063. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
064. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
065. Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.
066. The Lord caused the ancient Book of Mormon plates to be delivered to Joseph Smith.
069. The Book of Mormon sustains the Bible and is in harmony with it.
063. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (The eighth of the thirteen Articles of Faith; letter to John Wentworth, March 1, 1842) Articles of Faith :8
The first reason for reading the Book of Mormon which I want to mention is that it is approved by the highest authority in the universe, the Lord himself. . . .
After the Prophet Joseph Smith had translated that part of the record which he had been told to translate, the Lord said: ". . . and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true," . . . (D&C 17:6) CR1949Apr:37
Sunday, 28.—I spent the day in the council with the Twelve Apostles at the house of President Young, conversing with them upon a variety of subjects. Brother Joseph Fielding was present, having been absent four years on a mission to England. I told the brethren that 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 abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (Nov. 28, 1841, Joseph counsels with the Twelve in Nauvoo, Ill.) HC4:461
I rejoice in the wonderful spirit of the Book of Mormon. I believe that it is one of the greatest missionaries in the hands of the Elder that it is possible for him to have. I believe that no man can open that book and read it with a prayerful heart, and ask God, in the name of Jesus Christ, for a testimony regarding its divinity, but what the Lord will manifest unto him by His Spirit the truth of the book. Now that is the promise made in the book itself and God has performed it; He has done it in thousands of cases. There is a mark of divinity in this book; and I maintain that no man can read, for instance the 36th chapter, the commandments of Alma to his son Helaman without receiving an impression of this kind. CR1908Apr:57
receiving the Word of the Lord
I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee—that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are true. (Revelation to Joseph and Oliver Cowdery regarding the Book of Mormon, April 1829) D&C 6:17
receiving the Word of the Lord
Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true.
3. And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written;
4. For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock. (Revelation directed to Oliver Cowdery regarding his writing the words of the Book of Mormon as Joseph translated them, received June 1829) D&C 18:2-4
Related Witnesses:
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.
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (The final writings of Moroni in the Book of Mormon, about A.D. 421) Moroni 10:4-5
And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
11. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.
12. And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day. (Nephi writes, between 559-545 B.C.) 2 Nephi 33:10-12
quoted by Mormon
For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.
10. But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.
11. Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant. (The resurrected Jesus Christ foretells the fulfilling of his covenant regarding the New Jerusalem, A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 21:9-11
Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
9. For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them. (Mormon invites the Lamanites of the latter days to believe in Christ, accept the gospel as it is given in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, and be saved, about A.D. 385) Mormon 7:8-9
Author's Note: Of interest is the following account from the autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pp. 36-37: "Next morning I called at his house, where, for the first time, my eyes beheld the 'Book of Mormon'—that book of books— . . . that Book which contains the fulness of the gospel of a crucified and risen Redeemer; . . . and which was the principal means, in the hands of God, of directing the entire course of my future life.
I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden . . . for I preferred reading to sleep.
As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true. . . . I soon determined to see the young man who had been the instrument of its discovery and translation."
064. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
receiving the Word of the Lord
And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel. (Revelation "embracing the law of the Church," Feb. 9, 1831) D&C 42:12
receiving the Word of the Lord
And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
9. Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also; (Revelation on Church Organization and Government, April 1830; the Book of Mormon proves the divinity of the latter-day work) D&C 20:8-9
He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants. (Record of the angel Moroni's visit, Sept. 21, 1823) JS-H 1:34
This book [Book of Mormon] is the strongest corroborative evidence to the divinity of the things contained in the Bible, that there is in the world. It is the strongest evidence of the divinity of the mission of the Redeemer of the world, that can be found, the Bible alone excepted. It contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. . . . CR1921Apr:20-21
Moroni came to Joseph Smith as "a messenger sent from the presence of God," and delivered a record containing "the fulness of the everlasting gospel," as it had been imparted to the Lord's people in ancient times; . . . JTC:771
We are told that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel, that those who like to get up a dispute, say that the Book of Mormon does not contain any reference to the work of salvation for the dead, and there are many other things pertaining to the gospel that are not developed in that book, and yet we are told that book contains "the fulness of the everlasting gospel." Well, what is the fulness of the gospel? You read carefully the revelation in regard to the three glories, section 76, in the Doctrine and Covenants, and you find there defined what the gospel is. There God, the Eternal Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son, and the Holy Ghost, are held up as the three persons in the Trinity—the one God, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, all three being united and being one God. When people believe in that doctrine and obey the ordinances which are spoken of in the same list of principles, you get the fulness of the gospel for this reason: If you really believe so as to have faith in our Eternal Father and in his Son, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, and will hear Him, you will learn all about what is needed to be done for the salvation of the living and the redemption of the dead.
