The Book of Mormon; Book of the Restored Covenant
By Alan C. Miner
Editor’s note: The Ancient America Foundation (AAF) is pleased to present AAF Notes: a series of research articles by scholars of Book of Mormon culture and history and reviewed by AAF editors. Visit their Web site at https://www.ancientamerica.org/
According to Raymond Treat1, the title “The Book of Mormon” might have more meaning to it than one might think.
Someone acquainted with the story of the Book of Mormon might assume that the name “Mormon” simply refers to the man who compiled the book. However, although Mormon acknowledges that “my father’s name was Mormon” (Mormon 1:5), he tells us in 3 Nephi 5:12 that he was not named after his father; rather he was named after the land in which the restoration of Christ’s covenant and church took place:
And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among this people: Yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression. (3 Nephi 5:12)
[And] if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance. (3 Nephi 21:22)
So perhaps it is coincidence, perhaps not, that the title of the Book of Mormon was changed in 1986 to read, “The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” If we focus on the idea that the name Mormon was associated with a restored covenant, and if the word “testament” means a covenant witness, then we might read the title according to Mormon’s own definition as “The Book of the Restored Covenant, Another Covenant Witness of Jesus Christ.”
When this meaning is understood, the Book of Mormon can better be viewed in its rightful place alongside two other published witnesses of Christ’s covenant with his children: The Old Testament (the “Old Covenant”) and The New Testament (the “New Covenant”). [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes2]
Copyright 1999-2002 Ancient America Foundation. This message may be forwarded
with identifying information. For more information or to subscribe or unsubscribe to
AAF Notes or utilize the AAF order form, visit https://www.ancientamerica.org/ and click “Contact us”. Refer, by e-mail, comments or questions to [email protected].
1 Raymond C. Treat, “Covenants: Key to the Restoration of the House of Israel,” in Recent Book of Mormon Developments, Vol. 2, pp. 52-53.
2 The commentary on 3 Nephi 5:12 is found in Step by Step through the Book of Mormon by Alan C. Miner. [unpublished]
2006 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
