Book of Mormon Resources

Here are some great resources to aid in your study of the Book of Mormon:

Listen to the Book of Mormon

LDS Scripture Citation

Official LDS Topical Guide

Book of Mormon Graphic Timeline

Book of Mormon Stories Picture Book (great for kids and adults)

Book of Mormon Stories Picture Videos

Scriptures Notebook

Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual

D&C and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual

Institute Book of Mormon Teacher's Manual

Book of Mormon Religion 121

Institute D&C Teacher's Manual

Scripture Study: The Power of the Word

Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual

Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual

Book of Mormon Seminary Helps

Preach My Gospel

Conference Talks

Joseph Smith

Mormon.org

Book of Mormon Bookmark

Book of Mormon Pictures

Memorize Scripture Mastery Scriptures

Interactive Book of Mormon Timeline

LDS Book of Mormon Resource Page

Step By Step Through the Book of Mormon- A Cultural Commentary (I LOVE this one!)

Some great articles about the Book of Mormon:

Precious Promises of the Book of Mormon- President Thomas S. Monson

The Prophet Joseph Smith

What the Book of Mormon Teaches About the Love of God- Elder Russell M. Nelson

The Story of the Book of Mormon

Book of Mormon Timeline

Who Wrote the Book of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon: Witness to the Bible

How to Study the Book of Mormon

Lehi's Dream

The Book of Mormon: Strengthening our Faith in Jesus Christ

The Book of Mormon: Keystone for our Religion

A Testimony, a Covenant, a Witness- Jeffrey R. Holland

The Keystone of Our Religion- President James E. Faust

My Words...Never Cease- Jeffrey R. Holland

Here are some great links for the Preach My Gospel Manual

Preach My Gospel Online PDF Manual

Talk by Elder Kopishcki on Preach My Gospel

Elder Cook explains in this video about Preach My Gospel and how it works

Where to purchase your own copy of Preach My Gospel online

Apple iPod free Podcasts of Preach My Gospel Mormon.org Book of Mormon

More articles and testimony of the Book of Mormon:

No Desire for Food

"I read again the other day Parley P. Pratt's account of his reading the Book of Mormon and coming into the Church. Said he:

" '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 when the night came, 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, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows that he exists' (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, ed. Parley P. Pratt Jr. [1938], 37).

"The gift of faith touched his life. He could not do enough to repay the Lord for what had come to him. He spent the remainder of his days in missionary service. He died a martyr to this great work and kingdom."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Miracle of Faith," Ensign, May 2001, 68

Topics: Book of Mormon, Conversion

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 5 NOVEMBER 2010

Wonderful News

"Solomon [Chamberlain] was a spiritual man and had spent many hours in prayer, seeking for the remission of his sins and pleading with Heavenly Father to lead him to the truth. Sometime around 1816, Solomon was promised in a vision that he would live to see the day when the Church of Christ would be organized after the apostolic order was established once again on the earth.

"Years later Solomon was traveling by boat toward Canada when his vessel stopped in the small town of Palmyra, New York. There he felt a compelling force urging him to disembark. Not knowing why he was there, he began speaking with the townspeople. It wasn't long before he heard talk of a 'gold Bible.' He said those two words sent 'a power like electricity [that] went from the top of my head to the end of my toes.'

"His inquiries led him to the Smith home, where he spoke with those present about the wonderful news of the restored gospel. After spending two days there and receiving a testimony of the truth, Solomon resumed his journey to Canada, taking with him 64 newly printed, unbound pages of the Book of Mormon. Everywhere he went, he taught the people, 'both high and low, rich and poor, . . . to prepare for the great work of God that was now about to come forth' ("A Short Sketch of the Life of Solomon Chamberlain," typescript, Church History Library)."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A Great Work of God," Ensign, Apr. 2010, 4

Topics: Missionary Work, Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 6 SEPTEMBER 2010

Martin Harris

"Having a special interest in Martin Harris, I have been saddened at how he is remembered by most Church members. He deserves better than to be remembered solely as the man who unrighteously obtained and then lost the initial manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon.

