1. As a companion to the Bible,
the Book of Mormon is a witness of Jesus
Christ’s divinity and His role as the Savior of the world. The Book
of Mormon restores plain and precious truths that have been lost from the
Bible. When we study the Book of Mormon, our understanding of the doctrines in
the Bible is clarified.
Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses,” Ensign
Nov. 2007, 43–46.
Tad R. Callister, “The Book of Mormon—a Book from God,” Ensign
Nov. 2011, 74–76.
2. 2 Nephi
29:3–10 - (especially vs. 8) reasons for providing more than
one book of scripture.
3. “Scriptural witnesses authenticate each
other. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the Book
of Mormon was ‘written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if
ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also’ [Mormon 7:9]. Each book refers to the other.
Each book stands as evidence that God lives and speaks to His children by
revelation to His prophets. “Love for the Book of Mormon expands one’s love for
the Bible and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the
Bible; they complement the Bible” (Nelson)
4. Ezekiel
37:15–19 - How have the scriptures become "one in our
hands?"
5. “The stick or record of Judah … and the
stick or record of Ephraim … are now woven together in such a way that as you
pore over one you are drawn to the other; as you learn from one you are
enlightened by the other. They are indeed one in our hands. Ezekiel’s prophecy
now stands fulfilled.
“With the passing of years, these scriptures will produce
successive generations of faithful Christians who know the Lord Jesus Christ
and are disposed to obey His will. … “… The revelations will be
opened to [new generations] as to no other in the history of the world. Into
their hands now are placed the sticks of Joseph and of Judah. They will develop
a gospel scholarship beyond that which their forebears could achieve. They will
have the testimony that Jesus is the Christ and be competent to proclaim Him
and to defend Him” (BKPacker“Scriptures,” Ensign, Nov.
1982, 53).
8. “I
believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers.
Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests
have committed many errors” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph
Smith[2007], 207). Why was an inspired revision of the
Bible needed?
9. Evidence of STUMBLING in the world
today? How has the Lord overcome this problem?
10.. “The
Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is
this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many
straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The
answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the
Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point
represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those
interpretations represents a different church.
“What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there
is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines
could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of
Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the
testimony of these two witnesses. “Again and again the Book of Mormon acts as a
confirming, clarifying, unifying witness of the doctrines taught in the Bible”
(Callister).
11. In harmony with the biblical law that
“in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be
established”
(2 Corinthians 13:1), both the Book of Mormon and the Bible testify of Jesus Christ and teach the principles of His gospel.
12. The Bible and Book of Mormon teach that God is our Heavenly
Father. As such, He has prepared a “plan of salvation” (Alma 24:14) whereby we may be saved through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ.
13. Loving Father in Heaven- Bible: “For in
him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets
have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28; see also Psalm 82:6; Hebrews 12:9).
14. Bible: “Then shall the dust return to
the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7; see also 1 Peter 3:19–20; 4:6). Book of Mormon: “The spirits of all
men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them
life” (Alma 40:11; see also verses 12–14).
15. Bible: “And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26; see also Ezekiel 37:12;1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:54). Book of Mormon: “I know that ye know
that our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall
see God” (2 Nephi 9:4; see also 2 Nephi 9:12; Alma 11:43–45; 40:23).
16. The Bible teaches that God has given
commandments and will bless us when we obey. Book of Mormon prophets also
recorded and followed the commandments.
17. Bible: “And the Lord commanded us to do
all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he
might preserve us alive. … And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to
do all these commandments” (Deuteronomy 6:24–25; see also Proverbs 4:4; John 14:21). Book of Mormon: “He has promised you
that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he
never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his
commandments he doth bless you and prosper you” (Mosiah 2:22; see also 2 Nephi 1:20).
18. Bible: The Lord revealed the Ten
Commandments to Moses (seeExodus 20:1–17). Book of Mormon: Abinadi taught the Ten
Commandments to the priests of King Noah (see Mosiah
12:33–36; 13:12–24).
19. Bible: “Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house” (Malachi 3:10; see also Leviticus 27:30). Book of Mormon: “It was this same
Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid
tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed” (Alma 13:15; see also3 Nephi 24:8–10).
20. Bible: “Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:36–38). Book of Mormon: “Repent, all ye ends
of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be
sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless
before me at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:20; 2 Nephi 9:23;31:5–9).
21. The Bible and Book of Mormon testify of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and His Atonement. They teach that the Savior
took upon Himself our sins and overcame death.
22. Bible: “For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; Matthew 16:16; John 6:69). Book of Mormon: “I know that Jesus
Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of
grace, and mercy, and truth” (Alma 5:48; see also 1 Nephi 11:16–21; Mosiah 3:5–8).
23. Bible: “For this is my blood of the new
testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28; sHebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 3:18). Book of Mormon: “Behold, he offereth
himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who
have a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (2 Nephi 2:7; 1 Nephi 11:33;Alma 34:8–10; 3 Nephi 11:14).
24. Bible: “Surely he hath borne our
griefs, and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4; Hebrews 2:18). Book of Mormon: “And he shall go
forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; … that he
may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their
infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12; Mosiah 14:3–5).
25. Bible: “But now is Christ risen from
the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians
15:20; John 14:19; Acts 26:23). Book of Mormon: “Believe in Jesus
Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by
the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory
over the grave” (Mormon 7:5; Mosiah 16:7–8; Helaman 14:17).
26. The Lord established His Church in
Jerusalem and in the Americas. The Bible and Book of Mormon are witnesses that
He organizes and leads His people through prophets and apostles.
27. Bible: “Surely the Lord God will do
nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7; see alsoJeremiah 1:7; 7:25). Book of Mormon: “By the Spirit are
all things made known unto the prophets” (1 Nephi 22:2; see also Jacob 4:4–6).
28. Bible: “He called unto him his
disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6:13; Ephesians 2:19–20; 4:11–14). Book of Mormon: “Blessed are ye if ye
shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among
you to minister unto you” (3 Nephi 12:1; see also 1 Nephi 11:29).
29. Bible: “Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16; see also Matthew 16:19;Luke 9:1–2; Hebrews 5:4). Book of Mormon: “[Alma] ordained
priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside
and watch over the church” (Alma 6:1; see also 2 Nephi 6:2; Moroni 3).
30. “Do not trust in yourselves, but study
the best books—the Bible and Book of Mormon—and get all the information you can, and then cleave to God and
keep yourselves free from corruption and pollution of every kind, and the
blessings of the Most High will be with you.” President John Taylor
(1808–87), Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor (2001),
148.
31. “The Book of
Mormon … declares that the Bible is true, and it proves it; and the two prove
each other true.” President Brigham Young (1801–77), Teachings of
Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 121.
32. “In this day when the Bible is being
downgraded by many who have mingled philosophies of the world with Bible
scriptures to nullify their true meaning, how fortunate that our eternal
Heavenly Father, who is always concerned about the spiritual well-being of His
children, has given to us a companion book of scriptures, known as the Book of
Mormon, as a defense for the truths of the Bible that were written and spoken
by the prophets as the Lord directed. …
“… By
this second witness we may know more certainly the meaning of the teachings of
the ancient prophets and, indeed, of the Master and His disciples as they lived
and taught among men. This should inspire all who would be honest seekers after
truth to put these two sacred scriptures together and study them as one book,
understanding, as we do, their true relationship.”
President
Harold B. Lee (1899–1973), Ye Are the Light of the World(1974),
89, 91.
