Words of Mormon 1

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people. But may God grant that he may survive them, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them. Words of Mormon 1:2

Mormon writes centuries after Christ came to the Nephites and hopes Moroni will add more about Christ. Keeping a witness of Christ is the reason for the record.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in 3 Nephi 11:8 — The coming of Christ to the Nephites that Mormon dates his writing from.

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass— Words of Mormon 1:4

Mormon treasures the small plates because they are full of prophecies of Christ's coming, and he testifies those prophecies were fulfilled. This is why the Book of Mormon includes Nephi's, Jacob's, and Enos's writings.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• alludes to 2 Nephi 25:26 — Nephi: we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.
• alludes to Jacob 4:4 — Jacob: we knew of Christ and had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming.

Redeemer (redemption of Christ)

And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people. Words of Mormon 1:8

Mormon's prayer for the Lamanites is that they will know the redemption of Christ. To know God is to know what Christ did to redeem us.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to John 17:3 — Life eternal is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

Christ (false Christs)

Christ — the Anointed One

And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes; Words of Mormon 1:15

The false Christs were impostors claiming to be the Anointed One. Their appearance before Christ's birth shows how widely His coming was known and expected among the Nephites.

• alludes to Matthew 24:24 — Jesus warned that false Christs would arise.