Curious About What’s in the Book of Mormon?
You’ve probably heard rumors and gossip about the Book of Mormon but the only way to know what is really in it is to read it. Many people who have finally taken the time to do so have been surprised to realize it isn’t what they were told it was. They’re startled by the emphasis on Jesus Christ, the discussions of grace, and the correlations to the Bible. There is no certainty the person telling you what is in it is telling the truth. In fact, there is no certainty he has read it. Only by reading it yourself will you know what is really in it.
There are many ways to read the Book of Mormon and I’ve read it myself in a variety of ways. One way to read is to read it as a story. Like the Bible, the Book of Mormon has a story. The stories in the Book of Mormon serve the same purpose as those in the Bible—to teach moral and spiritual lessons. I’ve known many people who are not Mormon and who enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon as literature and this can be an interesting way to get started. Read more
Should Mormons Offer Physical Proof of the Book of Mormon?
Filed under: Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon, D & C, Pearl of Great Price, Frequently Asked Questions, History of the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, The Restoration
When people attempt to argue Mormonism, they usually begin with some commentary on proof. They want proof—physical, tangible, and scientific—that it is true. When science or history discovers something that might help to “prove” an aspect of Mormonism, Mormons are generally interested, but these things don’t strengthen their testimonies. They are merely interesting.
While this might irritate some Christians, it must be remembered that much of the Bible can’t be proven, either. Science has repeatedly refused to acknowledge the possibility of God, whose existence cannot be scientifically proven. Nor has science proven the Creation. We can’t fit some historical stories into the known political leadership of the time. We don’t have the bones of Adam and Eve. We haven’t found the ark, or proven the entire world once flooded at once. There are creatures mentioned in the Bible we haven’t been able to prove just yet—no dragons or unicorns have emerged during archaeological expeditions.
Does this shake the faith of the average Christian? Of course not. Faith is not about proof. If it can be proven, it doesn’t require faith. The Bible is filled with admonitions to have faith, not to have proof.
Paul gave a powerful sermon on faith in Hebrews, chapter 11 (King James version of the Bible): “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. He reminds us of many Biblical heroes who lived their lives based on faith, not proof. Noah didn’t ask for proof of an impending flood before building the ark, Paul said, nor did Abraham ask for proof before moving to a new land or taking Isaac to be sacrificed. They trusted God and their own testimonies and acted without any proof at all that these things were necessary.
Faith is an essential element of religion. Mormons teach that faith is one of the primary reasons God sent us here to earth. Could we learn to believe in Him and trust Him when He isn’t right here, in our sight? We believed we could and agreed to come to earth to gain faith, to be tested, and to obtain families and bodies.
Most Christians accept a responsibility to develop faith in Jesus Christ, and to agree to accept Him as our Savior without any physical proof of His existence. We don’t know where He is buried. There are no official records recording His life. He never wrote a word that we have on hand, and no one painted His picture or sculpted His likeness. We don’t know what He looked like. We can only make assumptions based on historical knowledge of the time and place in which He lived, and we must trust the recorded words of others as to His existence and teachings. And yet, with all this lack of physical proof, billions of people have believed in Jesus Christ and modeled their lives on His teachings.
Mormons, like other Christians, know that testimony isn’t about physical proof. It is about learning to know and to trust God. Testimony is about faith, which is a higher law than proof. Faith is an eternal-life-giving law.
Christians, including Mormons, know that faith is a verb. A passive faith is not really faith. When we know that putting our hands into a fire will burn them, we don’t put our hands into the fire. We act on those things we truly know. Faith, then, must be an active faith. It isn’t enough to say we believe God has taught us not to kill, for instance. We must also act on that belief. A true Christian keeps the commandments of God as evidence of His faith. Just as Noah didn’t ask for proof, neither do Christians ask for proof before deciding to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
While it is possible to keep the commandments without faith, it is not possible to have true faith and refuse to keep the commandments. No one is perfect, but a person with faith is constantly striving to live as Jesus taught. James taught,“ 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2)
These verses do not mean we can be saved by works done without faith, but simply for show. It means that a person who believes in and loves God will keep His commandments as a natural part of that love and faith.
