The Book of Mormon (Jesus Christ, gospel, followers, America, prophet)

[Radio Frequency X]

I bought an antique copy of the Book of Mormon last week and have been reading through it. However, I find it to be a rather difficult read. Are there any good online resources to help me understand it?

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

I bought an antique copy of the Book of Mormon last week and have been reading through it. However, I find it to be a rather difficult read. Are there any good online resources to help me understand it?

Are you having difficulty with some of the terminology or with the general language of the book?

[Radio Frequency X]

Originally Posted by Polaris

Are you having difficulty with some of the terminology or with the general language of the book?

Mostly the terminology and understanding when/where everything is taking place. I'm also confused as to who these people are. Much of it appears to be written as a historical account, much like the old testiment. I'm also curious were to look for those passages which are the foundation of Mormon cosmology and theology. I'm relatively ignorant here, so I'm not even sure where to begin.

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

Mostly the terminology and understanding when/where everything is taking place. I'm also confused as to who these people are. Much of it appears to be written as a historical account, much like the old testiment. I'm also curious were to look for those passages which are the foundation of Mormon cosmology and theology. I'm relatively ignorant here, so I'm not even sure where to begin.

I'd be happy to give a brief overview of the timeline. As you've probably noticed by now the book is divided up into smaller books or sections denoted by the prinicple author's name, similar to the bible. For example it starts with 1 Nephi, then 2 Nephi, Jacob, ... so on until the final section, Moroni. Here is a timeline associated with each of these sections:

1 Nephi - begins around 600 BC in Jerusalem. Nephi gives his account of his families departure from Jerusalem and their travels to a promised land that we now know as the Americas.

2 Nephi - now on the American continent, this book gives an account of the major division of the people into two groups: Nephites and Lamanites. The Nephites, were the followers of the prophet Nephi (the same Nephi as 1 Nephi). The Lamanites were the followers of Laman, one of Nephi's prideful brothers that wanted be the ruler. In this book Nephi provides many doctrinal teachings about Christ and his gospel.

Jacob - about 544 BC, he was the younger brother of Nephi, and became the prophet leader of the Nephites after Nephi's death.

Enos, Jarom, Omni - brief accounts of the successors to Jacob, spans about 200+ years.

Mosiah, Alma, Helaman - mostly a history of the Nephite people and their battles with the mostly wicked Lamanites, who sought their destruction. Goes till about 2 BC.

3 Nephi - this section contains Christ's appearance to the people on the American continent shortly after his ressurrection.

4 Nephi, Mormon - account of the people after Christ's visit up to about 400 AD,
Mormon was the prophet that gathered the writings of all the previous prophets and abridged them into a single book. That's why it is called the Book of Mormon.

Ether - this is actually an account that was found by the Nephites that was a record of a people who came to the American continent much earlier (around the time of the tower of Babel in the Old Testament).

Moroni - the last Nephite prophet witnesses the entire destruction of the Nephite civilzation at the hands of the Lamanites. He provides some closing remarks before burying the plates (this record was written on golden plates).

If you're looking for the parts that are more doctrinal in nature I would recommend these:

2 Nephi chapter 9
2 Nephi chapters 25 thru 33
Jacob chapters 1 thru 4
Mosiah chapters 1 thru 5
Mosiah chapters 12 thru 18
Alma chapter 5
Alma chapter 7
Alma chapters 11 thru 14
Alma chapters 32 thru 34
Alma chapters 36 thru 37
Alma chapters 40 thru 42 - death and the ressurrection
3 Nephi chapters 11 thru 30 - visit of Jesus Christ

Hope this helps some.

[Radio Frequency X]

Thank you very much.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

I bought an antique copy of the Book of Mormon last week and have been reading through it. However, I find it to be a rather difficult read. Are there any good online resources to help me understand it?

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon study guide for seminary students. It's pretty basic since it's written as a guide for teenagers, so it may help you. It also goes into a lot of detail on a chapter-by-chapter basis:

http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/b...anualindex.asp

This is a link to the institute manual, which is targeted at college age students:

http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/b...anualindex.asp

Finally, here is a link to the Book of Mormon Sunday School manual and the Student Study Guide.

[Radio Frequency X]

Originally Posted by jonny

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon study guide for seminary students. It's pretty basic since it's written as a guide for teenagers, so it may help you. It also goes into a lot of detail on a chapter-by-chapter basis:

http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/b...anualindex.asp

This is a link to the institute manual, which is targeted at college age students:

http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/b...anualindex.asp

Finally, here is a link to the Book of Mormon Sunday School manual and the Student Study Guide.

Thanks man. I was hoping I could jump right in, but it seems to require a great deal of work.

[Comprehend]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

Thanks man. I was hoping I could jump right in, but it seems to require a great deal of work.

Hey, for what it is worth, I think you CAN jump right in. In fact for your first reading I personally think it is better to just read it cover to cover. By the middle you will be quite accustomed to the language etc.