The Book of Mormon

My own testimony of the The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It testifies of Jesus Christ. It is the history of the people who lived upon the earth on the American Continent from 600 B.C. to about 421 A.D. The Bible is also a testament of Jesus Christ and it is the history of the people in the Holy Land. So as you can see they are both written histories, of people in two different parts of the world that have recorded the events of their times from before the birth of Christ until shortly thereafter.

They both foretell of Christ's birth and his ministry. Jesus ministered to the people of the Bible while he lived and walked here upon the earth. After his death and crucifixion he came and ministered to the people here on the American continent.

In the Bible, in John 10:16 we read

"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."

Where were these sheep? Some of them were on the American continent. They were the people spoken of in the Book of Mormon. One my favorite stories from the Book of Mormon, which tells of Christ ministering to these other sheep is found in 3 Nephi 17.

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 fullness of the everlasting gospel.

The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of 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.

If you would like to read the Book of Mormon you may order a free copy by going to Mormon.org (free media box). You can also order a free copy of the Bible-King James version (and there are also a number of free videos you may enjoy).

Before you read the Book of Mormon, I would like to suggest that you read this verse first ...

Moroni 10:4

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."

I read the Book of Mormon for the first time 29 years ago and received a witness by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is true. I cannot express my testimony as eloquently as Elder Holland did at General Conference last week but I want to add my simple testimony that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Because of this, I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I know that he did not write the Book of Mormon but translated it by the power of God. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God on the earth today, the only man on the earth who holds all the keys of the priesthood and has the right to exercise them. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He lives. I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves us. Through the teachings in the Book of Mormon we learn the plan of salvation and what we must do to gain peace in this life. When you read the Book of Mormon if you do so with real intent, you will have a feeling of peace come into your life and you too can know that these things are true.