What does it cost to not follow Christ?

A number appears only where the record gives one. Only two battles are counted exactly on both sides (Mosiah 9:18–19 and Alma 2:19). Cumorah’s 230,000 is 23 armies of ten thousand; the record gives no total.

Mormon wrote of his own day: “the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.” In 2025 there were 65 armed conflicts between states and armed groups, in 35 countries, the most since records began in 1946.

Dates as the Church’s edition of the Book of Mormon prints them in its chapter headings: approximate, as the record itself counts years.

1. Nephi Son of Lehi. Commanded to make the plates, he made them and began the record.
   2 Nephi 5:30–31

   ³⁰ And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people. ³¹ Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.
   Jacob 1:1–2

   ¹ For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven. ² And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.
2. Jacob Nephi’s younger brother, born in the wilderness. Given the small plates and told to write what was most precious.
   1 Nephi 18:7

   ⁷ And now, my father had begat two sons in the wilderness; the elder was called Jacob and the younger Joseph.
   Jacob 1:1–2

   ¹ For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven. ² And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.
3. Enos Jacob’s son. He prayed all day, and when night came he was still praying.
   Jacob 7:27

   ²⁷ And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu.
   Enos 1:4

   ⁴ And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
4. Jarom Son of Enos. He wrote “that our genealogy may be kept.”
   Jarom 1:1

   ¹ Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept.
   Jarom 1:15

   ¹⁵ And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be kept according to the commandments of my fathers.
5. Omni Son of Jarom. He fought much with the sword to protect his people, and called himself a wicked man.
   Omni 1:1–3

   ¹ Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy— ² Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done. ³ And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.
6. Amaron Son of Omni.
   Omni 1:3–4

   ³ And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end. ⁴ And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of my father.
   Omni 1:8

   ⁸ And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish.
7. Chemish Amaron’s brother. He saw his brother write his last words the day he handed the plates over.
   Omni 1:9

   ⁹ Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.
8. Abinadom Son of Chemish. He saw “much war and contention” and defended his people with his own sword.
   Omni 1:10

   ¹⁰ Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.
9. Amaleki Son of Abinadom. Old, with no children, he gave the full plates to King Benjamin, “a just man before the Lord.”
   Omni 1:12

   ¹² Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
   Omni 1:25

   ²⁵ And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.
   Omni 1:30

   ³⁰ And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.
10. King Benjamin The king of Zarahemla. He put the small plates with the records the kings had kept.
    Words of Mormon 1:10

    ¹⁰ Wherefore, it came to pass that after Amaleki had delivered up these plates into the hands of king Benjamin, he took them and put them with the other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to generation until the days of king Benjamin.
    Mosiah 1:16

    ¹⁶ And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him.
11. King Mosiah Benjamin’s son. He translated the Jaredite record, then gave every record to Alma.
    Mosiah 28:11

    ¹¹ Therefore he took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which he had kept and preserved according to the commandments of God, after having translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi;
    Mosiah 28:20

    ²⁰ And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.
12. Alma Son of Alma. Once he tried to destroy the church; he became its high priest and the first chief judge.
    Mosiah 27:8–10

    ⁸ Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities. ⁹ And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them. ¹⁰ And now it came to pass that while he was going about to destroy the church of God, for he did go about secretly with the sons of Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or even the king—
    Mosiah 29:42

    ⁴² And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be the first chief judge, he being also the high priest, his father having conferred the office upon him, and having given him the charge concerning all the affairs of the church.
13. Helaman Alma’s son. He marched at the head of two thousand young soldiers.
    Alma 37:1

    ¹ And now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me;
    Alma 53:22

    ²² And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
14. Shiblon Helaman’s brother.
    Alma 63:1

    ¹ And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Shiblon took possession of those sacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma.
15. Helaman Son of Helaman, named for his father. Chosen by the people as chief judge.
    Alma 63:11

    ¹¹ Therefore it became expedient for Shiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of Helaman, who was called Helaman, being called after the name of his father.
    Helaman 2:2

    ² And it came to pass that Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, by the voice of the people.
16. Nephi Son of Helaman. Chief judge, until he gave up the judgment-seat to preach.
    Helaman 3:37

    ³⁷ And it came to pass in the fifty and third year of the reign of the judges, Helaman died, and his eldest son Nephi began to reign in his stead. And it came to pass that he did fill the judgment-seat with justice and equity; yea, he did keep the commandments of God, and did walk in the ways of his father.
    Helaman 5:1

    ¹ And it came to pass that in this same year, behold, Nephi delivered up the judgment-seat to a man whose name was Cezoram.
17. Nephi His eldest son, one of the twelve disciples Jesus chose when He came. 3 Nephi is his book.
    3 Nephi 1:2

    ² And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem.
    3 Nephi 19:4

    ⁴ And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy, and also his son, whose name was Jonas, and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi, and Jeremiah, and Shemnon, and Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah—now these were the names of the disciples whom Jesus had chosen—and it came to pass that they went forth and stood in the midst of the multitude.
18. Nephi Son of the disciple Nephi. He kept the record through the years of peace after Christ came; 4 Nephi is his book.
    4 Nephi 1:19

    ¹⁹ And it came to pass that Nephi, he that kept this last record, (and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi) died, and his son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi also.
19. Amos Son of Nephi.
    4 Nephi 1:19

    ¹⁹ And it came to pass that Nephi, he that kept this last record, (and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi) died, and his son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi also.
20. Amos Son of Amos.
    4 Nephi 1:21

    ²¹ And it came to pass that Amos died also, (and it was an hundred and ninety and four years from the coming of Christ) and his son Amos kept the record in his stead; and he also kept it upon the plates of Nephi; and it was also written in the book of Nephi, which is this book.
21. Ammaron Brother of Amos. He hid the records, then told a sober boy of about ten, Mormon, where to find them.
    4 Nephi 1:47–48

    ⁴⁷ And it came to pass that after three hundred and five years had passed away, (and the people did still remain in wickedness) Amos died; and his brother, Ammaron, did keep the record in his stead. ⁴⁸ And it came to pass that when three hundred and twenty years had passed away, Ammaron, being constrained by the Holy Ghost, did hide up the records which were sacred—yea, even all the sacred records which had been handed down from generation to generation, which were sacred—even until the three hundred and twentieth year from the coming of Christ.
    Mormon 1:2–3

    ² And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe; ³ Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.
22. Mormon He led the Nephite armies from the age of sixteen, abridged the record, and before the last battle gave the plates to his son.
    Mormon 2:1–2

    ¹ And it came to pass in that same year there began to be a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature; therefore the people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies. ² Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away.
    Words of Mormon 1:3

    ³ And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
    Mormon 6:6

    ⁶ And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.
23. Moroni Mormon’s son. He finished the record alone and hid it in the earth.
    Mormon 8:1–4

    ¹ Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father. ² And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed. ³ And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not. ⁴ Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.
    Moroni 10:1–2

    ¹ Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. ² And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.

Before King Benjamin, kings kept the larger plates “from generation to generation”, unnamed (Words of Mormon 1:10). And Ether, the last prophet of the Jaredites, finished and hid their record, which Moroni later abridged (Ether 15:33).

Printing, the Bible in the people’s own languages, the Americas found, and freedom of religion: the way being made ready.

At least seven people wrote for him. About 28% of the original manuscript survives.

His wife, Lucy, opposed the work, and they separated after June 1830. Whether he was ever paid back is told both ways: he reportedly said in 1853, “I never lost one cent”; the printer’s typesetter said he “was cleaned out financially.” At first the books hardly sold.