The Value of the Book of Mormon in Historical Study

Shane Hathaway
November 2002

Little known to most archaeologists, a major civilization arose in the Americas 2400 years ago and faded 1000 years later. The record left behind has great value to modern society, containing both history and spiritual guidance. This record is the Book of Mormon. The detail, thoroughness, and spiritual teachings in the Book of Mormon make it important in the study of history.

Few historical accounts match the level of detail present in the Book of Mormon. The book contains vivid character descriptions, actual dialogues, multiple perspectives, war strategies, technical innovations, explanations of professions, and other elements that provide a clear picture of the people and events. The authors provided enough information that the reader can comprehend the thoughts and feelings of an ancient people.

One such dialogue is found in the book of Alma, chapter 18. Ammon, a missionary, traveled to a land region called Ishmael and desired to become a servant of king Lamoni, who accepted the offer. Later, while Ammon was tending the king's sheep, some robbers started scattering the sheep so they could drive the sheep away to their own land. Ammon miraculously fought away the robbers using stones and a sword. The other servants told the king what had happened. Paraphrasing, the king conversed with his other servants:

"Surely, Ammon is greater than a man," Lamoni exclaimed. "He must be the Great Spirit, sent to punish us because of our murders." The Lamanites traditionally believed in the Great Spirit, a kind of supreme being.

"We don't know whether he is the Great Spirit or not," replied the king's servants, "but we do know that he can't be killed by our enemies, neither can our enemies scatter the flocks when he is with us, because of his skill and great strength. Therefore we know he is a friend of the king. But we don't believe a man has such great power, for he cannot be slain."

"Now I am sure he is the Great Spirit, come to prevent me from killing you as I did your brothers," the king contemplated, lamenting the execution of his former servants who had lost some of the king's flocks. "He must be the Great Spirit that our forefathers spoke of. Where is this man who has such great power?"

"He is feeding your horses," the servants replied.

Lamoni recalled that he had asked his servants to prepare his horses and chariots so he could attend a feast appointed by his father, the king of the whole land. Astonished, he said, "This man is the most faithful servant I have ever had. He remembers and does everything I ask. I want to call for him, but since he is the Great Spirit, I do not dare."

Ammon, unaware of the conversation, soon finished his duty preparing the horses and chariots, and visited the king to report. Upon entering the room, however, the king's countenance startled him and he turned around to leave.

"Rabbanah," one of the servants called out to Ammon, using a special title reserved for great kings. "The king wishes you to stay."

Ammon turned back to the king. "What would you like me to do?" he asked.

Not knowing what to say, the king paused in silence for the space of an hour. Ammon asked the question again, but the king did not answer.

Then, through the Spirit of God, Ammon perceived the king's thoughts. "Do you marvel because I defended your servants and flocks, slew seven of your enemies, and cut off the arms of others?"

The king marveled again because Ammon had discerned his thoughts. "Are you the Great Spirit, who knows all things?"

"I am not," Ammon replied.

"How do you know my thoughts?" Lamoni inquired.

The account of this conversation continues through the end of the chapter. Ammon explained that he is a prophet of God. He helped Lamoni understand who God is, how the world was created, and how his ancestors had left Jerusalem centuries before to begin a civilization in a land across the sea. Lamoni accepted all of his words with great enthusiasm, later granting religious freedom throughout the land and assisting Ammon in many ways.

Detailed stories like this also contribute to the thoroughness of the record of the rise and fall of civilizations described by the Book of Mormon. The record is complete because the prophet Mormon was inspired in 400 A.D. to compile the records made over the centuries into a single, concise record. He said that the records of the time would have filled volumes, but he needed to make a single record on metal plates that would last a long time. Engraving was difficult, so he could copy only the most important records (Jacob 4:1-3).

The Book of Mormon begins with the account by Nephi, the son of the prophet Lehi, who lived in Jerusalem. The Lord had revealed to Lehi that Jerusalem, because of rising wickedness, was about to be invaded and destroyed. Lehi knew of the imminent Babylonian captivity and tried to persuade the people to repent and avoid destruction, but they would not listen. So Lehi was instructed by the Lord to take his family and some friends and flee Jerusalem. They traveled through the desert, built a ship, and crossed the sea (1 Nephi).

