Book of Mormon

The Brother of Jared petitions the Lord; the Jaredite families are led from the Tower of Babel to the promised land in eight barges.

The Brother of Jared prepares sixteen shining stones and petitions the Lord to touch them. The Lord shows His finger — and then reveals His entire premortal body. It is the most direct pre-meridian theophany recorded in scripture.

Orihah, son of Jared, becomes the first king of the Jaredite nation. A long succession of kings follows — some righteous, most wicked.

Through more than thirty generations, the Jaredite nation rises and falls under alternating righteous and wicked kings. The lineage runs from Orihah through Riplakish, Lib, Hearthom, and finally to Coriantor — father of Ether the prophet.

Riplakish builds towers and courts with slave labor; taxes heavily. Killed in revolt after 42 years.

Lib is a great hunter; the Jaredites spread across the land. Nation reaches its greatest prosperity under his reign.

Ether prophesies all day long of a New Jerusalem on the promised land. The people reject him. Civil war and the secret combination of Akish destroy the nation from within.

After a bloody final war with Shiz, Coriantumr alone survives the Jaredite extinction. He later dwells among the people of Zarahemla (Mulekites) for nine months before dying — fulfilling Ether's prophecy.

Lehi receives visions of God on His throne and the destruction of Jerusalem. He goes out among the people preaching repentance — and is mocked and rejected like the other prophets before him.

The Lord commands Lehi to take his family — Sariah, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, Nephi, and later the Ishmaelites — and flee Jerusalem into the wilderness before the Babylonian destruction.

Nephi obtains the brass plates from Laban by the Spirit's direction — preserving the law of Moses, Isaiah, and Lehi's genealogy for the promised land.

Nebuchadnezzar takes Jehoiachin captive; Daniel and Ezekiel are among the deportees. The Babylonian exile begins.

By divine instruction and against his brothers' mockery, Nephi constructs a ship at Bountiful on the Arabian coast. The family departs and crosses the ocean to the promised land.

After crossing the great ocean in Nephi's ship, the family arrives in the Americas — the promised land, a land of liberty and covenant.

Nebuchadnezzar burns the temple and levels Jerusalem. Zedekiah is blinded; the Mulekites depart around this time.

Mulek, son of Zedekiah, escapes Jerusalem's fall and leads a group to the Americas, settling Zarahemla. Without records, they lose their language over generations.

Shortly after Lehi's death, Nephi is warned to separate from Laman and Lemuel. The Nephite–Lamanite division that will define the entire Book of Mormon begins.

In his final blessing, Lehi declares the promised land a land of liberty — that no kings shall rule over it, and that righteousness is the condition of the covenant. He warns that wickedness will bring scattering.

Nephi is commanded to make a second set of plates focused on spiritual matters. These are the plates that survive to Mormon's day and form the beginning of our Book of Mormon.

Siddhartha Gautama is born in Lumbini. His teachings will spread across Asia over the coming centuries.

Having separated from the Lamanites, Nephi leads his people to a new land where they build a temple after the manner of Solomon — with timber and precious ore. The Nephites are industrious and prosperous.

Confucius is born in Lu, China. His moral philosophy will shape East Asian civilization for millennia.

Nephi entrusts the sacred records to his younger brother Jacob, beginning the lineage of Lehi's record keepers on the small plates.

Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon and issues his decree permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Sherem, a learned and flattering man, contends with Jacob and denies Christ. He demands a sign — and is struck down by God. Before dying he confesses Christ and the truth of the scriptures. He is the first anti-Christ figure in the Book of Mormon.

Enos hunts and prays all day and night; receives a remission of sins and then intercedes for the Nephites and Lamanites. His prayer is among the most personal records in the BOM.

Battle of Marathon — Greece defeats Persia. Athens rises as the dominant Greek city-state.

The small plates pass through Jarom, Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and finally Amaleki — who gives them to Mosiah1 when the Nephites flee to Zarahemla.

