Matters of the Book of Mormon Things, practices and ideas in the Book of Mormon, each with the verses that mention it: objects and places in the story, the material world, and the concepts the text teaches.
The particular things the story names: the Liahona, the sword of Laban, the brass plates.
Kinds of things in the Book of Mormon world: tents, swords, coins, crops, buildings.
Agricultural Tools — Implements for cultivating, harvesting, and processing cropsPoisonous Serpents — Jaredite serpents that poisoned people and altered migration routesElephant — Valuable Jaredite herd animalCureloms — Unidentified Jaredite beast with elephantsCumom — Unidentified Jaredite beast useful to manMonster of The Sea — Great sea creature in Jaredite crossingWhale — Deep-sea creature in Jaredite voyageBarges — Small, light watercraft used for crossing watersBirds — Generic fowls carried and caught by the JareditesContainers — Vessels used to hold and carry substancesGraves — Burial places and patriarchal idiomsFine Pearls — Luxury ornaments in Nephite declinePits — Dug excavations used for confinement, destruction, and escape attemptsWindow — Architectural opening and figure for blessingFigs — Fruit used in Christ’s comparison of true and false sourcesSerpents — Serpent imagery in Christ’s teachingsSwine — Jaredite food animal and Christ’s proverbSalt — Savoring mineral and covenant emblemTorches — Handheld lights extinguished by the three days of darknessCandle — Lit source of light named during the great darknessWhirlwinds — Violent rotating winds that carry people away at the destructionLightning — Electrical flashes named in the physical destruction at Christ's deathDarkness — Physical absence of light in the Book of Mormon worldHighways and Roads — Cast-up roads linking Nephite citiesThunder — Atmospheric sound accompanying storms and catastropheRain — Precipitation affecting crops, famine, and sea travelCloak — Outer garment in law and crimeDoor — Hinged entryway in dwellings and metaphorGardens — Walled enclosures of cultivationNephite Gold and Silver Idols — Idols built from Nephite wealth in apostasyCement — Building material in the land northwardEpistles — Written letters exchanged among Nephite, Lamanite, and Jaredite leadersDaytime Heat — Heat of the day as a material condition in a wartime campDefensive Ditches — Excavated barriers surrounding Nephite fortificationsCoat — Garment used in civic emblem and teachingCamps — Temporary military encampments and their guarded overnight quartersArmshield — Arm-mounted defense in Moroni’s reformsHead Plate — Helmet-like armor from Moroni’s reformsPole — Pole for Moses’ brazen serpentZoramite Dumb Idols — Cult objects before which Zoramites bowedHills — Lower natural elevations used for travel, teaching, refuge, and battleStreets — Public urban thoroughfares and teaching spacesWaters — Generic bodies of water in travel, conflict, and settlementPrecious Stones — Gemstone wealth desired alongside gold and silverHealth and Disease — Bodily illness, healing, and the natural conditions that affect themAntion — Gold piece equal to three shiblonsLeah — Smallest Nephite silver fractionShiblum — Silver fraction worth half a shiblonShiblon — Silver piece worth half a senumEzrom — Silver piece worth four senumsOnti — Largest named Nephite silver pieceShum — Gold piece worth four seninesLimnah — Largest named Nephite gold pieceSeon — Gold piece worth twice a senineNephite Currency — Named pieces of gold and silver in the Nephite reckoningSenum — Base silver piece equal to a senineSenine — Base gold piece equal to a senumBread — Ordinary prepared food served in a Nephite householdAmnor — Silver piece worth two senumsVillages — Small settlements distinguished from larger cities and townsArmor — Protective war gear worn or carried in armed conflictThistles — Thorny weed in Abinadi's prophecy and Christ's fruit sayingInsects — Crop-destroying pests in Abinadi’s warning to Noah’s peoplePestilence — Widespread deadly affliction named among covenant judgmentsDogs — Carrion animals and a proverb figure in Book of Mormon passagesVultures — Scavenging birds that consume the fallen after violenceBreastwork — Defensive timber rampart of Nephite citiesRoyal Thrones — Literal seats and emblems of earthly kingshipFatlings — Fattened livestock among Nephite wealthClub — Bludgeon used by Lamanite herdsmenSheum — An unidentified cultivated seed named in Zeniff’s colonyWheat — Old World cereal planted by ZeniffitesNeas — An unidentified cultivated seed named in Zeniff’s colonyInstruments of Translation — Prepared stones by which records of ancient date are readRust — Corrosion on the recovered Jaredite sword bladesBreastplate — Torso armor of Nephite and Jaredite armiesBones — Skeletal remains found after battle and ancient destructionCorn — Cereal staple of Nephite agricultureBarley — Cereal grain cultivated by NephitesGrain — Cultivated cereal crops measured, harvested, and paid as tributeFamine — Widespread want of food as historical crisis and covenant chasteningWeapons — Implements made and carried for armed conflictDarts — Throwing weapon in Jarom’s Nephite arsenalMachinery — Nephite mechanical works alongside buildings and craftsmanshipJavelin — Throwing spear in Jaredite craft and Teancum’s raidsCities — Built urban settlements, distinct from named geographic placesAxe — Hafted blade in Lamanite weapon trioCimeter — Curved sword of Nephite and Lamanite armiesLamanite Tents — Wilderness dwellings of Lamanite communitiesFine Apparel — Costly clothing of Nephite prideShield — Hand-held defense in Nephite warfareSanctuary — Nephite worship house alongside temples and synagoguesSynagogues — Nephite assembly houses built like Jewish synagoguesPalaces — Royal residences of Book of Mormon kingsSatyrs — Mythic dancing creatures in Isaiah’s oracle of desolationOwls — Nocturnal birds inhabiting Isaiah’s desolated cityRoe — Fleeing deer in Isaiah's oracle against fallen BabylonAsp — Venomous serpent rendered harmless in Isaiah's peaceful-kingdom oracleCockatrice — Venomous serpent in Isaiah prophecyBear — Wild predator in Isaiah’s visionWolves — Predators used in sheepfold and false-prophet figuresLeopard — Predator reconciled with the kid in Isaiah’s peace visionMattock — Digging and cultivating implement named in Isaiah’s hill-country imageCattle — Nephite wealth in domestic herdsValleys — Low landforms contrasted with mountains in prophecy and upheavalPools — Pools of water in Isaiah’s desolation oracleTeil Tree — Tree named beside the oak in Isaiah's remnant oracleTongs — Implement used to take the live coal from Isaiah’s altarLions — Isaianic judgment and peaceful-kingdom lionsLambs — Literal and Isaiah-quoted sacrificial lambsBriers — Thorny scrub vegetation in Isaiah’s desolation imageryThorns — Thorn-bearing vegetation in Isaiah and Jesus’s agricultural imagesTowers — Elevated structures for defense and proclamationGrapes — Vineyard fruit used in prophetic and moral comparisonsWine-Press — Grape press in the vineyard allegoryGates — Civic gates of Nephite and Zeniffite citiesGirdle — Isaianic figure of readiness and virtueBracelet — Ornamental wrist jewelry of prideOrnaments — Isaianic finery and Nephite prideMole — Burrowing animal to which cast-off idols are given in IsaiahBat — Creature to which cast-off idols are given in Isaiah's oracleChariots — Horse-drawn conveyances in royal, Nephite, and prophetic settingsSpear — Thrusting weapon of Nephite warriorsFortification — Nephite defensive works of earth and timberIdols — Idolatry of Lamanites and Nephite dissentersDragon — Isaianic creature and Nephite simileMoths — Garment-corrupting moth in Christ’s treasure teachingWorms — Earth and decay creatures in Isaiah and the Jaredite final warSackcloth — Garment of mourning and repentanceRivers — Flowing inland waters in travel, settlement, and prophetic imageryFish — Water creatures used as food and in Christ’s teachingTemples — Nephite houses of God after Solomon’s templeMaterials — Physical substances worked into Book of Mormon objects and buildingsBuildings — Enclosed structures for dwelling, worship, governance, and workHerds — Managed aggregate livestock, distinguished from flocksFlocks — Herded livestock in Nephite and Jaredite economiesTents — Portable shelters for camps and gatheringsSheep — Flock animal in Nephite and