Once the family arrived in the new land, Nephi's brothers, Laman and Lemuel, rebelled against the family and started an independent settlement. From that time forward, two nations existed: the Nephites and Lamanites. Over the centuries, the two nations constantly battled, the Lamanites generally being the aggressors. Warfare is a consistent element throughout the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon describes the system of government among the Nephites. Nephi wanted a better government than a succession of kings (2 Nephi 5:18). From the history of the Israelites, he knew that while a good king benefits the people, a wicked king enslaves and destroys the people, and sometimes good kings become wicked. Yet the Nephites initially followed a longstanding Israelite tradition and appointed a king. This was successful for a time, but eventually a king named Noah turned wicked and caused great suffering among the people. The people learned from this experience and switched to a system of judges instead, where no one had absolute power. The new system led to more stability (Mosiah 29).

The most significant event in the Book of Mormon is the appearance of Christ among the Nephites. After his death and resurrection, Christ came to the Nephites as a man and spent a short time teaching them. Nearly all of his words are recorded in the book (3 Nephi 11-28). His teachings were so powerful that the people gave up contention and achieved great prosperity for over 150 years (4 Nephi 1). During this incredible period, the people abandoned the distinction between Nephite and Lamanite and lived in complete peace and happiness.

But after several generations passed, the people slowly slipped back into ignorance and warfare. The people started calling themselves Nephites and Lamanites again. Within 300 years after Christ's visit, the people willfully rebelled against the counsel of God (Mormon 1:16). A great war began. There was sorrow in the land not because of the loss of many lives, but because the people knew their actions were leading to damnation (Mormon 2:13-14). Yet the war continued and great wickedness ensued. In 385 A.D. the Nephites gathered for a final battle against the much more numerous Lamanites on hill Cumorah. That day saw the death of the entire Nephite army, consisting of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and the collapse of the Nephite nation. According to Mormon, only twenty four Nephites escaped, including Mormon himself (Mormon 6:15). Mormon was the commander of the army and a prophet.

Mormon compiled the records of the people into a single volume and gave them to his son, Moroni. Moroni added his own insights to the book. He buried the record in the earth in 421 A.D. Then, in the early 19th century, the location of this record was revealed to a young farm boy named Joseph Smith, who translated the record into English by the power of God and restored the record to the knowledge of the people.

Mormon predicted that the Lamanites would continue to exist. They would be scattered and driven about by the future inhabitants of the land (Mormon 5:15-20). The people we know of today as Native Americans, or "indians", are the descendants of the Lamanites that Mormon spoke of.

Mormon compiled the book for the benefit of not only the remnant of his people, the Native Americans, but also all people on earth. He saw with clarity the reasons for the fall of his people, knowing there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He yearned to warn future generations, whom he foresaw would fall into similar traps. He recognized that of all things he could pass on, spiritual guidance was the most important.

Mormon left a message specifically for the Native Americans.

And now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and these are the words which I speak:

Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.

Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.

Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you.

Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up. (Mormon 7:1-5)

Mormon continued this message with a plea that the future generations would come to know Christ and his doctrine and that they would repent and be baptized. His son, Moroni, left a bold message intended for all people:

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. (Moroni 10:3-4)

Moroni asks that we don't simply read the words of the book, but that we seek to discover for ourselves whether they are true. His promise is sincere, and if the book is indeed the truth then the content of the book, both historical and spiritual, is vital for all people (Benson).

Unfortunately, many who have attempted to correlate the Book of Mormon with archaeology have drawn quick, erroneous conclusions. One prevalent, concise description of the Book of Mormon is that it is a "History of the American Indians", which is not precise, since the book is not a true chronology, nor does it contain information about the happenings in the entire western world. It contains highlights about specific events among the people of a limited area, most likely Mesoamerica (Sorenson).

The words of this ancient book are worthy of extensive historical study. Archaeologists who seek to discover the thoughts and customs of ancient peoples will find in it great treasures of understanding. Even those who do not have strong beliefs, or who believe that God does not exist, can benefit from the wisdom contained in the book (Top). It is a companion to the Bible, which came from an ancient people who lived in a similar time period but a different place. It should be recognized throughout the world.

© 2002 Shane Hathaway

WORKS CITED

1. The Book of Mormon. 1830. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

2. Benson, Ezra Taft. "A New Witness for Christ." Ensign, November 1984, page 6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

3. Top, Brent L. "A Book That Transforms Lives." Ensign, September 1997, page 7. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

4. Sorenson, John L. "Digging into the Book of Mormon: Our Changing Understanding of Ancient America and Its Scripture." Ensign, September 1984, page 27. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.