The record keepers note that by this period the Nephites have become more wicked in many respects than the Lamanites. War is constant. The plates are kept only because of the commandment.

Mosiah1 is warned by God to flee the land of Nephi. He discovers Zarahemla and unites the Nephites and Mulekites into one people, becoming king over both.

The people of Zarahemla show Mosiah1 a large stone engraved with Coriantumr's account — confirming the Jaredite history and the fate of the nation.

Mosiah1, gifted as a seer, interprets the stone record left by Coriantumr — the sole Jaredite survivor who had dwelt among the Mulekites. This is the Nephites' first encounter with Jaredite history.

Qin Shi Huang begins construction of the Great Wall. China is unified under its first emperor.

Benjamin's righteous reign establishes Zarahemla as a stable Nephite center. He drives out the Lamanites with the strength of God and grants his people liberty.

Overzealous to reclaim the land of their inheritance, Zeniff leads a colony back to the land of Nephi, making a treaty with the Lamanites — a decision that leads to generations of bondage.

Noah succeeds Zeniff and plunges the Nephites in the land of Nephi into wickedness — building towers, taxing the people heavily, surrounding himself with wicked priests, and ultimately killing the prophet Abinadi.

Abinadi is burned alive after prophesying of Christ and the Resurrection before Noah's wicked priests. His testimony converts one priest — Alma — who flees and founds the Waters of Mormon church.

Alma1 preaches and baptizes at the Waters of Mormon — the first organized Christian church among the Nephites. He leads his people into the wilderness to escape King Noah.

King Benjamin delivers his great sermon — teaching the nature of God, the Atonement, service, and covenant-making. The people fall to the earth and enter a covenant with Christ.

Benjamin crowns Mosiah2 king shortly before his death. Mosiah2 will oversee the return of Limhi's people and Alma's people from the land of Nephi and eventually end the kingship entirely.

Ammon finds Limhi's people in bondage in the land of Nephi. Through Gideon's plan — making the Lamanite guards drunk — they escape by night and return to Zarahemla.

After Limhi's people return to Zarahemla, Alma baptizes King Limhi and all of his people. Both Limhi's people and Alma's people are now reunited under King Mosiah2 — the scattered Nephites reassembled.

Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah seek to destroy the Church. An angel appears in thunder and commands them to stop. Alma is struck dumb and falls as dead — spending three days in spiritual agony before his conversion. He becomes one of the greatest missionaries in scripture.

Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni — once rebels against the Church — are converted and dedicate 14 years to missionary work among the Lamanites, ultimately converting thousands.

Mosiah translates the full Ether plates — the complete history of the Jaredite nation. He causes them to be read to the people, who are astonished and mourn. This record becomes the Book of Ether.

Mosiah2 warns that a wicked king can destroy the people and institutes a system of judges elected by the voice of the people — transferring sovereignty to the people themselves.

The converted Lamanites (Anti-Nephi-Lehies) bury their weapons and refuse to take them up again. Over a thousand are killed by enemies without resistance — dying as martyrs rather than break their covenant.

King Lamoni is converted by Ammon; Lamoni's father, the over-king of all the Lamanites, is converted by Aaron. Thousands follow their kings into the covenant.

Alma the Younger, son of Alma1, becomes both chief judge and high priest. In his first three years he faces Nehor's priestcrafts, Amlici's armed revolt, and a coordinated Lamanite invasion.

Nehor promotes priestcrafts and kills the elderly Gideon. Alma2 condemns him to death. Though Nehor dies, his order and doctrine persist and trouble the Nephites for generations.

Amlici seeks to make himself king; defeated by the voice of the people. He allies with Lamanites and attacks anyway. Alma defeats Amlici in personal combat but is gravely wounded.

Alma resigns the chief judgeship to Nephihah to devote himself entirely to preaching, seeing the wickedness of the Church and wanting "to stir them up in remembrance of their duty."