When people believe and repent and are baptized by Divine authority and the Holy Ghost is conferred upon them as a gift, they receive the everlasting gospel. . . . [A]nd when the Holy Ghost as a gift is conferred upon people, young or old, as an "abiding witness," as a continuous gift, as a revelating spirit, they have the beginning, and I would not say the end, but they have the substance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have that which will bring salvation, for the gift of the Holy Ghost is such that it will highly enlighten everyone who receives it. CR1922Apr:27-28
Great numbers have heard of the additional scripture, the Book of Mormon, which contains the fullness of the gospel, yet never have absorbed its truths. A million copies of it found their way in a million home libraries last year and other millions previously, yet procrastinating people have failed to complete their investigation and have remained estranged. "Tomorrow I will read it," they say; "another day I will invite the missionaries to teach me." But tomorrow is a sluggard and shifts along on leaden feet, and life goes on, and storms do come, and limbs are split, and trees do fall, and eternity approaches, and our sincere call goes unheeded. CR1966Apr; p.74
Modern prophets declare that the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel in greater clarity than any other scripture. (See D&C 20:8-9; D&C 27:5.) In a day when many are challenging the divinity of Jesus Christ or doubting the reality of his atonement and resurrection, the message of that second witness, the Book of Mormon, is needed more urgently than ever. CR1988Oct; What Think Ye of Christ?, Ensign, November 1988, p.65
Related Witnesses:
Sunday,
28.—I spent the day in the council with the Twelve Apostles at the house of President Young, conversing with them upon a variety of subjects. Brother Joseph Fielding was present, having been absent four years on a mission to England. I told the brethren that 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 abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (Joseph counsels with the Twelve in Nauvoo, Ill., Nov. 28, 1841) HC4:461
065. Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
We know Joseph Smith is a prophet; that the Father and the Son appeared to him in the spring of 1820 to usher in this final gospel dispensation; that he translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God; that he received keys and authority from angels sent for this very purpose; and that the Lord revealed to him the doctrines of salvation. CR1971Apr:5
receiving the Word of the Lord
[That] my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon. (Revelation received during conference of Church elders, Nov. 1, 1831) D&C 1:29
receiving the Word of the Lord
And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee sight and power to translate, thou deliveredst up that which was sacred into the hands of a wicked man. (Revelation regarding the lost manuscript pages, July 1828) D&C 3:12
And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
9. Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
10. Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them—
11. Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
12. Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen. (Revelation on Church Organization and Government, April 1830; the Book of Mormon proves the divinity of the latter-day work) D&C 20:8-12
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. . . . (The three witnesses were: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris) BofM:Introduction,The Testimony of Three Witnesses
The Apostle John saw in vision the time when an angel would come to the earth as part of the Restoration of the gospel. That angel was Moroni, who appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. He directed Joseph to the place where golden plates containing ancient writings were deposited. Joseph Smith then translated these plates by the gift and power of God, and the Book of Mormon was published. This is a record of two groups of people who lived centuries ago on the American continent. Little was known about them before the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. But more importantly, the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ. It restored precious truths concerning the Fall, the Atonement, the Resurrection, and life after death. CR2006Apr; The Restoration of All Things
