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KnoWhy topical index — A and B — Book of Mormon Central

Book of Mormon Central, a wonderful resource for all types of Book of Mormon information, has a series of articles dealing with various topics in the Book of Mormon. They are referred to as ‘KnoWhy’ articles. These articles can be referenced at ‘bookofmormoncentral.org‘. Following is a topical index of articles starting with the letters A and B.

Index One – topical index – A and B Click here to return to the Scriptures index page

Abinadi: Why would Noah’s priests quiz Abinadi on the teachings of Isaiah? #89, April 28, 2016
Abinadi: Did Abinadi prophesy during Pentecost? #90, May 2, 2016
Abinadi: Why does Abinadi talk of the ‘suffering’ Messiah? #91, May 3, 2016
Abinadi: Why does Abinadi use the phrase ‘bands of death’? — #93, May 5, 2016
Abinadi: Why did Abinadi stretch forth his hand as he prophesied? — #94, May 6, 2016
Abinadi: Why was Abinadi scourged with faggots? — #96, May 9, 2016
Abinadi: Why did Alma add “chains of hell” to Abinadi’s phrase “bands of death”? — #111, May 31, 2016
Abinadi: Why did Abinadi warn the people of an east wind? — #560, May 5, 2020
Abinadi: Why does Alma draw on the teachings of Abinadi? — #571, July 28, 2020
Abinadi: How was Abinadi a prophet ‘like unto Moses’? #731, May 14, 2024
Abominable Church, Great and: Why did Ezekiel prophesy that the Great and Abominable Church would be destroyed? — #784, March 25, 2025
Abominations: Why did Christ call the creeds abominations? — #773, January 16, 2025
Abraham: Why did Abraham and Sarah receive new names and tokens? — #630, February 22, 2022
Accounts of the Creation: Why do we have three different accounts of the Creation? — #400, January 18, 2018
Adam, Fall of: What are the origins of Lehi’s understanding of the Fall of Adam? — #28, February 8, 2016
Administrative handbook: Was the Book of Mormon used as the first Church Administrative Handbook? — #72, April 6, 2016
Advocate: Why was William W. Phelps such a strong advocate for the Book of Mormon? — #793, May 20, 2025
Again, born: What does it mean to be “born again”? — #501, March 7, 2019
Age, young: Why was Alma’s young age an advantage? — #151, July 16, 2016
Age, young: Why could Joseph Smith testify in court at age 13? — #590, January 15, 2021
Allegory of the olive tree: Why did Jacob share the allegory of the olive tree? — #66, March 30, 2016
Allegory of the olive tree: What are the roots of Zenos’s allegory of the olive tree in the ancient world? #70, April 3, 2016
Alma: Why did the Angel speak to Alma with a voice of thunder? — #105, May 23, 2016
Alma: Why did Alma add “chains of hell” to Abinadi’s phrase “bands of death”? — #111, May 31, 2016
Alma: Why did Alma ask church members 50 probing questions? — #112, June 1, 2016
Alma: Why did Alma need to “establish the order of the church” in Zarahemla again? — #113, June 2, 2016
Alma: Why does Alma mention ‘the Plan’ ten times in his words to Corianton? — #150, July 25, 2016
Alma: Why was Alma’s young age an advantage? — #151, July 16, 2016
Alma: Why did Alma face such great political challenges as Chief Judge? — #563, May 26, 2020
Alma: Why did an angel send Alma back to Ammonihah? — #565, June 6, 2020
Alma: Why did Alma see God surrounded by angels? — #570, July 21, 2020
Alma: Why did Alma respond the way he did to the ‘Order of Nehor’ in Ammonihah? — #566, June 16, 2020
Alma: Why did Alma talk about planting a seed in the heart? — #569, August 20, 2020
Alma: Why did Mormon place the account of Alma’s mission to the Zoramites where he did? — #742, July 23, 2024
Alma: Why does Alma mention three kinds of path in one verse? — #114, June 3, 2016
Alma: Why are there men named Alma in the Book of Mormon? — #760, October 31, 2024
Alma the Younger: Why does Alma draw on the teachings of Abinadi? — #571, July 28, 2020
Alma the Younger: Why is Alma the Younger’s unique voice important? — #735, June 11, 2024