"When the Book of Mormon was published, Martin Harris was nearly 47 years of age, more than 20 years older than Joseph Smith and the other two witnesses. He was a prosperous and respected citizen of Palmyra, New York. He owned a farm of over 240 acres, large for the time and place. He was an honored veteran of two battles in the War of 1812. His fellow citizens entrusted him with many elective offices and responsibilities in the community. He was universally respected for his industry and integrity. Assessments by contemporaries described him as 'an industrious, hard-working farmer, shrewd in his business calculations, frugal in his habits,' and 'strictly upright in his business dealings' (quoted in Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses [1981], 96–97, 98).

"This prosperous and upright older man befriended the young and penniless Joseph Smith, giving him the $50 that permitted him to pay his debts in Palmyra and locate in northeastern Pennsylvania about 150 miles away. There, in April 1828, Joseph Smith began his first persistent translation of the Book of Mormon."

Dallin H. Oaks, "The Witness: Martin Harris," Ensign, May 1999, 36

Topics: Restoration, Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 23 AUGUST 2010

Through but Not from Joseph Smith

"A . . . marvel of the translation process is that although he was intensely involved in translating an ancient record, the Prophet Joseph himself was clearly unschooled in things ancient. For example, early in the work he came across words concerning a wall around Jerusalem and asked Emma if the city indeed had walls. She affirmed what Joseph simply hadn't known. (See E. C. Briggs, "Interview with David Whitmer," Saints' Herald, 21 June 1884, 396.)

"He knew nothing, either, of the literary form called chiasmus, which appears in the Bible at various places and, significantly, also appears in the Book of Mormon. . . .

". . . We marvel that the Prophet Joseph Smith worked completely without referring to any other sources. None of the 12 people who either participated or merely observed mentioned Joseph's having any reference materials present. . . . Since the Prophet dictated openly, these individuals would have been aware of any suspicious behavior or procedures. Emma was emphatic on this very point: 'He had neither manuscript nor book to read from, [and] if he had anything of the kind he could not have concealed it from me' ("Last Testimony of Sister Emma," 289, 290).

"Thus the Book of Mormon came through, but not from, Joseph Smith!"

Neal A. Maxwell,, "By the Gift and Power of God," Ensign, Jan. 1997, 36

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 23 JUNE 2010

Receive with Faith

"Once we realize how the Lord feels about this book [the Book of Mormon], it should not surprise us that He also gives us solemn warnings about how we receive it. After indicating that those who receive the Book of Mormon with faith, working righteousness, will receive a crown of eternal glory (see D&C 20:14), the Lord follows with this warning: 'But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation.' (D&C 20:15.)

"In 1829, the Lord warned the Saints that they are not to trifle with sacred things (sSee D&C 6:12). Surely the Book of Mormon is a sacred thing, and yet many trifle with it, or in other words, take it lightly, treat it as though it is of little importance.

"In 1832, as some early missionaries returned from their fields of labor, the Lord reproved them for treating the Book of Mormon lightly. As a result of that attitude, he said, their minds had been darkened. Not only had treating this sacred book lightly brought a loss of light to themselves, it had also brought the whole Church under condemnation, even all the children of Zion. And then the Lord said, 'And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon' (D&C 84:54–57)."

Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign, Nov. 1986, 4

Topics: Book of Mormon

FAMILY GEMS - 18 JUNE 2010

Parents Need to Regularly Read and Study the Book of Mormon with Their Children

"Regular reading of and talking about the Book of Mormon invite the power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within our families. And discussions about the doctrines and principles in the Book of Mormon provide opportunities for parents to observe their children, to listen to them, to learn from them, and to teach them."

David A. Bednar, "Watching with All Perserverance," Ensign, May 2010, 41

Topics: Parenthood, Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 21 MAY 2010

Steady Flow

"A . . . marvel of the Book of Mormon translation process is that from what we know, rarely would Joseph go back, review, or revise what had already been done. There was a steady flow in the translation. . . .

"Emma Smith said of the inspired process: 'After meals, or after interruptions, [Joseph] would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him' ("Last Testimony of Sister Emma," Saints' Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, 290). One who has dictated and been interrupted must usually resume by inquiring, 'Now, where were we?' Not so with the Prophet!

