The Meaning of the Word “Mormon”

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the word, “Mormon?”

This is from Volume 5, page 399, of the History of the Church, by B.H. Roberts. Joseph Smith wrote a letter to the Editor of the Times and Seasons, wherein he said:

“Sir – Through the medium of your paper, I wish to correct an error among men that profess to be learned, liberal and wise; and I do it the more cheerfully because I hope sober–thinking and sound–reasoning people will sooner listen to the voice of truth than be led astray by the vain pretensions of the self–wise. The error I speak of is the definition of the word, ‘Mormon.’ It has been stated that this word was derived from the Greek word, ‘mormo.’

This is not the case. There was no Greek or Latin upon the plates from which I, through the grace of the Lord, translated the Book of Mormon. Let the language of the book speak for itself. On the 523rd page of the fourth edition, it reads:

‘And now, behold we have written this record according to our knowledge in the characters which are called among us, the Reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech; and if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record. But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written and also that none other people knoweth our language; therefore He hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.’

Here, then, the subject is put to silence; for ‘none other people knoweth our language;’ therefore the Lord, and not man, had to interpret, after the people were all dead. And, as Paul said, ‘The world by wisdom know not God;’ so the world by speculation are destitute of revelation and as God in His superior wisdom has always given His Saints, wherever he had any on the earth, the same spirit; and that spirit, as John says, is the true spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus. I may safely say that the word ‘Mormon’ stands independent of the wisdom and learning of this generation….The word Mormon, means literally, more good.

Yours, Joseph Smith”