What’s in the Book of Mormon, Anyway?

The Book of Mormon contains the history of the people living in the American continents, beginning at about 600 B.C. and concluding at 400 A.D. These records coincide with the time period of many books in the Bible. The Book of Mormon recounts stories of family strife, missionary work, wars, conversions, and most importantly, the visit of Jesus Christ to the Americas.

Christ’s visit to the Book of Mormon peoples is central to the message of the Book of Mormon. I personally have found great inspiration, comfort, and direction when reading these passages. The doctrine of Jesus Christ transcends all race, creed, and time, and that becomes evident through reading the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon also contains accounts of several wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, the two most prominent groups of people in the Book of Mormon. Through reading about these wars, we can see the impact that faith and obedience have on a group of people, and we can see the devastating and widespread effects of pride and wickedness. Is there any part of this that we can’t relate to today? Our world right now is full of war, greed, and destruction. The Book of Mormon provides the answers we need to bring ourselves back into the light.

The World Needs Another Witness of Christ

The world today seems to be continually moving further and further away from the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Values that used to be common and accepted are now seen as stodgy, out of date, and even intolerant. So many people operate under the delusion that they can be happy and enlightened through solely their own efforts; they think that they don’t need the redemption offered by Christ.

The Bible isn’t strong enough anymore to stand alone as a witness of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is there to add strength to the testament of the Savior. Mormons also have living prophets and apostles who are set apart as special witnesses of Christ. Our world needs many witnesses of Jesus Christ to effectively spread His message.

The Book of Mormon Is for Individuals

This book is not intended just to stand as a witness against the world–it is here for you individually, to help, guide, and comfort you through your journeys and trials. I have read the Book of Mormon through several times, and each time I learn something new. Different chapters and verses shine to me, and the Holy Ghost teaches me and helps me through the adversity I face.

I remember one time in particular when I was facing a situation that greatly affected me, but one over which I had little control. I was distraught; I didn’t know what to do or how to move forward. So I opened my scriptures and started reading in the book of 3 Nephi when Jesus Christ is ministering among the American peoples after His resurrection. I came across this verse: “And Jesus said unto them: Pray on; Nevertheless they did not cease to pray” (19:26). In that moment I knew that God knew me and that He knew my pain. All I could do in that situation was to keep praying, and I felt peace.

You too can find the peace you seek by reading the Book of Mormon. The testimonies of the Savior are powerful and beautiful, and you are invited to develop your own witness of Jesus Christ. (See Moroni 10:3 – 5). The Book of Mormon is meant for our times and for those individuals living in our times; it is meant for you.

Who is King Benjamin in the Mormon book?

Benjamin was the son of Mosiah and father to three sons named Mosiah, Helorum, and Helaman (Mosiah 1:2). Benjamin fought a serious war until peace was established again in the land of Zarahemla (Omni 1:24 & Words of Mormon 1:18).

And it came to pass also that the [enemy] armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people. But behold, king Benjamin gathered together his armies, and he did stand against them; and he did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban. And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance (Words of Mormon 1:13-14).

Benjamin was a righteous king (Words of Mormon 1:17) who served his people instead of using his power as king to obtain riches:

I… have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you; Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery;

…and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day (Mosiah 2:12-14).

His people considered him a great king, leader, and Christ-like example. His son Mosiah (who succeeded him as the next king, as recorded in Mosiah 1:9–18) wrote in the Mormon book:

Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you (Mosiah 29:13).

Who Was The Prophet-King in the Mormon Book?

Not only did King Benjamin rule, love, and protect his people, but he was also called of God. Benjamin was a prophet, who taught his people that God exists, that Christ would come to atone for the sins of men, and of the importance of serving others (Mosiah 1–6). Some of my favorite quotes include:

…when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17).

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; …

… Believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them (Mosiah 4:9-10).

What Can We Learn From King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon?

King Benjamin is known in the Mormon book for holding a conference with church members. In Mosiah 2:1-8, the people gathered to the temple:

…they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.

And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.

The modern prophet (Thomas S. Monson) and his apostles follow King Benjamin’s example and hold a free General Conference semiannually in Utah, which is broadcast worldwide and available both online and in the Liahona and Ensign church magazines. During the conference in October, 2010, Thomas S. Monson (the living prophet today) taught that we should take time to review conference talks:

We could echo the words, found in the Book of Mormon, of those who heard the sermon of the great King Benjamin and “cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent.”

