Mormon has spent a bunch of time abridging the record of 1000 years of Nephite and Lamanite history. He tells the story of how he came to get the plates.
"2 And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;
3 Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.
4 And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are; and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people." (Mormon 1:2-4)
When I read this story, I come to really admire Mormon. I feel like he must have been a special kind of person to really be ready to receive this instruction as a 10 year old. I have a 10 year old son right now and he's a good kid, but I honestly don't think he'd be able to run with that kind of instruction.
Fast forward a few years, when he had this experience:
"And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." (Mormon 1:15)
He was visited of the Lord at 15 years old.
At that same time, he had great desires to teach people about the goodness of Jesus, as he had experienced it, but he wasn't allowed to. The people were so wicked, after knowing the gospel and rejecting it. They had even started up the band of Gadianton Robbers, just as they had in the past. They were ripening for destruction, which would happen within basically one generation. That's a very short time to go from being righteous to being as wicked as they were.
His entire life was devoted to following the Savior, from the time he got to know Him and the gospel, up to the end of his life.
He was the one who abridged so many records down to a single book, one which would get a man closer to God by reading it than any other book.
I know the proper name for our church, the Church of Jesus Christ, but when sometimes people use the term "Mormon Church", it doesn't hurt my feelings too much, all because of the kind of man/disciple he was.
Thank Heaven for Mormon!
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