Most people in our contemporary society have heard the word Mormon in one context or another. Many think of an American religion. Many non-Mormons even know that the church was founded by Joseph Smith and that Brigham Young led a large movement of pioneers across the continent to settle in Utah. However, too many people still don’t even know where the name Mormon comes from. Let me introduce you to the man whose name has become the popular namesake for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Mormon's last days
Mormon was a prophet-historian who lived on the American continent around 400 AD. He is responsible for abridging the history of his people, called the Nephites. He was a righteous leader who also served as a military commander, a position for which he was prepared while a young man, and which he fufilled beginning at the age of 15.
Mormon was responsible for abridging a record of his people, who came from Jerusalem and settled in the Americas as early as 600 BC. His record was passed from Mormon to his son Moroni, who buried the record in a hill in upper New York State. That record, written upon plates of gold, was later shown to Joseph Smith by Moroni in the early 1800′s. The book was published as the Book of Mormon. Soon after, members of the church, which was officially named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were called Mormons because of their use of the Book of Mormon as scripture. Although members of the Mormon Church are officially be referred to as Latter-day Saints, we are grateful to be also called after the man who did so much to bring us an important book of scripture, the prophet Mormon.
Book of Mormon