Contents
Synopsis
- “Mormonism” was derived from the “Book of Mormon”
- The title “Book of Mormon” comes from the Title Page of the Book of Mormon
- Moroni wrote the Title Page—not Joe
- The Title refers to the location “Mormon,” not the prophet
- The prophet Mormon was named after the place “Mormon”
- The location “Mormon” was the occurrence of the first church in the wilderness by Alma
- “The Church” is those who choose God
- “Mormon” meant the place where they chose God
- Thus, the “Book of Mormon” means the “Book of Choosing God”
Meaning
The current Title Page of The Holy Book of Mormon reads:
THE
BOOK OF MORMON:
MON, UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM
THE PLATES OF NEPHI.
Wherefore it is an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophecy and of Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed: to come forth by the gift and power of God, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of God; an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether.
Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel 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; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men: wherefore condemn not the things of GOD, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of CHRIST.
There was already a book within the Book of Mormon called “Mormon.” As it reads now, the Title is considered awkward and redundant if it is assumed both words refer to the person Mormon. Some say the biggest error with The Holy Book of Mormon (and therefore proof Joe wrote it) is its Title, for if it was about God, God’s name would be in it.
There are untranslated Nephite words throughout The Holy Book of Mormon, just as there are untranslated words throughout The Holy Bible, and the first use of “Mormon” is one of them. In other words, “Mormon,” as it appears in the Title, refers to its Nephite meaning, and the subtitle refers to the man who wrote it.
To the Nephites, the word “Mormon” was known for the place where the first church was formed in the wilderness:
12 And behold I am called Mormon 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. (3 Nephi 5)
The key is those who choose God. A new translation could thus read:
THE BOOK OF HOW TO CHOOSE GOD
BY THE HAND OF MORMON
This is what occurred in the place of Mormon:
8 Here are the waters of Mormon, and now as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God and to be called His people…to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places that ye may be in even until death… (Mosiah 18)