"If one were manufacturing a text, he would constantly need to cross-check himself, to edit, and to revise for consistency. Had the Prophet dictated and revised extensively, there would be more evidence of it. But there was no need to revise divinely supplied text. Whatever the details of the translation process, we are discussing a process that was truly astonishing!"

Neal A. Maxwell,, "By the Gift and Power of God," Ensign, Jan. 1997, 39–40

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 3 MAY 2010

I Read All Day

"In August of 1830, as a lay preacher, [Parley P. Pratt] was traveling from Ohio to eastern New York. At Newark, along the Erie Canal, he left the boat and walked ten miles into the country where he met a Baptist deacon by the name of Hamlin, who told him 'of a book, a strange book, a VERY STRANGE BOOK! . . . This book, he said, purported to have been originally written on plates either of gold or brass, by a branch of the tribes of Israel; and to have been discovered and translated by a young man near Palmyra, in the State of New York, by the aid of visions, or the ministry of angels. I inquired of him how or where the book was to be obtained. He promised me the perusal of it, at his house the next day. . . . Next morning I called at his house, where, for the first time, my eyes beheld the 'BOOK OF MORMON'—that book of books . . . which was the principal means, in the hands of God, of directing the entire course of my future life.

"Parley Pratt was then twenty-three years of age. The reading of the Book of Mormon affected him so profoundly that he was soon baptized into the Church and became one of its most effective and powerful advocates."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "An Angel from on High, the Long, Long Silence Broke,"Ensign, Nov. 1979, 7

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 30 APRIL 2010

Priority of the Book of Mormon

"A . . . powerful testimony to the importance of the Book of Mormon is to note where the Lord placed its comings forth in the timetable of the unfolding Restoration. The only thing that preceded it was the First Vision. In that marvelous manifestation, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned the true nature of God and that God had a work for him to do. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the next thing to follow.

"Think of that in terms of what it implies. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon preceded the restoration of the priesthood. It was published just a few days before the Church was organized. The Saints were given the Book of Mormon to read before they were given the revelations outlining such great doctrines as the three degrees of glory, celestial marriage, or work for the dead. It came before priesthood quorums and Church organization. Doesn't this tell us something about how the Lord views this sacred work?"

Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion," Ensign, Nov. 1986, 4

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 14 APRIL 2010

Keys and Restoration

"The Restoration, begun with the First Vision in 1820, continued with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni, who taught him of an ancient record containing 'the fulness of the everlasting gospel . . . preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah' (Book of Mormon introduction). Recorded on plates of gold, the Book of Mormon gives an account of Christ's ministry in the Western Hemisphere, just as the Bible records His life and ministry in the Holy Land. Joseph received the gold plates four years later and, in December of 1827, began to translate the Book of Mormon.

"While translating, Joseph Smith and his scribe Oliver Cowdery read about baptism. Their desire to receive this blessing for themselves prompted the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood on May 15, 1829, under the hands of John the Baptist.

"There followed the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which was bestowed on Joseph and Oliver by the Apostles Peter, James, and John, who held the keys. After centuries of spiritual darkness, the power and authority to act in God's name, to perform sacred ordinances, and to lead His Church were once again upon the earth."

Robert D. Hales, "Preparations for the Restoration and the Second Coming: 'My Hand Shall Be over Thee,' " Ensign, Nov. 2005, 9

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 7 APRIL 2010

Adequate, Not Comprehensive

"The Prophet Joseph Smith worked by the gift and power of God amid numerous interruptions, bitter persecutions, and even the 'most strenuous exertions' to wrest the actual plates from him (JS—H 1:60). His was not the tranquil life of a detached scholar in some sheltered sanctuary where he could work at his uninterrupted leisure. Chores had to be done. His family had to be cared for. Joseph was so conscientious that the Lord counseled him: 'Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end' (D&C 10:4).

