The Book of Mormon and the Bible

*Warning- this is a long blog, but it has sections. Feel free to read small portions of it if you are short on time.

"What is The Book of Mormon?"

The actual cover of

To answer this question, lets start by figuring out what the Bible is. In The Old Testament, the first five "books" are a record of the days, teachings, and actions of Moses. From then on out, with a few exceptions, each "book" comes from a prophet and his precedings among the people of the European and Asian continents. In fact, most of the "books" are titled after the primary author or prophet. Each book explains the will of God for the people that are being led at that time.

The New Testament starts with four different accounts of the Life of Christ, and the story of the resurrected ministry of Christ, and then Peter's ministry. From then on, each book is an epistle (Letter) to different areas of the Church such as to the people in Rome (Romans) or to the Thessalonians.

The Old Testament was written about the time before Jesus Christ came, and The New Testament was written during and after Christ's Life.

How does all of this help us understand The Book of Mormon?

Prophets in Jerusalem

Jeremiah, a book in The Old Testament, was written to the house of Isreal (The Jews) in Jerusalem. Jeremiah the Prophet told the Jews that they must repent of their sins or else Jerusalem would be destroyed. In fact, in chapter 52, we see that Jeremiah was right, and Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. 

At the same time as Jeremiah  was preaching to all of the Jews, another man named Lehi was also called by God to preach the same words. "For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah ... that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed. Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people." (1 Nephi 1: 4-5 in The Book of Mormon. Page 1 and 2) Nephi, the son of Lehi, then goes on to explain that Lehi was also told to preach repentance, but only for a time. After some time of faithfully declaring repentance to the Jews, Lehi is told by God to leave Jerusalem before it is destroyed.

Lehi and his family

Obeying, Lehi took his family, the family of one other faithful individual, and the scriptures that had been kept up to that time (Most of The Old Testament records) and left into the wilderness. Guided by God, Lehi and his followers eventually came to the Ocean, where through the guidance of God, they made a ship and crossed the Ocean to the Central American Continent. Because they didn't have telephones and instant messaging to keep talking to the prophets in Jerusalem and the land round about, there needed to be prophets to lead these people as well. (This information can be found by reading the first 20 Chapters of the Book of Mormon and asking God if it is true)

That is where the Book of Mormon comes in. The Book of Mormon, just like the Bible, is a record of the Prophets and their dealings with God's Children, except that these prophets lived on the American continent. 

Where is your Proof?

Jesus Christ mentions these people in the Bible. In St. John, Chapter 10 Verse 16, page 1345, Jesus says, "And other Sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (I suppose it is important to mention that I quote the King James Version of the Bible.) Notice, Jesus Christ not only mentions that He has more sheep, but He also says He must bring them. True to his word, after His Resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to the people on the American continent (Known as "Nephites"), and a record of His teachings are stated in 3 Nephi Chapter 11 through Chapter 26 (Starting on page 428 of the Book of Mormon)

What does The Book of Mormon teach?

Jesus being Baptised by John the Baptist

Many of the same things as the Bible! In fact, Nephi quotes Isaiah regularly. The Book of Mormon is just as it states, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" and His teachings. It helps us to solidify exactly what Jesus Christ taught us and affirms that through Jesus Christ's Atoning sacrifice, we can repent and be forgiven of our sins. It also reaffirms the way of Baptism and the necessity for Priesthood authority from God to do so. (Read Chapter 3 of St Matthew to confirm that this is what the bible teaches) The Book of Mormon also answers questions like Where do we come from? Why am I here? and Where are we going after this life?

Where does Joseph Smith come into play?

At the end of The Book of Mormon, the last of the righteous Nephites are forced into hiding and are hunted out by the unrighteous people called the Lamenites. Realizing that the wickedness of the people was not going to be fixed at this time, a prophet by the name of Mormon took the records that had been kept during the time that the Nephites had lived in America and summarized then down and wrote them in a book made of gold plates. Once he finished, he gave them to his son who added a couple more scriptures and promises at the end and then buried the whole book in the side of a hill.

A painting of Joseph's answer

Over 1300 years later, in the year 1820 in upstate New York, a young man by the name of Joseph Smith was trying to figure out which of the many religions was true. unable to do so alone, he turned to the scriptures where he read in James 1:5 on page 1538 of the Bible, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Following this wise council, Joseph went to and knelt in a grove of trees and prayed to God to ask Him what he should do. His miraculous answer is recorded in his own words where he says, "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. one of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other- This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Joseph Smith say God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ! Answering his question, Jesus Christ told Joseph Smith not to join any of the churches, but instead, Joseph was going to restore the true church that Jesus Christ established while he was here on the Earth. To do so, another record was going to be provided to him, one that no man had been able to touch since the time of its writing (The Book of Mormon). This book, along with the Bible, contains the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This kid's got it down!

How can I know this is true?

This is a Journey for me and for you. In no way do I ever want you to just take my word for it! I invite you to obtain a Book of Mormon (This can be done for free at Mormon.org http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon) Read a portion of it, and pray to God to ask him if it is true. God cannot lie, so if we ask in faith, without doubt in His answer, we will receive a gentle witness of the Truthfulness of The Book of Mormon. I know this to be true only because I also have asked God, and I have felt His guiding Spirit testify to my heart that the Book of Mormon truly is His word.

I love you all dearly! I hope that you find peace in the knowledge that God loves all of us! I pray that you find your answers and come to a greater understanding. I bear you my testimony of the Truthfulness of the words I have been guided to speak. If you are reading this, it is because God wants you to know how to find Him! Start looking! I leave that challenge with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.