” and is followed by “His Reign and Ministry” (perhaps intended as a subtitle).2 An overview of content is then given in a formal heading (not to be confused with the italicized heading, which is of modern origin).3 This ancient heading introduces Nephi’s family, summarizes the narrative events in his account, and then concludes with a statement of authorship: “This is according to the account of Nephi; or in other words, I, Nephi, wrote this record.”
Nephi’s formal introductory colophon is then followed by an informal colophon containing further introductory data. In it, Nephi supplies information about the following topics: (1) authorship, (2) parentage, (3) credentials, (4) recordkeeping, (5) language, (6) and authentication:
I, Nephi [authorship], having been born of goodly parents [parentage], therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God [credentials], therefore I make a record [recordkeeping] of my proceedings in my days. Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians [language]. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge [authentication]. (1 Nephi 1:1–3)
An example of a formal colophon in the middle of a book (yet still at the beginning of a textual unit) can be seen in Mosiah 9. This chapter begins with a brief insertion letting readers know that the account about to be given draws directly from the record of Zeniff:
The Record of Zeniff [source text/authorship]—An account of his people, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites [content preview].
The last two verses of the book of Helaman provide an example of a colophon that shows up at the end of a book:
And thus ended [conclusion] the ninetieth year [chronology] of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus ended [conclusion] the book of Helaman [title], according to the record of Helaman and his sons [source text]. (Helaman 16:24–25)
The Book of Mormon’s editorial comments have parallels with colophons found in a variety of in ancient Near Eastern texts.4 Yet the colophons developed by Nephite authors also manifest several original features, as would be expected for an independent literary tradition that developed in the Americas for nearly a thousand years.
Conceptual Patterns in Book of Mormon Colophons
Colophons in the Book of Mormon do not have a rigid form or structure, but they still manifest a number of patterns and consistencies. For instance, most of the text’s colophons contain clusters (typically 3 or more) of the following concepts:
- audience (who the text or author is addressing)
- authentication (some type of verification or validation of words in a text)
- authorship (the author or authors of a text)
- blessing (a blessing promised or sometimes pronounced upon the reader or upon God)
- conclusion (any type of formal concluding statement)
- chronology (an indication of time in the form of a specific date, the passage of years, or sometimes more general designations)
- content preview (details about what will be discussed in a text, usually in summary form)
- content review (details that were previously discussed in a text, usually in summary form)
- credentials (an author’s position, status, or other features that increase credibility)
- exhortation (strong admonition to the audience to either do or avoid doing something)
- family (family members of the author, typically a brother)
- language (language in which a text was given or in which the author has been instructed)
- lineage (the author’s ancestors)
- location (the location of the events in the text or where a speech or other discourse was given)
- parentage (statements about an author’s parents, usually about a father)
- posterity (statements about an author’s children or descendants)
- purpose (the author’s purpose in writing or including a text)
- recordkeeping (any statement about the recording of history)
- source plates (statements about the plates upon which a text is written)
- source text (statements about the record or account from which a text has been extracted or abridged)
- title (the formal title of a text)
- warning (usually a warning of physical or spiritual danger given to the audience)
The repeated concentration of these concepts suggests that the Nephite authors held fairly consistent ideas about what topics should be addressed at the beginning and ending of literary units.
Book Headings
An example of a more formulaic pattern can be seen in the heading information of several books. Except for the books of Enos through Mosiah (which don’t have formal headings), each book, as well as the Title Page in the Book of Mormon, begins with a title named after an individual, sometimes followed by a subtitle describing more about that individual. The titles in 8 of these 11 books are then followed by a sentence fragment (rather than a complete sentence) which describes the contents of the record and typically its authorship.5 Furthermore, 6 of these 8 sentence fragments begin with the words “An account” or “The account.”6 These consistencies can be seen in the chart below:7
Book | Colophon |
Title Page | Title: The Book of Mormon Intro: An account written by the hand of Mormon … |
1 Nephi | Title: The [First] Book of Nephi Subtitle: His Reign and Ministry Intro: An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah, … |
2 Nephi | Title: The [Second] Book of Nephi Intro: An account of the death of Lehi. … |
Jacob | Title: The Book of Jacob Intro: The words of his preaching unto his brethren. … |
Alma | Title: The Book of Alma Subtitle: The Son of Alma Intro: The account of Alma, who was the son of Alma, … |
Helaman | Title: The Book of Helaman Intro: An account of the Nephites. … |
3 Nephi | Title: [Third Nephi] The Book of Nephi Subtitle: The Son of Nephi, Who Was the Son of Helaman … |
4 Nephi | Title: [Fourth Nephi] The Book of Nephi Subtitle: Who is the son of Nephi … Intro: An account of the people of Nephi, … |
Mormon | Title: The Book of Mormon |
Ether | Title: The Book of Ether Intro: The record of the Jaredites, … |
Moroni | Title: The Book of Moroni |
“According to …”
Another typical feature can be seen in the phrase “according to” followed by the designation of a source text. The conclusion of the heading for the book of 1 Nephi states: “This is according to the account of Nephi.” Likewise, the conclusion to the heading of the book of Alma reads: “And also an account of a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, according to the record of Alma, the first and chief judge.” Mormon was particularly prone to use this phrasing in his abridgment, where it shows up in 13 of the 28 colophons identified in the books of Alma through 4 Nephi.8
In a related but different example, the authors in the books of Jarom and Omni mentioned that they were keeping their record “according to the commandment(s)” of their fathers. This pattern, demonstrated in the following chart, is unique to these writers of the small plates, who, unlike Mormon, weren’t abridging other records and gave only brief introductory and concluding remarks.
