Thirty-Three (1838)the Book of Mormon were used to present the intended lesson of the book, to allow the
verification of its authenticity, and to further corroborate that no man—especially not a
young Joseph Smith—could have written the book without advanced help.
For the record, none of the names used in the English publication of the Book of
Mormon are authentic, any more than “Jesus” is the actual name of the man Yeshua (Joshua),
about whom the New Testament account is given. The names are loosely connected to
actual people, but given with an English flair that would be easier to read and pronounce by
those for whom the book was intended. In the sealed portion of the plates, Moroni explains
the insignificance of names and titles:
(TSP, chapter 14)11 For behold, because of the law of free agency, the children of men are
allowed to live upon the earth according to the desires of their hearts. And
because the desires of our hearts are as distinct and as individual as each of
our spirits, therefore our cultures and our traditions differ one from another.
12 And according to these cultures and traditions, we have been taught the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, this gospel is not called the gospel of
Jesus Christ according to the traditions and customs of the many different
peoples of the world.
13 And it doth not matter to the Lord in what name he is called, for it is his
desire to give unto all the laws of his gospel, let these laws be called by
whatever name they might be called. And also, let him be called by whatever
name he may be called according to the different cultures and traditions of
the children of men.
14 And the Lord spoke unto my fathers when he visited them after his
resurrection and ascension, and he said unto them: And verily, verily, I say
unto you that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the
land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I
have been to minister.
15 For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice;
neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them.
16 But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them,
and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep,
that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore, I go to show myself
unto them.
17 Now I, Moroni, ask of you, Do ye know the name by which the Lord is
called by these other sheep who had not yet heard his voice at the time he
presented himself to my fathers? Do ye not know that his name is not
important to him, if it so be that the people believe in him and keep his
commandments?
18 And what say ye of those who are reading this record that the Lord hath
commanded me to make, and hath instructed me to write the things that the
Spirit whispereth unto me; again, what say ye, if ye heard me pronounce the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ according to my own language, which was
taught to me by the traditions and culture of my fathers? Would ye
understand of whom I speak?