“The Keystone of our Religion”
Ponderize Scripture: “And we also know that [the plates] have been
translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto
us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true” (Testimony of the
Three Witnesses).
Introduction
Joseph Smith:
“I
told the brethren that 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 abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (History
of the Church, 4:461). He affirmed that it contains “the fullness of the
everlasting Gospel as delivered by the Savior.”
Elder Holland : the Book of Mormon “should be considered the
most remarkable and important religious text to be revealed since the writings
of the New Testament were compiled [over] two millennia ago. Indeed, in its
role of restoring plain and precious biblical truths that had been lost, while
adding scores of new truths about Jesus Christ and preparing the way for the
complete restoration of his gospel and the triumphant day of his millennial
return, the Book of Mormon may be considered the most remarkable and important
religious text ever given to the world” (
Christ
and the New Covenant [1997], 9–10).
Marilyn Arnold: "
with each reading [of the Book of Mormon] it almost magically expands to meet my increased ability to comprehend it.
My suggested theme for this year’s study of the Book of
Mormon is “the fullness of the everlasting Gospel.” Pres. Benson said, “The
Lord Himself has stated that 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. And they are taught plainly and
simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation” (
Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6). It is my hope
that as we study together we will come to understand what this term means and
how it applies to our lives. The Book of Mormon Institute Manual tells us that
the Book of Mormon testifies: “[1] of Jesus Christ’s divinity and the [2]
reality of His Atonement. Furthermore, the Book of Mormon [3] reaffirms God’s
covenant with the house of Israel and [4] demonstrates the need for us to make
and keep sacred covenants. By prayerfully studying this volume of scripture,
you will [5] gain depth and power in your testimony of the gospel of Jesus
Christ and its Restoration to the earth in the latter days.”
This introductory lesson gives us some insights into the truths revealed in the
Book of Mormon and provides, if you will, a roadmap for our study. One last
thing before we get into the lesson material, if you haven’t read lesson 24
from the Ezra Taft Benson manual, please do. This is a wonderful insight into
how the Book of Mormon teaches of Christ and how we can emulate Him. Here’s how
it starts, so you can find it easily: “Let us turn again to the Book of Mormon
… to learn some principles about coming unto Christ, being committed to Him,
centered in Him, and consumed in Him. We will quote but a few of the numerous
passages on the matter.”
This year, I should like to have your input on what you want
to gain from your study of the Book of Mormon. So for this first lesson, I am
not going to offer any personal insights. We will go through as much of the
assigned material as possible, and I will, as usual, offer quotes from General
Authorities and others (you cannot study the Book of Mormon and ignore Hugh
Nibley), but I should like to hear from you, either in the comments to this
blog or in the lesson itself what you want to gain from this year of study
before choosing a direction for the blog.
1. The Book of Mormon is the
keystone of our religion.
Elder Faust: “One dictionary defines keystone as ‘the
central wedge-shaped stone of an arch that locks its parts together.’ A
secondary definition is ‘the central supporting element of a whole.’ The Book
of Mormon is a keystone because it establishes and ties together eternal
principles and precepts, rounding out basic doctrines of salvation. It is the
crowning gem in the diadem of our holy scriptures.
It is a keystone for other reasons also. In the promise of
Moroni previously referred to—namely, that God will manifest the truth of the
Book of Mormon to every sincere inquirer having faith in Christ —we
have a key link in a self-locking chain.”
Elder Oaks: “What we get from a book, especially a sacred
text, is mostly dependent on what we take to its reading—in desire and
readiness to learn, and in attunement to the light communicated by the Spirit
of the Lord” (Ensign, May
2006, 77).
2. Many witnesses have testified
of the Book of Mormon.