Scripture | Text |
Jarom 1:1 | “Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos …” |
Jarom 1:15 | “And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers” |
Omni 1:3 | “Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers” |
Omni 1:19 | “And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers.” |
In total, the Book of Mormon contains over 90 identified colophons at the beginning or near the end of textual units. Exhaustive analysis remains to be completed, and further research may reveal additional consistencies and patterns. For a comprehensive list of Book of Mormon colophons with typical conceptual features identified, see the Appendix.
Conclusion
While adhering to some editorial features found in ancient Near Eastern texts, the authors of Book of Mormon colophons appear to have developed their own traditions and to have formulated their own patterns of use, sometimes with tendencies unique to individual authors/editors or to groups of writers from the same time period. Although not overly rigid or formulaic, these patterns demonstrate an important aspect of the Book of Mormon’s subtle complexity and internal continuity. “That complexity,” notes Thomas W. Mackay, “is emphasized by various contextual source indicators or colophons for documents and authors, remnants of the materials Mormon used to compile his edited summary of Nephite history.”9
John A. Tvedtnes and David E. Bokovoy, “Colophons and Superscripts,” in Testaments: Links Between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible (Tooele, UT: Heritage Press, 2003), 107–116.
Thomas W. Mackay, “Mormon as Editor: A Study of Colophons, Headers, and Source Indicators,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2, no. 2 (1993): 90–109.
John A. Tvedtnes, “Colophons in the Book of Mormon,” in Reexploring the Book of Mormon: A Decade of New Research, ed. John W. Welch (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1992), 13–16.
John A. Tvedtnes, “Colophons in the Book of Mormon,” in Rediscovering the Book of Mormon: Insights You May Have Missed Before, ed. John L. Sorenson and Melvin J. Thorne (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT:
Deseret Book and FARMS, 1991), 32–37.
Hugh Nibley, Lehi in the Desert/The World of the Jaredites/There Were Jaredites (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1988), 17–19.
The first column of the following colophon chart identifies whether the highlighted colophon is formal (conveyed by introductory sentence fragments) or informal (conveyed by complete sentences found at the beginning or end of a literary unit).
The second column identifies the placement of the colophon in relation to the textual units present in the earliest manuscripts of the Book of Mormon, which differ from the chapter designations in the current (2013) edition of the text.10
The third column features the versification of the colophon in the current (2013) edition of the Book of Mormon.
The fourth column provides the wording of the colophon, along with concepts (bolded and placed in brackets) that are typical of colophons throughout the Book of Mormon. For reference, these concepts are listed below with explanations:
- audience (who the text or author is addressing)
- authentication (some type of verification or validation of words in a text)
- authorship (the author or authors of a text)
- blessing (a blessing promised or sometimes pronounced upon the reader or upon God)
- conclusion (any type of formal concluding statement)
- chronology (an indication of time, typically as a specific date or the passage of years)
- content preview (details about what will be discussed in a text, usually in summary form)
- content review (details that were previously discussed in a text, usually in summary form)
- credentials (an author’s position, status, or other features that increase credibility)
- exhortation (strong admonition to the audience to either do or avoid doing something)
- family (family members of the author, typically a brother)
- language (language in which a text was given or in which the author has been instructed)
- lineage (the author’s ancestors)
- location (the location of the events in the text or where a speech or discourse was given)
- parentage (statements about an author’s parents, usually about a father)
- posterity (statements about an author’s children or descendants)
- purpose (the author’s purpose in writing or including a text)
- recordkeeping (any statement about the recording of history)
- source plates (statements about the plates upon which a text is written)
- source text (statements about the record or account from which a text has been extracted or abridged)
- title (the formal title of a text)
- warning (usually a warning of physical or spiritual danger given to the audience)
Colophons in the Book of Mormon | |||
Type | Original Chapters | Current Versification | Text |
Formal Colophon | Title Page11 | Title Page | The Book of Mormon [title] An account written by the hand of Mormon [authorship] upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi [source plates] Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites [source text]—Written to the Lamanites [audience], who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile [audience]—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation [authentication]—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed [purpose]—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof [authentication]—Sealed by the hand [authentication] of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile [purpose]—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God [authentication]. An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether [source text] also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven [content preview]—Which is to show [purpose] unto the remnant of the house of Israel [audience] what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever [purpose]—And also to the convincing [purpose] of the Jew and Gentile [audience] that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not [warning] the things of God [authentication], that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ [blessing]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | 1 Nephi 1 Heading | The [First] Book of Nephi [title]12 His Reign and Ministry [subtitle] An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah, and his four sons, being called, (beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. The Lord warns Lehi to depart out of the land of Jerusalem, because he prophesieth unto the people concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy his life. He taketh three days’ journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi taketh his brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews. The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters of Ishmael to wife. They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their travels. They come to the large waters. Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. He confoundeth them, and buildeth a ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the large waters into the promised land, and so forth [content preview]. This is according to the account of Nephi [source text]; or in other words, I, Nephi, wrote this record [authorship]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 1 Start | 1 Nephi 1:1–3 | 1 I, Nephi [authorship], having been born of goodly parents [parentage], therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father [parentage]; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God [credentials], therefore I make a record [recordkeeping] of my proceedings in my days [intro]. 2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians [language]. 3 And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge [authentication]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 2 Start | 1 Nephi 6:1–6 | 1 And now I, Nephi [authorship], do not give the genealogy of my fathers [lineage] in this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give it after upon these plates [source plates] which I am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not write it in this work [recordkeeping]. 