The Book of Mormon, a record of holy scripture written by ancient prophets, gives an account of God’s dealings with the former inhabitants of the American continent. It contains the words of Jesus Christ, and even has an account of a visit that Jesus Christ made to the American continent after His resurrection. It was translated by the power of God through a prophet named Joseph Smith. I’ve seen the power that comes from reading and applying the teachings of Christ in The Book of Mormon.
In my own family as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths, as the “Mormon Church”), I’ve seen the difference it makes when we read The Book of Mormon together. When we read it, there is a spirit of peace and love that enters the home. It is a beautiful feeling. The Book of Mormon helps us have more love towards God, each other, and those around us. I know that this is because it is true and because it truly teaches the words of Jesus Christ, which bring peace to the soul. When I give adequate time for personal scripture study of The Book of Mormon, I feel a peace and a strength enter my life. My power to do good increases, my desire to do what is right increases, and I feel more peace. I testify that The Book of Mormon truly contains the words of Jesus Christ. I know that there is a living prophet today who speaks the words of Jesus Christ to all the world through the power of revelation.
Here are some quotes by living apostles and prophets about the power of The Book of Mormon:
I urge you to get acquainted with [the Book of Mormon]. Read it to your children; they are not too young to understand it. I remember reading it with one of my lads when he was very young. … I lay in the lower bunk and he in the upper bunk. We were each reading aloud alternate paragraphs of those last three marvelous chapters of Second Nephi. I heard his voice breaking and thought he had a cold. … As we finished he said … , ‘Daddy, do you ever cry when you read the Book of Mormon (President Marion G. Romney, late prophet of the Church)?
I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon, given to mankind 156 years ago (President Ezra Taft Benson, late prophet of the Church).
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” (History of the Church, 4:461). That is the third reason for studying the book. It helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book (President Ezra Taft Benson, late prophet of the Church).
It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance (President Ezra Taft Benson, late prophet of the Church).
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (President Marion G. Romney, the late prophet of the Church).
I would like to add my testimony of the divinity of this book. I have read it many times. I have also read much that has been written about it. Some authors have focused upon its stories, its people, or its vignettes of history. Others have been intrigued by its language structure or its records of weapons, geography, animal life, techniques of building, or systems of weights and measures.
Interesting as these matters may be, study of the Book of Mormon is most rewarding when one focuses on its primary purpose—to testify of Jesus Christ. By comparison, all other issues are incidental.
When you read the Book of Mormon, concentrate on the principal figure in the book—from its first chapter to the last—the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. And look for a second undergirding theme: God will keep His covenants with the remnants of the house of Israel (Elder Russel M. Nelson, Apostle of Jesus Christ).
The Book of Mormon is the most important religious text to be revealed from God to man “since the writings of the New Testament were compiled nearly two millennia ago.”Joseph Smith declared the Book of Mormon to be “the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion.”It is the only book that the Lord Himself has testified to be true (Elder Russel M. Nelson, Apostle of Jesus Christ).
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” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle of Jesus Christ).
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 (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle of Jesus Christ).
God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” 15 —and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle of Jesus Christ).
Additional Resources:
Obtain a free copy of The Book of Mormon.
Learn more about the translation of The Book of Mormon at an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Learn about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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