Since Joseph Smith, Jr. translated and published the Book of Mormon in 1830, a great hue and cry arose across the world and it has not lessened. As a second testament of Jesus Christ it is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas.
It does not threaten or replace the Bible. It a companion and witness to the Bible.
The very first page of the Book of Mormon, known as the Title Page reads:
Wherefore, it is an abridgment of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile — Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation — Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed — To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof — Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile — The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven — Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever — And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL God, manifesting himself unto all nations — And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.
First English edition published in 1830
What in that could ever be threatening to any Christian? It is a powerful testament of Jesus Christ.
In that day, the Lord knew that people would need more than Joseph Smith’s word that the plates of gold did indeed exist. And so he gave permission to three men, and eventually eight more men who all held and examined these plates.
Testimony of the Three Witnesses and Testimony of the Eight Witnesses . . . Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come . . .
The Testimony of Joseph Smith, Jr. ? “On the evening of the . . . twenty-first of September [1823] . . . I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God . . . .
Within the pages of the Book of Mormon you will not only find this witness of Jesus Christ as the Eternal God, but you will also find the plain and precious truths removed from the Bible through the centuries of mistranslation and wickedness. I testify to the truthfulness and validity of the Book of Mormon. Within these pages you will find the answers you have long sought.
Moroni, the last prophet to write in the Book of Mormon, was at war and facing the extinction of his people due to their slothfulness and wickedness. He wrote,
1 Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.
2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.
4 Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord.
This Moroni, who wrote these words between 400 and 421 A.D., is the angel who appeared to Joseph Smith to deliver the location of the ancient records which he had written and carried with him until he buried them in that mountainside, which location was hidden by God until September 21, 1823.
In the very last chapter of this ancient book of scripture, Moroni beseeches all readers of the Book of Mormon:
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
I took Moroni up on his promise and I know the Book of Mormon was written and preserved for us in this latter day. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God. I know the writers of the Book of Mormon were inspired men who faithfully recorded the revelations given them by God and because of them we now have this second witness of Christ (Ezekiel 37: 16 and 19).
You may request a free copy of the Book of Mormon here.
You may request a free copy of the Holy Bible, King James version here.