2 For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph [lineage]. 3 And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father [recordkeeping], for they cannot be written upon these plates [source plates], for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God. 4 For the fulness of mine intent [purpose] is that I may persuade men [audience] to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. 5 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God [authentication] and unto those who are not of the world [audience]. 6 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed [audience/posterity], that they shall not occupy these plates [source plates] with things which are not of worth unto the children of men. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 2 End | 1 Nephi 9:1–6 | 1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel [content review], and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates [recordkeeping]. 2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates [source plates], behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people [recordkeeping]; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi [title]; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi [title], after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi [title]. 3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates [authentication], for the special purpose [purpose] that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people. 4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people [recordkeeping]; wherefore these plates are for [purpose] the more part of the ministry; and the other plates are for [purpose] the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people [recordkeeping]. 5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me [authentication] to make these plates for a wise purpose [purpose] in him, which purpose I know not. 6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words [authentication]. And thus it is. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start | 1 Nephi 10:1 | 1 And now I, Nephi [authorship], proceed to give an account upon these plates [source plates] of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry [intro] … |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 End | 1 Nephi 14:28–30 | 28 And behold, I, Nephi [authorship], am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written sufficeth me [conclusion]; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw [recordkeeping]. 29 And I bear record that I saw the things which my father saw, and the angel of the Lord did make them known unto me [authentication]. 30 And now I make an end of speaking [conclusion] concerning the things which I saw while I was carried away in the Spirit [content review]; and if all the things which I saw are not written, the things which I have written are true [authentication]. And thus it is. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 5 End | 1 Nephi 19:18–21 | 18 And I, Nephi [authorship], have written these things unto my people [audience], that [purpose] perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer. 19 Wherefore, I speak unto all the house of Israel [audience], if it so be that they should obtain these things. 20 For behold, I have workings in the spirit [authentication], which doth weary me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord been merciful, to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have perished also. 21 And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass [recordkeeping]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 6 Start | 1 Nephi 19:22–24 | 22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi [authorship], did teach my brethren [audience] these things; …. 23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses [source text]; but that I might more fully persuade [purpose] them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah [source text]; … 24 Wherefore I spake unto them, saying [intro]: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel [audience], a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel [audience], and liken them unto yourselves, that [purpose] ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 7 End) | 1 Nephi 22:29–31 | 30 Wherefore, my brethren [audience], I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass [source plates] are true [authentication]; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God. 31 Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them [authentication]. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day [blessing]. And thus it is. Amen [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start (Chapter 1 Heading) | 2 Nephi Heading | The [Second] Book of Nephi [title]13 An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. The Lord warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeyings in the wilderness, and so forth [content preview]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start | 2 Nephi 4:1 | 1 And now, I, Nephi [authorship], speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath spoken, concerning Joseph, who was carried into Egypt [content preview]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 4 End | 2 Nephi 5:29–34 | 29 And I, Nephi [authorship], had kept the records upon my plates [record keeping], which I had made, of my people thus far. 30 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates [record keeping]; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people [authentication]. 31 Wherefore, I, Nephi [authorship], to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates [source plates] upon which I have engraven these things. 32 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates [authentication]. 33 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates [record keeping]. 34 And it sufficeth me to say [conclusion] that forty years had passed away [chronology], and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 5 Start | 2 Nephi 6:1–3 | 1 The words of Jacob [authorship], the brother of Nephi [family], which he spake unto the people of Nephi [audience]: |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 8 Start | 2 Nephi 11:1–8 | 1 And now, Jacob [author] spake many more things [conclusion] to my people [audience] at that time [chronology]; nevertheless only these things have I caused to be written [record keeping], for the things which I have written sufficeth me. 2 And now I, Nephi [authorship], write more of the words of Isaiah [source text], for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people [audience], and I will send them forth unto all my children [audience/posterity], for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him [authentication]. 3 And my brother, Jacob [family], also has seen him as I have seen him [authentication]; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children [audience/posterity] to prove unto them that my words are true [authentication]. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word [authentication]. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words [authentication]. 