The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible and is a record of God's dealings with His chosen people in the New World. The main purpose of the Book of Mormon is "to the convincing of Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations." (Book of Mormon Title Page) It was written by ancient American prophets for our day (Mormon 8:35) and is an American testament of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Day 8 came a bit late.
The sidebars were absent, you see. Day 9 is now here,
we combine them in cheer
so you and I, caught up can be. :)
Day 8 - How to Study the Book of Mormon
Twenty-five years ago, President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) detailed “three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.”1 The reasons were these:
First, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion—the keystone of our witness of Jesus Christ, of our doctrine, and of our testimony.
Second, the Book of Mormon was written for our day.
Third, the Book of Mormon helps us draw nearer to God.
These reasons for studying the Book of Mormon also suggest some ways we might go about studying this unique scripture. Read More or Listen
Day 9 - Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod
The central feature in Lehi’s dream is the tree of life—a representation of “the love of God” (see 1 Nephi 11:21–22).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16). Thus, the birth, life, and atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ
are the greatest manifestations of God’s love for His children. As
Nephi testified, this love is “most desirable above all things” and, as
the angel in his vision declared, “most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:22–23; see also 1 Nephi 8:12, 15).
Chapter 11 of 1 Nephi presents a detailed description of the tree of
life as a symbol for the life, ministry, and sacrifice of the
Savior—“the condescension of God” (1 Nephi 11:16).
On Day 7, we will not rest from reading the scriptures. Nor will we wrest them to take only what we want to hear from them. We'll read by the light of God's knowledge.
The Book of Mormon: A Witness with the Bible
In harmony with the biblical law that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1), both the Book of Mormon and the Bible testify of Jesus Christ and teach the principles of His gospel. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the Book of Mormon was ‘written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also’ [Mormon 7:9]. Each book refers to the other. Each book stands as evidence that God lives and speaks to His children by revelation to His prophets.”1 Here is a list of fundamental doctrines taught in the Bible for which the Book of Mormon adds an additional witness. Read More or Listen
You're now 6 Days into the challenge. Almost a whole week! Don't give up now!
Who Wrote the Book of Mormon?
Ancient prophets, historians, and leaders engraved their testimonies and
history on golden plates. Later, the Prophet Joseph Smith, by the gift
and power of God, translated an abridgment of those original plates. See how it all came together over centuries of pre-Columbian American civilization.
Hi there. It's now Day 5. If you're just finding out about Book of Mormon Month, where we challenge ourselves to read the Book of Mormon front to back in 30 days, but feel like you're too far behind, not to worry. Simply jump in and start reading.
Book of Mormon Time Line
Need more help piecing all the time elements of the Book of Mormon together? Here's a handy reference for that. Print it out and keep it near you when you read.
So, now it's Day 4! Lots to learn today. Be sure to say a prayer before and after reading and ask Heavenly Father to help you understand and apply the scriptures in your life.
The Story of the Book of Mormon
What happens in the Book of Mormon? Use these pictures to learn about the prophets and stories in this marvelous book of scripture.
Day 3 is upon us! Time to get reading. If you're behind because you got sorta lazy, make sure to catch up. If you're behind because you mean to feast upon the words of Christ, then carry on at your own pace.
What the Book of Mormon Teaches about the Love of God
Most Christians are familiar with the attributes of Jesus Christ as reported in the Bible.
They marvel at the love He demonstrated for the poor, the sick, and the
downtrodden. Those who consider themselves His disciples also strive to
emulate His example and follow His beloved Apostle’s exhortation: “Let
us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is
born of God, and knoweth God. … For God is love” (1 John 4:7–8).Read More or Listen
There is much talk of the recently launched Broadway production called "The Book of Mormon". As we followed the October LDS General Conference sessions on Twitter, it was hard not to notice references to the "Book of Mormon soundtrack", the musical written over a period of 7 years by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (co-creators of "South Park"). Whether they tweeted while waiting in line at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in NYC at that moment, or tweeted about plans to attend the musical in the future, there was very little curiosity as to what the Book of Mormon actually is.
For many, the parody musical will be the only exposure they have to the story of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At press time, we have not seen the musical, but from the reviews we've read, it appears that there is very little mentioned at all about the Book of Mormon, and that what is mentioned is, parody aside, rather inaccurate.
The story line of the musical never does its namesake any justice at all.
For example, did you know the following about the various books contained in the Book of Mormon?
First and Second Nephi
are ALL about family ties and the behaviors and consequences of family
living, especially within the context of God's will for families.