"Many who read the Book of Mormon understandably desire to know more about its coming forth, including the actual process of translation. This was certainly so with faithful and loyal Hyrum Smith. Upon inquiring, Hyrum was told by the Prophet Joseph that 'it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon' and that 'it was not expedient for him to relate these things' (History of the Church, 1:220). Thus what we do know about the actual coming forth of the Book of Mormon is adequate, but it is not comprehensive.

"Our primary focus in studying the Book of Mormon should be on the principles of the gospel anyway, not on the process by which the book came forth."

Neal A. Maxwell, "By the Gift and Power of God," Ensign, Jan. 1997, 38–39

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 12 MARCH 2010

Flood the Earth with the Book of Mormon

"I have a vision of the whole Church getting nearer to God by abiding by the precepts of the Book of Mormon.

"Indeed, I have a vision of flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon.

"My beloved Saints, I am now entering my ninetieth year. I am getting older and less vigorous and am so grateful for your prayers and for the support of my younger Brethren. I thank the Lord for renewing my body from time to time so that I can still help build His kingdom.

"I do not know fully why God has preserved my life to this age, but I do know this: That for the present hour He has revealed to me the absolute need for us to move the Book of Mormon forward now in a marvelous manner. You must help with this burden and with this blessing which He has placed on the whole Church, even all the children of Zion.

"Moses never entered the promised land. Joseph Smith never saw Zion redeemed. Some of us may not live long enough to see the day when the Book of Mormon floods the earth and when the Lord lifts His condemnation. (See D&C 84:54–58.) But, God willing, I intend to spend all my remaining days in that glorious effort."

Ezra Taft Benson, "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon," Ensign, Nov. 1988, 6

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 1 MARCH 2010

Epoch of Scriptural History

"In June of 1829 Joseph Smith and Martin Harris called upon Mr. Egbert B. Grandin, the proprietor, to discuss the publication of a new book of scripture. Mr. Grandin, then twenty-three, was three months younger than Joseph Smith. Only three months earlier he had advertised his intention to print books, a very ambitious undertaking for so small a shop with only a hand-operated, cast-iron press.

"Others had refused to print the book, and young Mr. Grandin, a religious man, was very skeptical himself. But as the contract was secured by a mortgage on the farm of Martin Harris, it was signed and printing commenced in August of 1829.

"No sooner had the project begun than one Obadiah Dogberry, Jr., began to steal pages of the work and print them with accompanying ridicule in his weekly paper, The Reflector.

"In March of 1830, the Book of Mormon came from the press and was advertised for sale. It met such a bitter and destructive response that it did not sell, and Martin Harris lost his farm.

"An epoch of scriptural history had begun. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors to this day would proclaim the Book of Mormon to be another testament of Jesus Christ. Obadiah Dogberry and his successors, moved by another spirit, would, with the same methods, to this day revile it."

Boyd K. Packer, "Scriptures," Ensign, Nov. 1982, 51

Topics: Opposition, Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 29 JANUARY 2010

Devotion to God

"Most books contained in libraries of the world were authored for contemporary readers. And they were generally written for profit, with royalties accruing from successful sales.

"Not so with the Book of Mormon. It was written anciently for our day. It reveals the endless Lordship of Jesus Christ in accounts of two ancient American dispensations, preserved for the benefit of us who live in this dispensation of the fulness of times. Certainly no royalties came to its authors. In fact, they paid dearly for their privilege of participation. What motivated them? Their devotion to God! The book's four major writers—Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, and Moroni—were all eyewitnesses of the Lord, as was its martyred translator, the Prophet Joseph Smith."

Russell M. Nelson, "A Testimony of the Book of Mormon," Ensign, Nov. 1999, 69–70

Topics: Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon

DAILY GEMS - 7 JANUARY 2010

Message of the Book of Mormon

"Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair. That is the message with which the Book of Mormon begins, and that is the message with which it ends, calling all to 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in him' (Moroni 10:32)."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "Safety for the Soul," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 88

Topics: Book of Mormon

DAILY GEMS - 30 DECEMBER 2009

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

"I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "Safety for the Soul," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 89–90

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 4 DECEMBER 2009

Match Our Message

"Some of the early missionaries, on returning home, were reproved by the Lord in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants because they had treated lightly the Book of Mormon. As a result, their minds had been darkened. The Lord said that this kind of treatment of the Book of Mormon brought the whole Church under condemnation, even all of the children of Zion. And then the Lord said, 'And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.' (See D&C 84:54–57.) Are we still under that condemnation?

