Dear all,
"You can't rewrite the Bible!"
"God gave us everything we would need when He gave us the Bible."
"How can you believe there is more scripture? The cannon is closed."
I can almost count on one hand the number of days I've spent in Texas without hearing someone say something like this. As a young missionary, it was frustrating. In the middle of my mission, almost a challenge. Now it is music to my ears. I love every opportunity I have to testify of the Book of Mormon and its converting power!
The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible which contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The Book of Mormon "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" (Introduction to the Book of Mormon).
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| Lizard Selfie! |
Prophets in the Bible prophesied of such a book:
"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
"And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand" (Ezekiel 37:16-17).
The Book of Mormon is the writings of the descendants of Joseph. It is the stick of Ephraim.
"Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins [Book of Mormon], and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah [Bible], shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord" (2 Nephi 3:12).
"... These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved" (1 Nephi 13:40).
Paul taught: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
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| We Ran Out of Sticky Notes! |
The Book of Mormon "contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also; Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them--Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever" (D&C 20:9-12).
A Book of Mormon prophet told us exactly why he kept a record: "For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world" (1 Nephi 6:4-5).
Moroni, the last prophet in the Book of Mormon, told us that the Book of Mormon was written for US when he said: "Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing" (Mormon8:35).
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| Exchanges with Sister McMurray. She's incredible! |
How often do we study this great gift we have been given? How many times do we overlook this wondrous tool? The Book of Mormon contains great truths that help us to understand the principles taught by Christ that are recorded in the Bible and strengthen our faith and trust in our Savior.
We have been promised by a prophet of God that "the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man [will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah" (Introduction to the Book of Mormon).
"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
"And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever." (2 Nephi 29:8-9).
The Book of Mormon is a second witness of the reality of the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ recorded in the Holy Bible. It provides clarity to doctrines the world is so confused about. It helps us see through the fog of apostasy and sort out what is real, what is true, and what is right.
May we all recognize the importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives.
Love,
Sister Waite
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| Sister Watford, a member who feeds us every Saturday. We love her! |
