Mormon, known principally as the father of Mormon, the chief abridger of the Book of Mormon, comes from a line of descent tracing back to Nephi, one of the principal figures in early Nephite history. While Mormon’s own contributions to Nephite history are not extensively documented, his significance is implied through the important role his son played in preserving the Nephite record. Mormon is acknowledged in the record during a time when the Nephite civilization was experiencing severe turmoil and widespread wickedness, around A.D. 322. His decision to move with his son to the land of Zarahemla suggests a level of prudence given the unsettled conditions of the period (Mormon 1:6).
It is during this time that his son, at the tender age of eleven, is identified as a future custodian of the Nephite records. Although little is directly stated about Mormon’s own character or deeds, the implication that he provided his son with an upbringing that prepared Mormon to comprehend and execute the weighty task of record-keeping reflects on Mormon as an individual potentially steeped in Nephite traditions and teachings. For the line of record keepers and the sacredness of their task were significant among the Nephites, indicating that Mormon likely possessed qualities befitting the lineage from which both he and his son arose (Mormon 1:1-3, 5).