Nephihah serves 16 years (83–67 BC). He is largely overshadowed by the mighty missionaries and military figures around him: Alma, Amulek, the sons of Mosiah, Helaman, Captain Moroni.

Alma and Amulek are imprisoned; women and children who believe are burned before their eyes. Within the year, a Lamanite army destroys the entire city of Ammonihah in a single day — fulfilling Alma's prophecy.

Korihor preaches that there is no Christ, no sin, and no atonement — that every man fares according to his own strength and genius. He demands a sign and is struck permanently dumb. Later he is trampled to death by the Zoramites. His doctrine is named 'the doctrine of the devil.'

Alma leads a mission to reclaim the apostate Zoramites, who pray on their Rameumptom towers with vain self-congratulatory repetitions. He delivers the great Alma 32 sermon on faith as a seed. Many of the poor Zoramites are converted.

Alma delivers prophetic blessings to Helaman (record keeper), Shiblon, and Corianton (who sinned grievously). He then departs toward Melek and is never seen again — taken up as Moses was.

Moroni, age 25, becomes commander of the Nephite armies. He builds fortifications — earthen walls, timbers, towers — transforming Nephite warfare. He raises the Title of Liberty.

Amalickiah, through treachery and murder, makes himself king of the Lamanites and leads war against the Nephites. Moroni raises the Title of Liberty — inscribed 'In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children' — rallying the righteous to covenant.

Pahoran serves 14 years (67–53 BC) through devastating wars. King-men rebels attempt to overthrow him. Moroni's epistle to Pahoran — written in fury, then in sorrow — is one of the most emotionally charged passages in all scripture.

2,060 young men — sons of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies — join Helaman to fight. Not one is killed in battle, though all are wounded. Their mothers had taught them that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

Moroni and Pahoran's combined armies retake Zarahemla, expel the Lamanites, and execute the king-men traitors. Peace is established across the land for the first time in over a decade.

Pahoran dies; his son Pahoran2 is assassinated within the year by Kishkumen. Pacumeni is then killed by the Lamanite commander Coriantumr in an invasion of Zarahemla.

Helaman, grandson of Alma2, serves 12 years (50–39 BC). His reign includes the 49th (sabbatical) and 50th (jubilee) years of the judges — the most extraordinary era of peace and missionary expansion in the BOM.

Gadianton establishes his secret combination after Kishkumen fails to assassinate Helaman. The Gadianton robbers — with their secret oaths and murder for power — will plague Nephite society for centuries.

Caesar is killed on the Ides of March. The Roman Republic gives way to the Roman Empire under Augustus.

Nephi, son of Helaman, serves 10 years (39–30 BC). Civil war, pride, and Gadianton infiltration cost the Nephites half their lands. Like Alma before him, he resigns the judgeship to devote himself to preaching.

Nephite dissenters join with Lamanites and seize Zarahemla and much Nephite territory. Nephi resigns the judgeship to preach with his brother Lehi.

Nephi and Lehi devote themselves entirely to preaching. They are imprisoned in Lamanite territory, surrounded by miraculous fire but unharmed, speak with angels, and see the faces of their enemies transfigured. Eight thousand Lamanites are converted.

Converted Lamanites preach to wicked Nephites — a reversal of the typical pattern. But the Gadianton robbers penetrate the Nephite government from within, placing their own members in the judgment seats.

Nephi travels north to preach but is rejected everywhere. He returns to Zarahemla and stands on his tower praying aloud in grief over the wickedness of the people. Passersby hear and gather around him.

Seeing the people repent more readily of famine than war, Nephi persuades the Lord to replace destruction with drought. The famine is severe. When repentance comes, Nephi prays again and rain returns. The Lord declares Nephi has power to seal and loose on earth and in heaven.

Samuel stands on the wall of Zarahemla and prophesies: Christ will be born in 5 years — the sign being a night without darkness. He also gives the signs of Christ's death. Arrows and stones cannot hit him.

