Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Background Information- The Book of Mormon



One of the works that Joseph Smith was called to do was to bring forth The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is scripture like the Bible. Just as the Bible contains writings of God’s prophets in the ancient Holy Land, The Book of Mormon contains writings of God’s prophets in the ancient Americas. The record covers the time period generally from 600 B.C. to 421 A.D. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and includes an account of His ministry to the American continent shortly after His resurrection.

One of the last prophets in this book compiled the records on gold plates. His name was Mormon, hence the name The Book of Mormon. Mormon lived around 350 A.D. He gave these records to his son Moroni, who wrote a few things and then buried them in the ground.

In the year 1823, this resurrected angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and told Joseph about this ancient record. In 1827, Joseph received these gold plates and later began translating them by the power of God. From this translation, the first edition of The Book of Mormon was published in 1830.

I know The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It has changed my life. It goes together with the Bible to bring me closer to Jesus Christ.

To read this account in Joseph Smith’s own words, click here.

To learn more about coming forth of The Book of Mormon and Moroni, click here.

To read The Book of Mormon, click here.

If you are reading The Book of Mormon for the first time, I recommend starting with the Introduction, 3 Nephi 11 which contains the account of the Savior’s ministry to the Americas, and Moroni 10:3-5 which contains the promise to those who read The Book of Mormon that you can know for yourself by the power of the Holy Ghost this book is truly the word of God.

To read the Bible, click here.

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