Question: If each book of The Book of Mormon were assigned a theme song, what would those songs be? This article attempts to explore the answer to that question. I’ve scoured the internet and think I’ve found some pretty good songs that have been pretty big hits over the years. Of course, not every song is going to fit exactly, but use a little imagination and you’ll see the parallels.
1 Nephi
Book summary:
An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah, and his four sons, being called, (beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. The Lord warns Lehi to depart out of the land of Jerusalem, because he prophesieth unto the people concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy his life. He taketh three days’ journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi taketh his brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews. The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters of Ishmael to wife. They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their travels. They come to the large waters. Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. He confoundeth them, and buildeth a ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the large waters into the promised land, and so forth. This is according to the account of Nephi; or in other words, I, Nephi, wrote this record.
Song: Horse With No Name, by America
Topics this song hits: A journey through the desert wilderness, references to rivers, arriving at the land Bountiful/the sea.
2 Nephi
Book summary:
An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. The Lord warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeyings in the wilderness, and so forth.
Song: Bye, Bye, Bye, by N’SYNC
Topics this song hits: Nephi finally leaving the toxic relationship between he and his brothers to forge his own path. Just switch the lyric “baby” with “brothers.”
Jacob
Book summary:
The words of his preaching unto his brethren. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few words concerning the history of the people of Nephi.
Song: God’s Gonna Cut You Down, by Johnny Cash
Topics this song hits: Jacob preaching to his people, allegory of the olive trees.
Enos
Book summary:
Enos prays mightily and gains a remission of his sins—The voice of the Lord comes into his mind, promising salvation for the Lamanites in a future day—The Nephites sought to reclaim the Lamanites—Enos rejoices in his Redeemer. About 420 B.C.
Song: Down to the River to Pray, by Alison Krauss
Topics this song hits: Enos pondering the gospel, praying earnestly first for himself, then praying for pretty much everyone else.
Jarom
Book summary: There is no official book summary for Jarom, but here’s the chapter summary (the book is only one chapter):
The Nephites keep the law of Moses, look forward to the coming of Christ, and prosper in the land—Many prophets labor to keep the people in the way of truth. About 399–361 B.C.
Song: Preacher, by One Republic
Topics this song hits: Genealogy, admonition from the prophets, and the stuff that matters most.
Omni
Book summary:
Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and Amaleki, each in turn, keep the records—Mosiah discovers the people of Zarahemla, who came from Jerusalem in the days of Zedekiah—Mosiah is made king over them—The descendants of Mulek at Zarahemla had discovered Coriantumr, the last of the Jaredites—King Benjamin succeeds Mosiah—Men should offer their souls as an offering to Christ. About 323–130 B.C.
Song: We Didn’t Start the Fire, by Billy Joel
Topics this song hits: A lot of names in a short amount of time, also a large span of years condensed into a few minutes.
Words of Mormon
Book summary:
Mormon abridges the large plates of Nephi—He puts the small plates with the other plates—King Benjamin establishes peace in the land. About A.D. 385.
Song: Intermission music, from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Topics this song hits: The bridge between two sections of The Book of Mormon.
Mosiah
There are 29 chapters in Mosiah, but no book summary on its title page. That said, the most notable event from Mosiah is probably King Benjamin’s final address to his people, which this song correlates with nicely.
Song: Dust in the Wind, by Kansas
Topics this song hits: King Benjamin’s sermon, causing listeners to view themselves as “even less than the dust of the earth.”
Alma
Book summary:
The account of Alma, who was the son of Alma, the first and chief judge over the people of Nephi, and also the high priest over the Church. An account of the reign of the judges, and the wars and contentions among the people. And also an account of a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, according to the record of Alma, the first and chief judge.
Song: Savages, from Disney’s Pocahontas
Topics this song hits: War between two nations that are quite prejudiced against one another.
Helaman
Book summary:
An account of the Nephites. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ. And also many of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their conversion. An account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the coming of Christ, which is called the book of Helaman, and so forth.
Maybe better known as the book where the Gadianton robbers almost ruin everything.
Song: You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two, from Oliver!
Topics this song hits: People wanting to avoid playing by the rules at the expense of others.
3 Nephi
Book summary:
And Helaman was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
Better known as the book in which natural disasters darken the land, cities burn, sink, or are otherwise destroyed, and then Jesus Christ visits the Americas and preaches His gospel.
Topics this song hits: Absolute destruction, pain, sorrow, and darkness overwhelms the people.
Song: Pompeii, by Bastille
4 Nephi
Book summary:
An account of the people of Nephi, according to his record.
Song: Mad World, by Gary Jules
Topics this song hits: Civilization comes crashing down as society is once again caught in the pride cycle.
Mormon
Song: Earth Song, by Michael Jackson
Topics this song hits: Mormon mourning for the destruction of his people.
Ether
Book summary:
The record of the Jaredites, taken from the twenty-four plates found by the people of Limhi in the days of King Mosiah.
Song: He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, by The Hollies
Topics this song hits: A long journey from which there is no return, undertaken by Jared and his brother, whose name (Mahonri Moriancumr) was apparently so burdensome to engrave that it was not included in the text.
Moroni
There is no book summary for Moroni, but it’s the last book of The Book of Mormon. It contains the words of Mormon’s son, Moroni, who buried the record and, as an angel, later helped Joseph Smith recover it.
Song: Waiting on the World to Change, by John Mayor
Topics this song hits: Words from a misunderstood man who, despite his prophetic calling, has been unable to change the world.
Alright, now that you’ve had a bit of a musical overview of The Book of Mormon, go read it!
