Teachings and Doctrines of the Book
of Mormon -A
“The Book of Mormon
was written for our day. … Not only should we know what history and
faith-promoting stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings. If
we really do our homework and approach the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we can
expose the errors and find the truths to combat many of the current false
theories and philosophies of men” (ETBenson, Ensign, Dec. 1988, 4).
“Whereas reading a
book of scripture from beginning to end provides a basic breadth of knowledge,
studying by topic increases the depth of our knowledge. Searching in the
revelations for connections, patterns, and themes builds upon and adds to our
spiritual knowledge … ; it broadens our perspective and understanding
of the plan of salvation. In my judgment, diligently searching to discover
connections, patterns, and themes is part of 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”
(David A. Bednar, BYU fireside, Feb. 4, 2007)
The Book of Mormon has been translated in its
entirety into 92 languages. Portions of the book have been translated into
another 24 languages or The Book of
Mormon has been published in its entirety in 82 languages, with selections of
the book available in an additional 25 languages. By 1990 the 50 millionth copy
had been printed for distribution by members and missionaries. That number
doubled by 2000, with the Church printing an average of one copy every seven seconds
over the next decade—a rate the Church has sustained to reach the projected 150
million by 2011. The majority of the printing is done in Salt Lake City, Utah,
USA, but presses in Brazil, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are also used.
About 5,000,000 are currently distributed each year.
Assigned Readings before our
first class: •
1 Nephi 6:4
(The fulness of Nephi's intent); 13:35-41(Book
of Mormon testifies of truthfulness of Bible);2 Nephi 11:2–3
(Words of Jacob & Isaiah are proof of truthfulness of Nephi's words); 25:17–18,
23 (Book of Mormon given to convince that Jesus is the Messiah); 33:1–2, 4–5, 10–11
(If we believe in Christ, we will believe the Book of Mormon);Jacob 1:7–8 ;
7:11 (None of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken
concerning this Christ); Alma 33:22–23
(An invitation to plant the word in our hearts); Mormon 1:15
(Mormon at age 15 was visited of Jesus); 3:20–22
(Mormon writes that we may believe & the Jews may have another witness); Ether
12:38–39, 41 (Moroni saw Jesus and he invites us to seek Him.) Isaiah
29:9–18; 29:6–9; D&C
1:17–29
“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” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon).
Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Testimony Vibrant
and True, ”Ensign, Aug.
2005, 2–6. (Challenge to read by year's end, PPP and the Book of Mormon)
The Book of Mormon contains approximately one hundred
different names and titles that describe Jesus. Each of these has a different
meaning or shade of meaning from the others. For example, he is called the Son
of God, the Creator, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Advocate, the Shepherd, the
Judge, the Holy One of Israel, the Great Spirit, the Redeemer, the Omnipotent,
the Father, the Rock, the True Vine, the Law, and so on. I have mentioned only
fifteen—about 15 percent of the total.
Because of its richness, the Book of Mormon plays a
virtual symphony about Jesus. It tells a great variety of things. the Book of
Mormon one of the greatest witnesses and records of Jesus Christ that can be
found anywhere in the world. It truly is another witness, bearing record of who
he is, what he said, what he did, why he did it, and why it is important. All
of these things, including his second coming, are carefully documented,
outlined, specified, and clarified in the pages of the Book of Mormon. It is a
spiritual, Christ-centered symphony. The Book of Mormon contains 6580 verses
and 3471 references to the Savior. Of the 239 chapters in the Book of Mormon,
only 6 do not contain some direct reference to the Savior. Some form of the Lord's name mentioned an
average of every 1.7 verses in the Book of
Mormon.
There are at least three major reasons for reading the
Book of Mormon: (1) to get the general story, (2) to absorb what it says about
Jesus, and (3) to learn the other gospel principles contained in it.
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft
Benson, (2014), 125–35
“Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to
draw nearer to God? … If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more
than any other book.”
