Joseph Smith, the prophet of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, said of the Book of Mormon during a meeting with the twelve apostles:
. . . 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 aiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (History of the Church, 4:461)
While the Bible has been through untold numbers of copyists, translators and corrupt religionists, the Book of Mormon has, according to modern-day prophet Ezra Taft Benson, “gone from writer to reader with one step of inspired translation.”
Contrary to popular belief amongst friends of other faiths, the Book of Mormon is not about worshiping a prophet called Mormon, nor do we worship Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and Redeemer. Ezra Taft Benson told us:
The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion . . . There are three ways in which the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. It is the keystone in our witness of [Jesus] Christ. It is the keystone of our doctrine. It is the keystone of testimony. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon — Keystone of our Religion,” Ensign, Nov 1986 4)
Keystone in our Witness of Jesus Christ: Much of the Christian world denies the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon provides that much needed second witness of His life, His divinity, His Atonement and His resurrection. He is the Son of God, the second member of the Godhead, He is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the resurrected Messiah of the New Testament and the only path by which mankind may be redeemed.
For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:23-26)
Yes, the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ thousands upon thousands of times. We unashamedly testify to the world of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We shout to the world of His divinity, His pure love for mankind, His devotion to His Father and that He stands as the head of this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons.
Keystone of our Doctrine ? Every precious point of doctrine which was removed from the Holy Bible by the aforementioned methods is restored in the Book of Mormon.
Do you wish to learn about receiving answers to prayer? See Moroni 10:3-5.
Do you want to know more about faith and humility? See Alma 32.
Would you like to understand the heart of an ancient prophet? See 2 Nephi 4:15-35.
Would you like to know more of Jesus Christ’s “other sheep have I which are not of this fold . . .?” See 3 Nephi.
Would you like to know more about the proper method of baptism? See Moroni 6.
We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in Heavenly Father. We believe in the Holy Ghost. We believe in eternal life, therefore we believe Jesus Christ greatly suffered the Atonement, died by way of cruel and vicious crucifixion and the arose on the third day in glorious Resurrection. We believe through Jesus Christ all mankind may be redeemed and that eternal life awaits. We believe families are forever. We believe we lived before, that we earned life and through our actions in life may earn an eternal reward.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with hope, love, learning, strength and happiness. All of this is taught and testified of in the Book of Mormon.
President Ezra Taft Benson said,
As mentioned before, the Lord Himself has stated the 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. The Book of Mormon offers so much that broadens our understanding of the doctrines of salvation. Without it, much of what is taught in other scriptures would not be nearly so plain and precious. (Ibid)
Keystone of our Testimony ? What is a testimony? “A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves His children; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth; and that the Church is led by a living prophet today. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel. (Testimony – Gospel Topics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, January 2008)
Truer words have rarely been spoken. My personal testimony of Jesus Christ and His eternal role in the redemption of mankind was strengthened by my study of the Book of Mormon. The more I read, pondered and prayed, the more Jesus Christ became real to me. No longer was He a misty figure in ancient history, but a living, breathing God who descended from on high to save us. The fulness of His gospel, provided in the pages of the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants, have given me hope, strength and the sure knowledge of who I am and where I am headed.
And so I close this post with my testimony. He is Jesus Christ and through Him great and glorious rewards await if we will live by the principles, practices and precepts of His gospel. Through Him and the study of His gospel we learn the marked difference between secret and sacred. For when something is deeply sacred, as are covenants made between us and God, they are not be shouted to the world but held quiet and sure in our hearts as a constant reminder of our promises. In so doing, we live our lives patterned after Jesus Christ.
I testify to you that all the promises of the heavens are held within the gospel of Jesus Christ. Great happiness awaits, your heart will be lifted, your spirit will soar as the heavens are opened and the answers to your prayers will come. Oh life doesn’t become automatically easy, for the stronger you become in the gospel of Jesus Christ the greater the opposition will be, but you stand not alone.
I testify to you that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration, and the man chosen by God to bring about the fulness of His gospel on the earth once again. I testify that the Book of Mormon is a true book of scripture which is a second witness of Jesus Christ and a companion to the Holy Bible. Hope awaits my friends, will you reach for it?
