Mormon was born on the North American continent approximately 312 a.d. It was a time of turbulence, great wickedness and near constant warfare.
Lehi Leaves Jerusalem
Mormon was a descendant of Lehi, a God-fearing man who lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah. Being warned of God to flee before it was destroyed, Lehi’s family left Jerusalem, built ships and landed in Mesoamerica.
Lehi’s children eventually divided into two camps – Nephites, who kept the records and (most of the time) believed in Christ, and Lamanites who were at constant odds with the Nephites.
Mormon was a Nephite, but at a time when they had become as wicked and godless as the Lamanites.
Ammaron Chooses Mormon to Care for Gold Plates
When Mormon was about 10 years old, Ammaron, the prophet of that day, had seen that Mormon was “a sober child, and…quick to observe.” (Mormon 1:2) Despite Mormon’s youth, Ammaron gave him a strict charge that when the boy turned 24 he was to retrieve a portion of the sacred/historical records written on plates of gold which Ammaron had buried for safe keeping.
At the age of 15, Mormon tried to preach to the people but was forbidden by God because of the hardness of their hearts. “They had willfully rebelled against their God.” (Mormon 1:16)
Desperate for leadership, the Nephites appointed Mormon to be commander of their army due to his large size. He was still only 15.
Lamanites War Against Nephites
The record tells of battle after battle between the two factions, with the Lamanites prevailing because of the constant wickedness of the Nephites. The Nephite soldiers were so discouraged and demoralized that they “began to repent of their iniquity.” (Mormon 2:10)
There was “great mourning and lamentation” among them. Mormon hoped it was true repentance so that the spirit of the Lord would again be with them. But his “joy was in vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance…it was rather the sorrowing of the damned.” (Mormon 2:13)
As Mormon states, “I saw that the day of grace was passed.” Thousands died in battle and internal strife, the bodies piled up “like dung upon the face of the land.” (Mormon 2:15)
Mormon Retrieves the Gold Plates of Nephi
During this time, Mormon had turned 24, and as directed by Ammaron, retrieved the plates of Nephi. He made more plates, adding to the book, and kept a record of his people and their dealings. He did not, however, record the full extent of the wickedness. The “continual scene of wickedness and abominations” was more than he could bear to write about.
Morale became a stumbling block, and Mormon was able to rally the men, motivating them to defend their homes and families. They fought with renewed energy and courage, beating back the Lamanites. The Nephites chased the fleeing Lamanites into the wilderness, slaughtering thousands, then boasting in their own strength and swearing vengeance for their dead.
Nephites Offer Human Sacrifice
Mormon had had enough. He resigned as commander, believing that God was angry with them and would allow them to be destroyed. The Nephite wickedness had progressed so far, Mormon seemed to be sickened by their behavior, calling it “impossible to describe”. (Mormon 4:11) The Nephites had captured Lamanite women and children during the fights and offered them as human sacrifices to their idols.
As he wrote this, Mormon apologized to the reader, knowing the effect such an account must have on others. He had been shown in vision a time when the records would be made known, that they might bring people to know of Christ and to repent.
Destruction of the Nephite People
Mormon finished his record with the account of one more battle; the final destruction of his people. The two armies gathered support for four years, arming every man, woman and child who could carry a weapon. Mormon had again agreed to lead the Nephites, even though he knew he would likely die in the process. His son, Moroni, was also a leader in the Nephite army.
In the end, out of hundreds of thousands of Nephites only 24 survived, Mormon and Moroni among them. Mormon passed the records to Moroni for safekeeping and possibly for Moroni to complete them. Mormon’s last written entry was prophecy concerning the remnant of the people in the last days, pleading with them to repent and come unto Christ. He bids a heartbroken farewell, mourning the slain of his people.
Moroni writes later that after that great battle, the Lamanites hunted and killed the remaining Nephites, including his father. Mormon died in about 400 a.d.
Record keeper, editor, army captain, prophet and father, Mormon was a commanding figure during a time of upheaval and destruction. The Book of Mormon that carries his name is without a doubt his most enduring legacy.
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