The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after His resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men [and women] what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.

After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the Hill Cumorah [sometime between 400-500 CE]. On September 21, 1823 the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.

In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith on Sept 22, 1827 [coinciding with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, and the Feast of Trumpets], who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto Him and obey the laws and ordinances of His gospel may be saved.

Introduction to the Book of Mormon

Jesus is our New Year and our new beginning. Happy New Year! Happy Jesus! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year begins on Friday Sept 15 2023 at sunset and ends Sunday Sept 17 2023 at nightfall. In modern times, the holiday is celebrated with apples and honey and wishes of a sweet new year. The Jewish New Year starts the Feast of Trumpets. When the angel Moroni gave Joseph Smith the ancient records containing the Book of Mormon, it was no accident that they were given on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The church has an article that can be read here, explaining in greater detail the symbolism of this event. Some of the symbolisms of this day include: the latter-day harvest and gathering of Israel, a day of redemption and a day of remembrance when the people are to remember the mercies of the Lord their God, a day when God would also remember his promises to Israel in the latter days, and a day of revelation and hence new scriptures. The new year begins the Feast of Trumpets which then leads to the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. All together these are called the High Holy Days or the Days of Awe and symbolize God’s past redemptions and Christ’s future return to earth and redemption of Israel.

The golden plates were delivered to the young Prophet Joseph Smith early in the morning of 22 September 1827. The Feast of Trumpets, with prayers pleading for God’s remembrance of his still-exiled people, had begun at sundown the previous evening. The services continued that morning, with a worldwide sounding of the ram’s horn. Unbeknown to [the tribes of] Judah, all that those horns represented was now to be fulfilled. For on that day, God remembered His people and set in motion His plan to regather them. On that day, God’s final harvest began. On that day, new revelation was granted which would bring a return to renewed covenants. From that day onward, Israel would be called to repentance in preparation for Christ’s return and reign. The Book of Mormon exists to serve these ends. Today, Moroni’s image trumpets from temple spires around the world a final call to awaken, repent, and prepare.

The Golden Plates and the Feast of Trumpets, Jan 2000