The Book of Jacob
helps us know how to shield ourselves from the soul-cankering influences of
pornography and immorality that surround us. Jacob 5 teaches us the
causes behind the wars and conflicts in the middle east and the
interfaith bickering that happens in our world...and what the Lord intends to do about it.
The Book of Mosiah helps us understand how a country should be governed, how to treat our fellow men, why
the Savior had to suffer and die to be able to forgive our sins, and the fact that no matter how
small a concern even a portion of a nation is in the context of the
world's way of seeing things, God will still send a prophet to warn it
of danger and to organize His Church there.
The Book of Alma is rich in just about everything there is to experience in life:
distinguishing between truth and error
avoiding bringing negative consequences upon oneself through rebellion against God
how to share the Gospel with others in a way in which they will most likely respond positively
on which criteria mankind will be judged
why bad things happen to good people
why good things happen to good people
why good things happen to bad people
the beauty of suddenly having religious freedom when none existed prior
the horror of losing religious freedom when once enjoyed
why repentance is necessary, and how to do it
why the philosophies of the world are bankrupt and without foundation
what the purpose of the Law of Moses was (to point to Christ)
why bridling your passions is a Godly thing to do
who are we
why are we here
what happens after we die
how
it's possible to fight a defensive war in a way that God finds acceptable (not
appealing, just acceptable) in the event that no other option is
available
why kings are always problematic in the governance of a nation
why division and contention is always problematic in the preservation of freedom
The Book of Helaman
teaches us why we must always be careful never to let "secret
combinations" or conspiracies, mafias, gangs, government cabals,
terrorist groups, etc. become the order of society.
Third Nephiteaches
us that Jesus had love for other children not of Jerusalem's fold and
that His Gospel doesn't change whether taught in Jerusalem, in Zarahemla
of the Americas, or in any other nation. Most importantly, it provides
the key second witness that Jesus is the Christ, the resurrected Savior
of the world, in every literal sense and reality.
Fourth Nephi,
even though only one chapter in length and spanning a period of over
200 years, is most instructive in its preservation of a record of what
causes years of peace...and what ends that peace.
The Book of Mormon
(meaning, the subsection of the whole book by that name) gives us a
thorough rundown of everything we are about to experience as our own
world crumbles and decays in a "horrible scene of the blood and carnage"
like the prophet Mormon experienced. This is a book to pay
attention to if you want to know what we're in for.
The Book of Ether
is a microhistory that parallels the history of the Nephites and,
again, emphasizes the irreversible nature of mutual genocide and
fratricide that emerges from secret conspiracies to "get gain" and
obtain the temporary kingdoms of the world.
Finally,the Book of Moroni,
in all its brevity, gives us pearls of great price such as the proper
manner of baptism, of the sacrament supper of the Lord, of the order and
organization of the Lord's Church, and of the necessity of faith in a
world of unbelief. Moroni teaches us that if we fail to see miracles in
our day, it is through our own lack of faith and not because there are
no such things as miracles. If we have gotten to that point, then we are
ripe for destruction, just as his own people had become. Faith
precedes the miracle.
So, to everyone who has watched or will watch the musical, we encourage you to obtain a more balanced view of the musical's ridiculed namesake by taking the time to actually read the book. You won't regret it if you approach your reading with an open mind and a sincere desire to know if it contains truth.
Wakey wakey! It's Day 2 of Book of Mormon Month here at American Testament.
How did you do on Day 1? Tell us in the comments.
Today's inspirational article is...
The Prophet Joseph Smith: Translator of the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a unique book of scripture. Although ancient prophets wrote it, it did not come to us as the Bible did. The Bible was recorded largely on scrolls in the Old World as separate books and copied by scribes for centuries. Only by the fourth century after Jesus Christ were these separate books combined and made available as the one volume we refer to as the Holy Bible. Read More or Listen
October is Book of Mormon Month here at American Testament! For anyone who didn't participate in Book of Mormon Challenge 2011, it's time to make good, crack open 1st Nephi, and get to reading. Your goal is 18 pages per day to complete your reading in 30 days.
For anyone new to the Book of Mormon, or in need of a refresher, below is a simplified timeline of the origin of the book. I'll be posting more helpful resources like these as we move forward with our reading.
Many years ago I stood at the bedside of a young father as he hovered between life and death. His distraught wife and their two children stood nearby. He took my hand in his and, with a pleading look, said, “Bishop, I know I am about to die. Tell me what happens to my spirit when I do.” Read More or Listen
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Book of Mormon Month is coming. Are you ready to read?
Twenty-five years ago, President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) detailed “three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.”1 The reasons were these:
