Dennis Largey - Book of Mormon Reference Companion

Preface

Eighteen months after becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I went on a mission to Ireland at the age of twenty-two. In the Salt Lake City mission home, just three days prior to my departure, it became apparent to me that I lacked a very important missionary tool. I knew through prayer that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, so I knew the Book of Mormon must be true. But the Book of Mormon had not been a part of my conversion, and I hadn't read it. I realized that to be the missionary I desired to be, I needed to read the book and receive my own spiritual confirmation of its truth. Armed with such a testimony, I would be able to invite investigators of the Church to read and pray about itif I had done it, they could do it. I started reading that day and finished my first reading about a month later. I knelt by my bed in Dublin, Ireland, and reported to the Lord that I had read the Book of Mormon and desired spiritual confirmation of its truthfulness. The Lord answered my prayers in a strong, clear, definite manner. I knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon was true. I couldn't wait to go out that afternoon and bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is exhibit A, so to speak, for the truth of the restoration of the gospel and the Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. A testimony of the Book of Mormon is inseparably linked to a testimony of Joseph Smith, the restoration of the true Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days, and the truth that living prophets walk the earth today. I am grateful for the opportunity that working on the Book of Mormon Reference Companion has given me to examine so many important Book of Mormon subjects and teachings. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true account of ancient peoples who lived in the Americas. The characters were real people: they lived, they died, and they left a true record of their times and teachings. The truth of the historicity of Book of Mormon accounts is attested to by witnesses who not only saw and handled the plates that Joseph Smith translated by the gift and power of God but who also saw the sword of Laban, the Liahona, and the Urim and Thummim, sacred objects spoken of in the book's narrative and passed down through Nephite history.

Above all else, the Book of Mormon is, as its subtitle declares, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. In an increasingly skeptical world, the Book of Mormon serves as a second witness of cherished biblical truthsJesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, he taught the truth, he performed miracles, he suffered and died for the sins of the world, and he was resurrected on the third day. Jesus the Messiah is the literal son of God, he loves all people, and he lives today. As promised, Christ will come a second time, he will defeat Satan, and he will reign as Lord of Lords. In effect, to have a testimony of the Book of Mormon is to have a testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ and his redemptive mission.

I know, as both the Bible and the Book of Mormon teach, that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh, the Savior of the world, and that salvation comes only through him. I know, as one Book of Mormon prophet testified, "there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and the mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah" (2 Ne. 2:8). Jesus Christ is the central character in the Book of Mormonthe record is a testimony of him.

Dennis L. Largey
General editor

Acknowledgments

This volume is the product of the efforts of many people. I would like to give special recognition to the following and express my gratitude to them.

Contributors. One hundred and eleven authors wrote the articles in this volume. Five of those authors worked as a team to write approximately two hundred short articles on people and places. Because authors' initials do not follow those articles, special appreciation for that service is extended to Carl W. Griffin, Frank F. Judd Jr., Jared W. Ludlow, Kerry M. Muhlestein, and Eric E. Vernon.

Associate editors. The associate editorsMarilyn Arnold, Terry B. Ball, Larry E. Dahl, Donald W. Parry, David R. Seely, and Clyde J. Williamspossess a love for the Book of Mormon and an expertise in it that have made the production of this volume possible. I am deeply grateful for their efforts and endurance over the course of the project. Articles followed by the initials eds. represent combined work by the editors of this volume.

Graphics editor and staff. Richard Neitzel Holzapfel generously used his wide knowledge in gathering the images, securing permissions for their use, and writing selected captions. The graphics staffCraig Garrick, Karyn Hunter, and Rachel Seelyrendered valuable assistance. I also appreciate the excellent work of D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew Livingston, who created the biblical maps, and of Stephen Hales, who created the concept for the alphabetical division pages and devised the table entitled "Structure of the Book of Mormon." The map "Lehi's Journey: Possible Route" was created by S. Kent Brown, D. Kelly Ogden, and Andrew Livingston. The chart showing the posterity of Jared is adapted from one created by Lynn F. Price.

Office staff. The following individuals checked references and quotations, performed style editing, and offered helpful suggestions: Katie Anderson, Shalene Barfuss, Jennifer Blum, Melissa Boyer, Sarah Jean Carter, Vanessa Christenson, Rachel Cope, Reina Gould, Kristene Largey, Amy McLaughlin, Melissa Nelson, Kimberly Peterson, Angela Rasmussen, and Steven Sandberg.

Reviewers. Reviews and suggestions on various aspects of this volume and critiques of articles, in addition to those made by the associate editors, were given by David Bohn, Kent Brown, John Clark, Peter Crawley, Larry Draper, Richard Draper, Larry EchoHawk, Chad Foulger, David Galbraith, Dana Griffen, Kimball Hansen, Juan Henderson, Paul Hoskisson, Kent Jackson, Boyd Jarman, Clark Johnson, Daniel Ludlow, Robert Matthews, Robert Millet, Alan Miner, Monte Nyman, Robert Parsons, Dana Pike, Larry Porter, John Pratt, Rex Reeve Jr., Vern Sommerfeldt, Calvin Stephens, Charles Tate, Bruce Warren, John Welch, and Fred Woods.

Special assistants. Gratitude must be expressed to Bart Bailey for his legal help in constructing contracts for contributors; to Judy Tolman for reading nearly all of the entries and for looking up and checking every reference; to D. Kelly Ogden for reading the entire manuscript and offering important suggestions; and to Robert L. Millet for his support, advice, and encouragement. Appreciation is extended to Suzanne Brady, senior editor at Deseret Book, for her kind and patient assistance throughout the course of this project as well as for her excellent work with the completed manuscript; to Richard Erickson, art director; Scott Eggers, designer; and Laurie Cook, typographer.

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