Amaleki: Who was Amaleki? — #727, April 16, 2024
Amalekites: Why did the Amlicites disappear? — #109, May 27, 2016
American temples, ancient: How are ancient American temples similar to the temple of Solomon? — #716, February 9, 2024
Americas, ancient: How did the Book of Mormon get so many things right about the ancient Americas? — #751, September 10, 2024
Aminadi: Who was Aminadi? — #736, June 18, 2024
Amlicites: Why did the Amlicites disappear? — #109, May 27, 2016
Ammon: Why did the Lamanites mistake Ammon for the Great Spirit? — #738, July 2, 2024
Ammonihah: Why did an angel send Alma back to Ammonihah? — #565, June 6, 2020
Ammonihah: Why did Alma respond the way he did to the ‘Order of Nehor’ in Ammonihah? — #566, June 16, 2020
Ammonites: Why did the Ammonites covenant not to take up arms? — #567, June 30, 2020
Ancient American temples: How are ancient American temples similar to the temple of Solomon? — #716, February 9, 2024
Ancient Americas: How did the Book of Mormon get so many things right about the ancient Americas? — #751, September 10, 2024
Angel, an: Why did the Angel speak to Alma with a voice of thunder? — #105, May 23, 2016
Angel, an: Why did an angel send Alma back to Ammonihah? — #565, June 6, 2020
Angel in Heaven: Who was the Angel in Heaven with the everlasting gospel that John saw? — #703, December 12, 2023
Angels: What is it to speak with the tongue of angels? — #60, March 23, 2016
Angels: Why did Alma see God surrounded by angels? — #570, July 21, 2020
Anthon, Charles: Why did Martin Harris consult with scholars like Charles Anthon? — #514, May 7, 2019
Anthon, Charles: Why did Charles Anthon compare the characters he was shown to many languages? — #774, January 23, 2025
Anthon transcript: What do we know about the Anthon transcript? — #515, May 9, 2019
Apocalypse: Why can Nephi’s vision be called an Apocalypse? — #471, September 27, 2018
Apocrypha: Why study ancient apocryphal literature? — #613, August 10, 2021
Apostasy: What does the Parable of the Wheat and Tares teach about apostasy? — #660, February 28, 2023
Apostles: What might Jesus have taught his apostles for forty days? — #678, July 3, 2023
Apostles, Twelve: Why did the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon select the first Twelve Apostles? — #779, February 18, 2025
Apostle’s witness, an: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland bears witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon — #2, January 2, 2016
Apply your heart to understanding: What does it mean to ‘apply your heart to understanding’? — #644, August 30, 2022
Archetype: Why did the Nephites use the lifted-up serpent as an archetype of the lifted-up Savior? — #749, September 3, 2024
Arise from the dust: Why did Lehi tell his sons to “arise from the dust”? — #715, February 2, 2024
Ark and Noah: Why is the story of Noah and the ark so repetitive? — #629, February 1, 2022
Armor: What kind of armor did the Nephites use? — #745, August 13, 2024
Arms: Why did the Ammonites covenant not to take up arms? — #567, June 30, 2020
Arms: Why did ancient Israelites raise their arms in praise? — #638, July 19, 2022
Articles of Faith: How often do the Articles of Faith track the sayings of the Apostle Paul? — #693, October 10, 2023
Artifact, ancient: Has an ancient artifact relating to the Book of Mormon been found? — #103, May 18, 2016
Artifacts, fraudulent: Why should Latter-day Saints beware of fraudulent artifacts? — #493, December 13, 2018
Ask: Why does God give liberally to those who ask? — #699, November 14, 2023
Assyrian Empire: Why is the Great and Abominable Church described like the Assyrian Empire? — #711, January 23, 2024
Athens: How did Paul interact with Greek philosophies in Athens? — #681, July 25, 2023
Atonement of Jesus: How does Paul use chiasmus to teach about Jesus’ Atonement? — #688, September 12, 2023
