A Book Brought Forth from Heaven

What is the Book of Mormon? How did it come about? Who gave us the Book of Mormon? Why was the Book of Mormon given to us? These are all great questions to consider.

Since the publication of The Book of Mormon, scholars both LDS and non-LDS have been intrigued by its use of literary devices and the knowledge contained inside its sacred texts. There have been many publishing companies of a high standard that has published the Book of Mormon. Of all of these, there are three worth mentioning,: Yale University Press [1], University of Illinois Press [2], and the Penguin Press[3]. And The Book, filled with deep theological attributes as one scholar notes, filled people with love and joy and is very Christ-centered [4].

What is the Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon is an ancient text that has been passed down from generation from generation. It is the very Word of God. How did the Book of Mormon Come About?

The Book of Mormon was brought to us by a prophet by the name of Joseph Smith, who was seeking answers from God. He was a young farmer at this time, around the age of fourteen years old when he had moved to Manchester, New York with his family, where there was a great deal of religious excitement and religious bigotry. When he received a vision from God and the Son, Jesus Christ, he was mistreated very harshly by his neighboring pastors. After telling people of his vision he writes: “I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me.” [5] At such a young age Joseph received opposition, and this went on until the death of his life.

But before Joseph received and translated the Plates there were many others who had written the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon first came from a prophet by the name of Lehi, who passed it to his son, Nephi, on their journey from the Holy City of Jerusalem to another ground. This happened about 600 years before the Saviors birth. This was passed on from prophet to prophet. It was later assembled together by a prophet named Mormon, a Nephite who lived in the Americas during the 4th century A.D. Mormon created the Book of Mormon by abridging the records of his people as they had been kept from approximately 600 B.C. Before he received the plates, the Books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, Third Nephi, Fourth, and the first seven chapters of Mormon were all written by Mormon.

The Words of Mormon is a short Book written by Mormon that would give a clear narrative of the Small Plates.

The following is a flow chart showing who kept the records and how they were passed on throughout the history of the Book of Mormon. [6]

Why was the Book of Mormon Given to Us? In the introduction of the Book of Mormon, Maroni gives us three main reasons as to why we have the Book of Mormon. 1) To teach us that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God; 2) to teach us of the promises or covenants the Lord has given His children and 3) to teach us about the great blessings and even miracles the Lord has provided for His children. In essence, the Book of Mormon, no matter what the story, will point us to these three things. [7]

Throughout history and throughout time, God has given us prophets and scriptures to guide us through life. He has blessed us and given us freedom to choose for ourselves right from wrong. I know that the Book of Mormon is truly Gods divine Word. It has changed my life greatly and I know that it can change yours as well. If we are willing to follow His commandments we can receive peace and happiness in this life and in the life to come. I want to bear solemn witness to whoever is reading this that the Book of Mormon is God’s inspired work, along with the Holy Bible. They complement each other and complete each other. God works through the Book of Mormon and He works through all of us. I know this to be true and I leave you with my testimony and I say these things in the name of the Holy One, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Notes:

• http://yalepress.yale.edu/book.asp?isbn=9780300142181

• http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/48qrq5ya9780252027970.html

• http://www.penguin.com/book/the-book-of-mormon-by-joseph-b-smith/9780143105534

• Donald W. Parry, "The Book of Mormon," in Susan Easton Black, Expressions of Faith: Testimonies of Latter-day Saint Scholars (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1996), 216–217. Years ago, Susan Easton Black tabulated all of the occurrences of the names and titles of Jesus in the Book of Mormon...According to Black, 101 names or titles of Christ are presented in the Book of Mormon. These include the names/titles Lord God Omnipotent, Redeemer of Israel, Shepherd, and Son of the Living God, each of which is found once in the work. The names/titles Stone, True Messiah, Mighty One of Jacob, and Great Creator are each found twice; the names/titles Holy One of Israel, Lamb of God, Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer, and Messiah each appear 10 or more times; and the names/titles Christ, God, Jesus, Lord, and Lord God are each found at least 100 times in the book. In all, the 101 names/titles of Christ are collectively presented 3,925 times in 6,607 Book of Mormon verses. Black’s tabulation of the names and titles shows that on average, one name or title of Christ appears once every 1.7 verses.

• Joseph Smith-History 1:22

• Thanks for FAIR for providing this image.

• Title page of the Book of Mormon; 2Nephi 6:12; Mosiah 25:7-8

Further Reading and Media A New Day For the Book of Mormon http://www.byutv.org/watch/90be2679-e6eb-4039-afa1-fee5477b0c20/new-day-for-the-book-of-mormon-new-day-for-the-book-of-mormon What is The Book of Mormon?

http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon

Who is This American Prophet? http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/