Christ imageryCalves — Young cattle used in growth and deliverance figuresSmoke — Atmospheric vapor accompanying fire and destructionQuiver — Arrow case in Isaiah’s Servant SongFurnace — Fire enclosure in affliction images and deliverance accountsIsles — Islands and sea-bound lands in scattering and gathering prophecyPlates — Metal tablets used for engraved recordsForests — Wooded natural terrain used for hunting, concealment, and settlementAnimals — Creatures kept, hunted, or encountered in the Book of MormonOres — Mineral-bearing rock extracted and refined for metalworkWild Goat — Untamed goat in Nephite landsHorse — Chariot animal of Nephite and Lamanite courtsIron — Hard metal for tools and God’s wordox — Draft animal in Nephite and Jaredite herdsCopper — Native metal for tools and armorAss — Beast of burden among Nephite livestockGoat — Domestic herd animal raised by Nephites and JareditesCow — Domestic bovine in promised landPlants — Living vegetation used for food, medicine, timber, and cultivationWinds — Air that drives ships, calms, and contributes to stormsTempests — Violent storms of wind and water in travel, prophecy, and catastropheProvisions — Stored and transported supplies of food for travel, settlement, and warMeat — Animal food used as wilderness provisions and household fareTimber — Construction wood for Nephite projectsFiery Flying Serpents — Judgment-plague serpents in Israelite scripture and Isaiah’s oracleFire — Combustion used for heat, light, and metalworkAnimal Skins and Leather — Processed hides used for bellows, protective garments, and girdlesBellows — Animal-skin bellows Nephi made for smeltingTools — Implements for construction, cultivation, and animal workShip — General term for sea-going vesselsShores — Coastal margins used for landing, settlement, travel, and battleSea — Great body of salt water encountered in migration and scriptureBees — Jaredite swarmed honey-producing insectsHoney — Wild sweet substance at BountifulRaw Meat — Uncooked flesh as sustenance and savageryMilk — Sustaining beverage and emblem of salvationRoots and Herbs — Wild plants for food and medicineWild Beasts — Unspecified wild animals hunted, feared, or encountered in wildernessesWood — Raw material for Nephite constructionStone Sling — Projectile weapon of hunters and armiesSlings — Hand-held projectile weapons used with stones for hunting and combatFood — Nourishment gathered, prepared, shared, and suppliedArrow — Projectile for hunting and warBow — Ranged weapon of hunters and warriorsSilk — Silk as a symbol of wealth and prideLinen — Fine-twined linen in Nephite societyPlains — Broad level ground used for travel, battle, and prophetic destructionEarthquakes — Quakings and rending of the earth in prophetic warning and catastropheMountains — High natural landforms in vision, refuge, and divine power imagerySandals — Footwear with latchet unworthy to unlooseWhite Robe — Luminous garment of celestial beingsSeeds — Planting stock carried, preserved, and sown for subsistenceFruits — Literal harvest of Nephite recordsCords — Ropes for binding and spiritual captivityPrisons — Confinement places across Nephite, Lamanite, and Jaredite erasHouses — Dwellings of Nephite and Lamanite familiesRecords — Preserved written accounts, chiefly engraved on platesApparel — Clothing and adornment worn for protection, status, and identitySteel — Hardened metal for weapons and toolsWine — Fermented drink in feasts, households, and military stratagemsWalls — Enclosing barriers of ancient citiesCaves — Natural rock shelters used as refugesTreasures — Valuable material goods, especially gold, silver, and precious thingsBrass — Copper-tin alloy for records and ornamentAltar — Stone offering-place of Mosaic continuityStone — Natural rock used in altars, tools, weapons, and constructionGold — Precious metal for coinage and ornamentSilver — Precious metal for coinage and wealthWilderness — Unsettled land of travel, testing, subsistence, and divine provisionSwords — War blade of Nephite, Lamanite, and Jaredite armiesAstronomy — Heavenly bodies and celestial eventsIdeas and practices the text teaches or argues over: covenant, faith, apostasy.
