Mormon Doctrine: The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. After the author, Mormon, completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appreared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language. We invite all people everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on the earth, prepratory to the second coming of the Messiah. "The Book of Mormon is true, just what it purports to be, and for this testimony I expect to give an account in the day of judgement." (Encyclopedia, 86-87) -Joseph Smith, Jr. "I did translate the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God, and it is before the world; and all the powers of earth and hell cannot rob me of it." (Encyclopedia, 92) - Joseph Smith, Jr. The music featured ...