I hope that we will take the time to read the conference talks, which will be reprinted in the November issue of the Ensign and Liahona magazines, for they are deserving of our careful study.

What a blessing it is that we have been able to meet here, in this magnificent Conference Center, in peace and comfort and safety. We have had unprecedented coverage of the conference, reaching across the continents and the oceans to people everywhere (“Till We Meet Again”, Ensign).

Additional Resources:

Read about the Mormon book on the LDS website

Order your free copy of King Benjamin’s words written in The Book of Mormon

Read an article about the Mormon Prohet Abinadi

This article is by no means an exhaustive description of the chapter but briefly touches upon the importance of the teachings taught within The Book of Mormon and a comparison with The Bible. Chapter 17 in 1 Nephi contains a story of faith where the prophet Nephi is commanded by the Lord to build a ship. His brothers don’t believe it’s possible but Nephi follows the Lord’s instructions and builds the ship so that his family can cross the ocean to reach the Promised Land.

As you read this chapter, I invite you to look at the footnotes and other available resources which help one study the scriptures. A modern apostle of Christ, Elder D. Todd Christofferson stated “We should therefore study with these questions in mind: “Why was this included? How does this apply today and to me?” (“How to Study the Book of Mormon,” Liahona, October 2011 )

Comparing The Book of Mormon to The Bible & My Life

I love comparing the similarities and parallels between The Bible and The Book of Mormon because they both contain eternal truths from the same God (Ezekiel 37:16-17). “Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another (2 Nephi 29:8)”.

God us an unchanging being and is the same God in The Book of Mormon as He was in Biblical times. “For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?” (Mormon 9:9) For example, the Lord fed the children of Israel in Moses’ time (Exodus 16:15) but He also blessed Nephi’s family with great blessings in the wilderness such as living upon raw meat and the women bearing healthy children (1 Nephi 17: 1-2, 12).

Nephi “went up into the mountain, and cried unto the lord” (1 Nephi 17:7) for direction in his life and received the answer to build a boat. In the mountains, Adam built an altar and called upon the Lord (Genesis 12:8), the Lord spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12), and Moses received the ten commandments of God (Exodus 19-20). In modern times, we too can pray to God and receive direction and guidance from Him. Worthy members of the Church of Jesus Christ can also enter temples to seek revelation.

I haven’t been instructed to build a boat but God has guided me to attend a school I didn’t plan on attending or move out of the country. I don’t always understand why God may direct me to do something. This is especially hard when it was not my plan or the exact opposite of what I wanted. However, looking back I can see that God has something in mind for me greater than I can imagine and He knows best how to get me there. “After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem. (1 Nephi 17:14) Only after I finished my degree or after I moved back into the country did I understand the invaluable and priceless experiences I had obtained through following God’s plan for me.

Why is this Important?

I know that applying The Book of Mormon to my life has blessed me in many ways. I love searching the scriptures and finding God’s guidance within them as if He was talking directly to me. “In my judgment, diligently searching to discover connections, patterns, and themes is what it means to ‘feast’ upon the words of Christ. This approach can open the floodgates of the spiritual reservoir, enlighten our understanding through His Spirit, and produce a depth of gratitude for the holy scriptures and a degree of spiritual commitment that can be received in no other way. Such searching enables us to build upon the rock of our Redeemer and to withstand the winds of wickedness in these latter days (Bednar, 2011. Increase in learning: Spiritual patterns for obtaining your own answers. Salt Lake City: UT: Deseret Book Company, p. 131).”

Additional Resources:

Do Mormons Believe in the Bible?

Visit this site for a free copy of The Book of Mormon.

Visit this site for a free copy of The Bible.

Brief explanation of The Book of Mormon

Written by Ashley Bell, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon”), graduate of BYU in Recreation Management, wife and expectant mother residing in Taylorsville, Utah.

Tyler and I are 22 and 23 years old, and we found out this past month that we will be the parents of a future stripling warrior this coming June! Those ultrasound pictures are now treasures for us. On the last still image he was even giving a total thumbs up, as if to say “I’m excited to come, and we’re going to have fun!”

So what is a young couple like us supposed to do with the realization that we are actually going to be parents? We are so excited for it, and it seems like all fun and games, but in reality, the responsibility to parent is great. Luckily, both Tyler and I have had great examples of goodly parents and so we can learn from their good doings; but at the same time our son’s grandparents aren’t going to be raising him… we are!
We Are Never Alone

The beautiful thing about parentage is that we don’t have to do it alone. God gave men and women specific attributes to help in the raising process. Not every family gets the chance to have a mother and father in the home, but in these situations I really do believe that the Lord makes up the rest if the parent rearing the child asks in faith with a believing heart.

