Kaj okazis

I didn't know that the Book of Mormon had been translated to the atheistic-Communistic conlang of Esperanto. But then, everyone has the right to hear the Gospel, yes? Or rather the “Alia Testamento de Jesuo Kristo”, published by La Eklezio de Jesuo Kristo de la Sanktuloj de la Lastaj Tagoj. This is for the really daring Elders, called to convert (or subvert) the local meeting of the anarcho-syndicalist Esperantist organization SAT, the last remaining CPUSA front group in Utah, or the most naïve Reform Temple in Boston.

As for myself, I simply wanted to know how “and it came to pass” is rendered in Esperanto. You guessed it, it's “kaj okazis”.

Here's a sample text: “Kaj okazis, ke, dum li pre'is al la Sinjoro, alvenis fajra kolono kaj staris sur roko anta' li; kaj li vidis kaj a'dis multon; kaj pro tio, kion li vidis kaj a'dis, li skui'is kaj tremegis. Kaj okazis, ke li reiris al sia domo en Jerusalemo; kaj li 'etis sin sur sian liton, senkonsciigita de la Spirito kaj tio, kion li vidis.”

My grandfather was an Esperantist, but personally I never bought the concept, although I occasionally peek into the conlang nerd milieu to see what's shakin' (and what's grokin'). That's how I found this, arguably the most curious translation of the Chronicles of Nephi presently around.

According to the other reviewer, this edition is actually a bad translation, perhaps Google-made. A different version, titled "La Libro de Mormono", is available on the web. There are indeed discrepancies between the two editions. My quote above is from the web-based version (sans the Esperanto spelling, which I can't reproduce). Kaj okazis!