2 Nephi
Nephi records the death of his father Lehi, the schism between the Nephites and Lamanites, and prophecies regarding the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to combat the 'Bible alone' theology.
4 Nephi
A condensed historical narrative describing a two-century 'Golden Age' of utopian Christian communalism in the Americas following Jesus's visitation, followed by a gradual decline into pride, division, and total apostasy.
Alma
A chronicle of the Nephite nation under the reign of judges, detailing missionary efforts to the Lamanites, internal theological schisms, and extensive warfare, emphasizing that national preservation depends on religious obedience.
Chapter 1
Mormon, the narrator-editor, explains his insertion of the 'Small Plates of Nephi' into his abridgment due to a spiritual prompting for a future 'wise purpose,' bridging the narrative gap to King Benjamin's reign.
Chapters 1-10
The final book of the Book of Mormon, containing ecclesiastical instructions on ordinances, sermons on faith and charity, a condemnation of infant baptism, and a concluding exhortation to verify the record's truth through prayer and to perfect oneself to receive grace.
Chapters 1-14 (Modern 3 Nephi 1-30)
This text narrates the destruction of Nephite civilization following the crucifixion, the subsequent appearance of the resurrected Jesus Christ in the Americas, and his establishment of a new church hierarchy and doctrine.
Enos
Enos recounts a day-long prayer struggle to receive forgiveness of sins, followed by intercessory prayer for the Nephites and Lamanites, resulting in a divine covenant to preserve the Nephite records for future Lamanite restoration.
Ether
A chronicle of the Jaredites, a civilization that migrated from the Tower of Babel to the Americas, prospered through righteousness, but was ultimately annihilated due to secret combinations and rejection of prophets.
Helaman 1–16
A chronicle of the Nephite nation's decline through a cyclical pattern of prosperity, pride, and destruction, characterized by the rise of secret combinations and the prophetic warnings of Nephi and Samuel the Lamanite.
Jarom
Jarom records a brief history of the Nephites (approx. 400 B.C.), emphasizing their material prosperity, military fortification, and the strict conditional covenant that obedience to God ensures residency in the land.
Mormon, Chapters 1-4 (Modern Mormon 1-9)
Mormon chronicles the total annihilation of the Nephite civilization due to their unrepentant wickedness and rejection of miracles, culminating in the hiding of sacred records to be brought forth in the last days.
Omni
A multi-generational, condensed record spanning roughly 230 years, detailing the decline of the Nephite 'small plates' tradition, the migration of the righteous Nephites to Zarahemla under Mosiah, and the discovery of the people of Zarahemla and the Jaredite ruins.
Postface (1830 Edition)
Two distinct affidavits appended to the Book of Mormon: one attesting to a supernatural vision of the plates by an angel and the voice of God, and the other attesting to a physical handling of the plates shown by Joseph Smith.
Preface (including Title Page and Copyright)
The front matter of the 1830 Book of Mormon establishes Joseph Smith as the 'Author and Proprietor' of a divinely translated ancient record intended to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ, while defensively explaining the refusal to re-translate lost manuscript pages to avoid entrapment by enemies.
The Book of Jacob, The Brother of Nephi
Jacob, the brother of Nephi, condemns the Nephites for pride, seeking riches, and unauthorized polygamy, before recounting the extensive Allegory of the Olive Tree (attributed to the prophet Zenos) to illustrate the scattering and gathering of Israel.
The Book of Mosiah
This text chronicles the reigns of King Benjamin and Mosiah II, the missionary efforts of Alma, and the martyrdom of Abinadi, establishing the theological foundations of the Nephite church and the transition from monarchy to a system of judges.
The First Book of Nephi
A narrative account of a Hebrew family fleeing Jerusalem prior to the Babylonian captivity, traveling to the Americas, and establishing a new covenant lineage.