Ezra Taft Benson,
“The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,”
Ensign,
Jan 1988,
3
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “we
believe … the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” (A of F 1:8.) God has so
declared it, so have its writers, so have its witnesses, and so do all
those who have read it and received a personal revelation from God as to
its truthfulness.
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 fulness 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 Ne. 33:10), and
Moroni, the last writer in the book, testifies that “these things are
true” (Moro. 7:35).
This same Moroni, as an angelic being sent from God, showed these
ancient records to three witnesses in our day. Their testimony of the
records is contained in the front of the Book of Mormon. They state: “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 Joseph Smith, the Prophet, the instrument whom God used to
translate this record, testified 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.” (History of the Church, 4:461.)
The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the
book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for
our blessing. Those people never had the book—it was meant for us.
Mormon, the ancient prophet after whom the book is named, abridged
centuries of records. God, who knows the end from the beginning, told
him what to include in his abridgment that we would need for our day.
Mormon turned the records over to his son Moroni, the last recorder; and
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.” (Morm. 8:35.)
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.
“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.
“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.” (1 Ne. 6:4–6.)
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 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.
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.” (Moro. 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.
We are to use the Book of Mormon as the basis for our teaching. In
section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants, [D&C 42] the Lord
states: “And again, the elders, priests, and teachers of this church
shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in … the Book of
Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.” (D&C 42:12.)
As we read and teach, we are to liken the Book of Mormon scriptures
unto us, “that it might be for our profit and learning.” (1 Ne. 19:23.)
We are to use the Book of Mormon in handling objections to the
Church. God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ revealed themselves to
Joseph Smith in a marvelous vision. After that glorious event, Joseph
Smith told a minister about it. Joseph was surprised to hear the
minister say that there were no such things as visions or revelations in
these days, that all such things had ceased. (See JS—H 1:21.)
This remark symbolizes practically all of the objections that have
ever been made against the Church by nonmembers and dissident members
alike. Namely, they do not believe that God reveals his will today to
the Church through prophets of God. All objections, whether they be on
abortion, plural marriage, seventh-day worship, etc., basically hinge on
whether Joseph Smith and his successors were and are prophets of God
receiving divine revelation. Here, then, is a procedure to handle most
objections through the use of the Book of Mormon.
First, understand the objection.
Second, give the answer from revelation.
Third, show how the correctness of the answer really depends on
whether or not we have modern revelation through modern prophets.
Fourth, explain that whether or not we have modern prophets and
revelation really depends on whether the Book of Mormon is true.
Therefore, the only problem the objector has to resolve for himself
is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For if the Book of Mormon is
true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was His prophet, The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today
by a prophet receiving revelation.
Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are
not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed
up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand. “And if they
are not the words of Christ, judge ye,” said Nephi, “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.”
(2 Ne. 33:11.) Every man
must judge for himself, knowing God will hold him accountable.
The Book of Mormon is to be used “for a standard unto my people,
which are of the house of Israel,” the Lord says, and its words “shall
hiss forth unto the ends of the earth.” (2 Ne. 29:2.) We, the
members of the Church, and particularly the missionaries, have to be the
“hissers,” or the tellers and testifiers, of the Book of Mormon unto
the ends of the earth.
The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use. It shows that
Joseph Smith was a prophet. It contains the words of Christ, and its
great mission is to bring men to Christ, and all other things are
secondary. The golden question of the Book of Mormon is “Do you want to
learn more of Christ?” The Book of Mormon is the great finder of the
golden contact. It does not contain things which are “pleasing unto the
world” (1 Ne. 6:5), and so the
worldly are not interested in it. It is a great sieve.
Anyone who has diligently sought to know the doctrines and teachings
of the Book of Mormon and has used it conscientiously in missionary work
knows within his soul that this is the instrument which God
has given to the missionaries to convince the Jew and Gentile and
Lamanite of the truthfulness of our message.
Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our
homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to
Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings
unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat falsehoods in
socialism, rationalism, etc. Our missionaries are not as effective
unless they are “hissing forth” with it. Social, ethical, cultural, or
educational converts will not survive under the heat of the day unless
their taproots go down to the fulness of the gospel which the Book of
Mormon contains. Our Church classes are not as spirit-filled unless we
hold it up as a standard. The situation in the world will continue to
degenerate unless we read and heed the words of God and quit building up
and upholding secret combinations, which the Book of Mormon tells us
proved the downfall of ancient civilizations.
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 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.
And now grave consequences hang on our response to the Book of
Mormon:
“Those who receive it in faith,” said the Lord, “and work
righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life;
“But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it
shall turn to their own condemnation—
“For the Lord God has spoken it.” (D&C 20:14–16.)
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 to our condemnation.
Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime
pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting
that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole
life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock
of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of that iron rod,
and one who does not.
Over a quarter of a century ago I listened in the Tabernacle to these
words:
“A few years ago as I began to practice law, members of my family
were a little uneasy. They were afraid I would lose my faith. I wanted
to practice law, but I had an even greater desire to keep my testimony,
and so I decided upon a little procedure which I recommend to you. For
thirty minutes each morning before I began the day’s work I read from
the Book of Mormon … and in just a few minutes a day I read the Book of
Mormon through, every year, for nine years. I know that it kept me in
harmony, so far as I did keep in harmony, with the Spirit of the Lord. …
“It will hold us as close to the Spirit of the Lord as anything I
know.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1949, p. 36.)
That was President Marion G. Romney. I echo his counsel.
What, then, are we to say of the Book of Mormon? I bear witness that
it is verily true. I know this as I know that I live. We stand with the
Prophet Joseph Smith when he said, “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.”
May we know and use the keystone and, as a people, get nearer to God.
[ *As always noted, those whom receive e-mail messages concerning new posts to blog; You will need to visit the blog to watch the videos to do so, go to http://plainvieweq.blogspot.com * ]
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