A Book Unlike Any Other

In the last address before his passing (Praise to the Man), President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, bore a powerful testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. He discussed many of the important pieces revealed through Joseph in this last dispensation. One of those pieces was the translation and publication of The Book of Mormon. President Ballard said, “We have the Book of Mormon. What a marvelous and wonderful gift the Book of Mormon is to the membership of the Church. It is another witness, another testament that Jesus is the Christ. We have it because Joseph was worthy to go get the plates, was inspired by heaven to translate them by the gift and power of God and to give the book to the world.”

The Book of Mormon is unlike any other book in existence. The prophet Joseph Smith stated, “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” (Book of Mormon Introduction).

I want to clarify something that I think people confuse or equate. I saw a video that stated Joseph couldn’t write the Book of Mormon in 65 days. The author stated this couldn’t be done because the Book of Mormon contains some 240,000 words. However, the Book of Mormon wasn’t written by Joseph Smith. Joseph “translated [the plates] by the gift and power of God” (Book of Mormon Introduction).

This is an important difference. Joseph didn’t write the Book of Mormon. This wasn’t a story he created and had to think about how the narrative would flow. Joseph translated the Book of Mormon. The book was already written. Joseph was the vessel assigned to translate the book from a lost language into English. Translating a book would take less time than writing a book.

Why is the Book of Mormon unique? This book was written for everyone. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is. It doesn’t matter what lifestyle you live by. This book was written for you and me.

How Has the Book of Mormon Affected My Life?

The following are a few examples of how the Book of Mormon has affected my life.

Moroni 10:3-5

These verses talk about how if one will read the Book of Mormon and then go to God sincerely in prayer, a witness of its truth will come by the power of the Holy Ghost. I am a witness to the veracity of this promise.

My freshman year of college was one of wonder. It was my first time away from home. I was in a dorm, on a floor with around 80 other students. Many of us were freshmen. Some already had a testimony of the gospel. Some of us were still trying to figure it out. I was in the latter category.

I had a great Book of Mormon 101 teacher, Dennis Largey. He was a convert to the church and often shared how he came to get his testimony of the gospel and the Book of Mormon. He brought into the classroom a desire to know for oneself whether or not the Book of Mormon was true.

The young men on my floor who had testimonies also set an example and caused me to desire to know for myself. I don’t know if I would have had the spiritual experiences I did without their influence.

Shortly after my 18th birthday, my desire to know reached its peak. My roommate was out on a date and I knew I had time to act on Moroni’s promise. I knelt in my dorm room and prayed with a sincere heart to know if what I had learned and felt was the truth. A feeling came over my whole body that confirmed to me that it was all true. The feeling was so strong that I still remember it exactly as it happened. It also means that I can’t deny that witness. Moroni’s promise had been fulfilled in my life and I know that the Book of Mormon has come to us from God.

2 Nephi 4:16-35

There have been times in my life when I haven’t walked the covenant path. If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know I had an addiction. During one of the lowest points in that cycle, I read 2 Nephi 4:16-35. I found the verses were a way to get past the burden of the addiction I had.

“And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” This verse helped me to remember that God was there for me and that He could be trusted to help. He supported me and lifted me out of the depression I had created. He had given me knowledge and revelation, even though I wasn’t perfect.

I had to ask myself, “Why should my heart weep … because of my afflictions? Why should I give way to temptations … to destroy my peace and afflict my soul?” Nephi had the answer.

“Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.” Come back was the message. “I can lift you,” says God. And so I did. I awoke and came back.

The other thing these verses have taught me is to not worry if I’m not perfect. I will fall into temptation. I will sin. However, I am not lost to Him. I can come back. I can repent. I can walk the covenant path again.

It took time to overcome my addiction, but these verses gave me strength and helped me. This book was not written by a man but was given by God.

Enos 1:1-8

I served in the Chile, Santiago South mission from 1989 to 1991. It was a great opportunity to share the gospel. It was also a great opportunity for me to grow spiritually.

One area that I’ve struggled with is consistent prayer. When I say “consistent” prayer, I mean getting on my knees and “formally” praying. I have a prayer in my heart constantly. Rarely, I don’t. However, the act of getting on my knees and praying isn’t something that I’ve been very good at.

There was a time on my mission when I was struggling with the work. I didn’t have a good relationship with my companion. We weren’t having success in sharing the gospel. I felt like I was failing on all fronts.

At this time I was still doing my morning scripture study and read the verses in Enos. The words of Enos stirred me. That night, I crept out of bed and went into a room by myself. I knelt and “wrestled” with God.

I pleaded for help. I pleaded to know what I could do to better serve. I struggled with the Spirit and was rewarded with a feeling of calm. I was told that everything would be all right. I received guidance on how to better interact with my companion. The work would come around, but I had to keep moving forward.

The next day, I was able to connect with my companion, and from that day our relationship improved. As our relationship improved, sharing the gospel became easier. We were blessed to be able to share the good news of the gospel with others. Some of them even accepted the invitation to join the church.

Helaman 5:12

This scripture is my favorite. It is the scripture on my missionary plaque. When I have been in the middle of the storms of life, this verse reminds me that I’m not alone. I am reminded of the foundation I am built upon. It reassures me that I can make it through.

High School was a difficult time for me. I felt bullied, alone, and generally depressed. It was during this period that I first read Helaman 5:12. I knew that I was in a storm and the devil was sending “shafts in the whirlwind.” I felt like I was being “[dragged] down to the gulf of misery and endless wo.”

I read this verse in seminary and it stuck with me the rest of the day. I know it was God’s way of saying, “You have a foundation that can be built upon. A foundation that won’t ever waiver. One that can get you through the storms of life.” It lifted me, and even though it was still a difficult time for me, I had an assurance that I could get through it and come out ahead.

Given To All

The Book of Mormon is unique in that it was written “to Jew and Gentile.” This means it is written for everyone.

For those who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was written to bring them to a knowledge of God and Christ. It was written to help them know where to find Him and how to come unto Him. It also presents the way by which one can join with Him and enter the covenant path.

For those who are church members, the Book of Mormon gives insight into the gospel for staying on the covenant path. It teaches us how to be more Christlike, how to be more loving, and how to strengthen ourselves and lift others. Truly, “A man [gets] closer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

Conclusion

The Book of Mormon is a book unlike any other. It was written for all of God’s children. Its author is God, not Joseph Smith. Joseph translated the book by the gift and power of God. Joseph did not think it up. It was not created like other books. It is the work and word of God, given to us as another testament of Jesus Christ. I echo Moroni’s promise, “I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, … that ye would ask God 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. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:3-5, emphasis added). Read the Book of Mormon, ask if it’s true, and then follow up on the promptings you receive.