the Words of Mormon 1:1

And now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record

which I have been making

into the hands of my son Moroni,

behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites.

the Words of Mormon 1:2

And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ

that I deliver these records into the hands of my son;

and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people.

But may God grant that he may survive them,

that he may write somewhat concerning them,

and somewhat concerning Christ,

that perhaps some day it may profit them.

the Words of Mormon 1:3

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.

the Words of Mormon 1:4

And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me,

because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ;

and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled;

yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied

concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled,

and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass —

the Words of Mormon 1:5

Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them,

which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi;

and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.

the Words of Mormon 1:6

But behold, I shall take these plates,

which contain these prophesyings and revelations,

and put them with the remainder of my record,

for they are choice unto me;

and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.

the Words of Mormon 1:7

And I do this for a wise purpose;

for thus it whispereth me,

according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me.

And now, I do not know all things;

but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come;

wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

the Words of Mormon 1:8

And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren,

that they may once again come to the knowledge of God,

yea, the redemption of Christ;

that they may once again be a delightsome people.

the Words of Mormon 1:9

And now I, Mormon, proceed to finish out my record,

which I take from the plates of Nephi;

and I make it according to the knowledge and the understanding

which God has given me.

the Words of Mormon 1:10

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.

the Words of Mormon 1:11

And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to generation

until they have fallen into my hands.

And I, Mormon, pray to God

that they may be preserved from this time henceforth.

And I know that they will be preserved;

for there are great things written upon them,

out of which my people and their brethren shall be judged at the great and last day,

according to the word of God which is written.