Cannibalism in War — Forced cannibalism among starving armies, reported as braveryCircumcision — The Abrahamic-Mosaic covenant rite that Christ's atonement does awayAll things common — Nephite practice of shared goodsSacrament — Communal bread-and-wine rite among the risen Jesus's followersLex Talionis — Mosaic proportional retribution, overturned in Christ's sermonSpirit Affliction — Reported affliction by devils or unclean spirits and their removalSigns, Wonders, and Miracles — Extraordinary events publicly witnessed, reported, and contestedSiege Warfare — Blockade to force surrender rather than open battleNight Operations — Concealment, infiltration, and readiness after darkFactionalism and Dissent — Internal political division that weakens the peopleThrone Usurpation — Seizing a kingdom by intrigue, murder, and political fraudGesture and token — Bodily acts that carry meaning between personsRending garments as token — Cloth torn as a covenant sign, with the tearing itself stating the termsConquest and Subjugation — Warfare represented as reducing a people to bondage and installing ruleMilitary Preparation — Readiness through intelligence, fortification, arms, and provisionsDefensive Warfare — Nephite claims about defense, restraint, and refusal of vengeanceConferral by touch — The hand laid on a person, by which Spirit or authority passesOrder of the Nehors — Religious affiliation associated with Amalekite and Amulonite synagoguesRaising by the hand — Lifting a bowed person from the ground, glossed as a token of peaceLamanite Great Spirit — Lamoni's inherited religious language for a supreme divine beingCaptivity — Loss of liberty, confinement, and treatment of captured enemiesWarfare — Military conflicts in Nephite historyWeights and Measures — Nephite system of weights and measuresLegal Profession — Lawyers and judges who administer law in public trialsHospitality and Hosting — Receiving guests into a household and providing food or shelterFasting — Devotional abstinence joined with prayer, mourning, and spiritual powerRevelation and Prophecy — Divine truth made known by the Spirit and declared to othersMilitary Command — Appointed captains and commanders directing armiesSorcery and Witchcraft — A named forbidden occult practice, distinct from idolatryWealth and Poverty — Material abundance, deprivation, and their moral consequencesCivic Administration — Appointed judges, governors, and officers exercising public authorityPolitical Liberty — Rights, privileges, and freedom from political bondageReign of the Judges — Nephite government by elected judges under lawJudgment Seat — Civic seat of Nephite judgesJudicial Procedure — Trials, testimony, judgment, and legal processCrime and punishment — Legal accountability for acts, with belief protected from civil penaltyMonarchy and Kingship — Rule by a king and the moral hazards of concentrated powerEquality — Equal standing and mutual regard within a communityChurch Discipline — Church correction and removal of unrepentant membersTrade and Commerce — Buying, selling, and traffic for gainLayered Territorial Kingship — Local kings, lands, and the authority of a king over a wider territoryWound Care — Binding, dressing, and tending bodily injuriesWorship — Devotion to the true and living God in heart and assemblyPreaching and Teaching — Authorized proclamation and instruction in the word of GodOrdination — Setting apart priests and teachers for community ministryChurch of God — Covenanted community of the baptized, organized for worship and careClapping and clasping hands — Hands brought together in acclamation and in joyMourning and Comfort — Shared grief, lamentation, and covenantal consolationCapital punishment — Execution as a legal and punitive measureOrdinances — Prescribed sacred performances that remember and point to GodSeership — A recognized office for seeing and interpreting hidden recordsTreaties — Negotiated settlements governing land, war, and coexistenceBondage and Slavery — Political subjection, forced labor, and divine deliveranceBowing and