Editing Book of Omni (section)

==Narrative==
The Book of Omni is narrated as a combined composition by five different authors, each of which contribute a varying amount of content.{{sfn|Sperry|1995|p=14}} The first author, [[Omni (Book of Mormon)|Omni]], fought in wars against the [[Lamanites]], but calls himself a wicked man, stating that he hasn't followed God's commandments.{{sfn|Arnold|1996|pp=85-86}} He narrates his section of the book after possessing the [[Plates of Nephi|small plates]] for 38 years and is succeeded in the narrative by Amaron. Amaron says that many of the wicked Nephites were killed in war.{{sfn|Hardy|2023|pp=207, 209}} but also mentions that the "righteous" Nephites were protected from their enemies.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=62}} The next author is Chemish, who explains that he received the plates from his brother Amoron{{sfn|Hardy|2023|pp=209-210}} and saw him write his last words.{{sfn|Arnold|1996|p=86}} Next, Abinadom, the son of Chemish, recounts wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites and says he killed some Lamanites. He states that he doesn't know of any additional spiritual teachings that were presented during his life.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=63}}

The next narrator is Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. He speaks of Mosiah, who was king at the time of his birth.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|pp=63-64}} Mosiah, he explains, led a number of Nephites out of the land of Nephi and into the wilderness, where they discovered the land of [[Zarahemla]] inhabited by the [[Mulekites]]. Mosiah became king over both peoples and taught the Nephite language to the Mulekites.{{sfn|Arnold|1996|p=87}} According to Amaleki, because Mosiah was a seer, the Mulekites asked him to interpret a stone their people found that tells the story of a Jaredite named [[Coriantumr (last Jaredite king)|Coriantumr]].{{sfn|Hardy|2023|pp=207-208, 210-211}} An early LDS scholar of the Book of Mormon, [[Sidney B. Sperry|Sidney Sperry]], identifies Coriantumr as the last Jaredite king, whose account is found in the [[Book of Ether]]. He also speculates that Mosiah translated the stone with a [[Urim and Thummim (Latter Day Saints)|Urim and Thummim]].{{sfn|Sperry|1995|p=16}}

Amaleki proceeds to say that when Mosiah died his son, [[King Benjamin|Benjamin]], became king. There was a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites in which the Nephites were led by Benjamin.{{sfn|Hardy|2023|p=208}}

Amaleki further describes how some of the Nephites wished to return to the land of Nephi, apparently in an attempt to reclaim it. Two different companies set out in search of Nephi. The first attempt was unsuccessful because the participants fought among themselves. After that, a second group set out. At the time Amaleki stops writing, he says that the second group has never been heard of again. Later, in the [[Book of Mosiah]], it is revealed that the second group was led by a man named [[Zeniff]].<ref>{{harvnb|Thomas in Largey|2003|p=622}}; {{harvnb|Sperry|1995|pp=16-17}}</ref>

Amaleki closes with some words about Christ, asserting that his words are true and that it is his intent to help others come unto Christ. He states at the close of the book that, having no descendants to carry on the record-keeping, he will give the records to King Benjamin.<ref>{{harvnb|Givens|2009|p=11}}; {{harvnb|Hardy|2023|pp=208. 211}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Structure{{sfn|Thomas|2016|pp=61-62}}
!Author
!Verses
|-
|Omni
|1-3
|-
|Amaron and Chemish
|4-9
|-
|Abinadom
|10-11
|-
|Amaleki
|12-30
|}