History Literature / TheBookOfMormon

* BulletDodgesYou: As Samuel the Lamanite preaches of Christ's birth, Nephites shoot arrows and throw rocks at him for at least 20 minutes without managing to hit him once.

* AnachronismStew: References to the likes of steel, concrete, horses, and other animals are seen by detractors as anachronistic. Fan responses vary, although some believe that the translation was not literal, but [[TranslationConvention the Nephites using old-world names for new-world animals and plants.]]

See also UsefulNotes.{{Mormonism}}. [[NamesTheSame Should not be mistaken with]] Theater/TheBookOfMormon.

See also UsefulNotes.{{Mormonism}}.

** You can't know good without knowing evil (or joy without misery, or …).

''[[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents The Book of Mormon]]'' is a book of scripture used by [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] and some other related groups, alongside TheBible and several other books, although its central role has led it to be dubbed the 'keystone' of the Mormon faith, which derives its nickname from the book.

There are several views as to its origins. According to the LDS viewpoint, the Book of Mormon was written by ancient prophets much like the Bible, although somewhere in the Americas. These prophetic records were collected and edited by the eponymous Mormon, with some additions by his son Moroni, who buried them in the ground. Centuries later, Moroni, as an angel, appeared to Joseph Smith, who Latter Day Saints believe translated the book by divine means, and that this forms evidence for the authenticity of the LDS message. Detractors reject this account, seeing it either as fraud, [[{{FanFic}} the product of Smith's imagination]], or claim that he copied from other authors and/or incorporated popular beliefs of the time.

In structure, the Book of Mormon resembles the 'historical books' of TheBible, being divided into a number of books which largely form a narrative, which is punctuated by accounts of sermons and [[{{AuthorFilibuster}} editorial commentary]]. It begins with a few families in Jerusalem, follows their journey to a new "promised land", and then tells the history of the nations founded by their descendents, with emphasis on the preaching of the prophets, the spiritual condition of the cultures, and various events like several major wars. Also included is the visit of [[{{TheBible}} Jesus Christ]], who appears to the people after his resurrection, teaches them, and founds his church and a {{Utopia}}. Unfortunately, after several centuries, this [[{{DownerEnding}} doesn't last]], the people become wicked and divided again, and eventually a whole nation is destroyed. At this point, the last few prophets add their last comments and bury the book.

* {{An Aesop}}: There are many points where the author drops an anvil, and some of them fall ''hard''!

** Secret Combinations (Any nation that supports them is in danger of God's wrath.)

* AllThereInTheManual: The Book of Mormon has a pronunciation guide, and the "Quad" (TheBible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) has a Bible dictionary, maps, the Joseph Smith Translation, footnotes and references to similar verses and chapters.
** Of note is that the [[NoPronunciationGuide pronunciation guide]] was only developed in the 1970's, as beforehand different regions had different ways of reading the many different names. This isn't considered to be their "canon" name, only a way to unify the way the church pronounces it.

* AncientConspiracy: The Gadianton Robbers, whose organization was based on what the Book of Mormon calls "Secret Combinations" that have existed a lot longer than the name of the society. This lead to the downfall of two great civilizations, and the record-keepers [[{{Anvilicious}} preach against it]].

* AvengingTheVillain: King Ammoron, brother and successor to Amalickiah, seeks to avenge his death. Likewise Shiz, although in that case whether any side can be termed good [[{{BlackandGrayMorality}} is hard]] [[{{EvilVersusEvil}} to tell]].

* DownerEnding: Everybody dies. [[{{History Repeats}} Twice]].

* HeelFaceTurn: Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah went about trying to destroy the church of God. Then an angel appeared and rebuked them all, putting Alma in an [[AngstComa Angst Coma]] until he repented.

** Of note is that the [[NoPronunicationGuide pronunciation guide]] was only developed in the 1970's, as beforehand different regions had different ways of reading the many different names. This isn't considered to be their "canon" name, only a way to unify the way the church pronounces it.

* AllThereInTheManual: The Book of Mormon has a pronunciation guide, and the "Quad" (TheBible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) has a Bible dictionary, maps, the Joseph Smith Translation, footnotes and references to similar verses and chapters

* AuthorFilibuster: While Mormon typically stays on-topic in his abridgment, there are a couple of spots where he puts in his own thoughts. The last book, written by Moroni, is essentially one long example of this trope. In his defense, he had seen his entire country slaughtered around him, and spent the last twenty years of his life on the run, so he had a lot to get off his chest.

* LiteralGenie: Two people [[strike:asked for]] [[SmiteMeOhMightySmiter demanded signs]] that Jesus existed. One ended up dying shortly thereafter, the other got turned dumb and had to go from house to house, begging. Then he got ran over.

* NoPronunciationGuide: The pronunciation and sometimes even the spelling is largely up to the interpretation of the translators. Modern editions offer a guide, but this is mostly for church unity and doesn't claim to be the original pronunication.

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* ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption: After repeated attempts to obtain the Brass Plates by other means, Nephi kills Laban because he was specifically told by God to do it. As in, God had to go out of His way specifically to persuade Nephi that killing Laban is the only reasonable option left.

* SoiledCityOnAHill: the city of Ammonihah, after killing all the members of the church there.

* CatchPhrase: "It came to pass" is used over two hundred times.

* SoleSurvivor: Corianumur of the Jaredites, Moroni of the Nephites.

* AuthorFilibuster: While Mormon typically stays on-topic in his abridgment, there are a couple of spots where he puts in his own thoughts. The last book, written by Moroni, is essentially one long example of this trope.

* ComfortingTheWidow: Amalickiah arranges the murder of the king of the Lamanites then goes to console the Queen. Shortly thereafter they are married. Presumable she never finds out what really happened.

''[[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents The Book of Mormon]]'' is a book of scripture used by [[UsefulNotes/{{Mormonism}} The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] and some other related groups, alongside TheBible and several other books, although its central role has led it to be dubbed the 'keystone' of the Mormon faith, which derives its nickname from the book. Like TheBible, a number of people have strong opinions about the book, with [[{{YourMileageMayVary}} vehement]] [[{{LoveItOrHateIt}} fans and detractors.]]

* AFatherToHisMen: Helaman refers to his 'stripling' warriors as his sons, while they call him father.
* AllThereInTheManual: The Book of Mormon has a pronunciation guide, and the "Quad" (TheBible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) has a Bible dictionary, maps, the Joseph Smith Translation, footnotes and references to similar verses and chapters
* AnachronicOrder: The first two books were written by Nephi in a history of his people long towards the end of his life, from there to Words Of Mormon were written by modern record keepers as mostly a contemporary history. The Book of Mosiah was largely split into three timeframes among different cultures, their stories merging together at the end. Then the Book of Ether was a recounting of a story that happened ''long'' before the beginning of the book.
* AnachronismStew: References to the likes of steel, concrete, horses, and other animals are seen by detractors as anachronistic. Fan responses vary, although some believe that the translation was not literal, but [[TranslationConvention the Nephites using old-world names for new-world animals and plants.]]
* AncientConspiracy: The Gadianton Robbers, whose organization was based on what the Book of Mormon calls "Secret Combinations" that have existed a lot longer than the name of the society. This lead to the downfall of two great civilizations, and the record-keepers [[{{Anvilicious}} preach against it]].
* AngstComa: Alma the Younger's HeelFaceTurn. After getting up to a lot of anti-church mischief, he goes into a "deep sleep" and has visions of angels and hears the voice of God. When he wakes up, he has had a change of heart.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: No matter how big of a jerk they are, nobody in the B.o.M. breaks an oath. Nobody. Sometimes to the point of HonorBeforeReason.