His name was Mormon, and he was born 1,700 years ago in the Americas. He was named for his father and after a land sacred to the memory of his people — a land that symbolized religious restoration. When he was only 10, he was recognized as a gifted child by Ammaron the prophet who came to him and told him that when he reached the age of 24 he should go to a special hiding place and there he would find the record of his entire civilization dating back almost a thousand years. He was charged to take that record and add his own account of all that he observed among his people.

At age 11, he witnessed the beginnings of war near his home. By age 15, he was appointed a leader in the armies of his people. Throughout his life, he lived in a world of war and rumors of wars. It was also at age 15 that he was born again and “tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus” (Mormon 1:15), but his people were not of his faith and came out in “open rebellion against their God.” (Mormon 2:15) His land soon became “one complete revolution,” “every heart was hardened so that his people delighted in the shedding of blood continually.” (Mormon 4:11) Never in history had there been so great wickedness as was among his people. “It is impossible for the tongue to describe or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of blood and carnage” that was laid before his eyes. (Mormon 4:11-12) Sorrow filled his soul all his days as he labored with, and lead his, people in love. He tried repeatedly to bring them to Christ, but it was too late. The day of grace was passed with them. (Mormon 2:15)

He became a disciple — an apostle of Jesus Christ; a man of faith and charity in a world of absolute evil. We can only imagine how lonely and difficult it must have been for him and his family.

Somewhere near his 75th year he knew the days of his people were numbered. His heart turned to the future generations. His people would be lost, but he could not bear that we of the future would perish in faithless ignorance — that we would follow the fate of his people — that we would not know who we really were or the Christ who redeemed. Filled with perfect love, this prophet-historian scoured the records of his people over the centuries and wrote a special book “for this intent” that all men would be “persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mormon 5:14)

His name was Mormon and the name of this record of singular purpose is the Book of Mormon. “And as your Lord and your God liveth it is true” (DC 17:6)

Glenn Rawson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he resides in Blackfoot. Watch Glenn Rawson on KPVI Channel 6 at 8:30 a.m. Sundays or listen to his stories on EZ Rock 95.3 from 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.