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 supposes me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people. But may God grant that he may survive them, so that he may write something concerning them, and something concerning Christ, so that perhaps it may someday profit them.
Words of Mormon 1:3
And now, I speak something concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgement from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spoke, 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.
Words of Mormon 1:4
And the things which are upon these plates pleases me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; indeed, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many that go beyond this day must surely come to pass -
Words of Mormon 1:5
Therefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I will take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
Words of Mormon 1:6
But behold, I will take these plates, which contain these prophesying and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice to me; and I know they will be choice to my brethren.
Words of Mormon 1:7
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispers to me, according to the workings of the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knows all things which are to come; therefore, He works in me to do according to His will.
Words of Mormon 1:8
And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, so that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, indeed, the redemption of Christ; so that they may once again be a delightsome people.
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.
Words of Mormon 1:10
Therefore, 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.
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 will be judged at the great and Last Day, according to the word of God which is written.
Words of Mormon 1:12
And now, concerning this king Benjamin - he had some contentions among his own people.
Words of Mormon 1:13
And it came to also pass that the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people. But behold, king Benjamin gathered his armies together, and he stood against them; and he fought with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban.
Words of Mormon 1:14
And in the strength of the Lord, they contended against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they contended against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance.
Words of Mormon 1:15
And it came to pass that after there had been false messiahs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;
Words of Mormon 1:16
And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers amongst the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes; and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away to the Lamanites, behold, it came to pass that king Benjamin, with the assistance of the holy prophets who were among his people -
Words of Mormon 1:17
For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he reigned over his people in righteousness; and there were many holy men in the land, and they spoke the word of God with power and with authority; and they used much sharpness because of the stiff-neckedness of the people -