Nephi, the son of Helaman, departs out of the land and is never heard from again — taken by the Spirit, as Alma was. His son Nephi keeps the records at a time of great wickedness and approaching divine signs.

Lachoneus serves AD 1–30. The night-without-darkness sign of Christ's birth appears. The Gadianton robbers demand the Nephites' surrender. Lachoneus leads the great gathering of the people to Bountiful for defense.

The Savior is born in a stable in Bethlehem. The Nephites witness the sign — a night without darkness — fulfilling Samuel's prophecy exactly five years after it was given.

Lachoneus commands all Nephites to abandon their lands and gather their flocks and provisions to the center of the land for defense. The people fast, pray, and repent. The robbers demand surrender or destruction.

The Nephites defeat the Gadianton robbers completely. The survivors are converted through preaching. Their leader Giddianhi is killed; Zemnarihah is hanged from a tree. The land is cleansed of the robbers for a generation.

Following the Gadianton defeat, the Nephites prosper. But within a few years, pride and wealth create class distinctions — fine clothing, towers, rank. The people forget God and the cycle begins again.

The Nephite government collapses when the chief judge is murdered. The people cannot agree on a replacement and divide back into family tribes — the same fragmented state their ancestors had been in before Mosiah1 united them.

Lachoneus2 is assassinated. The 121-year reign of judges ends. The Nephites dissolve into tribes — the same year as Christ's crucifixion in Jerusalem.

In the 34th year, a great storm arises — tempests, earthquakes, lightning, and whirlwinds — destroying many great cities. The wicked are swept away. Three days of thick darkness follow. The voice of Christ is heard from the heavens calling the survivors to repentance.

The resurrected Christ descends from heaven to the temple in Bountiful before 2,500 people. He invites them to feel His wounds, teaches the Sermon on the Mount, heals the sick, blesses the children, and ordains the Twelve.

Titus destroys the temple and scatters Israel. The diaspora begins. Jewish Christianity disperses across the Roman Empire.

All are converted — no Nephites, no Lamanites, no ites of any kind. No poor, no crime, no contentions. The Nephite golden age lasts nearly two centuries — the longest era of peace in the entire Book of Mormon.

Wealth creates class distinctions; the -ites return — Nephites, Lamanites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites. The church begins to falter. False churches arise and persecute the true church.

Two hundred and thirty-one years after Christ's visit, the Nephites and Lamanites separate completely — returning to the old division that Christ himself had abolished. Persecution of the righteous begins.

Ammaron, constrained by the Holy Ghost because of the great wickedness of the people, hides all the sacred records in the hill Shim. He instructs the young Mormon — age 10 — where to find them.

At age 10, Ammaron tells Mormon where the plates are hidden. At age 24 he retrieves them and begins compiling the Nephite record — one of history's most remarkable editorial projects.

Mormon abridges the large plates of Nephi into the record we now hold. He witnesses the destruction of his people through decades of war and carnage while simultaneously preserving their spiritual history.

Mormon preaches repentance to the Nephites but their sorrow is not godly sorrow — it is the sorrow of the damned. He refuses to lead them any further, seeing their wickedness and the futility of war. Blood and carnage sweep the land.

Mormon records one of the most horrifying passages in scripture: the Nephites offer women and children as sacrifices to their idols. The nation has descended beyond the reach of preaching.

Over 230,000 Nephites are destroyed at Cumorah. Mormon is killed. Moroni alone survives to wander for 20+ years and complete the record.

The Lamanites seek out and destroy the Nephites who fled after Cumorah. Those who will not deny Christ are put to death. Moroni wanders alone — without family, friends, or companions — evading capture.

Moroni writes his final words — including his witness of the resurrected Christ and his promise that those who ask God in sincerity will know the truth of the record. He seals and buries the gold plates. They sleep for over 1,400 years.