Ether 5:2–4,
Testimony of the Three and Eight Witnesses
Hugh Nibley: “Critics of the Book of Mormon often remark
sarcastically that it is a great pity that the golden plates have disappeared,
since they would very conveniently prove Joseph Smith’s story. They would do
nothing of the sort. The presence of the plates would only prove that there
were plates, no more: it would not prove that Nephites wrote them, or that an
angel brought them, or that they had been translated by the gift and power of
God; and we can be sure that scholars would quarrel about the writing on them
for generations without coming to any agreement, exactly as they did about the
writings of Homer and parts of the Bible. The possession of the plates would
have a very disruptive effect, and it would prove virtually nothing. On the
other hand, a far more impressive claim is put forth when the whole work is
given to the world in what is claimed to be a divinely inspired translation—in
such a text any cause or pretext for disagreement and speculation about the
text is reduced to an absolute minimum: it is a text which all the world can
read and understand, and is a far more miraculous object than any gold plates
would be.”
Emma Smith: “When my husband was translating the Book of
Mormon, I wrote a part of it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, and
when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled
them out, and while I was writing them, if I made any mistake in spelling, he
would stop me and correct my spelling although it was impossible for him to see
how I was writing them down at the time. Even the word Sarah he could not
pronounce at first, but had to spell it, and I would pronounce it for him. When
he stopped for any purpose at any time he would, when he commenced again, begin
where he left off without any hesitation, and one time while he was translating
he stopped suddenly, pale as a sheet, and said, ‘Emma, did Jerusalem have walls
around it?’ When I answered, ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘Oh! [I didn’t know]. I was
afraid I had been deceived.’ He had such a limited knowledge of history at that
time that he did not even know that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls.’
(Edmund C. Briggs, ‘A Visit to Nauvoo in 1856,’ Journal of History, Jan. 1916, p. 454).
3. The Book of Mormon was written
for our day.
Pres. Benson: “The Book of Mormon …
was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the
Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. … Each of the major writers of
the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. … If they
saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is
not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask
ourselves, ‘Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that
in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day
and age?’” (Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6).
Elder Perry: “The major writers of
the Book of Mormon fully understood that their writings were primarily for the
people of a future generation rather than for the people of their own
generation. Moroni wrote to our generation, ‘I speak unto you as if ye were
present’ (
Mormon
8:35)” (
Ensign, Nov. 2005, 6–7).
4. The Book of Mormon can bring
us nearer to God.
Pres. Benson: ““We … should know the Book of Mormon better
than any other book. Not only should we know what history and faith-promoting
stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings. If we really do
our homework and approach the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we can expose the
errors and find the truths to combat many of the current false theories and
philosophies of men. I have noted within the Church a difference in
discernment, insight, conviction, and spirit between those who know and love
the Book of Mormon and those who do not. That book is a great sifter” (“Jesus
Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” Ensign,
Dec. 1988, 4).
Pres. Romney: “A few years ago as I
began to practice law, members of my family were a little uneasy. They were
afraid I would lose my faith. I wanted to practice law, but I had an even
greater desire to keep my testimony, and so I decided upon a little procedure
which I recommend to you. For thirty minutes each morning before I began the
day’s work I read from the Book of Mormon—I read also from all the other
standard works of the Church, but I am talking now about the Book of Mormon—and
in just a few minutes a day I read the Book of Mormon through, every year, for
nine years. I know that it kept me in harmony, so far as I did keep in harmony,
with the Spirit of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1949, 36).
Finally a quote from Pres. Hinckley
issued over 10 years ago, with a renewed challenge to read the Book of Mormon
this year, cover to cover: “I offer a challenge to members of the Church
throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book
of Mormon. Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge
issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries
ago. Said he: ‘And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily
cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of
God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you,
which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as
one speaking out of the dust? … And God shall show unto you, that that which I
have written is true” (
Moro.
10:27, 29).’ Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will
observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may
have
read the Book of
Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added
measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in
obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality
of the Son of God.”
There are several free iOS and
Android apps that allow you to plug in a Book of Mormon reading schedule to fit
your timescale, ranging from 30 days to a year. Just search on the app store
for “Book of Mormon reading.”
Book of Mormon Video
Elder Holland