"Reading the Book of Mormon is one of the greatest persuaders to get men on missions. We need more missionaries. But we also need better-prepared missionaries coming out of the wards and branches and homes where they know and love the Book of Mormon. A great challenge and day of preparation is at hand for missionaries to meet and teach with the Book of Mormon. We need missionaries to match our message."

Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God," Ensign, May 1975, 65

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 20 NOVEMBER 2009

85 Days

"It was on 5 April 1829 that Oliver Cowdery arrived at the Smith home. Now you can see the hand of the Lord in preparing this work to go forward. Having been hired to teach school in the Manchester township in New York, Oliver was invited to board at the home of Joseph Smith Sr. Here he heard of the miraculous story of their son. He made his way to Harmony to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith, who recognized him as the assistant the Lord had promised for the translation. On Tuesday, 7 April, they commenced the work of translation in earnest. To me the most exciting miracle in the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon happened during the next 85 days. The complete book was translated from a then-unknown language into English. This is no common, simple book. Someone has figured out that it covers 1,000 years of colonization in which 54 chapters deal with war, 21 are historical, 55 are on visions and prophecies, 71 on doctrines and exhortations, 17 on missionary work, and 21 on the mission of the Savior, for a total of 239 chapters."

L. Tom Perry, "By the Hands of His Prophets," Ensign, Aug. 1998, 49–50

Topics: Book of Mormon

CHURCH HISTORY GEMS - 18 NOVEMBER 2009

Tangible Evidence

"One time I became so interested in the speed of the work [of translating the Book of Mormon] that was accomplished by Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith that I asked someone to research some of the other translations of scriptures for me to see how purely remarkable this work was. I found out that in translating the books of Moses from Hebrew to Greek, six men were called from each of the 12 tribes to perform the labor. Their project required 72 days, or 5,184 man days. Jerome was commissioned by the pope to translate the Bible from Hebrew to Latin; he worked on the project for 23 years, or 8,395 days. In the commission given by King James to translate the English version of the Bible from several other translations to what the king hoped would be the perfect English version, he selected 54 men who worked on the project for 4 years, or 78,840 man days.

"Now contrast that to the translation of the Book of Mormon, which for all intents and purposes started on 7 April 1829 and was completed by 30 June 1829—two men working 85 days, or 170 man days. It was truly a miracle. It could only have been done under the direction of the Lord.

"This great book is one tangible evidence that we have of the call of the Prophet Joseph Smith to bring about the long-awaited restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and again establish the Lord's Church on earth. According to prophecy, this time its establishment was to endure (see Isa. 2:2–3; Dan. 2:44). This being true, the Lord would carefully prepare his Church leadership to give continuity to the work."

L. Tom Perry, "By the Hands of His Prophets," Ensign, Aug. 1998, 50

Topics: Book of Mormon

YOUTH GEMS - 5 NOVEMBER 2009

Converting Power

“Conversion depends upon our feeling the Spirit. The words of the Book of Mormon invite the Holy Ghost. There is great converting power in the word of God. Alma taught us that the word of God was ‘more powerful . . . than the sword, or anything else’ in changing people’s hearts (Alma 31:5).”

Henry B. Eyring, “Why the Book of Mormon?” New Era, May 2008, 9

Topics: Testimony, Conversion, Book of Mormon

Jeffrey R. Holland, “Safety for the Soul,” Oct. 2009 general conference

“I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world … that the Book of Mormon is true.”

L. Tom Perry, “Blessings Resulting from Reading the Book of Mormon,” Oct. 2005 general conference

“Now it is up to us to study the Book of Mormon and learn of its principles and apply them in our lives.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses,” Oct. 2007 general conference

“Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible.”