Atonement, Day of: How is the day of Atonement understood in the Book of Mormon? — #479, October 25, 2018
Atonement, Day of: How does the Gospel of John reflect the day of Atonement? — #675, April 18, 2024
Authority, priesthood: Why does the book of Mosiah talk so much about priesthood authority? — #101, May 17, 2016
Author of the Book of Mormon: Was Joseph Smith the ‘author’ of the Book of Mormon? — #507, March 22, 2019
Authors: Why do the authors on the Small Plates follow a pattern? — #74, April 8, 2016
Authorship of the Book of Mormon: Did Lucy Mack Smith believe that Joseph Smith could have written the Book of Mormon? — #555, March 31, 2020
Bad things: Why does God allow bad things to happen? — #767, December 20, 2024
Bands of death: Why does Abinadi use the phrase ‘bands of death’? — #93, May 5, 2016
Bands of death: Why did Alma add “chains of hell” to Abinadi’s phrase “bands of death”? — #111, May 31, 2016
Bankruptcy: Why did Joseph Smith file for bankruptcy? — #623, November 4, 2021
Baptism: What is the purpose of baptism in the Book of Mormon? — #59, March 22, 2016
Baptism: What do we covenant to do at baptism? — #97, May 11, 2016
Baptism for the dead: Why are people baptized for the dead? — #687, September 5, 2023
Baptism of infants: Why did Paul teach that children are holy? — #798, June 24, 2025
Baptism of Jesus: Why was Jesus proclaimed as Son of God at this baptism? — #655, January 24, 2023
Barley: How can barley in the Book of Mormon feed faith? — #87, April 27, 2016
Battle: Why did God support the Nephites in battle? — #572, August 4, 2020
Beast, The: Why did John state that the Beast’s number was 666? — #666, April 11, 2023
Belief in the Book of Mormon: Why did Parley P. Pratt believe in the Book of Mormon? — #785, April 1, 2025
Benjamin, king: Did king Benjamin or king Mosiah have the gift of translation? — #99, May 13, 2016
Benjamin, king: How did King Benjamin’s speech lead to Nephite democracy? — April 17, 2017
Benjamin, king: How did later prophets utilize the teachings of king Benjamin? — #728, April 23, 2024
Benjamin, king: Why does King Benjamin deny being more than a man? #729, April 30, 2024
Bible: Why did Joseph Smith produce a new translation of the Bible? — #628, January 18, 2022
Bible, Joseph Smith Translation of the: Did the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible rely on scholarly commentaries? — #786, April 3, 2025
Birth of Jesus: Why do we have multiple accounts of Jesus’ birth? — #654, January 10, 2023
Blackness, skin of: What is the ‘skin of blackness’ mentioned in the Book of Mormon? — #718, February 14, 2024
Bleed: Did Jesus really bleed from every pore? — #520, June 13, 2019
Boggs, Lilburn: Did Joseph Smith attempt to assassinate Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs? — #632, May 31, 2022
Book, 19th Century: Is the Book of Mormon like any other 19th Century book? — #502, February 16, 2019
Book of Ether: Why was the name of the brother of Jared not included in the book of Ether? — #762, November 12, 2024
Book of Mormon: Why do Church leaders frequently testify of the Book of Mormon? — #68, April 1, 2016
Book of Mormon: Is the Book of Mormon like any other 19th Century book? — #502, February 16, 2019
Book of Mormon: Why did Moroni conclude the Book of Mormon with so many exhortations? — #588, December 17, 2020
Book of Mormon abridgement: Why is the Book of Mormon called an ‘abridgement’? — #519, June 6, 2019
Book of Mormon, administrative handbook?: Was the Book of Mormon used as the first Church Administrative Handbook? — #72, April 6, 2016
Book of Mormon, advocate: Why was William W. Phelps such a strong advocate for the Book of Mormon? — #793, May 20, 2025
Book of Mormon, the name Alma: Why are there men named Alma in the Book of Mormon? — #760, October 31, 2024
Book of Mormon, ancient Americas: How did the Book of Mormon get so many things right about the ancient Americas? — #751, September 10, 2024