Christians, including Mormons, keep the commandments even though they lack physical proof that rewards will come, either in this life or the next. For them, faith is enough to inspire a Christian lifestyle.
“Faith in Jesus Christ and a testimony of Him and His universal Atonement is not just a doctrine with great theological value. Such faith is a universal gift, glorious for all cultural regions of this earth, irrespective of race, color, language, nationality, or socioeconomic circumstance. The powers of reason may be used to try to understand this gift, but those who feel its effects most deeply are those who are willing to accept its blessings, which come from a pure and clean life of following the path of true repentance and living the commandments of God” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Precious Fruits of the First Vision,” Ensign, Feb 2009, 4–8).
Physical proof that Mormonism is true is no more essential to a Mormon than is physical proof of God, Jesus, or the Bible to any other Christian. Faith and testimony isn’t brought about by proof, but by a personal knowledge of God, and the willingness to turn to Him as the source of all truth. Science is constantly changing its mind about proof, but God never changes His mind. It comes down to this question: Who is our God—God, or science? Mormons, while respecting the role of science, choose God.
Reading the Book of Mormon to Learn Virtue
Filed under: Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ, Young Women
Recently, we’ve been studying how the Mormons are teaching their teenagers to live a virtuous life. The girls-and in some areas, the boys-work to achieve goals in a number of areas known as values. The newest value is virtue. As part of completing the Virtue Value, the teenagers are asked to read the entire Book of Mormon. Read more
Learn a New Language
Even if you aren’t a Mormon, you may find the Book of Mormon a valuable tool for learning to read in a new language. I’m currently using it to learn Portuguese, and I’ve discovered even people who aren’t Mormon are using the book as a valuable tool.
The book, like the Bible, is divided into chapters and verses. This makes it very easy to keep track of where you are. There is only one translation for each language, so the wording will be very similar. It’s not, of course, a word for word translation, because it can’t be. Languages don’t always have equivalent words or structure.
Mormons begin their language study by praying for the gift of tongues as they study. They believe God will always help them when they are learning about Him, and so, when they read about Jesus Christ or God, He is guiding their study, allowing them to learn faster than they would otherwise.
Work chapter by chapter through each book. Begin by listening to the chapter being read by a native speaker. This will help you become familiar with the sound of the language. You can use this to help you understand how to pronounce the words you’re learning. At first, you will just hear a stream of words. After a short time, you’ll be able to tell where words begin and end, and eventually, you’ll pick up a word here and there.
You can listen to the Book of Mormon free online in many languages. Just download the files into your computer-no registration is required. English, Spanish, and Portuguese are available on LDS.org. For other languages, go to the Language pages on LDS.org and search for the language you want. Audio isn’t available for every language yet, and you may have to explore to figure out how to find the link on the pages, which are written in the language chosen.
After listening, open both books. You can find copies on the Internet, or obtain an English one from a Mormon or a missionary. I usually open the English version of the Book of Mormon on the Internet and the Portuguese version in print, but either way works. You can also just open two windows on your computer and only use the online versions.
Read the summary or verse out loud as best you can in your new language. Then study it out and see if you can figure out what the verse means. You may not know every word, but you may be able to figure out the basic meaning of the verse. At first, if you have no experience, you’ll have to look up every word, but over time, certain words will become familiar. There tends to be a great deal of repetition within chapters in this book. There are many free translation programs on the Internet, although they aren’t perfect. You can also buy bilingual dictionaries. Use these to look up a word you can’t figure out from context, or that you want to know the exact meaning of.
When you see the same word occurring over and over, look up the exact meaning if you can’t figure it out. Then post it on your computer or desk until you’ve memorized it. This allows you to memorize a few words at a time in a more formal way. However, you’ll also begin picking up words without effort.
