Where is the hill Cumorah, part 2, and Components of the Book of Mormon? In his book, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, Joseph L. Allen (as well as several other well known authors) proposes that the hill Cumorah is the same hill known today as Mount Vigia, located near the town of Santiago Tuxtla,Mexico (p 344). On pages 345, 351, and 352 of this same book, Mr. Allen provides early accounts of a vision that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received when they went back to return the Plates of the Book of Mormon. They said the hill in front of them opened up and they seen a large room with the appearance of a library containing many plates. (See also Journal of Discourses 19:38, 4:105) This vision is no doubt the same place, hill Cumorah, where Mormon said he hid up all of the Records. (See image below of all the plates mentioned in the Book of Mormon). However, from out first study, we know by the description of the lands, sea landing sites etc. given in the Book of Mormon, Hill Cumorah library cannot be located in ew York. Rather, this Cumorah must be located somewhere near the narrow neck of land that divides the seas. When Joseph Smith was first lead to the location of the Book of Mormon plates near his home in New York, he was not shown a large room but rather a small cement box containing a one set thin metal plates, a breastplate and Urim and Thummim. Again, these plates were sealed in a box not in a library. Moroni no doubt traveled to New York probably writing the Book of Moroni along the way. What are the Records that make up the Book of Mormon? Scripture References: 1 Nephi 1:15-17 (p 3) - Nephi makes an abridgment of Lehi's record. 1 Nephi 2:1 (p 16) - The genealogy of Nephi's people is in Lehi Record. 1 Nephi 2:93-99 - Nephi keeps one set of plates to record the ministry of his people (Small Plates of ephi), and he keeps another set of plates to record the reign of kings and wars and contentions of his people (Large Plates of ephi). 1 Nephi 5:217-229; 2 Nephi 4:44-46 After 30 years, Nephi is commanded to make the Small Plates of ephi (the record that we are now reading from in this account (1 ephi - Omni). These plates contain the more "plain and precious parts" of the ministry. He also engraved on the Larger Plates of ephi the record of his father, his father's prophecies, journeying in the wilderness and his own prophecies. Mormon included these things from his abridgments that Joseph received, translated and then lost. That is to say, after the first 116 pages were translated from the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris s wife conspired to steal this translation. After this event, the Lord did not allow this record to be retranslated. Rather, we get our account of this time period in the Book of Mormon from the Smaller Plates (1 ephi Omni) Words of Mormon 1:1-14 (p 204) After Mormon completes his abridgment from the Large Plates of Nephi, he finds the Small Plates of Nephi (1Nephi through Omni) containing the
ministry. He is told by the Lord to also include this second record of the same time period in his plates. The Lord knows full well that the first account, the 116 pages first translated by Joseph and Martin, would be lost. Omni 1:33-39 (p 202) - The genealogy of Zarahemla is recorded on other plates. A large stone is brought to Mosiah with engravings which he translated. Whether this is stone is the record of the Jaredites or the stone interpreters with the 24 plates of gold is unclear. Omni s account says the stone contained an account of the Jaredites. Mosiah 5:62-65 (p 232) - The 24 plates of pure gold filled with the engravings of the Jaredites. These plates are known as the plates of Ether. (Ether 1:2-6) Mosiah 12:15-26 (p 291) - Mosiah translates Ethers gold plates with seer stones. Ether 6:14-15 (p 751) - Moroni is forbidden from recording the great and marvelous prophecies of Ether. Ether 6:83-84 (p 757) - Mormon hid the records in the hill Cumorah (known as Hill Ramah in Ether s time). Both nations were destroyed in this same area. Ether 6:107-109 (p 759) - Ether finishes his record (the 24 plates of gold). These are the records discovered by Limhi. Moroni 1:1 (p 760) - Moroni abridges the account of the people of Jared Ether 1:90-101 (p 723) - The Brother of Jared is shown all things and records them. He seals up the things that are written with two stones. Ether 2:1 (p 725) - Moroni translates the plates of gold and seals them up. Plates that Joseph Smith was given A Mormon s abridgement from Large Plates of ephi The first 116 pages are translated into English. This portion of Mormon s abridgment comes from the large plates of Nephi was translated by Joseph Smith, loaned to Martin Harris to show his wife and then stole. B - Unabridged Small Plates of ephi (Parts B F is what makes up the Book of Mormon) Once he was allowed to work again, Joseph was directed not to retranslate the 116 pages that were stolen, but to continue on. This brings us up to 1 Nephi and the small plates of Nephi. (see Words of Mormon 1:1-14 p 204) As a result, our Book of Mormon starts with the small plates of Nephi (1Nephi, 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni) Note that the same time period is covered in Mormon s lost abridgement and 1Nephi through Omni (600 B.C. - 130B.C.) C - Words of Mormon
This book contains editorial comments written by Mormon in 384 A.D. that explains why he included the small plates of Nephi with his abridgment. D - Abridgment from the Large Plates of ephi From the very start, Nephi kept a set of plates recording the history of the people. They are called the large plates of Nephi. These large plates contain the civil record of the people up to the time of King Benjamin. After the time of King Benjamin, both the sacred and civil accounts of the people were kept on the large plates of ephi because the small plates used for recording the ministry and sacred history, were filled. After Mormon interjects the small book Words of Mormon our story continues with writings and abridgments from Mormon I.E. Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, Third Nephi, Forth Nephi, and chapters 1, 2 and 3 of Mormon. Moroni, Mormon s son, survives the Lamanite extermination to complete the forth chapter of the book of Mormon. E - Abridgment from the 24 Gold Plates The last Jaredite prophet, Ether, writes a history of his people on 24 gold plates. Our abridgement in the Book of Mormon covers a period from the Tower of Babel until circa 130 B.C. Moroni was commanded to make this abridgment from Ethers account and include it with his father's abridgment. The promise is given that whosoever finds these records and great prophecies will have power to obtain the full account. 1. For Moroni to have abridged our copy of Ether, he first had to translate Ethers plates into his own language. This translation is known as the Sealed portion that Joseph was not allowed to translate. F - Book of Moroni This book was written by Moroni after abridging the Jaredite record (24 gold plates) and is the final book contained in the Book of Mormon. G - Sealed Portion Contains the vision of the Brother of Jared from the beginning of time to the end The Lord commanded the Brother of Jared to write the vision and seal it up with two stones to be used for translating. The Lord said these things were not to be revealed until after He should come in the flesh. Jesus Christ revealed Mosiah s translation to the people during His appearance in the land Bountiful after His resurrection. Joseph Smith was instructed not to translate or open the sealed portion. The sealed portion will be revealed again when the Gentiles exercise faith and become sanctified. Other Records The Brass Plates -Lehi brought the brass plates from Jerusalem. They are written in the Egyptian language.
They contain the five books of Moses (including an account of creation and Adam and Eve), a record of the Jews down to King Zedekiah (including the records of the Holy Scriptures), prophecies of holy prophets including Jeremiah and Joseph of Egypt, and the genealogy of Lehi's fathers. It is larger than our Old Testament and includes several unknown prophets. They shall go to all nations, tongues and people who are of the seed of Lehi They shall never perish or be dimmed by time. The Image below is comes out of Book Translating the Anthon Transcript by Stan and Polly Johnson. To download a similar image, go to: http://www.the-book-of-mormon.com/abridgements.jpg