Record of the Nephites
Encyclopedia
The phrase record of the Nephites has two distinct but related usages. The primary use is to describe the collection of inscribed metal plates on which the Nephite
s recorded their history. An abridged version of this record, inscribed on gold plates
, was the source of the Book of Mormon
, according to Joseph Smith. The Record of the Nephites was also the manuscript
title of the Book of Mormon.
, various people in the Book of Mormon were charged with keeping a record of the secular and sacred history of the Nephites. These records were inscribed on metal plates. The record keeper was usually a prophet
, although there are some minor authors who were not. For some portion of the Book of Mormon history the records were kept by Nephite rulers, either kings or chief judges, many of whom were also prophets.
There were several sets of plates that constituted the record of the Nephites. Some of the plates are specifically mentioned in the Book of Mormon, including the brass plates of Laban
, the history of the Jaredite
s, and the large and small plates of Nephi
.
According to the Book of Mormon, Mormon, one of the last of the Nephites, abridged the record, writing on plates of gold. Mormon states that he took his account primarily from the large plates of Nephi, but he also included the unabridged, small plates of Nephi. Mormon's son, Moroni
added to Mormon's account, but stated that he would have written more, "if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none" (Mormon 8:5). Moroni had been commanded by his father to seal the plates and "hide up the record in the earth" (Mormon 8:4). Adherents of Mormonism
believe that Moroni, as an angel, appeared to Joseph Smith in 1823 and directed him to where the plates were hidden. According to Joseph Smith's account, this was the Hill Cumorah
, near Palmyra, New York.
, Book of Ezekiel
chapter 37, which the Latter Day Saint movement
believes to be a prophecy of the Record of the Nephites.
Typically, such titles indicate that the text is from an unedited copy of the first edition, published 1830 by Egbert Grandin
in Palmyra, New York
.
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
s recorded their history. An abridged version of this record, inscribed on gold plates
Golden Plates
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith...
, was the source of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, according to Joseph Smith. The Record of the Nephites was also the manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
title of the Book of Mormon.
Inscribed plates
Beginning with NephiNephi
According to the Book of Mormon, Nephi was the son of Lehi, a prophet, founder of the Nephite people, and author of the first two books of the Book of Mormon, First and Second Nephi.- Early life :Nephi was the fourth of six sons of Lehi and Sariah...
, various people in the Book of Mormon were charged with keeping a record of the secular and sacred history of the Nephites. These records were inscribed on metal plates. The record keeper was usually a prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, although there are some minor authors who were not. For some portion of the Book of Mormon history the records were kept by Nephite rulers, either kings or chief judges, many of whom were also prophets.
There were several sets of plates that constituted the record of the Nephites. Some of the plates are specifically mentioned in the Book of Mormon, including the brass plates of Laban
Laban (Book of Mormon)
Laban was the name of a person in the first part of The Book of Mormon, a scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement. Although he only makes a brief appearance in the narrative, his brass plates would play an important role amongst the Nephites, who are the book's main protagonists.-Laban:In the...
, the history of the Jaredite
Jaredite
The Jaredites are a people written of in the Book of Mormon, principally in the Book of Ether. In the Book of Ether, the Jaredites are described as the descendants of Jared and his brother, at the time of the Tower of Babel. According to the Book of Mormon, the people fled across the Ocean via...
s, and the large and small plates of Nephi
Plates of Nephi
According to the Book of Mormon, the plates of Nephi, consisting of the large plates of Nephi and the small plates of Nephi, are a portion of the collection of inscribed metal plates which make up the record of the Nephites...
.
According to the Book of Mormon, Mormon, one of the last of the Nephites, abridged the record, writing on plates of gold. Mormon states that he took his account primarily from the large plates of Nephi, but he also included the unabridged, small plates of Nephi. Mormon's son, Moroni
Moroni (prophet)
The Angel Moroni is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. said visited him on numerous occasions, beginning on September 21, 1823. According to Smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, which Latter Day Saints believe were the source material for the Book of Mormon, buried in a hill near...
added to Mormon's account, but stated that he would have written more, "if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none" (Mormon 8:5). Moroni had been commanded by his father to seal the plates and "hide up the record in the earth" (Mormon 8:4). Adherents of Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
believe that Moroni, as an angel, appeared to Joseph Smith in 1823 and directed him to where the plates were hidden. According to Joseph Smith's account, this was the Hill Cumorah
Cumorah
Cumorah is a drumlin in Manchester, New York, where Joseph Smith, Jr...
, near Palmyra, New York.
Manuscript title
The Book of Mormon is sometimes published as The Record of the Nephites. It is also called The Nephite Record and The Stick of Joseph, depending on the publisher. The term Stick of Joseph is a reference to the verses in the King James Version of the BibleKing James Version of the Bible
The Authorized Version, commonly known as the King James Version, King James Bible or KJV, is an English translation of the Christian Bible by the Church of England begun in 1604 and completed in 1611...
, Book of Ezekiel
Book of Ezekiel
The Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and preceding the Book of the Twelve....
chapter 37, which the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
believes to be a prophecy of the Record of the Nephites.
Typically, such titles indicate that the text is from an unedited copy of the first edition, published 1830 by Egbert Grandin
Egbert Bratt Grandin
Egbert Bratt Grandin was a printer in Palmyra, New York, known for publishing the first edition of the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the churches of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Biography:...
in Palmyra, New York
Palmyra (town), New York
Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city Palmyra in Syria....
.