What's In It For Me?

     Most people that I have asked, "How do you feel when you read the Bible?" say that they feel calm and peaceful while reading. That is honestly one of the biggest reasons people read from the Bible is to ease a troubled mind. The Book of Mormon acts as the same antidote in bringing peace into the mind. It is almost like having a big answer book to all of life's challenges and tribulations. I have had so many of my own questions in life answered during my studies of this book. Each and every one of us is different, with different concerns, worries, struggles, ect.  We all have deep unmet needs that in actuality, help shape who we are in our lives. Some of us struggle with pride and therefore, we have a hard time being open to new ideas and concepts. Especially when our ideas and concepts are so much better, right!? Some of us struggle with addictions or behaviors that are degrading to our body and spirit. Others may say that they have no problems and don't need help.

     The great thing about the Book of Mormon is that it's free, nothing is free anymore especially when it involves getting help with something. It is also private and personal. It truly does answer the great questions of the soul!

*Where did we come from?

*What is my purpose in life?

*Where are we going when we die?
*How can my family find peace and happiness in a world of changing moral and values?
*How can I strengthen my relationship with my spouse?
*What does Jesus Christ expect of me?
*Does my infant need to be baptized?
*How can a belief in Jesus Christ help me?
*Does God care about me personally?
     These are just a few deep questions that i have had in my own life and have had others ask me. They truely can and will be anwered by reading and studying from the Book of Mormon. It doesn't require your check book, or making an appointment. Rather it just requires a desire and a little faith.
     I think one of the greatest things the Book of Mormon has done for me, is given me a sense of hope in a world of decaying morals and values. This video is a great message about hope in this life despite the trials and tribulations that we are faced with in our everyday lives.

The Coming Forth of The Book of Mormon

     After Joseph Smith was called to be a Prophet and restore Christ's Church to the Earth, God knew that many would not believe his claim to have seen a vision and or to have been called of God. It was wisdom in God to provide proof of his Joseph's divine calling. The evidence that he gave Joseph was the Book of Mormon.
     The Book of Mormon actually starts out in Jerusalem about 600 years before Christ. There was a man named Lehi living there with his family. Lehi was a prophet of God proclaiming repentace just as all prophets do, and experienced much rejection due to the wickedness of the people. His life was in danger and so God commanded that he take his family and travel into the wilderness. His youngest son Nephi makes a kind of journal out of golden plates. It goes on to give a history of Lehi and his people for about 1,000 years. In that history is contained many trials and tribulations that the people went through and also their dealings with God and many revealations. The record was past down from generation to generation each prophet gives an accounting of there teachings and dealings with God. About 400 years after the death of Christ, the people were getting so wicked that they were at war with one another and all of the righteous had been slain except for one man, his name was Moroni. He witnessed the distruction of his entire nation because of wickedness and now he was alone and was in danger constantly of being hunted by his enemies and being destroyed. It was his duty to keep the plates safe from the hands of his wicked enemies. After he had given a record of him and his people he was commanded by God to bury the record in the earth so that it would be preserved.

     Hundreds of years later when Joseph was called to the prophetic ministry, he was led to where golden plates were buried. He was commanded by God to translate the plates because they were in the ancient language of reformed egyptian. Through the gift and power of God, he translated them into english.

In the Bible, Christ says that we can know if a prophet is true or not through the fruits that he brings forth. The Book of Mormon is the fruit of the Prophet Joseph Smith. No he did not write the Book of Mormon, but we can know if Joseph Smith was really called of God, when we come to know that the Book is true. He translated it only having a 3rd graders education. If it is true, he translated it correctly and we can know that he truly was directed by God.

The Purpose Of The Book Of Mormon

     So many where do I start! The title of the Book of Mormon says Another Testament of Jesus Christ. In the Bible we have the Old Testament, which is a record of all of God's prophets and dealings with his people before Christ. It also contains the New Testament, which is a record of Jesus Christ and his mortal ministry. With the Book of Mormon being Another Testament, its purpose isn't to take away from the Bible, but to ad on to the truths of the Bible.

     I know I know what about in revelation when it says "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19) Clearly, if we actually read the Book of Revelation, it is pretty easy to understand that John is saying do not ad or take away from this book not the Bible. The Bible wasn't even compiled yet as it is. There are actually other places in the Bible where it says do not ad or take away just like it says in Revelation. I like the example in Dueteronomy 4:2 where it says just that. Can you imagine if people interpreted that like they do the one from Revelation? We would only have the first two books of the Bible!

     The Book of Mormon is saturated with the Holy Ghost. It is impossible to read the book with faith and with a real determination to know of the teachings and not feel the Holy Ghost. I like what the Prophet Nephi says, "And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, ... and they teach all men that they should do good." (2 Nephi 33:10) As we read the Book of Mormon, the words teach us all that we must do good. Living by the principles taught will bless the lives of those who decide to follow and abide by them faithfully.

     To be a little more clear on what the Book of Mormon's purpose is, I would like to first pose the

question, What is the Purpose in the Bible? The Bible has many purposes, but the gospel writer and Apostle John tells us specifically what its purpose is. He says "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:30-31)
Now let's turn to the Book of Mormon to see what its purpose is. The Prophet Mormon tells us what the Purpose of the Book of Mormon is. "And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go-that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Mormon 5:14)
     They are worded almost exactly the same, and I know that the purposes of both records are to bring people closer to Christ. The only way one can know for themselves what the purpose of the Book of Mormon is, is to just read it. A new light will come into your life if you do so, and you will be able to know that these really are Christ's words. http://www.mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

Why Do We Need The Book Of Mormon?

     Some wonder what we need the Book of Mormon for when we already have the Bible. I don't know all of the answers, and I don't always know the purpose behind everything that God does. What I do know is that I like to think logically when I am puzzled about something. As I have pondered this question my logic kicked in and helped me understand a little bit better.

     Think about all of the billions of people who live in the world. It is crazy to me to think that God would only speak to certain people because of where they live. As we know, the Bible was written in the ancient Holy Land (Jerusalem). I was thinking about how small of an area that is compared to the rest of the world. The more and more I was thinking about that, the more and more I realized there is now way that they could be the only people that God would speak to; he has millions of other people throughout the world! Logically it makes sense that there should be other scripture written in other parts of the world and that is exactly what the Book of Mormon is.

     We read in the Bible in the Book of John when Christ is giving the parable of the Good Shepherd and the sheep, "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". (John 10:16) Here Jesus proclaims himself as the Good Shepherd and the sheep are his people. By saying other sheep not of this fold, he is talking about other people not of this land.

     The Highlight of the Book of Mormon is when Christ appears in the Americas as a resurrected being and ministers to the people there. He gives an almost identical discourse to that known as the Sermon on the mount found in the Bible. He then explains to the people known as Nephites, "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: 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." (3 Ne 15:21)

     The Book of Mormon is another witness of the Divinity and Sonship of Jesus Christ. As I have studied it alongside the Bible I have grown to learn, love, and apply its teachings in my own life and have been able to feel of God's individual love for me as one of his children.

What is the Book of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon is an ancient record similar to the Bible. It is scripture that was written on the American continent. God called prophets like Nephi, Alma, Moroni and others to teach and testify of his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They, like the prophets in the Bible were given Priesthood Authority to teach, perform miracles, and baptize. It is a testimony that God truly does love all of his children and doesn't not just speak to a certain people, but speaks to all of his children so that we might all be able to return to live with him.