You can read the book straight through or reread sections until you know the vocabulary. If you read straight through, you should allow about a year. I’m told that about a third of the way through the book, you’ll realize you’re actually understanding it in the new language, and translating is slowing you down. I’m already finding some words are understood without the need to think of them in English.
As often as possible, figure out the meaning from context, rather than just looking them up, or at least figure it out before you look it up. Once you’ve gotten a general idea of the meaning of the verse, turn to the English version and check your understanding. This is the time to look up specific words. Reread the verse if you need to, now that you have the meaning in mind.
Measure your progress generously. I keep track of how many verses I can read without having to check the translation. At first, I just noted how many verses I could read in the allotted time. It was only a few verses a day at first, but now I’m reading about thirty to fifty verses a day.
You will learn to read the language this way, but to learn to speak it, you’ll need to go further. Find friends who are native speakers and begin practicing with them. Buy a textbook to help you learn grammar and usage rules. But always start your study by reading the Book of Mormon. In about a year, you’ll be surprised how much of your new language you can read.
An Interview with Author, Loralee Evans
Filed under: Book of Mormon, Gospel Principles, Practices & Precepts, Jesus Christ, Plan of Salvation
Lorlee Evans and I belong to the same writers group, and as such, I have the privilege of being able to listen to testimonies being born on a number of gospel principles.
I am a single mom with four children, and am a high school English teacher. I have written two books based on events in The Book of Mormon. One is called The King’s Heir, the other is called The Birthright. I am working on a third book, and have tentatively entitled it, The Shores of Bountiful. (Loralee Evans, 28 July 2008)
Today, I invited Loralee to sit down with me and discuss the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Candace: Loralee, as an author of Book of Mormon historical fiction, you have immersed yourself in the scriptures and then brought them to life through the medium of the modern written word. Please share with us why you chose the Book of Mormon and those particular stories to weave your tales around?
Loralee: I chose the Book of Mormon because there are so many possibilities for great stories within it. The scribes, Mormon and others, didn’t have much space on the plates, or time to dedicate to things other than what was absolutely necessary to write for our day, and therefore there are many things that happened, that are mentioned very briefly in the Book of Mormon, but not explored in depth. For example what kind of young lady was the girl who fled from Morianton and ran and told Captain Moroni all of his plans? I’ve often wondered what kind of person she was, because to do something like that, I think would take a lot of gumption and courage. Also, who was the servant of Teancum in Alma 51:33 who went with him when he went down into the camp of the Lamanites and killed Amalickiah in his sleep? Or who was the servant of Helaman in Helaman 2:6-9 who was out by night, and had learned “through disguise” about the plans of the Gadiantons? These had to be pretty gutsy, special people to do what they did, and I find it fascinating to explore what kinds of people they might have been.
Candace: What is your favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon and why? And then, adding all the scriptures in, is it still your favorite, and if not, which one is and why?
Loralee: I think the Psalm of Nephi, 2 Nephi 4:15-35 is my most favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon. Because it shows both that Nephi struggled with life, just like the rest of us, yet found strength when he put his trust in God. That scripture is very comforting to me when I am dealing with life’s struggles.
I think my favorite scripture out of all the scriptures is Isaiah 40:31. “For they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” The reason why, is that I love the promises in that scripture that those who serve the Lord by obeying Him and doing what is right, will be rewarded for it. The natural consequences of their choices will come back to them in good ways.
Candace: Who is your favorite Book of Mormon prophet and why?
Loralee: My favorite Book of Mormon prophet is Abinadi. He did not see the results of his efforts before he died, but because of him, countless lives were changed for the better.
Candace: Will you please share with us your conversion? All of us, whether we are born into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not, have a moment of conversion.