Book of Mormon artifact: Has an ancient artifact relating to the Book of Mormon been found? — #103, May 18, 2016
Book of Mormon, apple of the eye: Why did William E. McLellin call the Book of Mormon ‘the apple of my eye’? — #611, July 1, 2021
Book of Mormon authorship: Did Lucy Mack Smith believe that Joseph Smith could have written the Book of Mormon? — #555, March 31, 2020
Book of Mormon, chariots: What is the nature and use of chariots in the Book of Mormon? — #126, June 21, 2016
Book of Mormon, classic: Why is the Book of Mormon a ‘classic’? — #63, March 26, 2016
Book of Mormon copyright: Why did Joseph Smith attempt to secure the Book of Mormon copyright in Canada? — #556, April 7, 2020
Book of Mormon defended: Why did Rebecca Swain Williams defend the Book of Mormon? — #612, July 27, 2021
Book of Mormon, dragons: Why does the Book of Mormon mention ‘dragons’? — #732, May 21, 2024
Book of Mormon, elephants: Why does the Book of Mormon mention elephants, cureloms, and cumoms? — #764, November 19, 2024
Book of Mormon, familiar spirit: How are the words of the Book of Mormon like “…one that hath a familiar spirit…”? — #491, December 6, 2018
Book of Mormon geography: What counsel have Church leaders given about the study of Book of Mormon geography? — #739, July 4, 2024
Book of Mormon grammar: Does the Book of Mormon really have “bad” grammar? — #490, December 4, 2018
Book of Mormon, Hebraisms: Why are there Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon? — #661, March 7, 2023
Book of Mormon, Hiram Page: Why did Hiram page remain faithful to the Book of Mormon? — #599, October 8, 2021
Book of Mormon, horses: Why are horses mentioned in the Book of Mormon? — #75, April 11, 2016
Book of Mormon, Hyrum Smith: Why was Hyrum Smith faithful to his witness of the Book of Mormon: — #614, August 24, 2021
Book of Mormon, Hyrum Smith: How did Hyrum Smith help in bringing forth the Book of Mormon? — #777, February 6, 2025
Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon: Why is the Book of Mormon so focused on Jesus? — #484, November 13, 2018
Book of Mormon, John Whitmer: Why did John Whitmer continue to testify of the Book of Mormon? — #602, April 27, 2021
Book of Mormon, Joseph Knight: Why was the Joseph Knight, Sr., family important in the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon? — #595, February 12, 2021
Book of Mormon, Law: Why does the Book of Mormon use so many different terms for ‘law’? — #568, July 7, 2020
Book of Mormon, Lions: Why does the Book of Mormon mention lions? — #757, October 15, 2024
Book of Mormon, lost 116 manuscript pages: What can we learn about repentance from the tragic loss of the 116 Book of Mormon pages? — #504, March 1, 2019
Book of Mormon, missionary tool — Why is the Book of Mormon such a powerful missionary tool? — #789, April 22, 2025
Book of Mormon, Mormon’s life: How do the events of Mormon’s life shape the entire Book of Mormon? — #582, November 1, 2020
Book of Mormon, musical: Is the Book of Mormon musical? — #500, January 31, 2019
Book of Mormon, Parley P. Pratt: Why did Parley P. Pratt believe in the Book of Mormon? — #785, April 1, 2025
Book of Mormon, Peter Whitmer: Why was Peter Whitmer, Jr. chosen to witness the Gold Plates? — #600, March 30, 2021
Book of Mormon plates: Why did Martin Harris sometimes say he saw the Book of Mormon plates with spiritual eyes? — #775 , January 28, 2025
Book of Mormon, polygamy: What does the Book of Mormon say about polygamy? — #64, March 28, 2016
Book of Mormon, printing of the: Why was Martin Harris needed to pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon? — #597, October 8, 2021
Book of Mormon, prophecy of Christ’s coming: How is the revelation of the Magi similar to the Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ? — #769, December 24, 2024
Book of Mormon prophets: Why did Book of Mormon prophets speak of future events as if they had already happened? — #95, May 8, 2016