Strong evidence besides the Book of Mormon corroborates the claims of Joseph Smith. To begin with, the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses, who handled the plates and saw the engravings, testified that the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God. Members of Joseph Smith’s family, who knew him best, also accepted and believed his message. Among the believers were his parents, his brothers and his sisters, and his uncle John Smith. His older brother Hyrum proved his complete faith in Joseph’s work by giving his life along with Joseph. These reliable witnesses all confirm the Prophet’s testimony. CR2003Oct; Lord, I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief, Ensign, November 2003, p.19
I am grateful that early in my life I was blessed with a simple faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in a vision. He translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. That testimony has been confirmed to me over and over again. CR2005Apr; The Fruits of the First Vision, Ensign, May 2005
There are many today who have felt promptings from the Holy Ghost as they study the Book of Mormon or listen to the testimonies of missionaries and friends. Unto these I say, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel in its fulness is restored to the earth once again! Joseph Smith was a true prophet who translated the Book of Mormon through the gift and power of God. I urge all to read the Book of Mormon and apply its promise: “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.” CR2003Apr; The Unspeakable Gift, Ensign, May 2003, p.26
I testify that through the Book of Mormon God has provided for our day tangible evidence that Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph Smith is His prophet. (See D&C 20:8-33.) This other testament of Jesus Christ is a scriptural account of the early inhabitants of America. It was translated by Joseph Smith through the gift and power of God. (See D&C 135:3.) Those who will read and ponder the Book of Mormon and ask our Eternal Father in the name of Christ if it is true may know for themselves of its truthfulness through the power of the Holy Ghost, provided they will ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ. (See Moro. 10:3-5.) CR1988Oct; I Testify, Ensign, November 1988, p.86
Joseph Smith himself wrote or dictated his history. It is his testimony of what occurred, and he sealed that testimony with his life. It is written in language clear and plain and unmistakable. From an ancient record he translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. It is here for all to see and handle and read. Those who have read with faith and inquired in prayer have come to a certain knowledge that it is true. The present effort of trying to find some other explanation for the organization of the Church, for the origin of the Book of Mormon, and for the priesthood with its keys and powers will be similar to other anti-Mormon fads which have come and blossomed and faded. Truth will prevail. A knowledge of that truth comes by effort and study, yes. But it comes primarily as a gift from God to those who seek in faith. CR1987Oct; Lord, Increase Our Faith, Ensign, November 1987, p.51
I thank the Almighty for my testimony of the Book of Mormon, this wonderful companion to the Holy Bible. It is strange to me that unbelieving critics must still go back to the old allegations that Joseph Smith wrote the book out of ideas gained from Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews and Solomon Spaulding’s manuscript. To compare the Book of Mormon with these is like comparing a man to a horse. It is true they both walk, but beyond this there is little similarity. The test of the book is in its reading. I speak as one who has read it again and again and tasted of its beauty and depth and power. Could Joseph Smith, I ask you, the young man reared in rural New York largely without schooling, have dictated in so short a time a volume so complex in its nature and yet so harmonious in its whole, with so large a cast of characters and so extensive in its scope? Could he of his own abilities have created the language, the thought, the moving inspiration that has caused millions over the earth to read and say, “It is true”? CR1993Oct; My Testimony, Ensign, November 1993, p.51
Related Witnesses:
quoted by Lehi,
who is quoted by his son Nephi
But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them. (Lehi quotes the prophet Joseph in Egypt who tells of the word of the Lord that came to him) 2 Nephi 3:11