Since we don’t have to do it alone, how can we do it together? Well, Tyler and I found comfort from the scriptures by the example of the parents to the young Stripling Warriors; whose story can be found in the Book of Mormon.Their dad’s had repented of their old ways and had covenanted that they would not take up arms again to fight; so what happened was that when a war broke out, they sent their sons to go in the stead!  Their father’s ability keep their covenants shows they put God first and that they diligently presided in their homes. They were fulfilling their role as a good husband and father by keeping their covenants. Now is this all that they did? No. In Alma 56:27 we read that while their sons were off to fight for the liberty of their families, “there was brought unto [them] many provisions from [their] fathers!” This sounds an awful lot like providing and protecting if you ask me. If you are familiar with this story then you know that these young sons also “did not fear death” and they attributed this faith to their mothers by saying, “we do not doubt our mothers knew it” (see Alma 56:47-48). It is obvious here that their mothers were faith-filled women who knew how to nurture, something that these young sons desperately needed throughout their lives in order for them to stand ready when the call arose.

Now what stood out to me here was the fact that the mothers and fathers played different roles in this situation—and yet both were vital! The fathers did preside, provide and protect. And the mothers did indeed nurture. These roles can also be found in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, which was given to us by modern day prophets. Yet again Tyler and I were comforted by the Holy Ghost that even though we are young and inexperienced we can still raise a valiant stripling warrior of the latter days if we but hearken to the scriptures and to the voice of modern day prophets.

Just last night Tyler shared with me a quote from a modern day prophet, Elder Robert D. Hales, that can be applied to parents everywhere throughout the world. The words hold power, “Parents are never failures when they do their best to love, teach, pray, and care for their children” (CR, April 2004). I know we will make mistakes, but the bottom line is, if we do our best to fill our divine roles as parents, we cannot fail.

Additional References: 

Learn more about divine parental roles in The Family: A Proclamation to the World

How the Book of Mormon can help answer life’s questions

Request a free Book of Mormon

Book of Mormon & Holy Bible:  

Activity Day Girls (Latter-day Saint Youth) Search the Scriptures for Answers to Life’s Questions

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths, The Mormon Church) each serve within the Church today just as the Saints in the meridian of time did during Christ’s ministry. Latter-day Saints are likewise called of God through inspiration, and are set apart to their respective callings.

Currently, I have a spiritual responsibility–or inspired calling–in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  to support family and Church efforts to teach the gospel to young girls between the ages of eight and twelve years old, and to help them see the hand of the Lord in their lives as they apply its amazing precepts and discover their missions to know and to glorify Him.

These are very formative years and these girls come from a diversity of Latter-day Saint (nicknamed “Mormon”) families.  I’ve grown to love them as we have met bi-weekly to share everything from cultural arts’ nights, microwave-cake-cooking demos, mini-talent shows to intimate conversations about the Savior, Jesus Christ, eternal marriage, motherhood, real beauty and spiritual makeovers, loyalty in friendship, and more.

Together we have experienced and shared babysitting; caroling; serving the needy; making sandwich wraps; weaving bracelets; praying with and for one another; learning etiquette; diving into the scriptures and diving into the pool; using telescopic lenses to observe the sun (while discussing the “Son”, the Light of the World); attending patriotic concerts; writing letters of gratitude…. We’ve enjoyed making a Sweetheart’s dinner for our Bishopric (lay leaders of our ward or congregation, called of God, consisting of a Bishop, overseer or pastor, and his two counselors) and their spouses, visiting holy LDS temples, taking photos together, stuffing s’mores down, baking cookies for unexpected deliveries, learning chinese jumprope, sharing testimonies, and many other activities–building unity, life-skills and a love for gospel living.

Yesterday, my co-leader and friend, Teresa, and the girls gathered in our local clubhouse for our meeting. Our theme was Digging for Gold: Treasures in The Book of Mormon and The Bible.  After the rounds of hugs, news minutes and highlights, prayer and catch-up, the girls and us settled into a circular gathering on the couches and floor.  We talked about the everyday challenges and questions that surface in their lives–Math, homework, confronting bullies, having confidence, learning to balance (swim meets, karate, school, Church, homework, their Faith in God program wherein they grow spiritually by studying, reading scriptures, praying, serving), etc..  Then, we testified that what matters to us matters to the Lord, citing a recent story shared in a General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ just a few days before (This LDS or Mormon Conference is magnificent global gathering of members and friends of all faiths who are interested to hear the words of living prophet and apostles, and other inspired Church leaders, male and female).

