The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

With the restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ also came new light and knowledge. Most people are familiar with the Holy Bible. It mostly records the dealings, doctrine, and miracles among Gods people in the Old World.

But what about the Americas? If God is the God of the whole world.. why would he only talk to people in one hemisphere? We believe that He has spoken to prophets all over the world and that the Book of Mormon is a record of Gods dealings with those prophets in the Americas.

The Book of Mormon is a second witness that Jesus is the Christ. The people in the Book of Mormon were among the ancestors of the native people of America.

One of the groups of people mentioned in the Book of Mormon came over to the Americas around the time of the Tower of Babel. They are referred to as the Jaredites. The next new group introduced into the native population came over much later around 600 B.C. They were the Mulekites. They had come over from Jerusalem while trying to escape the oncoming Babylonian captivity. A short while later another group came over to America from Jerusalem. This was a couple of prophet led families that were trying to escape the hands of wicked men who wanted to destroy them because of their leader Lehi, who had been prophesying of the destruction of Jerusalem if the people there did not repent.

This family later broke up into two principle groups called the Nephites and the Lamenites. The majority of the Book chronicles these two groups and their dealings with God.

The most important thing about the Book of Mormon is that it tells of Jesus Christ's visit to the Americas shortly after His Death and Resurrection. He taught the people the same gospel He had taught in the old world.

For said He:

John 10: 16
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be cone fold, and one shepherd.

Jesus said "I am not asent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt. 15: 24). A good student of the Bible will remember that all descendants of Israel didn't live in Jerusalem and some didn't even live near Jerusalem at the time Jesus was there.

We know that hundreds of years before Christ 10 of the tribes of Israel had been "lost". We also know that at times through the years different groups of Jews had left the land of Canaan.

The people in the Book of Mormon were one of these groups. They were some of the "Other Sheep" that Jesus had talked about.

So questions:

Why is this important? Answer: For many reasons. But here are just four:

1. The Book of Mormon is a second witness, independent of the Bible that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer.
2. The Book of Mormon establishes the truth of the Bible record as it testifies of the same things as the Bible but it came from Prophets on the other side of the world. Showing that God is the source of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
3. The Book of Mormon is evidence that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is really Jesus' restored church on the earth today.
4. The doctrine in the Book of Mormon clarifies many passages in the Bible.


How did we get the Book of Mormon?

A: Moroni, the last prophet to write in the record of the Nephites, was commanded to hide up the record into the earth so it could come forth in a future time by the gift and power of God. This record was kept on golden plates. Moroni did just that he hid them up but not without first adding his testimony and a way that we can find out if this record is true:

Moroni 10:4-5
4 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.

Then over a thousand years later, God called Joseph Smith as a prophet. This very Moroni appeared to Joseph now as an angel from the presence of the Living God. He showed Joseph where he had deposited the record and over a period of time, prepared Joseph to receive the record and translate it. Here is Joseph's account:

Joseph Smith History Chapter 1

30 While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a alight appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
31 He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.
32 Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.
33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.
34 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;


As I stated before, Joseph was able to translate this record later into English. The fruit of that translation is the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ.

Why the curious name? (Book of Mormon)
Mormon is one of the prophets who wrote in the Book. But the main reason we call the book after him is because he was the one who compiled the book together after taking from many of the sacred records of his people. You might say he was the editor of the book.

I found out for myself that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I was 14 years old. I had grown up in an LDS family and we had read from it's pages often. However this time I decided I needed to know for myself if the Book of Mormon was true. I started reading nightly just before I would go to bed. As I read the book I felt the Holy Ghost speak peace to my heart and illuminate my mind. When I had hit a certain part in the book, Alma chapter 46, I realized that by then I knew that this was the word of God. I've had the witness of the Holy Ghost testify of it's truthfulness to me many times since then. This book has blessed my life in countless ways.

I found out through studying it's pages and through the still small voice of the Holy Ghost.

It is the Book that convinced me that Jesus is the Christ. I know it is true and that you can know for yourself, independent of any other source that it is truly a second witness of Jesus.

If you would like a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon please navigate here:

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Click on the link "Request a copy" by the picture of the Book of Mormon.

I challenge you to read it without prejudice with a sincere heart and with faith in Jesus Christ. Then ask God if it is true for yourself.

As you read the book, I'm sure you will have questions. Feel free to post your questions here or talk directly with missionaries and they will answer your questions.

You are a child of God and He loves you. This is His work and He wants you to be a part of it. Come and find the light of the Gospel in the Book of Mormon.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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