What is it? How was it written? Why is it the Word of God?
These are questions you’ve probably asked in the past or may still ask. It’s likely you’ve been asked them many, many times. To craft some clear, basic answers, we’re taking a cue from the Gospel News and giving you 5 Amazing Facts about the Book of Mormon:
- It is a record of the descendants of Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob. Lehi and his family were direct descendants of Joseph who lived in Jerusalem just before the Babylonians conquered the city around 600 B.C. God instructed him to leave and brought his family and some others to the land of the Americas.
- Around 400 A.D., a man named Mormon abridged the records the people had kept for 1,000 years. Mormon’s son, Moroni, finished the abridgement when his father died.
- Upon finishing the book, which was engraved on metal plates, God instructed Moroni to hide it in a hill called Cumorah.
- Throughout the book, Christ and His gospel are written about just as they are in the Bible. It does not state anything different; it totally supports Christ being the Son of God and that only belief on Him, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and following Him until we pass away is the way to salvation.
- In the early 1800s, God used Joseph Smith to bring the Book of Mormon to the world. The Angel Moroni led him to Hill Cumorah in western New York, where he found the plates. Through the power of God, Joseph was able to translate the reformed Egyptian writing to English. The book was published in the 1830s, and this was the beginning of The Church of Jesus Christ.
Bible verses supporting the Book of Mormon:
Ezekiel 37:16-19 – The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel and tells him to take a stick (what books were referred to in those days as they were written on scrolls of papyrus) and write about Judah. He is told to take a second stick and write about Joseph. Once complete, they are to be joined together as one. The stick of Judah is a history and record about the Jews, which is the Bible. The stick of Joseph is a history of Joseph, which the Book of Mormon is. Since they are one in God’s hand, they must be His Word.
Isaiah 29 – Isaiah talks about a people who are to be brought down and whose words would come out of the ground (verse 4), and in verses 11-12 speaks of the “words of a book that is sealed,” and is delivered to a learned (educated) person who states he cannot read it and then to an unlearned (uneducated) person who can. These prophecies were fulfilled when the Book of Mormon came forth and during the translation process.
John 10:16 – Jesus tells his disciples that He has other sheep that are not of this fold (not Jews) and that they will hear His voice. The sheep shall become one fold with one shepherd.
These are not all the scriptures and history about the Book of Mormon. However, these provide some basics for why the Church believes the Book of Mormon is equal to the Bible and one in the hand of God (Ezekiel 37:19). For more information, feel free to speak to any elder or teacher.
Restoration Testimonies
This year, over and above Miracle Monday, we’re asking for your testimonies and experiences that have to do with the Book of Mormon or the restoration. Maybe the Lord led you to Book of Mormon scriptures when you were in need, or perhaps He confirmed the truth of the restoration to you in a supernatural way. Click here to tell us about it, and we’ll publish the testimonies throughout the year — click here to read last week’s!
This article has undergone ministry review and approval.
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