As a Brigham Young University student and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (often mistakenly called the Mormon Church), I’ve been studying the Book of Mormon for my religion class. A particular passage from the Book of First Nephi, the first section of the Book of Mormon, made an impression on me this past week. Nephi, the prophet whose record is contained in the book, prays to see the same vision his father saw so that he can understand its meaning. The Lord answers Nephi’s prayer because of his faith and sends an angel to teach him.
The angel teaches Nephi the meaning of his father’s vision, then shows him much more. Nephi, who lives in approximately 600 BC, sees the future ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in Palestine. He also sees the history of the world, specifically the corruption of the pure gospel of Christ in the Dark Ages and its subsequent restoration through Joseph Smith in the 1800’s.
The angel tells Nephi that those who corrupted the doctrine Jesus Christ did so to gain power and praise. It’s so easy to look at the history of man and see exactly that; wars were waged in the name of Christ, kings withheld the Bible from their people in order to more easily repress them, preachers modified the word of God to best serve their own interests, and so on. So many truths that Christ taught were lost. In the angel’s own words, “they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away” (1 Nephi 13:26).
The wonderful thing about the Book of Mormon is that it is proof God has restored these plain and precious truths to His children. It contains prophesies about Christ and testifies of His divinity, His importance to mankind, and His love for us. Even now, in a day when people of faith are scorned and academics make sport of tearing down the Bible, the Book of Mormon is a light upon the hill, a resounding and unwavering call to come unto Christ.
I have come to know Jesus Christ better through the Book of Mormon. With a reference to Him on all but 30 pages, it is absolutely full of information about His doctrine. By studying the Book of Mormon on a daily basis, I have learned that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I have learned that His Atonement (His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross) makes it possible for me to repent and learn from my mistakes. I have learned that He will always give me the strength to do what He asks me to do. Most importantly, I have learned that He loves me more than I can comprehend and wants me to help others come to know that same love.
The Book of Mormon and its teachings about Jesus Christ are such a blessing in my life! Because of what I have learned from it, I have experienced true, lasting happiness.
Article written by Matt K
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