The Book of Mormon “contains a record of a fallen people, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:9). In fact, it contains a record of two fallen peoples: the Jaredites and the Nephites. The major cause of their fall and destruction was the secret works of darkness among them (v. 21; see also Ether 8:18–26). The secret works led to secret murders and abominations, and eventually to their destruction (Alma 37:22). From the above verses, Alma gives us some of the details of the fall of the Jaredites and their destruction, which he learned from the twenty-four plates of gold.
The servant Gazelem (v. 23) has been interpreted to be Joseph Smith the prophet, since the Lord used the code name Gazelam for Joseph Smith in certain sections in earlier editions of the Doctrine and Covenants. In the 1981 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants we read:
It was not always desirable that the identity of the individuals whom the Lord addressed in the revelations be known to the world; hence, in the publications of this and some subsequent revelations the brethren were referred to by other than their own names. When the necessity had passed for keeping the names of the individuals unknown, their real names were thereafter given in brackets. Since there exists no vital need today to continue the code names, the real names only are now used herein, as given in the original manuscripts. [Heading, Section 78]
However, The name Gazelem may be a title for one who possesses the urim and thummim. In fact, as suggested below, the word Gazer is used to designate a type of prophet, and may be synonymous for seer. The Book of Mormon defines a seer as one who can interpret languages through the two stones fastened into two rims of a bow (see Mosiah 28:13–17), or the urim and thummim. According to Dr. Sidney B. Sperry:
“… the prophet was known among the Hebrews as a ‘nabhi.’ The Hebrew Old Testament also refers to seers under two names, ro’eh and ‘chozeh’ …
‘Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold they are written in the words of Samuel the ro’eh, and in the words of Nathan the nabhi, and in the words of Gad the chozeh’ ([1 Chronicles] 29:29; italics ours).
It seems tolerably plain from the reference that the three terms were not exactly synonymous. Why was Nathan a prophet, Samuel a seer, and Gad a gazer? …Obadiah was what the Hebrews called a chozeh or a gazer.
Gazelem may also be the plural of the Hebrew word gazer. The heim in Hebrew is added to designate plural masculine and “lem” could be a derivation of the plural. If it is plural, it may refer to more than one person. King Mosiah translated the twenty-four plates found by Limhi’s people (Mosiah 28:10–17). Moroni translated and abridged from the twenty-four plates to write the book of Ether (Ether 1:1–3), and Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, including the book of Ether, into English. It is interesting to note that Joseph used the urim and thummim given to the brother of Jared in his translation (see D&C 17:1). The interpreters were prepared for that very purpose (Alma 37:24). The Jaredites were destroyed because they did not repent, and the Nephites were made aware of their secrets and abominations (vv. 25–26). The Nephites were also destroyed because they did not learn the lesson of the Jaredites. Through the Book of Mormon, the nations of the Americas are being warned. We must take heed to the following things Alma told Helaman if we do not want to be destroyed.