Neil L. Andersen, “The Book of Mormon: The Great Purveyor of the Savior’s Peace,” Liahona, Jan. 2008

“We need only approach the Book of Mormon prayerfully and with faith, and the Savior’s peace will permeate our searching.”

Boyd K. Packer, “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ—Plain and Precious Things,” Apr. 2005 general conference

“The Book of Mormon is an endless treasure of wisdom and inspiration, of counsel and correction.”

ASK YOURSELF: On a scale of 1-10, how much does the BoM Matter to me?

My daughter asked: Why do the missionaries always ask people to read the Book or Mormon, not the Pearl of Great Price, the Doctrine and Covenants, or the Bible?

1. The First purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of Christ.

ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST

From "The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God"
by Ezra Taft Benson

In section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord says that he gave Joseph Smith “power from on high … to translate the Book of Mormon; Which contains … the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ … ; Which was given by inspiration.” ( D&C 20:8–10.) Nephi, one of the prophet-writers of the Book of Mormon, testifies that the book contains “the words of Christ” (2. 2 Ne. 33:10), and Moroni, the last writer in the book, testifies that “these things are true.” (Moro. 7:35.)

Out of the 531 pages in the BoM, 502 contain references to the Savior in some form or fashion. 95% of the BoM

·       (ME) Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Enos, King Benjamin, Alma, Amulek, Alma the Younger, Nephi and Lehi, Ether, Mormon, Moroni, Brother of Jarod- all testify of Christ

·       The crowing event of the BoM is the appearance of Jesus Christ himself to the Nephites (15 chapters, 31 pages 6%)

THE BOOK OF MORMON CLARIFIES DOCTRINE:

·       Infant baptism (Moroni 8)

·       Balance of Justice and Mercy (Alma 42)

·       Resurrection (Alma 40, Mosiah 15)

·       IT ALSO OPENS THE DOOR TO MODERN DAY REVELATION FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON POINTS OF DOCTRINE

2. The second purpose of the Book of Mormon is to speak to us today

Movie Titanic. What if you had the opportunity to write them a letter that would be delivered to them. What would you say?

Moroni, writing over 1,500 years ago but speaking to us today, states: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.”

SEEING IT IS WRITT FOR US NOW- What were the things THEY chose to say to us?

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Who was writing to us? What did they have to tell us?

5 main authors in the Book of Mormon:

Nephi (1^st and 2^nd Nephi) “For mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” “I speak unto as a voice of one crying from the dust…hearken unto these words and believe in Christ” (ME 2 Nephi 33:13 & 10)

Jacob (Book of Jacob)”For this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ…and I make and end to my writing upon these plates… to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many…may read my words.” (3. from Jacob 4:4 and 7:27)

Enos (Enos) “And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought about by the power of God that I must preach and prophecy…and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ.” (4. Enos verse 26)

(Jarom, Omni, Amaron, Chimish, Abiniadom, Amaleki- 45 vv between all)

MORMON (Words of Mormon through Mormon 7) Mormon said TO US: For this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your words, whether they be good or ever; and also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, which ye shall have among you…

Moroni (Mormon 8- Moroni) I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me and I know your doing. (5. Mormon 8:35) Behold I speak unto you as though I speak from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words (6. Mormon 9:30)

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WHAT IS THE BOOK OF MORMON ABOUT?

·        It’s a record of the spiritual and historical dealings of the people who lived on the American continent, mostly from 600BC to 400AD.

·        It’s a record of the rise and fall of major civilizations, wars, church affairs and family affairs.

·        It is full of stories of hardship, suffering, faith, joy, triumph, obedience and redemption.

·         But, most of all, it’s a record that shows how faith in and obedience to the Lord and His teachings affects lives.

What was life like for them?

They had families, jobs, they farmed or herded. They made meals and ate together. They dated and married. They had friends and peer pressure. They had school (learning of their fathers) and trades. They had fashion and shopping in some more advanced cultures. They had music and traditions. They were sometimes nomadic. There was politics and social classes, service and thievery.   They had nearly constant threat of death from the Lamanites (scary)

Full of Heroes: Nephi, Jacob, Enos, King Benjamin, Abinadi, Alma, Alma the Younger, Amulek, Zeezrom, Ammon, Captain Moroni, Pahoran, Helaman, Nephi (son of Helaman), Mormon, Brother of Jared, Ether, Moroni

Villians- more about them later

CAN WE REALLY RELATE TO THESE PEOPLE?