The LDS (“Mormon”) General Conference story referenced was of a tired man biking home, hungry and with little in his pocket; he asked the Lord if he might find a quarter that he might eat something and arrive home pleasantly to meet the needs of  his loved ones there. Submissively, he waited on the Lord, and was willing to accept a “Yes” or a “No” in response to his specific request.  Just as he arrived at the door of Kentucky Fried, and directly across on the road, his eyes caught sight of a quarter. He picked up the coin and was able to purchase, as he tells the story, one piece of chicken, which he gratefully and slowly savored. In similar fashion, we bore witness to these sweet LDS girls, that Heavenly Father knew each of their hearts and concerns and would respond to their prayers. One way they would receive such answers, we testified, would be as they dug for gold in His word–a virtual spiritual treasury filled with “precious jewels of truth” as Elder Scott, apostle of Jesus Christ, declared recently.

Next, Teresa and I shared passages–real flecks of gold, real nuggets, from The Book of Mormon and The Holy Bible that opened our eyes and helped us deal with real life issues. Teresa spoke of the principle of “fleeing” when peer pressure becomes great, just as Joseph in Egypt did, rather than lingering to see the outcomes when we are placed in situations that are compromising us spiritually or emotionally.

We shared a few other personal examples from the Word–including The Bible and The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  I mentioned that the Lord can even address a snowstorm concern in His word!  Who would have thought we’d even find that word in the scriptures!  He knows all, even something as simple as my wonderment while sitting on my bed waiting for a family member to return home in a blizzard; this loved one was coming through an area where an accident, mentioned on the news, had just occurred, involving scores of cars.  I prayed for peace and then happened to pick up the set of scriptures close by, on the nightstand. I flipped open to a verse in Proverbs about a virtuous woman –the words struck me unexpectedly–didn’t I already have this chapter memorized?–how had I missed this verse?–

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household.

“If the Lord would find a way to answer that question for me,” I testified, “He will do the same for each of you.” “And how much more will He provide for larger questions about life, about God, about bearing and balancing your demands? ”  I spoke of their homework, their desires to balance, the stresses of school, and asked if that was unlike The Book of Mormon passage that described others who had “burdens on their backs” (Mosiah 24:14). There’s more to the backpack than papers; there are expectations, challenging classes, desires to learn what our talents are, how we might use them.  We then expounded that scripture–what did the Lord do for those so burdened in ancient America?  He “eased the burdens on their back” so that they could not feel them.  Surely this was a delectable nugget that the girls could take in, enjoy, and hold onto in their lives. He cares about their burdens, their spiritual and physical backpacks.

We were now ready for an exercise in faith. We invited each girl–Megan, Amelia, Ahlia, Sadie, KK, Mia, Sarah, Camree, and Julia–to think of a question they had for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Each came up with their own. I marveled as I heard these young girls share their questions:

Why is there a living prophet?

Did Jesus Christ die again after His resurrection? Or was that the last time?

Are there more scriptures that were written besides The Bible and Book of Mormon?

How can I increase my confidence?

Was Lehi the only one who partook of the fruit of the tree in his vision of the Tree of Life?

How many years did the Savior live?

We guided each girl to the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and Book of Mormon Index. They prayed that Heavenly Father would help them unlock their treasures, help them find the gold nuggets, tailored for them. They searched as we assisted. They read various passages and within twenty minutes or so of engaging in this exercise, each girl had received a personal answer from the scriptures to her question.

We went around the circle, and each one shared their responses, citing a scripture that had now become their own treasure. The words of the living apostle of Jesus Christ, Elder Richard Scott in  the October 2011 LDS (Mormon) General Conference witnessing that the scriptures can be and are the repository of verses that will become our treasured and “enduring friends,” spiritual gold that will not fade or “be weakened with the passage of time,” had been borne out in a cozy clubhouse room with a group of wonderful 9-12-year old girls known by God and Jesus Christ.

We love you, girls. We love you, Jesus Christ. We invite all who read this to seek His Word and to come unto Him, and to learn about His re-established Church.

Additional Resources:

Find out for yourself if The Book of Mormon is true.

Request a free copy of The Book of Mormon.

by Eric Kotter, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon”), Eric is a student at BYU-Idaho studying communications.