4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people [audience] the truth of the coming of Christ [purpose]; … 6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people [audience] that save Christ should come all men must perish [purpose]. … 8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah [intro], that [purpose] whoso of my people [audience] shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words [intro], and ye may liken them [purpose] unto you and unto all men [audience]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 11 Start | 2 Nephi 25:1–8 | 1 Now I, Nephi [authorship], do speak [intro] somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah [content preview]. … 3 Wherefore, I write unto my people [audience], unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write [audience], that [purpose] they may know the judgments of God [warning], that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken [authentication]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 13 Start | 2 Nephi 31:1–2 | 1 And now I, Nephi [authorship], make an end [conclusion] of my prophesying unto you, my beloved brethren [audience]. And I cannot write but a few things [recordkeeping], which I know must surely come to pass; neither can I write but a few of the words [recordkeeping] of my brother Jacob [source text]. 2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me [conclusion], save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ [content preview]; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 13 End | 2 Nephi 31:21 | 21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren [audience], this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God [content review]. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ [content review], and the only and true doctrine [authentication] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 15 Start | 2 Nephi 33:1 | 1 And now I, Nephi [authorship], cannot write all the things which were taught among my people [recordkeeping]; … 3 But I, Nephi [authorship], have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth [authentication], and especially unto my people [audience]. 4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people [blessing]. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good [authentication] … 5 And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil [warning]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 15 End) | 2 Nephi 33:10–15 | 10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth [audience], hearken unto these words and believe in Christ [exhortation]; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me [authentication]; and they teach all men that they should do good. 11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye [warning]—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness [authentication]. 12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day [blessing]. 13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth [audience], I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come [conclusion]. 14 And you [audience] that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day [warning]. 15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar [warning]; for thus hath the Lord commanded me [authentication], and I must obey. Amen [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | Jacob 1 Heading | The Book of Jacob [title] The Brother of Nephi [family] The words of his preaching unto his brethren [audience]. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few words concerning the history of the people of Nephi [content preview]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 1 Start | Jacob 1:1–8 | 1 For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away [chronology] from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi [family] gave me, Jacob [authorship], a commandment concerning the small plates [source plates], upon which these things are engraven [recordkeeping]. 2 And he gave me, Jacob [authorship], a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious [authentication]; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi [content preview]. 3 For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates [recordkeeping], and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation [recordkeeping]. 4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying [authentication], that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates [recordkeeping], and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people. … 7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that [purpose] we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness [warning]. 8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world [purpose]; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 1 End | Jacob 1:17–19 | 17 Wherefore I, Jacob [authorship], gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple [intro], having first obtained mine errand from the Lord [authentication]. 18 For I, Jacob [authorship], and my brother Joseph [family] had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi [authentication/family]. 19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day [authentication]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 2 Start | Jacob 2:1 | 2:1 The words which Jacob [authorship], the brother of Nephi [family], spake unto the people of Nephi [audience], after the death of Nephi [chronology]: |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 2 End | Jacob 3:12–14 | 12 And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the people of Nephi [conclusion], warning them against fornication and lasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling them the awful consequences of them [warning]. 13 And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written [recordkeeping] upon these plates [source plates]; but many of their proceedings are written [recordkeeping] upon the larger plates [source plates], and their wars, and their contentions, and the reigns of their kings. 14 These plates [source plates] are called the plates of Jacob [title], and they were made by the hand of Nephi [authentication]. And I make an end of speaking these words [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start | Jacob 4:1 | 1 Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob [authorship], having ministered much unto my people [audience] in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain [recordkeeping]; 2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates [recordkeeping], which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren [audience], a small degree of knowledge concerning us [purpose], or concerning their fathers— 3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates [recordkeeping], hoping that our beloved brethren and our children [audience] will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents. 4 For, for this intent [purpose] have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us [authentication]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 4 Start | Jacob 6:1 | 1 And now, behold, my brethren [audience], as I said unto you that I would prophesy [content review], behold, this is my prophecy [intro]—that the things which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree [content review], must surely come to pass [authentication]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 4 End | Jacob 6:13 | 13 Finally, I bid you farewell [conclusion], until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear [warning]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 5 End) | Jacob 7:26–27 | 26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob [authorship], began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi [recordkeeping], wherefore, I conclude this record [conclusion], declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge [authentication] … 27 And I, Jacob, [authorship] saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos [posterity]: Take these plates [recordkeeping]. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi [family] had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands [authentication]. And I make an end [conclusion] of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small [recordkeeping]; and to the reader [audience] I bid farewell [conclusion], hoping that [purpose] many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren [audience], adieu [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Book Start (Chapter 1 Start) | Enos 1:1 | 1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos [authorship], knowing my father that he was a just man [parentage]—for he taught me in his language [language], and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord [credentials]— and blessed [blessing] be the name of my God for it— 2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 1 End) | Enos 1:27 | 27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father [credentials]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Book Start (Chapter 1 Start) | Jarom 1:1–2 | 1 Now behold, I, Jarom [authorship], write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos [parentage], that [purpose] our genealogy [lineage] may be kept [recordkeeping]. 2 And as these plates are small [recordkeeping], and as these things are written for the intent [purpose] of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little [intro]; |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 1 End) | Jarom 1:13–15 | 13 And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed away [chronology]—after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of the time. 14 And I, Jarom [authorship], do not write more [conclusion], for the plates are small [recordkeeping]. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the other plates of Nephi [source plates]; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, or those which they caused to be written. 15 And I deliver these plates [source plates] into the hands of my son Omni [posterity], that [purpose] they may be kept [recordkeeping] according to the commandments of my fathers [lineage]. |
Informal Colophon | Book Start (Chapter 1 Start) | Omni 1:1–2 | 1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni [authorship], being commanded by my father, Jarom [parentage], that I should write [recordkeeping] somewhat upon these plates [source plates], to [purpose] preserve our genealogy [lineage]— 2 Wherefore, in my days [chronology], I would that ye should know [intro] … 3 … Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away [chronology], and I had kept these plates [source plates] according to the commandments of my fathers [lineage]; and I conferred them [recordkeeping] upon my son Amaron [posterity]. And I make an end [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Omni 1:4 | 4 And now I, Amaron [authorship], write the things whatsoever I write [content intro], which are few [recordkeeping], in the book [source text] of my father [parentage]. | |
Informal Colophon | Omni 1:9 | 9 Now I, Chemish, [authorship] write what few things I write [intro], in the same book [source text] with my brother [family]; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand [authentication]; and he wrote it in the day [chronology] that he delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the records [recordkeeping], for it is according to the commandments of our fathers [lineage]. And I make an end [conclusion]. | |
Informal Colophon | Omni 1:10–11 | 10 Behold, I, Abinadom [authorship], am the son of Chemish [parentage]. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren [credentials]. 11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings [recordkeeping], according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy [recordkeeping]; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end [conclusion]. | |
Informal Colophon | Omni 1:12 | 12 Behold, I am Amaleki [authorship], the son of Abinadom [parentage]. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla [intro]; | |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 1 End) | Omni 1:30 | 30 And I, Amaleki [authorship], had a brother [family], who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave [chronology]; and these plates are full [recordkeeping]. And I make an end of my speaking [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon14 | Words of Mormon 1:1 | 1 And now I, Mormon [authorship], being about to deliver up the record which I have been making [recordkeeping] into the hands [authentication] of my son Moroni [posterity], behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites. And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ [chronology] that I deliver these records [recordkeeping] into the hands of my son [posterity]; | |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 6 Start | Mosiah 9 Heading | The Record of Zeniff [source text/title]—An account of his people, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites [content preview]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 6 Start | Mosiah 9:1 | 1 I, Zeniff [authorship], having been taught in all the language [language] of the Nephites … |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 6 End | Mosiah 10:22 | 22 And now I, being old [chronology], did confer the kingdom upon one of my sons [posterity]; therefore, I say no more [conclusion]. And may the Lord bless my people [blessing]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 11 Start | Mosiah 23 Heading | An account of Alma [authorship] and the people of the Lord, who were driven into the wilderness by the people of King Noah [content preview] |
Formal Colophon | Book Start (Chapter 1) | Alma Heading | The Book of Alma [title] The Son of Alma [parentage] The account of Alma [authorship/source text], who was the son of Alma [parentage], the first and chief judge over the people of Nephi, and also the high priest over the Church [credentials]. An account of the reign of the judges, and the wars and contentions among the people. And also an account of a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites [content preview], according to the record of Alma [source text], the first and chief judge [credentials]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start | Alma 5 Heading | The words which Alma [authorship], the High Priest according to the holy order of God [credentials], delivered to the people [audience] in their cities and villages throughout the land [location]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 5 Start | Alma 7 Heading | The words of Alma [authorship] which he delivered to the people [audience] in Gideon [location], according to his own record [source text]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 7 Start | Alma 9 Heading | The words of Alma [authorship], and also the words of Amulek [authorship], which were declared unto the people [audience] who were in the land of Ammonihah [location]. And also they are cast into prison, and delivered by the miraculous power of God which was in them [content preview], according to the record of Alma [source text]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 8 Start | Alma 10:1–12 | 1 Now these are the words which Amulek [authorship] preached unto the people [audience] who were in the land of Ammonihah [location], saying [intro]: |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 8 End | Alma 11:46 | 46 Now, when Amulek [authorship] had finished these words the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 12 Start | Alma 17 Heading | An account of the sons of Mosiah, who rejected their rights to the kingdom for the word of God, and went up to the land of Nephi to preach to the Lamanites; their sufferings and deliverance [content preview]—according to the record of Alma [source text]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 13 Start | Alma 21 Heading | An account of the preaching of Aaron, and Muloki, and their brethren [content preview], to the Lamanites [audience]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 13 End | Alma 22:35 | And now I, after having said this [conclusion], return again to the account of Ammon and Aaron, Omner and Himni, and their brethren [content preview]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 16 End | Alma 35:16 | Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments [content preview], which he gave unto them [audience] according to his own record [source text]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 17 Start | Alma 36 Heading | The commandments of Alma [authorship] to his son Helaman [audience/posterity]. |
