Mormon 1

Chapter Overview

What happens in Mormon 1

Mormon introduces himself and recounts his childhood. At age ten, Ammaron entrusts him with the sacred records. Despite growing up amid escalating war and wickedness, young Mormon is visited by the Lord at age fifteen, though he is forbidden to preach because of the people's hardness of heart.

Scripture

Ammaron's charge to young Mormon

Study note

Mormon begins his personal record by describing how Ammaron, recognizing the ten-year-old boy as "a sober child" who was "quick to observe," charged him with the future stewardship of the sacred records. This remarkable commissioning of a child to preserve an entire civilization's spiritual heritage underscores God's pattern of calling the young and faithful.

1 And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.

2 And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;

3 Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.

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.

5 And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my father's name was Mormon) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me.

War, wickedness, and the withdrawal of the Spirit

Study note

Mormon moves to Zarahemla and witnesses the beginning of war between the Nephites and Lamanites. The land is populous but deeply wicked. Because of the people's iniquity, the Lord withdraws His beloved disciples, miracles cease, and the Holy Ghost no longer comes upon any of the people. This spiritual vacuum sets the stage for the civilization's collapse.

6 And it came to pass that I, being eleven years old, was carried by my father into the land southward, even to the land of Zarahemla.

7 The whole face of the land had become covered with buildings, and the people were as numerous almost, as it were the sand of the sea.

8 And it came to pass in this year there began to be a war between the Nephites, who consisted of the Nephites and the Jacobites and the Josephites and the Zoramites; and this war was between the Nephites, and the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites.

9 Now the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites were called Lamanites, and the two parties were Nephites and Lamanites.

10 And it came to pass that the war began to be among them in the borders of Zarahemla, by the waters of Sidon.

11 And it came to pass that the Nephites had gathered together a great number of men, even to exceed the number of thirty thousand. And it came to pass that they did have in this same year a number of battles, in which the Nephites did beat the Lamanites and did slay many of them.

12 And it came to pass that the Lamanites withdrew their design, and there was peace settled in the land; and peace did remain for the space of about four years, that there was no bloodshed.

13 But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.

14 And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.

Mormon's divine encounter and forbidden ministry

Study note

At fifteen, Mormon is visited by the Lord and knows of the goodness of Jesus. He desires to preach but is forbidden because the people have willfully rebelled. This poignant moment reveals a young man burning with testimony but living among people who refuse to hear. Meanwhile, sorcery, witchcraft, and the power of evil spread across the land, fulfilling the prophecies of Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite.

15 And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus.

16 And I did endeavor to preach unto this people, but my mouth was shut, and I was forbidden that I should preach unto them; for behold they had wilfully rebelled against their God; and the beloved disciples were taken away out of the land, because of their iniquity.

17 But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake.

18 And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again.

19 And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the words of Abinadi, and also Samuel the Lamanite.

Key Themes

Themes in Mormon 1

God's call to the young and faithfulThe withdrawal of spiritual gifts due to wickednessPersonal testimony amid surrounding apostasyThe sacred responsibility of preserving recordsThe consequences of willful rebellion against God

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Mormon 1:2 1 Timothy 4:12

Ammaron's recognition of young Mormon as capable of sacred stewardship echoes Paul's counsel to Timothy: "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers."

Mormon 1:13-14 Hebrews 6:4-6

The withdrawal of spiritual gifts and the departure of the Spirit because of willful rebellion parallels the warning in Hebrews about those who were once enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift but then fell away.

Apply This Today

Living Mormon 1

Mormon's early life reminds us that God calls people of all ages to His work. Even when surrounded by wickedness, a single faithful heart can be visited by the Lord. Mormon could not change his generation, but he could remain faithful and fulfill his divine assignment. We too may live in difficult times, but our personal relationship with Christ need not depend on the choices of those around us.

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