Loralee: My freshman year in high school, was the year we were studying the Book of Mormon, and my seminary teacher, Sister Bradshaw, challenged us to read the Book of Mormon and also to take Moroni’s challenge in Moroni 10:3-5 to find out for ourselves about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. When I tested Moroni’s promise, I was able to find out for myself that the Book of Mormon is indeed true, and that it is everything Joseph Smith said it was.
Candace: Will you please share your personal testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ?
Loralee: I am very grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the hope that it gives us all, so that we can repent of our mistakes, and get back on track. Without Christ’s example for us to follow, and the Atonement, there wouldn’t be much purpose to life.
Candace: Christians across the globe face an ever-increasing battle against those who would destroy and erase all that our Savior has done for us. What would you say to them, iven the chance?
Loralee: I would say be more concerned about doing what is right, than what is popular. There are certain rights and wrongs in this world, and they do not change just because popular opinion changes.
Candace: Please share your testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope it brings to every human soul.
Loralee: The Gospel of Jesus Christ helps me understand my own worth, and the worth of other people. As people come to learn of the Gospel, they come to see their own great worth. We are not here by accident. We are children of God, and our worth is greater than we can realize. As people come to realize this, they see themselves and others the way God wants them to.
Candace: You stand, as it were, on a world stage. In that circumstance, what message do you have for this troubled world?
Loralee: I would say, don’t be afraid to do what’s right, no matter how tough it may seem at the time. Don’t forget that you are a son or daughter of God, and thus, have worth far greater than you may know. Follow the good examples you see around you, especially the one perfect example of Jesus Christ. Doing what is right, and having the courage to stand up and defend what is right may be difficult, but it is worth it.
Loralee, thank you for being willing to share your testimony and knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Gospel with the world.
Trust in the Arm of the Lord
Filed under: Book of Mormon, Gospel Principles, Practices & Precepts, Jesus Christ, Plan of Salvation
Sometimes, it is a very difficult manner to turn from the arm of the flesh, or mankind, and rely completely on the arm of the Lord. Other times it is very easy. In the Book of Mormon, we find the ancient American prophet, Nephi, beseeching the Lord in a tender, beautiful prayer known as Nephi’s Psalm. During that prayer, Nephi offers his thoughts about relying on the Lord, rather than man:
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. (2 Nephi 4:34)
Nephi suffered greatly at the hands of his brothers, Laman and Lemuel. They tortured him, tried to kill him, tried to rid themselves of their troublesome little brother. They were wicked men who turned fully and completely from God, despite the numerous miracles they witnessed, despite the humility of their father, Lehi, and brother, Nephi, they simply chose to never turn from the ways of man.
Nephi chose, even tightly bound to a mast and left to die by his brothers, to rely on the Lord and he was delivered. The Lord never let Nephi down, at any time in his life, never. And He never lets us down either.
Jesus Christ proved His love of us in the Garden of Gethsemane and in again on Golgotha. And when we are faced with the greatest trials or are carrying the heaviest of burdens, if we turn to Him, putting our trust in the arm of the Lord, our burdens WILL be lighter. Our trials, although rough, will be overcome and we will be stronger for it.
When major and important decisions come before me, I would never make a decision without kneeling first to be certain it is the proper path for me to take.
Did I pray about going to Ricks College when I was 18? Without question and it was there my desire to become a prosecutor was turned to the knowledge that I was to pursue writing. At Ricks, which is now BYU-Idaho I formed lifelong friendships I still treasure.
Did I pray about going to BYU after finishing at Ricks? Yes, absolutely I did. At BYU is where I met Alvin, my sweetheart and husband, and hosts of lifelong friends who are still a part of my life today. Oh, and I obtained a stellar education in the process.
Did I pray about whether I should begin writing books instead of focusing on forming my own production company and making movies? Certainly. And here I am, five books under my belt and more on the way. It has sent me in a direction I never anticipated my life would go.
