Mormon, Book

Mormon, Book of

Holy scripture of the Mormons, supplemental to the Bible. First published in 1830, it is held by all branches of Mormonism to be a divinely inspired work translated by the founder of their religion, Joseph Smith. It relates the history of a tribe of Hebrews who migrated from Jerusalem to America c. 600 BC. They eventually split into two groups: the Lamanites, who were ancestors of the American Indians; and the Nephites, who were instructed by Jesus before being destroyed by the Lamanites. The prophet Mormon recorded their history on gold tablets, which were buried and remained hidden for centuries. Moroni, Mormon's son, appeared to Smith in angelic form and revealed their location.