How is it that we have The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ?

How is it that we have The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ? 

1. God commanded a prophet named Nephi to make a record.

2. Nephi obeyed! He obeyed God's voice!

3. Other subsequent prophets obeyed God's voice! They learned to hear Him and obey! These prophets obediently kept and compiled their records (Mormon is one of these ancient prophets; he testified of Jesus!).

4. Joseph Smith obediently did what God asked! God showed Joseph where the ancient record was. In time, God entrusted that record to Joseph who then learned to translate, depending on God's power alone!

5. Joseph's friend, Martin Harris sacrificed his money and means. Oliver Cowdery and many other friends willingly sacrificed to help Joseph have the means to translate and do God's work.

6. Voila! The Book of Mormon was published in 1830! This book testifies of Jesus Christ.

Dear Mr. Olson

 I am going to start writing hypothetical letters to my high school English teacher, Mr. Olson. 

Dear Mr. Olson,

Do you remember years ago (1997) when we read and discussed some of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ together? I remember one thing that you remarked as we read and discussed the first book in the volume, 1 Nephi. It seemed far-fetched to you Laman and Lemuel saw and angel but still almost immediately doubted the power of God and what they were about. 

I admit that it seems strange. Nephi and his three older brothers are sent on a difficult journey on what, to some may have seemed and impossible quest: to obtain a precious book of scripture from a powerful military leader in Jerusalem. 

Let's start out with this. Laman and Lemuel did not think they had a problem. They, like the people at Jerusalem, did not think that the way they were living was wrong. However, God had sent prophets among the people to warn them of the other end of the stick they were holding--to put it down immediately. God knows the end from the beginning. However, even many years later, Laman and Lemuel argued that the people of Jerusalem were a righteous people. 

My conclusion, after long years of study, is that Laman and Lemuel were not interested in knowing who God was! They seemed more interested in the finer things of life.

 Hundreds of years before Jesus' mortal birth, a prophet in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, testified of Jesus Christ, The Messiah, "who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit," (2 Nephi 2:8, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ). 

Jesus Christ will come again. He will rule as King of kings and reign as Lord of lords. Let us prepare.

 In these times of uncertainty and rampant rumor, this counsel from Dallin H. Oaks becomes increasingly important.

We live in a time of greatly expanded and disseminated information. But not all of this information is true. We need to be cautious as we seek truth and choose sources for that search. We should not consider secular prominence or authority as qualified sources of truth. We should be cautious about relying on information or advice offered by entertainment stars, prominent athletes, or anonymous internet sources. Expertise in one field should not be taken as expertise on truth in other subjects.

We should also be cautious about the motivation of the one who provides information. That is why the scriptures warn us against priestcraft (see 2 Nephi 26:29). If the source is anonymous or unknown, the information may also be suspect.

Our personal decisions should be based on information from sources that are qualified on the subject and free from selfish motivations. (From 

<https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/10/truth-and-the-plan?lang=eng>, accessed on 20 August 2020.)

"He becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings."

The statement above about seers comes from a discussion between a king and an emissary in Mosiah 8 of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The king wants to have an ancient record translated. The emissary cannot read it, but he knows someone who can: a seer.

A seer can see things both past, present, and future. And thus, "he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." This phrase strikes me. A seer is a great benefit to his fellow beings. A seer can see things both past, present, and future. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are fifteen men whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. In the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "It is no trivial matter for this Church to declare to the world prophecy, seership, and revelation, but we do declare it." that we are the Lord's Church and that living prophets stand at its head! By sustaining fifteen men as prophets, seers, and revelators, we are saying that we believe that they can see things that we, as mere mortals, cannot see. We are acknowledging that they, as special witnesses of Jesus Christ in all the world, know things that we do not know. This is a very humbling proposition.

An interesting article discussing “Gazelem”. https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/gazelem-jaredite

The Lamb of God

In The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Jesus is often referred to as "The Lamb of God."

In The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Jesus is often referred to as "The Lamb of God." Today, I've been pondering what this name means.

In the beginning, before the earth was formed and before mankind was placed on the face thereof, Jesus Christ was chosen. God, our Ethernal Father--our Father--knew that we all would sin. And yet, He loved us! (see John 3:16) 

His purpose is for us to return to Him, clean and pure. In and through the atonement of Christ the Lord, our return to God is possible! Simply put, Jesus is the Lamb without blemish, the pure and spotless sacrifice offered by God for us--in our behalf. The Law of Moses and the Law of Sacrifice instituted from the beginning looked forward to the offering of Jesus Christ--His blood, shed in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His body offered on the cross of Golgotha. 

Revelation 7:14

John 1:36

Nephi's numerous references to "the Lamb of God."

"Forty-four references to 'the Lamb' appear in Nephi's vision in 1 Nephi 11-14 alone," (https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/node/243, accessed on 27 June 2020).

I know that my Redeemer lives!

I know that my Redeemer lives! He is all that the Book of Mormon testifies that He is! He was bruised for our iniquities and, He knows our pain! (what makes Jesus Christ so important?) Jesus is the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He came to Earth to take upon Him the sins, shortcomings, and frailties of all humankind. He is the King Immanuel--God with us. I know that He will come again, and at this very moment, this sphere is being prepared! To Joseph Smith Jesus said, "I, God, knowing the calamities which should come upon the children of men called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and gave him commandments . . . that faith might increase in the earth,"

calamity (is this a single event? Is this, or could this be the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet? {referenced by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the talk about the sister missionaries who got spat upon.} What is the abomination of desolation? Is it not the natural consequences of sin setting in or taking their disastrous effect? Obedience to God's commandments assures us of Divine Favor--through righteousness, we are naturally qualified for protection. I could site many examples. He that is tithed shall not be burned at the last day. That is significant doctrine! If I am willing to put my money where my mouth is, figuratively speaking, I am assured of preservation, because where a man's treasure is, there will his heart be also. I know that Jesus is laboring to preserve scattered Israel in our time! The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is very bold and very clear on that point.