Once I became a published author did I pray about still pursuing a movie career, as a screenwriter? Of course I did, and now I have accepted a partnership in a movie production company. An opportunity which never would have come my way had I not been a published author.
The point I make is not to brag of my own successes, but to show you the path I have trod in my life is not the one I had planned for myself, but rather the one the Lord planned for me and without question, I am ecstatic I followed His plan instead of mine. I love my life and wake up every day grateful to be doing what I’m doing, married to the man I love and able to testify of God and His gospel on a daily basis. Life is good.
Oh, did you translate that to mean perfect? My life is far from perfect and if there were things I could change tomorrow, I’d do so. But then no one’s life is perfect, and it is what we make of what the Lord has given that proves our mettle.
So my friend, rely on the Lord. For in doing so, you will find great and unexpected treasure in places you never would have gone, had you not asked.
Seek Ye Out
And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;
And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said; (D&C 109:7,14)
How I long to sit at the feet of the prophet, currently Thomas S. Monson, and simply listen as he teaches and instructs me in all the things of God. This, of course, will never happen. Although I am privileged to listen to him, along with anyone else willing to tune in, twice a year at General Conference.
We are told numerous times in the scriptures to seek God, seek His kingdom, seek His word and President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth called prophet of these modern times and the nephew of Joseph Smith, Jr., said:
If I have learned something through prayer, supplication, and perseverance in seeking to know the truth, and I tell it to you, it will not be knowledge unto you. I can tell you how you can obtain it, but I cannot give it to you. If we receive this knowledge, it must come from the Lord. He can touch your understandings and your spirits, so that you shall comprehend perfectly and not be mistaken. But I cannot do that. You can obtain this knowledge through repentance, humility, and seeking the Lord with full purpose of heart until you find Him. He is not afar off. It is not difficult to approach Him, if we will only do it with a broken and a contrite spirit, as did Nephi of old. (Joseph F. Smith, Conference Report, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 1899 71)
In essence, knowledge is something we seek after under the guidance and tutelage of the Holy Ghost, whose sole job is to testify of truth. If someone, who has spent their entire life seeking God receives more and more of the mysteries of heaven, it is not his or her job to share that knowledge with the world. But it is, as President Smith indicated, their job to share with us how to gain that knowledge. So this is what I share with you today.
Build a Firm Foundation: In seeking out the kingdom of God and the mysteries of heaven you must first build yourself a firm foundation in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To do that you must immerse yourself in the scriptures every day. I recommend the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Within the pages of these books you will find the firmest foundation which can be found. Add to that the words and teachings of both ancient and modern prophets, building upon the foundation, layer upon layer until your foundation is inviolate.
Prayer: Seek the Lord often and fervently in prayer. When studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is critical to do so under the power and influence of prayer. Meaning, one thing I always pray for as I began to study each day is the gift of discernment. In other words, I ask for the ability to discern truth from error or outright falsehoods. With this compass, constantly asking for confirmation from the Holy Ghost, I study the words of God conveyed through the writings of His prophets and apostles.
Contrite Spirit and a Broken Heart: When Jesus Christ administered the sacrament to the twelve apostles in the upper room the night before He was arrested He fulfilled the law of Moses. The sacrificial offerings of the unblemished firstlings of every flock were no longer necessary and now the sacrifice God asked of us was a “contrite spirit and a broken heart.” In other words, drop to your knees in sincere and fervent prayer and beg forgiveness of your daily trespasses and sins. Acknowledge that eternal life is not possible without the Atonement Jesus Christ so lovingly endured on our behalf. Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the path and the way to eternal salvation. Acknowledge that you need Him every minute, hour and day of your life. Confess your worries, troubles and sins and make a covenant with Him that you will eschew the ways of the world which lead you into misery and sorrow and vow to always seek Him in all things. Realize that He wants you to be happy. He wants you to succeed. He wants you to come home and He wants you to want it as bad as He does. This, I think, is what is involved in a broken heart and contrite spirit.