On January 5, 1986, President Ezra Taft Benson presided
at a stake conference in Annandale, Virginia—his first stake conference as
President of the Church. Latter-day Saints in attendance were “visibly moved”
as they listened to him speak. In his sermon, “he bore testimony of the power
of the Book of Mormon to change lives and
lead people to Christ.” He issued a “spirited challenge [to] study this book of
scripture.”
As President of the Church, he was inspired to emphasize
the message even more. He said: “The Lord inspired His servant Lorenzo Snow to
reemphasize the principle of tithing to
redeem the Church from financial bondage. … Now, in our day, the Lord has
revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon.” President Benson
testified of the Book of Mormon wherever he went: in missionary meetings, stake
and regional conferences, general conferences, and meetings with General
Authorities.4
In his first general conference address as President of
the Church, President Benson shared one reason for the urgency of this message.
“Unless we read the Book of Mormon and give heed
to its teachings,” he warned, “the Lord has stated in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants that the whole
Church is under condemnation: ‘And this condemnation resteth upon the
children of Zion, even all’ [D&C 84:56]. The Lord continues: ‘And
they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the
new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have
given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written’
[D&C 84:57].”
The following quotations, all from sermons President
Benson delivered as President of the Church, provide a sampling of his warnings
and promises related to the Book of Mormon:
“Now we not only need to say more about
the Book of Mormon, but we need to do more with it. Why? The
Lord answers: ‘That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom;
otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the
children of Zion’ [D&C 84:58]. We have felt that scourge
and judgment!
“… The Book
of Mormon has not been, nor is it yet, the center of our personal study, family teaching, preaching, and missionary work. Of this we must repent.”
“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. … Our missionaries are not as effective unless they are
[teaching] 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.”
“I bless you with
increased understanding of the Book of Mormon. I promise you that from this
moment forward, if we will daily sup from its pages and abide by its precepts,
God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church a blessing hitherto
unknown—and we will plead to the Lord that He will begin to lift the
condemnation—the scourge and judgment. Of this I bear solemn witness.”
“I do not know
fully why God has preserved my life to this age, but I do know this: That for
the present hour He has revealed to me the absolute need for us to move the
Book of Mormon forward now in a marvelous manner. You must help with this
burden and with this blessing which He has placed on the whole Church, even all
the children of Zion.
“Moses never entered the promised
land. Joseph Smith never saw Zion redeemed. Some
of us may not live long enough to see the day when the Book of Mormon floods
the earth and when the Lord lifts His condemnation. (See D&C 84:54–58.) But, God willing, I
intend to spend all my remaining days in that glorious effort.”
Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly of
the importance of this book of scripture than what the Lord Himself has said
about it.
By His own mouth He has borne witness (1) that it is true (D&C 17:6), (2) that it contains the truth and
His words (D&C
19:26), (3) that it
was translated by power from on high (D&C 20:8), (4) that it contains the fulness of
the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:9; 42:12), (5) that it was given by
inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angels (D&C
20:10), (6) that it
gives evidence that the holy scriptures are true (D&C
20:11), and (7) that
those who receive it in faith shall receive eternal life (D&C
20:14).
The Book
of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and brings us nearer to
God.
The major mission of the Book of Mormon, as recorded on
its title page, is “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the
Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”
The honest seeker after truth can gain the testimony that
Jesus is the Christ as he prayerfully ponders the inspired words of the Book of
Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of
Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears
witness of His reality with power and clarity. Unlike the Bible, which passed
through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who
tampered with the text, the Book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just
one inspired step of translation. Therefore, its testimony of the Master is
clear, undiluted, and full of power. But it does even more. Much of the Christian world
today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth,
His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and
unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the
most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly, this
divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus
is the Christ.
In the Book of Mormon, the testimony of Jesus Christ is
“clear, undiluted, and full of power.”
The Prophet Joseph Smith … 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]. …
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. …
Our beloved brother, President Marion G. Romney, …
who knows of himself of the power that resides in this book, testified of the
blessings that can come into the lives of those who will read and study the
Book of Mormon. He said:
“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” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).
