Verse & VarianceBetaThe production history of the Book of Mormon text — from Moroni's first visit in 1823 through the most recent 2013 edition. Covers the scribal periods, the 65-day translation burst, Grandin's printing process, and subsequent revisions tracked in the edition reader on this site.
Showing 64 of 64 events
1823 AD – 1827 AD — From Moroni's first visit through Joseph obtaining the plates after four annual visits to Hill Cumorah.
Angel Moroni appears to Joseph Smith three times in one night, describes gold plates engraved with an ancient record, and two interpreting stones (the 'Urim and Thummim').
Joseph locates the plates in a stone box on a drumlin near his home but is told he cannot take them yet.
Moroni instructs Joseph further; Joseph is chastened for thinking about the plates' monetary value.
Joseph receives additional instruction and is told to bring the 'right person' the following year.
Employed by Josiah Stowell (treasure-digging venture), Joseph boards with the Hale family in Harmony and courts Emma; Stowell hired him beginning late 1825.
Joseph visits the hill again; told to return with his wife Emma.
They elope against Isaac Hale's wishes; marriage enables the plates' retrieval.
1827 AD – 1828 AD — Early translation attempts, Harris as scribe, the Anthon transcript, and the lost 116 pages.
Joseph and Emma ride to Hill Cumorah at midnight; he retrieves the plates, the interpreters, and the breastplate from the stone box.
Neighbors and treasure-seekers try to locate and take the plates; Joseph hides them in various places.
He transcribes a portion of the characters, later called the 'Anthon transcript' or 'Caractors document.'
Martin Harris lends $50 for the move; the couple takes the plates to the Hale property away from harassment.
Harris takes the transcript to Columbia College professor Charles Anthon and, in LDS accounts, also to Samuel L. Mitchill. Anthon later denied certifying the characters; Joseph's account (cf. Isaiah 29:11–12) frames Anth…
Martin Harris serves as scribe; they produce ~116 manuscript pages over roughly two months.
After repeated requests, Joseph receives permission to let Harris take the 116 pages to show his wife Lucy.
Harris cannot find the manuscript; Joseph is devastated. The interpreters and plates are temporarily taken.
The Lord chastens Joseph for fearing man more than God, but assures the work will go forward.
Joseph is told not to retranslate the Book of Lehi; instead, the small plates of Nephi will cover the same period.
Witness accounts (including Emma Smith and Martin Harris) describe Joseph placing a seer stone in a hat to block light while dictating translation; this method is most firmly documented from the Harmony period onward (af…
Emma occasionally acts as scribe before Harris arrives; Joseph dictates through the interpreters.
Joseph's father brings news; Joseph receives D&C 4 ('a marvelous work is about to come forth').
The Lord commands Harris not to seek to see the plates until three witnesses are appointed.
1829 AD – 1829 AD — The primary translation burst: roughly 65 working days produce most of the current Book of Mormon text.
A schoolteacher from Vermont who boarded with the Smiths; he becomes the principal scribe.
Joseph dictates and Oliver writes; the pace accelerates dramatically.
Cowdery is given permission to translate but fails; told he must 'study it out in your mind' first (D&C 9).
While translating 3 Nephi's baptism passages, Joseph and Oliver pray; John the Baptist appears.
Peter, James, and John appear near the Susquehanna River.
Emma Smith, John Whitmer, and Christian Whitmer assist briefly.
David Whitmer takes Joseph and Oliver to the Whitmer farm; work continues.
These replace the lost 116 pages and are the last portion translated.
The bulk of the text — roughly 269,000 words — was dictated in approximately 65 working days.
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris see an angel and the plates in a clearing.
Eight men see and handle the plates without angelic assistance.
Joseph states that after the witnesses' experiences, the plates were returned to the angel.
Oliver receives his own witness; his gift of working with the divining rod is acknowledged.
Joseph and Oliver inquire and receive a revealed text about the apostle John tarrying.
Oliver is instructed on how revelation works through the mind and heart.
He did not 'study it out' in his mind; told to continue as scribe.
If they exercise faith, they will view the plates, the sword of Laban, the interpreters, and the Liahona.
Oliver and David instructed to seek out the twelve; confirms the completed translation.
Joseph's brother briefly assists at Harmony before Cowdery becomes primary scribe.
Following the Aaronic Priesthood restoration; they baptize in the Susquehanna River.
The Whitmer family provides room and board; Mary Whitmer reportedly sees the plates via an angel.
1829 AD – 1830 AD — Securing copyright, negotiations with printers, typesetting, proofing, and the first printing of 5,000 copies.
Title page deposited for copyright in the Northern District of New York.
Egbert B. Grandin initially refuses; Joseph also tries a printer in Rochester before Grandin agrees.
Martin Harris mortgages part of his farm to guarantee payment; 5,000 copies ordered.
Oliver Cowdery produces a clean copy from the original manuscript for use by the typesetter.
John Gilbert sets most of the type; he adds punctuation, paragraphing, and some capitalization.
Cole ('Obediah Dogberry') begins printing excerpts in his Reflector newspaper; Joseph threatens legal action and he stops.
Local residents organize to prevent sales; Grandin briefly halts printing.
Bound copies begin leaving Grandin's bookshop several days before the official publication date.
The Wayne Sentinel advertises the book for sale at $1.25–$1.75; date traditionally given as publication day.
The newly printed Book of Mormon serves as scripture for the fledgling church from its first day.
Newspapers publish mixed-to-hostile reviews; Alexander Campbell's 'Delusions' appears in February 1831.
Harris fulfills his bond to cover the printing costs.
1837 AD – 2013 AD — Successive editions with grammatical, typographical, and occasional substantive revisions across nearly two centuries.
The original manuscript was placed in the Nauvoo House cornerstone in 1841; most was destroyed by water damage. Fragments survive at the Church History Library and other archives.
Second edition: Joseph revises grammar ('which' → 'who' for God, etc.), updates a handful of doctrinal phrases (e.g., 'Son of' → 'the Son of the Eternal Father').
Third edition: Joseph makes further changes; published by Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith.
First printing in England under direction of the Twelve (Parley P. Pratt published; Brigham Young and others oversaw the mission); follows the 1837 text with minor British spelling adjustments.
Pratt adds verse numbers, footnotes, and the chapter summaries still familiar today; reorganizes long chapters.
David Whitmer's family sells the printer's manuscript; it eventually reaches the Community of Christ.
Talmage standardizes chapter headings, corrects printer errors, and updates cross-references.
New chapter headings, footnotes tied to the LDS scripture system, subtitle 'Another Testament of Jesus Christ' added.
BYU linguist Royal Skousen's Book of Mormon Critical Text Project informs minor corrections in the Latter-day Saint edition; online and digital formats.
Purchased from the Community of Christ for $35 million; now at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.