Fasting: Fasting is a tried and true method of bringing you closer to God. Not fasting for days and weeks on end, but for a mere 24 hours. From the end of dinner on one day, to the sitting down of dinner the next day. During that time, kneel often in prayer and beg the Lord to accept the purpose of your fast, whatever it may be, and have the faith to believe He will grant it to you. Do everything I’ve listed above during this 24 hours and you will be startled as you begin to learn.
Faith: Lastly, what I would add to this daily regimen would be faith.
And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.
Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
. . .
And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.
And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.
And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus Christ.(Ether 12:6-13,18-22)
What more could I add to this set of scriptures? Faith is the evidence of things hoped for but not seen. As you study the word of God, more and more will be given to you. If you do not study, and do so with faith you shall remain in ignorance of the glory which awaits.
Which path will you choose?
Book of Mormon Keystone of the Religion
Joseph Smith, the prophet of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, said of the Book of Mormon during a meeting with the twelve apostles:
. . . the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by aiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (History of the Church, 4:461)
While the Bible has been through untold numbers of copyists, translators and corrupt religionists, the Book of Mormon has, according to modern-day prophet Ezra Taft Benson, “gone from writer to reader with one step of inspired translation.”
Contrary to popular belief amongst friends of other faiths, the Book of Mormon is not about worshiping a prophet called Mormon, nor do we worship Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and Redeemer. Ezra Taft Benson told us:
The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion . . . There are three ways in which the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. It is the keystone in our witness of [Jesus] Christ. It is the keystone of our doctrine. It is the keystone of testimony. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon — Keystone of our Religion,” Ensign, Nov 1986 4)
Keystone in our Witness of Jesus Christ: Much of the Christian world denies the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon provides that much needed second witness of His life, His divinity, His Atonement and His resurrection. He is the Son of God, the second member of the Godhead, He is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the resurrected Messiah of the New Testament and the only path by which mankind may be redeemed.
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:23-26)
Yes, the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ thousands upon thousands of times. We unashamedly testify to the world of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We shout to the world of His divinity, His pure love for mankind, His devotion to His Father and that He stands as the head of this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons.
Keystone of our Doctrine ? Every precious point of doctrine which was removed from the Holy Bible by the aforementioned methods is restored in the Book of Mormon.
Do you wish to learn about receiving answers to prayer? See Moroni 10:3-5.
Do you want to know more about faith and humility? See Alma 32.
Would you like to understand the heart of an ancient prophet? See 2 Nephi 4:15-35.
Would you like to know more of Jesus Christ’s “other sheep have I which are not of this fold . . .?” See 3 Nephi.
Would you like to know more about the proper method of baptism? See Moroni 6.
We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in Heavenly Father. We believe in the Holy Ghost. We believe in eternal life, therefore we believe Jesus Christ greatly suffered the Atonement, died by way of cruel and vicious crucifixion and the arose on the third day in glorious Resurrection. We believe through Jesus Christ all mankind may be redeemed and that eternal life awaits. We believe families are forever. We believe we lived before, that we earned life and through our actions in life may earn an eternal reward.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with hope, love, learning, strength and happiness. All of this is taught and testified of in the Book of Mormon.
President Ezra Taft Benson said,
As mentioned before, the Lord Himself has stated the the Book of Mormon contains the “fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20-9.) That does not mean it contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. The Book of Mormon offers so much that broadens our understanding of the doctrines of salvation. Without it, much of what is taught in other scriptures would not be nearly so plain and precious. (Ibid)
Keystone of our Testimony ? What is a testimony? “A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel. (Testimony – Gospel Topics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, January 2008)
Truer words have rarely been spoken. My personal testimony of Jesus Christ and His eternal role in the redemption of mankind was strengthened by my study of the Book of Mormon. The more I read, pondered and prayed, the more Jesus Christ became real to me. No longer was He a misty figure in ancient history, but a living, breathing God who descended from on high to save us. The fulness of His gospel, provided in the pages of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants, have given me hope, strength and the sure knowledge of who I am and where I am headed.