The Book of Mormon teaches true doctrine, confounds false
doctrine, and exposes the enemies of Christ.
The Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon
contains the “fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:9). That does not mean it
contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in
the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our
salvation. And they are taught plainly and simply so that even children can
learn the ways of salvation and exaltation. The Book of Mormon offers so much
that broadens our understandings of the doctrines of salvation. Without it,
much of what is taught in other scriptures would not be nearly so plain and
precious.
As far as preaching the gospel is concerned, the Book of
Mormon contains the clearest, most concise, and complete explanation. There is
no other record to compare with it. In what record do you get such a complete
understanding of the nature of the Fall, the nature of physical and spiritual
death, the doctrine of the Atonement, the doctrine of justice and mercy as it
relates to the Atonement, and the principles and ordinances of the gospel? The
Book of Mormon contains the most comprehensive account of these fundamental
doctrines.
The Book of Mormon … verifies and clarifies the Bible. It
removes stumbling blocks, it restores many plain and precious things. We
testify that when used together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon confound
false doctrines, lay down contentions, and establish peace. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.)18
We … should know the Book of Mormon better than any other
book. Not only should we know what history and faith-promoting stories it
contains, but we should understand its teachings. If we really do our homework
and approach the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we can expose the errors and find
the truths to combat many of the current false theories and philosophies of
men.
I have noted within the Church a difference in
discernment, insight, conviction, and spirit between those who know and love
the Book of Mormon and those who do not. That book is a great sifter.
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.
The Doctrine and Covenants is the binding link between
the Book of Mormon and the continuing work of the Restoration.
I would like to speak particularly about the Book of
Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. These two great books of latter-day
scripture are bound together as revelations from Israel’s God for the purpose
of gathering and preparing His people for the second coming of the Lord. …
Each of these two great latter-day scriptures bears
powerful and eloquent witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Virtually every page of
both the Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon teaches about the
Master—His great love for His children and His atoning sacrifice—and teaches us
how to live so that we can return to Him and our Heavenly Father.
Each of these two great latter-day books of scripture
contains the knowledge and the power to help us live better lives in a time of
great wickedness and evil. Those who carefully and prayerfully search the pages
of these books will find comfort, counsel, guidance, and the quiet power to
improve their lives.
The Doctrine and Covenants is the binding link between
the Book of Mormon and the continuing work of the Restoration through the
Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors.
In the Doctrine and Covenants we learn of temple work,
eternal families, the degrees of glory, Church organization, and many other
great truths of the Restoration. …
The Book of Mormon is the “keystone” of our religion, and
the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter-day
revelation. The Lord has placed His stamp of approval on both the keystone and
the capstone.
“I have read
[the Book of Mormon] 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” (Russell
M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1999, 69).
“[We] must choose to open our
hearts to the divine reality of the Savior. … God does not force us to believe.
Instead He invites us to believe by sending living prophets and apostles to
teach us, by providing scriptures, and by beckoning to us through His Spirit. …
The decision to believe is the most important choice we ever make. It shapes
all our other decisions” (L. Whitney Clayton, Ensign May 2015, 38).
4 Major writers in the Book
of Mormon
|
Writer
|
Experience
|
Purpose
|
|
1. Nephi
|
2 Nephi 11:2- Isaiah & I have seen Jesus
|
1 Nephi 6:4-Persuade men to come to Christ
|
|
2. Jacob
|
2 Nephi 11:3-Jacob has seen Jesus
|
Jacob 1:7-8-Persuade all to come to Christ
|
|
3. Mormon
|
Mormon 1:15- Visited of the Lord
|
Mormon 3:20-22-Persuade all to repent & prepare to
stand before the judgment seat.
|
|
4. Moroni
|
Ether 12:38-39-Saw & talked to Jesus
|
Ether 12:41-Commend us to seek Jesus
|
Worthy Fathers, Worthy Sons, CR, Oct, 1985, Ezra Taft
Benson
