Words of Mormon (2nd Grade)

Words of Mormon 1

Verse	Original	2nd Grade
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.	Now I, Mormon, am going to give the book I wrote to my son Moroni. I have seen almost all my people, the Nephites, get destroyed.
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.	Many years after Jesus came, I gave these records to my son. I think he will see all our people die. I hope God lets him stay alive so he can write about our people and Jesus. Maybe someday this will help them.
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.	Now, I want to talk about what I have written. I made a shorter version from Nephi’s plates until King Benjamin, who Amaleki talked about. I looked at the records I had and found these plates. They had a small story of the prophets from Jacob to King Benjamin, and many words of Nephi.
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—	I like what is on these plates because they talk about Jesus coming. My fathers knew many things have happened like they said. I know too that everything said about us until now has happened, and more things will happen in the future.
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.	So, I picked these things to finish my book. I will use the plates of Nephi to do it. I can’t write everything about my people.
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.	I will take these special plates with important words and put them with my other records because they are very special to me. I know my brothers will think they are special too.
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.	I do this for a good reason. The Spirit of the Lord tells me to do it. I don’t know everything, but the Lord knows everything that will happen. He helps me do what He wants.
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.	I pray to God that my brothers and sisters know God again and be happy 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.	Now I, Mormon, start to finish my book. I use the plates of Nephi. I write it with the wisdom God gave me.
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.	So, after Amaleki gave the plates to King Benjamin, he put them with the other plates that had the records from the past kings.
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.	The things were given from King Benjamin to many people over time until they came to me. I, Mormon, hope to God that they stay safe. I know they will be safe because they have important things written on them. These words will help judge my people and their brothers at the last day, as God’s word says.
Words of Mormon 1:12	And now, concerning this king Benjamin—he had somewhat of contentions among his own people.	Now about King Benjamin—some people in his group were arguing.
Words of Mormon 1:13	And it came to pass also that the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people. But behold, king Benjamin gathered together his armies, and he did stand against them; and he did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban.	The Lamanites’ armies came to fight. But King Benjamin got his armies, and he fought back with a sword.
Words of Mormon 1:14	And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance.	With the Lord’s help, they fought their enemies and killed many Lamanites. They kept fighting until all the Lamanites were gone from their land.
Words of Mormon 1:15	And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;	After there were fake Christs, and they were quiet, they were punished for what they did.
Words of Mormon 1:16	And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes; and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites, behold, it came to pass that king Benjamin, with the assistance of the holy prophets who were among his people—	There were some bad teachers and leaders. They got in trouble for doing bad things. Some people fought and left to join the Lamanites. Then, King Benjamin got help from good prophets who lived with his people.
Words of Mormon 1:17	For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people in righteousness; and there were many holy men in the land, and they did speak the word of God with power and with authority; and they did use much sharpness because of the stiffneckedness of the people—	King Benjamin was a very good man. He was the leader and he was kind. There were also many other good men. They spoke about God with strength. They had to be very firm because the people were stubborn.
Words of Mormon 1:18	Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul, and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in the land.	So, King Benjamin worked very hard with his body and soul. With help from the prophets, he made the land peaceful again.