Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Mormon Chapter 1
of a time when their tools and riches which the people hid away would become slippery and they
would lose them (H. 5:45- 48).
The year Mormon was fifteen a war broke out between the Nephites and Lamanites. He said,
"Notwithstanding I being young, was large of stature, therefore the people of Nephi ap- pointed
me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies" (22). In his sixteenth year, A.D. 326,
he went forth at the head of an army of Nephites.
THE WICKED SHALL SLAY THE WICKED, VER. 24-56
Mormon 1:24 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and seventh year, the Lamanites
did come upon us with exceeding great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore
they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries.
The Nephites took possession of the city of Angola, and fortified it "with our mights" (26). In spite
of their preparations, the Lamanites drove them out of' the city (26). They went into the land of
David and were driven out to the land of Joshua, which was west by the seashore. Here they
massed in one body, but the land "was filled with robbers and with Lamanites" (29). Heavy
casualties occurred on both sides throughout the land.
Aaron, king of the Lamanites, with 44,000, came against 42,000 Nephites, and was beaten and
fled before Mormon. The Nephites began to repent, particularly as they saw the prophecies of
Samuel being fulfilled; "for behold, no man could keep that which was his own" because of the
thieves, robbers, murderers, and magic art in the land (34).
Mormon 1:36 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentations, and their mourning,
and their sorrowing before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and
the long suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them, that they would
again become a righteous people.
He thought they might again become a righteous people. But this "joy was vain, for their
sorrowing was not unto repentance" (37). Instead of coming "unto Jesus with broken hearts and
contrite spirits," they cursed God and wished to die (38). Mormon said, "1 saw that the day of
grace was past with them, both temporally and spiritually" (40).
In A.D. 345, the Nephites fled to the land of Jashon. This brought them near the land where
Ammoron had deposited the records in the hill Shim (43). Mormon made a full account of all the
wickedness and abominations upon the plates of Nephi (45). "My heart has been filled with
sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days" (46).
"The people of Nephi again were hunted and driven." They fled "northward to the land which was
called Shem" (47, 48). Here they fortified the city and gathered the Nephites. In A.D. 346 "they
began to come upon us again" (50).
Mormon 1:51 And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and did urge them with great
energy, that they would stand boldly before the Lamanites, and fight for their wives, and their children,
and their houses and their homes.