Saturday, March 26, 2011

Bible or Book of Mormon?

Why do we need the Book of Mormon if we already have the Bible?
This is a very good question, and one that has been asked and that I have thought about for a long time.
The Bible talks of Jesus Christ, His earthly ministry and the Atonement. How amazing is this, that we have the life of our Savior Jesus Christ recorded! I know that the Bible teaches truth and it helps us to understand the teaches of Christ. M. Russell Ballard said,"...the Holy Bible is a miracle! It is a miracle that the Bible’s 4,000 years of sacred and secular history were recorded and preserved by the prophets, apostles, and inspired churchmen.
It is a miracle that we have the Bible’s powerful doctrine, principles, poetry, and stories. But most of all, it is a wonderful miracle that we have the account of the life, ministry, and words of Jesus, which was protected through the Dark Ages and through the conflicts of countless generations so that we may have it today.
It is a miracle that the Bible literally contains within its pages the converting, healing Spirit of Christ, which has turned men’s hearts for centuries, leading them to pray, to choose right paths, and to search to find their Savior."
The Bible is a miracle, and helped with the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Bible is an account of the prophets in Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon, is an account of the prophets in the Americas. So... Why do we have the Book of Mormon?
There are so many accounts, that the prophets give in the Book of Mormon for their reason of writing it.
In 2 Nephi 29 the Lord gives a reason of the Book of Mormon. "...Know ye not that there are more nations than one?..I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth.. 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?...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.."
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."
I know the Book of Mormon to be Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know that it teaches truth, and we can come to a greater knowledge and understanding of God, and what we can do to have eternal life.
I invite all of you to follow the prophet Moroni's counsel.."..if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them..that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts... 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 really intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost."
I know these things to be true. I know that Heavenly Father is a loving Father and wants all of His children to know of Him and this gospel so that we can all one day return to live with Him again.
Remember who you are and what you stand for!

1 comment:

  1. It seems like this topic has been coming up a lot for us recently! I read this something this morning that was really interesting, but I'll have to paraphrase it:
    "The Book of Mormon does something the bible cannot do for itself; it provides a second witness, testifying of it's divinity and that Jesus is the Christ."

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