Headnote

Church Educational System
The headnote is a summary of 1 Nephi and is part of the original text. It was not added by modern writers (note the last sentence). All of the headnotes in the Book of Mormon are part of the original record given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, including the inserts preceding individual chapters (for example, Mosiah 9 and Alma 21). The brief summaries at the head of each chapter are later additions for the reader’s convenience.

Book of Mormon Student Manual (1996 Edition)

References