066. The Lord caused the ancient Book of Mormon plates to be delivered to Joseph Smith.
Anthon H. Lund, John Henry Smith
(First Presidency)
Three years later [after the First Vision] was revealed to him, in a similar way, an ancient record, a book of metallic plates having the appearance of gold, and containing a history of America ages prior to its discovery by Columbus. The revealer of these plates, who proclaimed himself a messenger from God, gave his name as Moroni, and stated that he was one of many prophets who, when in mortality, had ministered to a people called Nephites, a branch of the house of Israel, formerly inhabiting this land. The Nephites were the civilized ancestors of the degenerate Lamanites, or American Indians. The writings of these prophets, compiled and abridged by Mormon, the father of Moroni, had been buried in a hill anciently called Cumorah, in which place of deposit the youthful prophet, directed by the angel, discovered them. (Published by the First Presidency in Deseret News, Nov. 4, 1911) MOFP4:232
Today is the ninety-sixth anniversary of that wonderful manifestation from God, the visitation of an angel from heaven to the boy Joseph Smith. . . . This angel delivered a message to Joseph Smith, and told him that in the Hill Cumorah there were buried golden plates. . . . Joseph Smith went to the place where the plates containing the Book of Mormon record were buried, and when he was about to remove them, the angel told him the time had not yet come when the plates were to be delivered into his hands, but that he was to return to that spot once a year for four years, and then the plates were to be given to him. He did return once a year for four years, and upon each of those visits the angel of the Lord instructed this young man in the things of God, and prepared him to be the chosen instrument in the hands of the living God to restore again to the earth the plan of life and salvation, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Published by the Church in IE23:107-124, Sept. 1919, as an "official Church view") MOFP5:142-43
At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected. (Joseph's record of the obtaining of the Book of Mormon plates) JS-H 1:59
receiving the Word of the Lord
Behold, I say unto you, that as my servant Martin Harris has desired a witness at my hand, that you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., have got the plates of which you have testified and borne record that you have received of me;
2. And now, behold, this shall you say unto him—he who spake unto you, said unto you: I, the Lord, am God, and have given these things unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and have commanded you that you should stand as a witness of these things; (Revelation, March 1829) D&C 5:1-2
receiving the Word of the Lord
And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted; and he has also sought to destroy your gift. (Revelation in respect to the lost 116 manuscript pages, 1828) D&C 10:7
Joseph Smith actually saw in vision the Father and the Son and that an angel delivered to Joseph Smith the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. Coming to know God is the principal spiritual gift that can come to any man or woman. Joseph Smith received this knowledge of God firsthand. CR2003Oct; Lord, I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief, Ensign, November 2003, p.19
Related Witnesses:
Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. (Nephi foretells of the last days and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, 559-545 B.C.) 2 Nephi 27:12
067. The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to persuade all people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon is stated on the title page. It is "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD."
Nephi, the first prophet-writer in the Book of Mormon states: "For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. . . ."
The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ through two basic means. First, it tells in a plain manner of Christ and his gospel. It testifies of his divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in him. It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteousness and live the moral life of a Saint.
Second, the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Nephi 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time. . . .
Is the Book of Mormon true? Yes.
Who is it for? Us.
What is its purpose? To bring men to Christ.
How does it do this? By testifying of Christ and revealing his enemies.
How are we to use it? We are to get a testimony of it, we are to teach from it, we are to hold it up as a standard and "hiss it forth."
Have we been doing this? Not as we should, nor as we must.
Do eternal consequences rest upon our response to this book? Yes, either to our blessing or our condemnation. CR1975Apr:94-95,97
I accept fully the emphasis placed on the Book of Mormon as further witness that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. There is, indeed, no greater witness for Christ and him crucified and resurrected than the Book of Mormon account of his appearance in this hemisphere among the descendants of Father Lehi. Also therein lies one of the truly great lessons we may learn from the Book of Mormon. ("The Inevitable Choice," EN1977Sept:2) TLDP:611
Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words.
31. Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been. . . .
35. And these things are written that we may rid our garments of the blood of our brethren, who have dwindled in unbelief.
36. And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of all the saints who have dwelt in the land.
37. And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. (Moroni addresses those who deny the revelations of God, A.D. 400-421) Mormon 9:30-31,35-37
The central purpose of the Book of Mormon is its testament of Jesus Christ. Of more than 6,000 verses in the Book of Mormon, far more than half refer directly to Him. CR2005Apr; The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ—Plain and Precious Things, Ensign, May 2005
Related Witnesses:
And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.