TEENAGERS:

Nephi- about 14- youngest of big family, had to give up his toys and nice things and move, got picked on my his brothers, always tried to do the right even though life was really hard (bros tried to kill him a number of times) He had faith. Probably an Eagle scout.

Jacob: Nephi’s brother.  Was picked on a lot by his brothers. His dad said “ in they childhood thou hast suffered many afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of they brethren”

Mormon:  15 years old - After seeing four years of terrible war, he was faithful, bold and sober, and was visited by the Lord (Mormon 1:15)        16 years old when Mormon lead the Nephites into battle against the Lamanites. (Mormon 2:3)

YOUNG ADULTS:

Captain Moroni- (Stressful new job) 25 years old when he was appointed chief captain over Nephite armies

Mormon: (Taking on new responsibilities) 24 years old when he became the caretaker of the sacred plates.
Alma the Elder ( Learning and changing as we grow) about 23 when Abinidi was killed – about 23 (We know from the scriptures that Alma lived to be eighty-two years of age. (Mosiah 29:45.) If we assume that Alma died the same year as Mosiah—which one way of reading Mosiah 29:45–46 would suggest—this would place Alma’s birth at 173 b.c. If we can also assume that the dates at the bottom of the pages of the Book of Mormon are somewhat accurate (they were added after the Saints came to Utah) we can surmise that Alma was about twenty-three years old when Abinadi was first sent by the Lord to the priests of Noah and twenty-five when Alma was forced to flee into the wilderness. He is spoken of as a “young man” at that time. (See Mosiah 17:2.) Ensign » 1977 » February Alma the Elder By Arthur R. Bassett

Parents:

      Lehi- Lost his job, had rebellious kids, moved a lot, his wife even doubted him

      Sariah- had to leave her nice home, arguing kids, had babies in tough conditions, no kitchen

      Alma the elder- Lost his job because of his standards, starts new job from scratch,stressful calling, wayward kids

The Book of Mormon can answer questions for our day

MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS off the internet
1.  What are we having for dinner? Wild beasts (1 Nephi 16:31)
2.    Are you okay? I am yet alive (Moroni 9:1)
3.    How are you? I am in my anger (Alma 54:13)
6.    How was work? My work is not yet finished (Alma 29)
9.    What time is it? Time to prepare to meet God (Alma 12:24)
11.    Did you get my email? And it came to pass that I received an epistle from Ammoron
12.    Are you alright? I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body and mind     (Mosiah 2:11)
13.    What are you up to? I am laboring with them continually (Moroni 9:4)
17.    Are you hungry? And Ammon and said unto him: I am not (Alma18:19)
18.    How much did that cost? A senum of silver (Alma 11:7)

·       How do I deal with peer pressure? Lehi’s dream (1 Nephi 8:26,27-34…33)

·       What do I do if my prayers aren’t answered right away? (Tressa story- Ether 1:43…this long time)

1.     What should we preach to others? Alma 37:33-34

2.     How should I pray: Alma 37:36-37

3.     What should I do as a teenager? Alma 37:35

4.     What does God require of me? Mosiah 2:22

5.     What’s so bad about pride? 4 Nephi 1:24-26)

6.     How can make my faith stronger? Alma 32:26-43

7.     Why should I when life gets hard? Mosiah 24:10….12

a. How can the Lord help me during tough times 13-15

8.     Is it Ok not to know everything right now? Alma 37:11-12

9.     Where is proof that God is real? Alma 30:44 (midway down

What can bring me joy? Alma 29:9

What does Jesus want me to do? 3 Nephi 27:20

  How important is the Atonement? Alma 34:8-1

What did Jesus do for me? Mosiah 14:2-5

  How can I learn the mysteries of God? 1 Nephi 10:19

  Where does my spirit go after I die? Alma 40:11

How can I become a stronger and better person? Ether 12:27

3. Exposes the enemies of Christ

“…the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 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” Ezra Taft Benson

*?What messages is the world preaching today about religion?

