Why Moroni Wrote the Title Page

Technically we don’t know for sure who wrote the Title Page of the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon Student Manual says that it was “likely authored by the Book of Mormon prophet Moroni.”  Here’s why there is no other remotely reasonable option.  First, the Prophet Joseph said the following, “The title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general; and that said title page is not by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation” (History of the Church, 1:71).  So our only options are Book of Mormon authors, and it’s only logical that the last writer, Moroni, would be the one to write the “very last leaf.”  That’s not the only evidence for Moroni, though.  The Title Page tells that the book contains “an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also.”  When Mormon gave the plates to Moroni, they did not contain an abridgment of the Book of Ether—it was Moroni that added this.  Another evidence is the last phrase: “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men.”  This matches several statements of Moroni, including the statement that “If there be faults they be the faults of a man” (Mormon 8:17).  He also spoke of his “imperfection” and warned against condemning the book because of his or his father’s faults (Mormon 9:31-33).  We don’t see that same kind of apology and warning from the other authors in the Book of Mormon.  Lastly, if Mormon—the only other remotely possible option—had written the book, he would not have named it the Book of Mormon. As Helaman 2:14 shows, Mormon would have named it “The Book of Nephi” if he had written the title page.  Moroni clearly named it after his father, and there’s no other choice besides him for who wrote the Title Page.