The Book of Mormon is a volume of ancient scripture which testifies of Jesus Christ’s teachings. It is an account of Christ’s words as given to ancient prophets who lived on the American continent. The Lord spoke to these prophets just as He did to Moses, Abraham, or other Biblical prophets.

I grew up learning about the Book of Mormon, its stories, teachings and revelations such as; Lehi’s dream, Nephi and the Brass Plates, the miracle conversion of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah, stories about an ancient civilization in the Americas, the poignant writings of the prophet Moroni, and much more.  Most importantly, interwoven throughout the Book of Mormon we learn that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer and Savior of the world.  That through Him and by Him, we can be reunited with our loved ones after we die, and we can have the opportunity to live with our Father in Heaven again, to live for all eternity.  Through Jesus Christ, each of us has the opportunity to gain exaltation.

As a child I believed the book to be true because this is what my wonderful parents and church leaders taught me.  At some point though, I had to receive my own testimony of the divinity of this book.  I do not remember this happening all at once.  My faith and testimony in the Book of Mormon came about in different ways, in various degrees and at different times throughout my life.  Time and again I have received a witness of the truthfulness of the book through the Spirit of the Lord.

Regarding the prophet Joseph Smith, who translated the Book of Mormon, I remember a visit to Carthage Jail in the winter of 1995.  My immediate family and I were visiting extended family in Missouri at the time.  My husband, my sister Wendy and I took a day trip to Nauvoo, Illinois.  The historical grounds look beautiful under the blanket of snow.  It was cold, yet still and peaceful.  We could see our breath as we walked on these beautiful and historical grounds.  I was surprised at the experience I had within the very room Joseph Smith was shot which led to his martyrdom.  As we stood there in that room, the guide pushed the button that began the audio recording, a re-creation of those final moments of the prophet’s life.  John Taylor was singing one of Joseph’s favorite hymns, “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.”  I fully expected to feel sadness and perhaps even some bitterness.  To my surprise, I felt peaceful and had an overwhelming feeling of love for Joseph Smith and his brother.  What was more astonishing was a strong feeling of love and forgiveness for those who killed the prophet and his brother.  It was as if Joseph had not only forgiven them, he loved them with all of his heart.  That was the impression I received.   There was no logical reason for me to come into this place and have those impressions about those who killed a prophet of God.  These feelings did not come from my own heart, my own mind.  They came from the spirit of God.  It was a strong witness to me of the truthfulness that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet of God.  This experience strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon.

If someone were to ask me how the Book of Mormon has blessed my life, I would tell them that reading and pondering the words have calmed my troubled soul, brought answers to my questions and have helped me put my life into perspective.  I cannot stress this enough.  Even better, I have found that living the teachings of Jesus Christ and other prophets in the Book of Mormon has blessed me (and those I love) beyond words.  Supping from these Holy Scriptures is akin to finding the miracle cure to cancer, spiritually speaking.  Miracles have come to pass.  They are occurring right now.  They will continue to do so.  To read testimonies by other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, regarding the Book of Mormon and other gospel principles, go to www.mormon.org.  I testify of these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Get a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

Examples in the Book of Mormon do not stand alone. There are several very clear and parallel examples of fathers in The Bible and in the Doctrine and Covenants (modern scriptural record) who deviated from paternal responsibilities. Eli, the priest who raised Samuel, comes to mind, as one who stood by silently as he sons engaged in wickedness. The scriptures record that it fell upon a young Samuel to pass the Lord’s message to his mentor: “In that day will I perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house . . . For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not” (1 Samuel 3:12-13). There are more modern examples of the Lord chastising other fathers, including at one time the entire First Presidency and the Bishop of the early Church (D&C 93:40-50).

The Book of Mormon offers additional insight into fatherhood. In fact, it does more than any other body of scripture. It is the perfect guidebook to men, who – in today’s world – want to become better fathers.

Nephi was “born of goodly parents” (1 Nephi 1:1). Surely, one of the ways his father was “goodly” was by instilling in his son a testimony: “I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father” (1 Ne. 2:16; emphasis added). And we are all familiar with Lehi’s desires for the salvation of his two oldest sons, Laman and Lemeul, exhorting “them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words” (1 Nephi 8:37).

Unfortunately, “tenderness” did not seem to always work with Laman and Lemeul. And, so, in verse after verse in 2 Nephi, chapter 1, Lehi repeatedly admonishes his sons to repent with strong language. Just one example will suffice: “Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound” (2 Nephi 1:23).

