“I Mormon, Being a Descendant of Nephi”

Brant Gardner

This verse concludes the colophon. Mormon identified himself as the writer (v. 1) and here declares his ancestry and parentage. The only reason for Mormon to identify his father is as a statement of lineage. (See commentary accompanying 1 Nephi 1:1.) Although it is the only mention of Mormon’s father, it is yet another example of the Nephite penchant for naming sons for their fathers.

The best Book of Mormon examples of colophons appear in holographic writings. When Mormon writes his abridged text and/or quotations, he does not include colophons because they appear only when there is a direct identification between the writer and the text.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 6

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