Formal Colophon | Alma 38 Heading | The commandments of Alma [authorship] to his son Shiblon [audience/posterity]. | |
Formal Colophon | Alma 39 Heading | The commandments of Alma [authorship] to his son Corianton [audience/posterity]. | |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 20 End | Alma 44:24 | 24 And thus ended the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges [chronology] over the people of Nephi. And thus ended [conclusion] the record of Alma [source text], which was written upon the plates of Nephi [source plates]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 21 Start | Alma 45 Heading | The account of the people of Nephi, and their wars and dissensions [content preview], in the days of Helaman [chronology], according to the record of Helaman [source text], which he kept in his days [recordkeeping]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter | Alma 51:37 | 37 And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the days of Amalickiah. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 30 End) | Alma 63:16–17 | 16 And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi [chronology]. 17 And thus ended [conclusion] the account of Alma, and Helaman his son [posterity], and also Shiblon [posterity], who was his son [source texts/authorship]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | Helaman Heading | The Book of Helaman [title] An account of the Nephites [intro]. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ [content preview], according to the records of Helaman [authorship/source text], who was the son of Helaman [parentage], and also according to the records of his sons [source texts], even down to the coming of Christ [chronology]. And also many of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their conversion. An account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites [content preview], according to the record of Helaman and his sons [source text], even down to the coming of Christ [chronology], which is called the book of Helaman [title], and so forth. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start | Helaman 7 Heading | The Prophecy of Nephi [authorship /source text], the Son of Helaman [parentage]—God threatens the people of Nephi that he will visit them in his anger, to their utter destruction except they repent of their wickedness. God smiteth the people of Nephi with pestilence; they repent and turn unto him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto the Nephites [content preview]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 5 Start | Helaman 13 Heading | The prophecy of Samuel [authorship/source text], the Lamanite [lineage], to the Nephites [audience]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 5 End) | Helaman 16:24–25 | 24 And thus ended [conclusion] the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges [chronology] over the people of Nephi. 25 And thus ended [conclusion] the book of Helaman [title], according to the record of Helaman and his sons [authorship/source text]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | 3 Nephi Heading | [Third Nephi]15 The Book of Nephi [title] The son of Nephi [parentage], who was the son of Helaman [parentage] And Helaman was the son of Helaman [parentage], who was the son of Alma [parentage], who was the son of Alma [parentage], being a descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi [lineage], who came out of Jerusalem in the first year [chronology] of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 2 End | 3 Nephi 5:10–20 | 10 Therefore I have made my record [recordkeeping] of these things according to the record of Nephi [source text], which was engraven on the plates which were called the plates of Nephi [title]. 11 And behold, I do make the record [recordkeeping] on plates which I have made with mine own hands [authentication]. 12 And behold, I am called Mormon [authorship], being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people, yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression [credentials]. 13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God [credentials]. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life [purpose]. 14 And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should make a record of these things which have been done— 15 Yea, a small record of that which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time [record keeping]. 16 Therefore I do make my record from the accounts which have been given by those who were before me [source texts], until the commencement of my day [chronology]; 17 And then I do make a record of the things which I have seen with mine own eyes [authentication]. 18 And I know the record which I make to be a just and a true record [authentication]; nevertheless there are many things which, according to our language [language], we are not able to write. 19 And now I make an end of my saying [conclusion], which is of myself, and proceed to give my account of the things which have been before me [intro]. 20 I am Mormon [authorship], and a pure descendant of Lehi [credentials]. I have reason to bless [blessing] my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, (and no one knew it save it were himself and those whom he brought out of that land) and that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls. … 26 And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be [authentication]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 4 Start | 3 Nephi 8:1 | 1 And now it came to pass that according to our record [source text], and we know our record to be true [authentication], for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record [credentials]—for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity … |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 4 End | 3 Nephi 10:18–19 | 18 And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year [chronology], behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them— 19 Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them [content preview]; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter [recordkeeping]. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 5 Start | 3 Nephi 11 Heading | Jesus Christ did show himself unto the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto them [content preview]; and on this wise did he show himself unto them [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 12 Start | 3 Nephi 26:6–12 | 6 And now there cannot be written in this book [source text] even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people [recordkeeping]; 7 But behold the plates of Nephi [source plates] do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people [recordkeeping]. 8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people and I have written them to the intent [purpose] that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. 9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them [blessing]. 10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation [warning]. 11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi [recordkeeping], but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. 12 Therefore I, Mormon [authorship], do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord [authentication]. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings [conclusion], and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Book Start (Chapter 1 Start) | 4 Nephi Heading | Fourth Nephi16 The Book of Nephi [title] Who is the son of Nephi [parentage]—one of the disciples of Jesus Christ [credentials] An account of the people of Nephi [intro], according to his record [source text]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | Mormon Heading | The Book of Mormon [title] |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 1 Start | Mormon 1:1–5 | 1 And now I, Mormon [authorship], make a record [recordkeeping] of the things which I have both seen and heard [authentication], and call it the Book of Mormon [title]. … 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 [recordkeeping]. 