The Book of Mormon begins with a prophet named Lehi. He warned the wicked people in Jerusalem to repent, but the people didn't listen. The Lord told Lehi to take his family, including his wife, Sariah, and their sons—Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi—into the wilderness. (See 1 Nephi 1–2.)
2 3The Lord gave Lehi a compass called the Liahona to guide his family through the wilderness to the promised land. (See 1 Nephi 16.)
4The Lord told Nephi to build a boat to take Lehi's family to the promised land. Nephi obeyed his father and the Lord, but Laman and Lemuel did not. (See 1 Nephi 17.)
5Lehi and his family sailed to the promised land on the boat they built. (See 1 Nephi 18.)
6Laman and Lemuel continued to disobey their father and the Lord. Their descendants are known as the Lamanites. Nephi continued to obey his father and the Lord. His descendants are called Nephites. (See 2 Nephi 4–5.)
7After Lehi and Nephi died, other people, such as Nephi's brother Jacob, were in charge of writing important teachings and events on the plates. (See Jacob 1.)
8Enos prayed to be forgiven of his sins, and he was forgiven. (See Enos 1.)
9King Benjamin built a tower to teach his people the gospel. (See Mosiah 2–6.)
10A wicked king named Noah had the prophet Abinadi put to death. But Abinadi's teachings converted one of Noah's priests named Alma. (See Mosiah 11–17.)
11Alma escaped from King Noah's court, taught other people about the gospel, and baptized them. (See Mosiah 18.)
12Alma's son Alma the Younger was not obedient. He and his friends, the sons of Mosiah, were wicked. Then an angel told them to repent. Alma and the sons of Mosiah repented and spent the rest of their lives preaching the gospel. (See Mosiah 27–28.)
13Mosiah's son Ammon converted many Lamanites after Ammon defended King Lamoni's flocks and won his trust. (See Alma 17–19.)
14Captain Moroni wrote the title of liberty and fought to defend the liberty of his people. (See 48.)
15Helaman led an army of 2,000 righteous young men. (See 56–58.)
16A Lamanite prophet named Samuel prophesied that Jesus Christ would soon be born. (See Helaman 13–16.)
17Far away in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ was born. He taught His gospel, healed and blessed people, and set up His Church. Then He was crucified and resurrected. (See 8–10.)
18After His Resurrection, He visited the righteous Nephites and Lamanites. He taught them His gospel, healed them, and blessed them, just as He had in the land around Jerusalem. (See 3 Nephi 11–28.)
19 20Before Mormon died, he gave the plates to his son Moroni. Moroni was a general in the army. He was the last Nephite to survive a great battle between the Lamanites and the Nephites. (See 8.)
21Before Moroni died, he buried the plates in a place called Cumorah. About 1,400 years after Moroni buried the plates, a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith prayed to know which church was right. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:5–16.)
22Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ visited Joseph Smith and told him that none of the churches were true and complete. Joseph would help restore the true Church of Jesus Christ. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:17–20.)
23Moroni visited Joseph Smith and told him about the buried plates. When Joseph Smith got older, he would get the plates and translate them. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:27–54.)
24When Joseph Smith was 21, he went to the Hill Cumorah and got the plates from the place where Moroni had buried them. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:59.)
25Through the power of God, Joseph Smith translated the writing on the plates. He published this translation. It is called the Book of Mormon. (See title page and introduction to the Book of Mormon.)