Book of Mormon Stories. No. 1. by George Q. Cannon

(6 User reviews)   5911
By Rebecca King Posted on Dec 22, 2025
In Category - Theology
Cannon, George Q. (George Quayle), 1827-1901 Cannon, George Q. (George Quayle), 1827-1901
English
Ever wondered how the Book of Mormon stories first became accessible to everyday people? This isn't just a religious text—it's a piece of publishing history. George Q. Cannon, a key figure in the LDS Church, takes the complex narratives from the Book of Mormon and breaks them down into simple, numbered stories for families and new readers. Think of it as the original 'beginners guide' to a foundational American religious text. The real story here is the mission: making ancient scripture feel immediate and understandable. It's a fascinating look at how stories are shaped and shared.
Share

Read "Book of Mormon Stories. No. 1. by George Q. Cannon" Online

This book is available in the public domain. Start reading the digital edition below.

START READING FULL BOOK
Instant Access    Mobile Friendly

Book Preview

A short preview of the book’s content is shown below to give you an idea of its style and themes.

around Jerusalem many of the Prophets of the Lord lived many years ago. The Savior was born in a small town near this great city, and when He lived on the earth. He went to Jerusalem several times. He also visited other towns near by to teach the people. Jerusalem was built on a hill, and had a high wall around it, so that people could only get in and out of the city through the gates. A great many people lived there. They had many fine houses and a very beautiful temple, which was the grandest and nicest building in the world. The Book of Mormon tells about a people who came from Jerusalem to this country where we live, which is now called America. The Indians who live among us are the children of the people whom the Book of Mormon speaks of. Their forefathers came from Jerusalem many hundreds of years ago. At the same time when the Prophet Jeremiah, of whom the Bible tells, was living near Jerusalem, another Prophet named Lehi dwelt in that great city. This was six hundred years before the Savior was born. The king who was ruler at Jerusalem at this time was named Zedekiah. He was not a good man, and did not do as the Lord wished him to. Many of the people of the city were also wicked. Jeremiah told the king and the people of their wickedness, and that their city would be destroyed unless they lived better lives and obeyed the Lord. [Image captioned "LEHI PREACHING TO THE JEWS."] The Prophet Lehi also preached to the people, and told them what awful things would happen to them because of their sins. The people did not believe Lehi, and they became angry at him because he told them of evils which would come upon them. They even tried to kill him, but the Lord did not let them harm His servant. Both Lehi and Jeremiah told the people of Jerusalem, who were called Jews, that a king who lived in another city called Babylon would come with a great army of soldiers and destroy Jerusalem. They would tear down the walls of the city and burn the houses in which the people lived. Then these soldiers would kill many of the people who lived in the city, and others would be taken away to Babylon and put into prison. The Lord told these Prophets, Lehi and Jeremiah that these things should happen, and that is how they knew about what would happen. The Lord loved the people of Jerusalem. Sometimes they were good people, and the Lord wanted to save them. But they had become so wicked that the Lord now sent these and many other Prophets to warn them, or tell them of what should happen if they did not do better. The people would not do right, so, just as these Prophets had said, in a few years the king of Babylon sent a great army of soldiers to Jerusalem, and they killed many thousands of the men and women. They took others to prison, and the city and the beautiful temple were burned. Perhaps you will wonder what became of the few good people who were in Jerusalem. The Lord took care of those who loved Him. Jeremiah was treated kindly by the king of Babylon, and was allowed to stay with a few others in his old home. Daniel, and a few other good young men whom the Bible tells of, were carried to Babylon and placed in the king's palace, where they...

This is a limited preview. Download the book to read the full content.

I picked up this little volume curious about how religious education worked in the 19th century. What I found was a deliberate and careful project.

The Story

This book isn't a single narrative. It's the first in a series where George Q. Cannon retells events from the Book of Mormon, starting with the journey of Lehi's family from Jerusalem to the promised land. He presents them as standalone, numbered stories. He simplifies the language and focuses on clear moral lessons and family dynamics, aiming to make these scriptures easy for children and new converts to grasp.

Why You Should Read It

Forget dry theology. Reading this is like sitting in on a Sunday school class from the 1880s. You feel Cannon's urgency to teach and preserve these stories. It shows how a religious community actively built its identity by making its core texts accessible. The straightforward prose has a certain charm, and it's incredibly effective at highlighting the core plot points without getting bogged down.

Final Verdict

This is a niche but rewarding read. It's perfect for history buffs interested in American religion, LDS Church members curious about their heritage, or anyone who studies how stories are adapted for different audiences. It's less about literary flourish and more about clear communication with a purpose. A quiet but important artifact of its time.



✅ Legacy Content

This book is widely considered to be in the public domain. It serves as a testament to our shared literary heritage.

Lucas Moore
1 year ago

Citation worthy content.

Ava Clark
1 year ago

Finally a version with clear text and no errors.

Linda Wright
1 year ago

Just what I was looking for.

Matthew King
1 year ago

I have to admit, the clarity of the writing makes this accessible. I couldn't put it down.

Elijah Miller
8 months ago

I stumbled upon this title and the arguments are well-supported by credible references. I would gladly recommend this title.

5
5 out of 5 (6 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *
There are no comments for this eBook.
You must log in to post a comment.
Log in


Related eBooks