obeisance — Lowering the body before a king or before GodVoice of the people — Nephite political decision-making processExploration — Parties searching for a destination through unfamiliar wildernessReckoning of Time — Nephite dating from Lehi's departure, the judges, and Christ's signLending and Borrowing — Neighborly loans, repayment, and generosityAngelic Visitations — Reported angelic appearances and messages with public consequencesTaxation and Tribute — Levies imposed by rulers and conquering powersLabor — Productive work, self-support, and exploited toilPublic Proclamation — Official messages gathered, spoken, written, and sent among a peopleRoyal Accession — Public installation and transfer of a king's authorityTradition of the Fathers — Inherited transmission of belief and identity across generationsTranslation — Rendering an ancient record through a seer's divine giftMigration and Colonization — A people relocating under a leader to found or reoccupy a settlementAnimal Husbandry — Tending flocks, herds, and useful domestic animalsKneeling in prayer — The bodily posture of petition, held apart from prayer as an actPrayer — Calling upon God in faith, need, and continual devotionLaw of Moses — Israelite religious observance maintained by early Nephite communitiesChastity and Virtue — Sexual integrity treated as precious before GodSexual Transgression — Adultery, lust, and sexual exploitation condemned in scriptureAlms — Charitable giving and its principlesRidding the garments — The prophetic idiom of standing clear of a people's bloodPlural Marriage and Concubinage — The practice of taking multiple wives or concubinesBaptism — Water ordinance witnessing repentance and covenantSecret combinations — Oath-bound conspiracies pursuing power, gain, and murderFeasts — Public and household meals of celebration, display, or excessShaking the garments — Garments shaken before a congregation as a witness of clean handsSackcloth and ashes — Mourning and repentance practiceDivorce — Dissolution of marriage and Christ’s teaching on its moral consequencesHoly Order of God — Ordained high-priest order that taught and organized the churchPriests and Teachers — Community religious offices among Nephites and converted LamanitesGovernment Principles — Nephite principles of governance and lawLaw, civil — Nephite legal systems and governanceContention — Angry division and conflict among peopleHarvest and Increase — Agricultural yield, abundance, and seasonal gatheringCultivation and Sowing — Tilling land, planting seed, and tending fieldsDancing and Merrymaking — Social dancing, singing, and celebration in narrative settingsStretching forth the hand — The arm extended toward heaven, toward persons, or toward an objectForbidden touch — The person or object that may not be laid hands onHunting and Foraging — Wilderness subsistence by hunted game and wild foodPersecute, persecution — Social pattern of oppression and conflictBurial of the Dead — Communal practice of interring or disposing of the slain and the deadCraftsmanship — Skilled artisanal labor as a valued social roleNaming Customs — Naming lands, cities, and children after ancestors and first possessorsAgriculture — Agricultural practices in Nephite societyMarriage — Covenant family union and raising a righteous posteritySacrifice and Offerings — Mosaic offerings of firstlings, later done away by ChristOaths — Oaths in Nephite and Jaredite societyProperty and Ownership — Possession, loss, and defense of material goods and landGenealogical Record-Keeping — Preserving commanded family descent across generationsElder-Son Precedence — The expectation that the eldest leads, contested by appointmentVisions and Dreams — Experiences recorded, interpreted, disputed, and acted uponReformed Egyptian — The Nephites' altered script used for their engraved recordsLanguage — Inherited speech and writing preserved across generationsLearning — Education, literacy, and cultivated understandingFamily — Family roles in Nephite society
Matters of the Book of Mormon • Book of Mormon Online