Guide to the Scriptures

Book of MormonSee also Canon; Ephraim—The stick of Ephraim or Joseph; Gold Plates; Mormon, Nephite Prophet; Plates; Scriptures; Smith, Joseph, Jr.; Witnesses of the Book of Mormon

One of the four volumes of scripture accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is an abridgment by an ancient prophet named Mormon of the records of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. It was written to testify that Jesus is the Christ. Concerning this record, the Prophet Joseph Smith, who translated it by the gift and power of God, said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (see the introduction at the front of the Book of Mormon).

The Book of Mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the Old World to the American continents. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. The Book of Mormon records the visit of Jesus Christ to the people in the Americas following his resurrection. A two hundred-year era of peace followed that visit of Christ.

Moroni, the last of the Nephite prophet-historians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about A.D. 421. In 1823, the resurrected Moroni visited Joseph Smith and later delivered to him these ancient and sacred records to be translated and brought forth to the world as another testament of Jesus Christ.

Joseph is a fruitful bough whose branches run over the wall, Gen. 49: 22-26. Truth shall spring out of the earth, Ps. 85: 11 (Morm. 8: 16; Moses 7: 62). The Lord will lift up an ensign to the nations and will hiss unto them, Isa. 5: 26. A voice shall speak out of the ground, Isa. 29: 4 (2 Ne. 26: 14-17). The vision of all has become as the words of a book that is sealed, Isa. 29: 11 (Isa. 29: 9-18; 2 Ne. 27: 6-26). The sticks of Joseph and of Judah shall be one in the Lord’s hand, Ezek. 37: 15-20. Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, John 10: 16 (3 Ne. 15: 16-24). The Book of Mormon and the Bible will grow together, 2 Ne. 3: 12-21. The Lord’s words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 Ne. 29: 2. The Lord covenanted with Enos to bring forth the Book of Mormon to the Lamanites, Enos 1: 15-16. The Book of Mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the Bible, Morm. 7: 9. The Book of Mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, Ether 5: 4. Ask God if these things are not true, Moro. 10: 4. Christ bore testimony that the Book of Mormon is true, D&C 17: 6. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, D&C 20: 9 (D&C 20: 8-12; 42: 12). We believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God, A of F 1: 8.

Taken from http://scriptures.lds.org/gs/b/35

Purpose of the Book of Mormon

The primary purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people "that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations" (title page of the Book of Mormon). It teaches that all people "must come unto him, or they cannot be saved" (1 Nephi 13:40). Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon is "the keystone of our religion, and a man [will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (introduction to the Book of Mormon).
The Book of Mormon is another witness for the truths taught in the Bible. It also restores "plain and precious" truths that have been lost from the Bible through errors in translation or "taken away" in attempts to "pervert the right ways of the Lord" (see 1 Nephi 13:24–27, 1 Nephi 13:38–41). The Bible and the Book of Mormon "shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace" (2 Nephi 3:12).
Near the end of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni teaches us how we can know the book is true: "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" (Moroni 10:4; see also Moroni 10:3 and Moroni 10:5).

See also Scriptures
See True to the Faith (2004), 157–58
Taken from lds.org, Gospel Library, Gospel Topics, "Book of Mormon"

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