And so I close this post with my testimony. He is Jesus Christ and through Him great and glorious rewards await if we will live by the principles, practices and precepts of His gospel. Through Him and the study of His gospel we learn the marked difference between secret and sacred. For when something is deeply sacred, as are covenants made between us and God, they are not be shouted to the world but held quiet and sure in our hearts as a constant reminder of our promises. In so doing, we live our lives patterned after Jesus Christ.
I testify to you that all the promises of the heavens are held within the gospel of Jesus Christ. Great happiness awaits, your heart will be lifted, your spirit will soar as the heavens are opened and the answers to your prayers will come. Oh life doesn’t become automatically easy, for the stronger you become in the gospel of Jesus Christ the greater the opposition will be, but you stand not alone.
I testify to you that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration, and the man chosen by God to bring about the fulness of His gospel on the earth once again. I testify that the Book of Mormon is a true book of scripture which is a second witness of Jesus Christ and a companion to the Holy Bible. Hope awaits my friends, will you reach for it?
Archaeological Proof of the Book of Mormon
I’ve been having long conversations with someone who is not yet a Mormon. He has received a firm witness of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His restored Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church.) He believes Gordon B. Hinckley to be a prophet of God, the Mormon Church to hold the truth, principles, practices and precepts that Jesus Christ taught in the meridian of time. The Holy Ghost has testified to him of the truthfulness of all these things. But he hasn’t prayed about the Book of Mormon yet.
He asked if there was archaeological proof of the Book of Mormon. I told him there was, but that the Book of Mormon is about the plain and precious truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not whether the Nephites and Lamanites actually lived.
Elder Russell M. Nelson told Mormons in the last General Conference:
Scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the Book of Mormon was “written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also.” (Mormon 7:9) Each book refers to the other. Each book stands as evidence that God lives and speaks to His children by revelation to His prophets. … An angel proclaimed that the Book of Mormon shall establish the truth of the Bible. He also revealed that writings in the Bible available in our day are not as complete as they were when originally written by prophets and apostles. He declared that the Book of Mormon shall restore plain and precious things taken away from the Bible. (1 Nephi 13:40) (Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 43–45)
So what can I say to my young friend? Exactly what I did say. I testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as a book of scriptures. I explained “other sheep have I which are not of this fold,” and that the Lord would not deny them prophets and revelation just because they didn’t live in Jerusalem or Bethlehem. I explained that the Book of Mormon was a record of some of “those other sheep” on the American Continent and 3rd Nephi, found within the Book of Mormon, was the record of Jesus Christ’s visit to America.
I encouraged him to put Moroni’s Promise to the test:
Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:3-5)
There is only one way to know if the Book of Mormon is true. Read it and then go to a quiet place and with a sincere and pleading heart, ask Heavenly Father if this book be true in its entirety. The answer will come to you. This is a prophetic promise given to you by Moroni.
But if archaeological proof of the existence of cities such as Zarahemla, and peoples such as the Nephites, Lamanites, Jaredites and more is what you require . . . then I recommend going to the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies and reading every single issue. “The Journal of Book of Mormon Studies is a scholarly journal devoted to the latest research on the Book of Mormon, including articles on the geography, names, terms, and events in the Book of Mormon, as well as archaeological finds in the Old World and the New World. The Journal also highlights new scientific methods and technologies that may aid in Book of Mormon research.”
