Why The Book of Mormon?

Note: This writing and the one to follow should be considered in tandem.

The purposes of the Book of Mormon set forth on its title page were written by the Prophet Moroni. An incomplete listing of these purposes might include the following: First, to inform the Lamanites living in our generation that they are a “remnant of the house of Israel.” Second, to convince both Jews and Gentiles in the last days that “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.” Third, to affirm that the Savior “manifest[s] himself unto all nations.” And fourth, to remind the descendants of the House of Israel living in this era of the promises made to “their fathers.” An additional purpose that may be assumed from those given is that the Book of Mormon would serve as a second witness for Christ along side of the Bible. It is obvious that all of these purposes apply to our day or dispensation.

After some involvement with it, a reader of the Book of Mormon should begin to understand that the major intent of its contributors was not to write for their contemporaries or even for those of their dispensation. Their words did not appear in some serialized format in weekly or monthly publications of the day. Even the content of an entire book, for example the Book of Mosiah or the Book of Ether, was apparently not available for study and discussion by the general membership at anytime during the period covered by the Book of Mormon. So it appears that God’s overriding purpose in the production of what would become known as the Book of Mormon was to provide us in this last generation with an integral resource to assist us in the building of His Kingdom. From these writings, we are to gain insight into the successful and unsuccessful ways of those ancient peoples in order that we might avoid making some of their mistakes and be encouraged by their achievements. Of course, what has been said here is not intended to communicate that important leaders of the Lord’s work in Book of Mormon times were unaware of the writings of their predecessors. However, the sacred writings being passed from generation to generation were apparently not publicly broadcast to the people at large.

God’s intent that the writings of the Book of Mormon would be used primarily by those of the latter days is manifest, for example, in the writings of the Prophet Nephi. If we consider chapters twenty-eight through thirty of 2 Nephi, we have a mixture of God’s revealed word to Nephi as well as Nephi’s teachings to his people, all of which confirm many of God’s purposes for this book. “And the things which shall be written out of the book [the Book of Mormon] shall be of great worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 28:2). The chapter setting for this verse is the latter-days. “But behold, there shall be many--at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; And also that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel; . . .” (2 Nephi 29:1-2). And lastly, “For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel” (2 Nephi 30:2). This last quote refers to the last days when the gospel will be taken first to the Gentiles and then to the Jews.

In this dispensation of the fulness of times, God has set about to establish His Kingdom for the last time as a necessary preparation for the triumphal return of His Son to rule and reign upon the earth in glory. The establishment of His Kingdom requires the restitution of all things priesthood related that have been revealed since the days of Adam. It necessitates the final gathering of the House of Israel. God understood that the agents of Satan would abuse the holy writings of many of the ancient prophets as well as the writings of the apostles and the leadership of the Church in the meridian of time in a futile attempt to subvert His work in this most important generation. The Saints of this dispensation must succeed, and succeed we will if we are but true to God’s directions given both in ancient and in modern times. An integral part of this heavenly assistance comes in the form of the Book of Mormon that strengthens the workers in the Kingdom as outlined in its purposes. Very importantly, from this book comes much wisdom from the ancients as to the blessings that flow to God’s chosen people when they are obedient to His commands as well as the consequences that follow if His directions are rejected.