·        SHEREM: Jacob 7. Lived 400 years BC during Jacob’s time. His message to the believers: ( 7. Jacob 7:2 and 4) “…there should be no Christ.” That all they needed was the law of Moses and nothing else. (he asked for a sign and was smitten and died)

·        NEHOR: Alma 1. Lived 100 years BC during Alma the Younger’s time. His message to the believers (8. Alma 1:3-4) that church leaders should be financially supported by members, that all mankind has to do is rejoice for the Lord created them and will redeem them regardless of their actions. People liked the message so they gave him money for his fine apparel and such. (he killed Gideon – a believer- and was sentenced to death)

1.      THE WORLD TODAY SAYS: “there is no process; salvation happens immediately when you believe.”

·        KORIHOR: Alma 30. Lived in 74 years BC during Alma the Younger’s time. (ME-Alma 30:16)He said called the words of prophets “foolish traditions” and declared a belief in the remission of sins was a result of frenzied or deranged minds. (he is trodden down and dies)

1.      A couple years ago in London a group of atheists paid more than $200,000 to have the words “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

2.      I have a friend who left the church: It's freeing to not have someone tell you whether you are a sinner or saint but rather to live knowing that neither truly exist. This is one life. I would rather make choices that determine whether or not good things happen to me rather than sit around praying for things to happen. Controlling my own destiny only makes me more at peace :) and really, isn't that what any of this is about? Finding what works for your own happiness...and not worrying about what anyone else thinks?

·        LAMAN AND LEMUEL**- recognize the enemy within ourselves

1.       They murmured and complained

§  “…and they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” (9. 1 Nephi 2:11)

§  Elder Jeffrey R Holland’s thoughts about Laman and Lemuel: “I have often thought that Nephi’s being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Lam and Lemuel’s contast murmuring. Surely he must have said at least once, ‘Hit me on more time. I can still hear you.’ Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face” but no misfortune is so bad that whining won’t make it worse.

2.      They focused on the negative and couldn’t see the blessings,

§   “Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the ladn of our inheritance…and we might have been happy.” (10 1 Nephi 17:21)

§  Elder Maxwell says that murmurers have short memories, saying “Strange, isn’t it…how those with the shortest memories have the longest list of demands!”

3.      They had the victim mentality

§  Following the death of Lehi, L&L said, they “our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words.” (11. 2 Nephi 5:3)

§  They passed this on to their posterity, who thought they “that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance…”

§  Elder David A Bednar said, “It is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted for imposed upon us by someone or something else…To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon.”

End with a question: Now, on a scale of 1-10, how much does the Book of Mormon matter to you?

1.     It testifies of Christ

2.     It is written for us today

3.     It exposes the enemies of Christ

It contains/clarifies the fullness of Christ’s

·       All concerns can be taken care of through the Book of Mormon

1.     It is proof of the Restoration through Joseph Smith (PMG 103)

2.     It contains/clarifies the fullness of Christ’s doctrine

§  Plan of Salvation

§  Gospel

§  The Restoration

If the Book of Mormon is true then…..

·       Joseph Smith was a prophet

·       The Church is true

·       President Monson is a true prophet today

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WHAT THE BOM IS NOT

·       It’s not a book about Mormons

·       It’s not a substitute for the Bible

·       It is not allegory or make believe

·       It is not just a historical compilation

WHAT THE BOM IS

·       A collection of narratives written by prophets who lived in the western hemisphere 2000 years ago

·       A book that contains the gospel and the plan of salvation

·       A book that clarifies eternal doctrines

·       A second witness, or testament, of Jesus Christ, in companionship with the Bible

Study helps

1.     Keep a scripture journal

2.     Pray before you read

3.     Ask yourself questions as you read

a.      “How does this apply to me and my life?”

b.     “What can I learn from this?”

c.      “Why did Mormon include this on the gold plates?”

4.     Write down specific questions or concerns you might have before you read.

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