5 And I, Mormon [authorship], being a descendant of Nephi [lineage], (and my father’s name was Mormon [parentage]) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 4 Start | Mormon 8:1 | Behold I, Moroni [authorship], do finish [conclude] the record [source text] of my father, Mormon [parentage]. Behold, I have but few things to write [content preview], which things I have been commanded by my father [authentication]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 4 End) | Mormon 9:32–37 | 32 And now, behold, we have written this record [recordkeeping] according to our knowledge [authentication], in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian [language], being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech. 33 And if our plates [source plates] had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew [language]; … 37 And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith [blessing]; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ [blessing]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | Ether Heading | The Book of Ether [title] The record of the Jaredites [source text], taken from the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of King Mosiah [source plates]. |
Informal Colophon | Ether 1:1–5 | 1 And now I, Moroni [authorship], proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country [content preview]. 2 And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates [source plates] which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether [title]. … 4 Therefore I do not write those things which transpired from the days of Adam until that time; but they are had upon the plates [recordkeeping]; and whoso findeth them, the same will have power that he may get the full account. 5 But behold, I give not the full account, but a part of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed [content preview]. 6 And on this wise do I give the account [intro]. | |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 2 Start | Ether 5:1 | 1 And now I, Moroni [authorship], have written the words which were commanded me [recordkeeping], according to my memory [authentication]; and I have told you [audience] the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate [warning]; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 2 End | Ether 5:4–6 | 4 And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record [authentication]—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day [warning]. 5 And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God [blessing]. 6 And now, if I have no authority for these things, judge ye [warning]; for ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see me, and we shall stand before God at the last day [authentication]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start | Ether 6:1 | And now I, Moroni [authorship], proceed to give the record of Jared and his brother [intro]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 3 End | Ether 8:20–26 | 20 And now I, Moroni [authorship], do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people, and they are had among the Lamanites. … 22 And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed [warning]; … 23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles [audience], it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be [warning]. … 26 Wherefore, I, Moroni [authorship], am commanded [authentication] to write these things that [purpose] evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved [blessing]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 5 End | Ether 12:38–41 | 38 And now I, Moroni [authorship], bid farewell [conclusion] unto the Gentiles [audience], yea, and also unto my brethren [audience] whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood [authentication]. 39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face [credentials], and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things [authentication]; 40 And only a few have I written, because of my weakness in writing [recordkeeping]. 41 And now, I would commend you [exhortation] to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever [blessing]. Amen [conclusion]. |
Informal Colophon | Book End (Chapter 6 End) | Ether 15:34 | 34 Now the last words which are written by Ether [authorship] are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen [conclusion]. |
Formal Colophon | Book Start | Moroni Heading | The Book of Moroni [title] |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 1 Start | Moroni 1:1–4 | 1 Now I, Moroni [authorship], after having made an end [conclusion] of abridging the account of the people of Jared [recordkeeping], I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; … 4 Wherefore, I write a few more things [intro], contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that [purpose] perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites [audience], in some future day, according to the will of the Lord. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 2 Start/End | Moroni 2:1–3 | 1 The words of Christ [authorship], which he spake unto his disciples [audience], the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them [intro] … 3 Now Christ [authorship] spake these words unto them [audience] at the time of his first appearing [chronology]; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it [recordkeeping]; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost [authentication]. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 3 Start/End | Moroni 3:1–4 | 1 The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers [intro]— … 4 And after this manner [conclusion] did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 4 Start/End | Moroni 4:1 | 1 The manner of their elders and priests administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church [content preview]; and they administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true [authentication] … |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 5 Start/End | Moroni 5:1 | The manner of administering the wine [content intro]— |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 7 Start | Moroni 7:1 | 1 And now I, Moroni [authorship], write a few of the words of my father Mormon [source text], which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity [content preview]; for after this manner did he speak unto the people [intro], as he taught them in the synagogue [location] which they had built for the place of worship. |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 8 Start | Moroni 8:1 | An epistle [source text] of my father Mormon [authorship], written to me, Moroni [audience]; and it was written unto me soon after [chronology] my calling to the ministry [credentials]. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying [intro]: |
Formal Colophon | Chapter 9 Start | Moroni 9 Heading | The second epistle [source text] of Mormon [authorship] to his son Moroni [audience]. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 10 Start | Moroni 10:1–2 | 1 Now I, Moroni [authorship], write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites [audience]; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away [chronology] since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. 2 And I seal up these records [recordkeeping], after I have spoken a few words [intro] by way of exhortation [exhortation] unto you. |
Informal Colophon | Chapter 10 End | Moroni 10:34 | 34 And now I bid unto all [audience], farewell [conclusion]. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead [authentication]. Amen [conclusion]. |
- 1. John A. Tvedtnes and David E. Bokovoy, “Colophons and Superscripts,” in Testaments: Links Between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible (Tooele, UT: Heritage Press, 2003), 107–108.
