The Book of Mormon, a brief explaination

<a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/explanation?lang=eng">The Book of Mormon</a> is a sacred record of the peoples in ancient America, all contained in separate metal plates.  But, like other history books, these plates were abridged.  the plates were abridged by one of the Prophets who wrote some scriptures of his own.  The Book itself is compiled of fifteen books, or divisions, and each of them are so named by their author.  The Gold Plates were kept hidden, by Moroni, for 1402 years.  From 421a.d., to 1823a.d.  And was found by Joseph Smith.