In closing, may I offer my testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is true. Yes, Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Captain Moroni, Helaman and others lived on this continent beginning in 600 B.C. to this very day. They are the forebears of the Native American Indian, as well as other peoples across the oceans. The Book of Mormon was written by prophets during those times to be brought forth in this latter day and serve as a second witness of Jesus Christ. It is to be held, hand in hand, in companionship with the Holy Bible. I testify that within its pages are the plain and precious truths removed from the Bible, and with it you have the complete gospel of Jesus Christ. Alma Chapter 40 teaches of where a spirit goes when someone dies. 2 Nephi Chapter 4 teaches us to rely on the Savior and constantly be reaching forward. Mormon 9 teaches us to “condemn me not for my imperfections,” so that we might understand that none of us are perfect and all we can do is get up every day and serve the Lord the best we know how, constantly praying for the strength to be the disciple he needs. Moroni 10 teaches of answer to prayer and gifts of the spirit described abundantly in the Bible. Alma 32 gives us a treatise on faith second to none. 1 Nephi teaches of goodly parents, faithful children and obedience to God.
I testify that these plates were created by early American prophets who painstakingly engraved the things of God on these plates for their posterity. I testify the prophet, Mormon, abridged them, added his own book and then delivered the plates to his son, Moroni. Moroni writes ten brief chapters, but packs each one with gospel principles. We hear no more of this people until 1823 when he appears, as an angel of the Lord, to a 17-year-old Joseph Smith. At this time, Joseph was given the charge to translate these records and deliver the translation to the world. In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published and released to the world. Joseph had fulfilled the sacred charge given him by Moroni, the last prophet of the Book of Mormon. I testify this is truth eternal and if you sincerely ask, you will receive the answer.
Do as young Joseph did, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:5-6) Ask, with simple, pure faith, and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened.
And when armed with this knowledge, what will you do then?
Remember . . .
Alvin is still in the hospital, and in fact, still in IMC (Intermediate Care.) He’s been in the hospital so much over the last two years that he doesn’t handle the confinement well. He’s getting pretty ancy and so we went for a walk. We found a little balcony and we were able to step out of the hospital atmosphere for just a moment and bask in the late fall sun. We enjoyed it so much, and the simple pleasure of enjoying the warmth God has provided for us, as well as the crispness of the air and the trees turning gold, yellow, orange and red was invigorating. After a few moments Alvin became chilled (there’s a new one) and we headed back inside the hospital. We stopped in the waiting area of the 2nd Floor IMC and decided to sit and watch a little television there. Saints at War was on KBYU and we settled into listen to the Mormon men talk about their captivity during World War II and the horrible conditions, even atrocities, they suffered.
As they shared experiences of small kindnesses, the light of the gospel brightening even that dark and dismal corner of the world, finding one another in prison camps and more, something amazing happened. They choked up as they spoke of these things and then each began to speak of that moment in time when they learned Hitler and his armies had been defeated and the war was over.
One sweet man spoke of seeing the white flag with the big black swastika fall to the ground and the American Flag being raised. As Old Glory caught in the breeze, the tears began to flow down the faces of the American soldiers. As veteran after veteran spoke of this moment, joy literally exploded from their faces, smiles wide and tears sparkling. Some raised their arms, reliving that moment of freedom and unrestrained joy. The symbol of freedom, the American flag, made a very real moment more beautiful for men who had paid so much in the fight for freedom.
Imagine, if you can, the day we burst through the veil between this world and the next and we lay eyes on the faces of loved ones, possibly even the Savior. The joy these veterans felt at the surcease of their suffering must be only a fraction of that joy that will envelop us at that moment.
Just for a moment, in a hospital waiting room with my husband by my side, I had an epiphany, an actual realization of what that moment will feel like. I cannot wait to kneel before my Savior, with my husband, and finally be reunited with Him. Can anyone imagine that I would not give my all, everything I say and do, to be treated to that moment of freedom. That moment when I realize I have successfully passed my second estate (“And they who keep their first estate [the spirit estate in which we then were] shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate [this estate where we are, this mortal period] shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (Marion G. Romney, “We Are Children of God,” Ensign, Sep 1984, 3) and have returned to the presence of our Lord God Jesus Christ.