1:1 And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country.

 1:2 And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether.

 1:3 And as I suppose that the first part of this record, which speaks concerning the creation of the world, and also of Adam, and an account from that time even to the great tower, and whatsoever things transpired among the children of men until that time, is had among the Jews--

 1:4 Therefore I do not write those things which transpired from the days of Adam until that time; but they are had upon the plates; and whoso findeth them, the same will have power that he may get the full account.

 1:5 But behold, I give not the full account, but a part of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed.

 1:6 And on this wise do I give the account. He that wrote this record was Ether, and he was a descendant of Coriantor.