4. For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.
5. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.
6. Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men. (The writings of Nephi, 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 6:3-6
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. (The writings of Nephi, 559-545 B.C.) 2 Nephi 25:26
068. A person may learn that the Book of Mormon is true by reading it and by asking of God, who will manifest the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost.
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.
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni's final writings, about A.D. 421) Moroni 10:4-5
I invite and encourage each and every one of you to investigate and to read the Book of Mormon, to test and enjoy the promise contained therein, which is: "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 10:4-5
This promise, and my testimony, I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. CR1972Apr:59
The Holy Ghost not only bears witness to the divinity of the Father and the Son; he also bears witness to the truth, particularly gospel truths.
". . . .[W]hen you shall read these things [speaking of the gospel truths contained in the Book of Mormon], . . . I would exhort you," wrote Moroni, "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 then he adds this great promise:
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5
Hundreds and thousands of people have accepted and acted upon this challenge and thereafter borne witness, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to its truth. CR1974Apr:132
Now God expects us to use the Book of Mormon in several ways. We are to read it ourselves—carefully, prayerfully—and ponder as we read, as to whether this book is the work of God or of an unlearned youth. And then when we are finished reading the things in the book, Moroni exhorts us to put them to the test in these words:
"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." (Moroni 10:4) I have done as Moroni exhorts, and I can testify to you that this book is from God and so is verily true. CR1975Apr:95
There are many today who have felt promptings from the Holy Ghost as they study the Book of Mormon or listen to the testimonies of missionaries and friends. Unto these I say, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel in its fulness is restored to the earth once again! Joseph Smith was a true prophet who translated the Book of Mormon through the gift and power of God. I urge all to read the Book of Mormon and apply its promise: “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.” CR2003Apr; The Unspeakable Gift, Ensign, May 2003, p.26
Related Witnesses:
How could any sane person, a lover of truth, read that testimony and then not want to know whether that book is true, and then read the promise in the latter part of it, that if any man would read it and ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, having faith that the Lord would manifest the truth of it unto him by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:4-5.) CR1976Oct:94
069. The Book of Mormon sustains the Bible and is in harmony with it.
This book [Book of Mormon] is the strongest corroborative evidence to the divinity of the things contained in the Bible, that there is in the world. It is the strongest evidence of the divinity of the mission of the Redeemer of the world, that can be found, the Bible alone excepted. . . . Not one line in it, not one doctrine which it teaches, not one truth which it sets forth, has been found to be out of harmony with the word of the Lord, as contained in the Bible, and as it has come to us through his inspired servants—a thing which can be said of no other book in the world. CR1921Apr:20-21
And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved. (An angel reveals the Lord's mercy toward the Gentiles, 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 13:40
The Book of Mormon is in absolute harmony from start to finish with other sacred scriptures. There is not a doctrine taught in it that does not harmonize with the teachings of Jesus Christ. . . . It is in every way a true witness for God, and it sustains the Bible and is in harmony with the Bible. CR1929Apr:128-29
The Book of Mormon does not in any degree conflict with or take the place of the Holy Bible, but is the strongest corroborative evidence in existence of the divine origin of that sacred record. CR1930Apr:10
All my life I have been finding additional evidences that the Bible is the Book of books, and that the Book of Mormon is the greatest witness for the truth of the Bible that has ever been published. ("The President Speaks: Excerpts from the Utterances of Heber J. Grant," IE1936Nov:660) TLDP:612
And gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
9. Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
10. Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them—
11. Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
12. Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen. (Revelation on Church Organization and Government, April 1830; the Book of Mormon proves the divinity of the latter-day work) D&C 20:8-12
quoted by Lehi,
who is quoted by his son Nephi
But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.
12. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. (Lehi quotes Joseph in Egypt who tells of the word of the Lord that came to him) 2 Nephi 3:11-12
also quoting Ezekiel
Ezekiel saw in vision the coming together of the stick of Judah, and the stick of Joseph, signifying the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The passage last referred to reads, in the words of Ezekiel: "The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."