Book of Mormon, Psalms of Lament: Why do Biblical Psalms of Lament show up in the Book of Mormon? — #438, May 31, 2018
Book of Mormon, redemption: How do the Book of Mormon and Old Testament help us understand what it means to be redeemed? #436, May 24, 2018
Book of Mormon, resurrection of Jesus: How is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon similar to the resurrection of Jesus Christ? #724, March 26, 2024
Book of Mormon, sealed book: Why would a book be ‘sealed’? — #53, March 14, 2016
Book of Mormon and the Sermon on the Mount: What does the Book of Mormon add to the Sermon on the Mount? #755, October 2, 2024
Book of Mormon, Sidney RIgdon: What converted Sidney Rigdon to the Book of Mormon? — #601, April 13, 2021
Book of Mormon studies and scholarship: What role should scholarship play in studying the Book of Mormon? — #487, November 22, 2018
Book of Mormon, supreme moment: Why has 3 Nephi been called “the focal point, the supreme moment” in the Book of Mormon? — #201, October 4, 2016
Book of Mormon, testament: Why is the Book of Mormon “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”? — #494, December 18, 2018
Book of Mormon text: How does the Book of Mormon text reflect a 7th-century B.C. Israelite writing style? — #635, June 28, 2022
Book of Mormon, Title Page: How does the Book of Mormon fulfill the purposes declared on the Title Page? — #706, December 28, 2023
Book of Mormon translation: The miraculous translation of the Book of Mormon into the Japanese language — #524, July 12, 2019
Book of Mormon translation: Why were so many sections in the Doctrine and Covenants revealed during the days when the Book of Mormon was being translated? — #593, January 26, 2021
Book of Mormon translation: Why is the timing of the translation of the Book of Mormon so “marvelous”? — #506, March 15, 2019
Book of Mormon translation witnesses: Why are the witnesses to the Book of Mormon translation reliable? — #776, February 4, 2025
Book of Mormon, trinitarian statements: Why does the Book of Mormon contain trinitarian-sounding statements? — #723, March 19, 2024
Book of Mormon, Ukrainian language: The miraculous translation of the Book of Mormon into the Ukrainian language — #483, November 8, 2018
Book of Mormon warfare: What was one of the main causes of warfare in the Book of Mormon? — #523, July 5, 2019
Book of Mormon witnesses: Did the Book of Mormon witnesses really see what they claimed to see? — #521, June 20, 2019
Book of the High Priest Nephi: Why should 3 Nephi be read as the Book of the High Priest Nephi? — #577, September 8, 2020
Born again: What does it mean to be ‘born again’? — #501, March 7, 2019
Bow: Why did Nephi’s fine steel bow break? — #548, January 31, 2020
Box, stone: Why did Moroni seal the plates in a stone box? — #768, December 17, 2024
Brazen serpent: Why does Jesus compare himself to a brazen serpent? — #657, February 6, 2023
Brazen serpent: How did Nephi liken looking to Christ with looking to the brazen serpent? — #721, March 4, 2024
Bread of Life sermon: Why did Jesus use Passover imagery in His Bread of Life sermon? — #664, March 28, 2023
Broken heart: Was the requirement of a ‘broken heart’ known before the time of Christ? — #27, February 5, 2016
Brother of Jared: How were Jonah and the brother of Jared able to find comfort? — #526, July 26, 2019
Brother of Jared: Why did Jesus say to the brother of Jared, “Never have I showed myself unto man?” #584, November 12, 2020
Brother of Jared: Why was the name of the brother of Jared not included in the book of Ether? — #762, November 12, 2024
Brother of Jared: — Why did the Lord give the brother of Jared two stones to store with his record? — #763, November 14, 2024
Building, Great and Spacious: What is the significance of the great and spacious building? — #546, January 17, 2020
Burdens: How does the Lord make our burdens light? — #102, May 18, 2016

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