Jacob followed the example of his father in teaching the gospel to his children. The words of Enos give us a glimpse of Jacob’s role as a father: “Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk keep into my heart (Enos 1:3; emphasis added). While growing up Enos probably did not act like he was listening to or watching his father. But he was – and that made all the difference.

King Benjamin bore testimony to his sons before his bore testimony to his people: “O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. . . . I would that ye should search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby . . . . And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons” (Mosiah 1:6-8). What did King Mosiah think about his father? He thought he was awesome: “[I]f ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you” (Mosiah 29:13).

The most poignant example perhaps in the entire Book of Mormon is from the Alma the Elder and Alma the Younger. Alma the Elder, who for a period of time did “many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord,” later repented and helped convert many hundreds of Nephites (Mosiah 23:9). On the surface, it appears that he was unable to reach his oldest son, Alma the Younger, and that the angel was brought in to do the job that the father could not. But a deeper look reveals a different answer. Alma the Younger later relates to one of his own sons what happened after the angel departed: “[A]s I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sons of the world” (Alma 36:17; emphasis added).

Like Enos, it was the words of Alma the Younger’s father etched in his memory that gave him the faith sufficient to repent and partake of the atonement. Later, Alma the Younger spent considerable time talking to his three sons, Helaman, Shiblon and Corianton – especially Corianton, who must have reminded Alma the Younger of himself (and his father). He did so out of love and because the Spirit of the Lord thus commanded him (Alma 39:12).

The examples continue. In the book of Helaman, Helaman names his two sons Nephi and Lehi after the first prophets of the Book of Mormon and exhorts them to keep the commandments of God. Helaman’s talk with his sons produces perhaps one of the most memorable verses of the Book of Mormon: “And now, my sons, remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:12). And perhaps, equally important, is the response of his sons: “And they did remember his words” (Helaman 5:14).

The ultimate example of a father and son comes in 3 Nephi, which teaches us about the intimate and eternal relationship of the Father and the Son (3 Nephi 11:11 (“I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father has given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.”). Then, talking especially to the fathers in the “multitude” he taught this simple principle, among many others: “Pray in your families unto the Father, in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed” (3 Nephi 18:21; emphasis added). Jesus showed, by example, how to pray to his Father for others in a beautiful series of prayers in 3 Nephi 19.

Little is known about Mormon’s relationship with his father, although we do know that his name was Mormon as well and they were “pure descendants” from Lehi (Mormon 1:5 and 3 Nephi 5:20). But much is written about Mormon’s own relationship with his son, Moroni. Though the two apparently were not around each other very much—Mormon mostly communicated with Moroni through letters from the “front lines”—the exchanges were always tender and loving. One example, which follows the commandment Jesus gave to fathers to pray for their children, suffices: “My beloved son, Moroni . . . I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end” (Moroni 8:3).

And the love was reciprocated. After all, in his declining years when he “wandered” for the “safety of [his] own life,” Moroni kept his father’s letters in his possession and added them to the Book of Mormon after he “had supposed not to have written any more.” (Moroni 1:4.)

It was a loving and lasting testament to the book his father compiled that “was written for us today” (The Book of Mormon is the Word of God, Ensign, May 1975, 63).

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11And the angel spake more things unto me, which were heard by my brethren, but I did not hear them; for when I heard the words—If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God—I was struck with such great fear and amazement lest perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the earth and I did hear no more.

12But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.

Alma, a young man written about in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ, underwent a transformation of soul. For anyone who feels beyond the pale of help, or knows their resources to be finite and ended, this story may bring hope. It is a second witness to like accounts in the Bible, but took place on this continent, many years ago. A prophet in our day describes Alma’s wrestle and ultimate submission to God:

Young Alma was so deep in his sin that it was most difficult for him to humble himself toward repentance, but when his experiences broke down his resistance, softened his rebellion and overcame his stubbornness, he began to see himself in his true light and appraise his situation as it really was. His hard heart was softened. His repentance was being born. Listen to his words of confession. Though these words of Alma are used in this book in connection with other phases of the gospel, they are repeated here as an indication of conviction of guilt: [Alma 36:12–16.] Conviction brought ‘sorrow to repentance’ (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 157–58).

Alma’s life was forever changed. His despair turned to joy, “as exceeding as was [his] pain,” the account reads.  He spent the remainder of his life in valiant service to the Lord.