When we call to mind the ancient custom in the making of books—that of writing on long strips of parchment and rolling the same on rods or sticks, the use of the word "stick" as equivalent to "book" in the passage becomes apparent. At the time of this utterance, the Israelites had divided into two nations known as the kingdom of Judah and that of Israel, or Ephraim. Plainly the separate records of Judah and Joseph are here referred to. Now, as we have seen, the Nephite nation comprised the descendants of Lehi who belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, of Ishmael who was an Ephraimite, and of Zoram whose tribal relation is not definitely stated. The Nephites were then of the tribes of Joseph; and their record or "stick" is as truly represented by the Book of Mormon as is the "stick" of Judah by the Bible.
That the bringing forth of the record of Joseph or Ephraim was to be accomplished through the direct power of God is evident from the Lord's exposition of the vision of Ezekiel, wherein He says: "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph . . . and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah." AF:249-50
The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
16. Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17. And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
18. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
19. Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. (Revelation to the prophet Ezekiel) Ezekiel 37:15-19
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (The eighth of the thirteen Articles of Faith; letter to John Wentworth, March 1, 1842) Articles of Faith :8
No man can say that this book (laying his hand on the Bible) is true, is the word of the Lord, is the way, is the guide-board in the path, and a charter by which we may learn the will of God; and at the same time say that the Book of Mormon is untrue; if he has had the privilege of reading it, or of hearing it read, and learning its doctrines. There is not that person on the face of the earth who has had the privilege of learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ from these two books, that can say that one is true, and the other is false. No Latter-day Saint, no man or woman, can say the Book of Mormon is true, and at the same time say that the Bible is untrue. If one be true, both are; and if one be false, both are false. (In Tabernacle, July 11, 1852, JD1:38) TLDP:611
“We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” It is another testament of Jesus Christ, written “by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation … to the convincing of [all people] that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations.” God brought forth the Book of Mormon as a second witness that corroborates and strengthens the Bible’s testimony of the Savior. The Book of Mormon does not supplant the Bible. It expands, extends, clarifies, and amplifies our knowledge of the Savior. Surely, this second witness should be cause for great rejoicing by all Christians. CR1996Oct; Christians in Belief and Action, Ensign, November 1996, p.70
Related Witnesses:
And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things. (Revelation for Ezra Thayre and Northrop Sweet, Oct. 1830) D&C 33:16
And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel. (Revelation "embracing the law of the Church," Feb. 9, 1831) D&C 42:12
And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible A Bible We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4. But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? . . .
10. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. (The Lord speaks to Nephi about the latter-day Gentiles, 559-545 B.C.) 2 Nephi 29:3-4,10-11
An Angel from on High
HYMNS:13
An angel from on high
The long, long silence broke;
Descending from the sky,
These gracious words he spoke:
Lo in Cumorah's lonely hill
A sacred record lies concealed.
Lo in Cumorah's lonely hill
A sacred record lies concealed.
Sealed by Moroni's hand,
It has for ages lain
To wait the Lord's command,
From dust to speak again.
It shall again to light come forth
To usher in Christ's reign on earth.
It shall again to light come forth
To usher in Christ's reign on earth.
It speaks of Joseph's seed
And makes the remnant known
Of nations long since dead,
Who once had dwelt alone.
The fulness of the gospel, too,
Its pages will reveal to view.
The fulness of the gospel, too,
Its pages will reveal to view.
The time is now fulfilled,
The long-expected day;
Let earth obedience yield
And darkness flee away.
Remove the seals; be wide unfurled
Its light and glory to the world.
Remove the seals; be wide unfurled
Its light and glory to the world.
Lo Israel filled with joy
Shall now be gathered home,
Their wealth and means employ
To build Jerusalem,
While Zion shall arise and shine
And fill the earth with truth divine,
While Zion shall arise and shine
And fill the earth with truth divine.