- 2. See Royal Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon: Part 1, 1 Nephi 1–2 Nephi 10 Nephi (Provo, UT: FARMS, 2005), 42–43.
- 3. See “A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon” found in the introductory pages to the 2013 edition of the Book of Mormon. For a history of the publications of the Latter-day Saint scriptural canon, including discussions of when Book of Mormon chapter headings and other study aids were added and revised, see “History of the Scriptures,” online at churchofjesuschrist.org.
- 4. Evidence Central, “Book of Mormon Evidence: Colophons (Antiquity),” September 27, 2021, online at evidencecentral.org.
- 5. These include the Title Page and the books of 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Jacob, Alma, Helaman, 4 Nephi, and Ether.
- 6. These include the Title Page and the books of 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Alma, Helaman, and 4 Nephi.
- 7. The bracketed words in the titles for the books of Nephi weren’t present in the earliest manuscripts. For analysis of these titles, see Royal Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon: Part One, 1 Nephi 1–2 Nephi 10, The Book of Mormon Critical Text Project, Volume 4 (Provo, UT: FARMS, 2004), 42–43.
- 8. See Alma 1 (heading); Alma 7 (heading); Alma 9 (heading); Alma 17 (heading); Alma 35:16; Alma 45 (heading); Helaman 1 (heading); Helaman 16:25; 3 Nephi 5:10; 3 Nephi 8:1; 4 Nephi 1: (heading).
- 9. Thomas W. Mackay, “Mormon as Editor: A Study of Colophons, Headers, and Source Indicators,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2, no. 2 (1993): 90.
- 10. See Mackay, “Mormon as Editor,” 92–93, 104–109. For a more in-depth explanation of chapter designations in the earliest manuscripts and subsequent editions of the Book of Mormon, see Royal Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon (Parts 1–6), The Critical Text of the Book of Mormon (Provo, UT: FARMS, 2005).
- 11. Because of its original placement at the end of the Book of Mormon, the title page functions as a subscriptio or concluding colophon. See Evidence Central, “Book of Mormon Evidence: Subscriptio,” September 19, 2020, online at evidencecentral.org.
- 12. The designation “First” in the heading appears to have been inserted after the dictation of this passage, indicating that it wasn’t part of the original translation. See Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon: Part One, 42–43.
- 13. The designation “Second” in this heading appears to have been inserted after the dictation of this passage, indicating that it wasn’t part of the original translation. See Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon: Part One, 42–43.
- 14. There remains some uncertainty about the structural placement of these verses in the original text. For varying explanations, see Clifford P. Jones, “That Which You Have Translated, Which You Have Retained,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 43 (2021): 1–64; Brant A. Gardner, “When Hypotheses Collide: Responding to Lyon and Minson’s ‘When Pages Collide’,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 5 (2013): 105–119; Jack M. Lyon and Kent R. Minson, “When Pages Collide: Dissecting the Words of Mormon,” BYU Studies Quarterly 51, no. 4 (2012): 120–136; John A. Tvedtnes, “Covering Up the Black Hole in the Book of Mormon,” Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 3, no. 1 (1992): 201–203.
- 15. The designation “Third Nephi” in the heading wasn’t present in the printer’s manuscript or first edition (1830) of the Book of Mormon, suggesting it wasn’t part of the original text. See Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon: Part One, 42–43.
- 16. The designation “Fourth Nephi” in the heading wasn’t part of the original manuscript, printer’s manuscript, or first edition (1830) of the Book of Mormon, indicating it wasn’t part of the original text. See Skousen, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon: Part One, 42–43.