Book of Mormon, D & C, Pearl of Great Price

The story of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) began with a scripture about prayer. A fourteen-year-old boy named Joseph Smith had been struggling with the decision of which church to join. He visited many churches, but could not decide how to make a decision when each church claimed to be true, but contradicted each other. While reading the Bible, he came across a scripture that changed history. James 1:5-6 says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

This has become a guiding principle in our church. We ask people not to take us at our words, but to ask God, as the only person who knows which church is really true. When you have an answer from God, you know you’re being told the truth, and this can keep you safe from slick arguments or moments of weakness.

The Book of Mormon contains a promise that has converted church members for generations.

4 And 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.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. –Moroni 10:4

The key, then, to receive an answer to your plea, is to make it a true plea. Read not with the intent to disprove it, but to find out if it’s true. Then settle in your mind that you trust God to tell you the truth and that you love Him enough to act on whatever truth He gives you. Decide for yourself if it’s true or not, and then ask for a confirmation on your decision. If your heart feels warm and at peace, you will know you’ve chosen well.

I’ve heard people warn investigators not to pray about the Book of Mormon because they won’t know if the answer came from God or Satan. The God I worship—and likely the God you worship as well—can do anything, and that includes making sure you can recognize His voice. The better you know God, the easier it is to recognize His voice. Satan never brings a feeling of true peace—he is, after all, the author of confusion.

2 Nephi 32:8-9 warns:

8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

Nowhere in the Bible have I found warnings not to pray. So don’t be afraid to talk to God about anything at all, and most importantly about which church to join. Is any decision more critical to your salvation and eternal happiness than this? If it’s the most important decision, it’s certainly the one God most wants you to consult Him on.

Lehi is the first Book of Mormon hero. Although we don’t currently have his writings, we learn of him through his son Nephi, who wrote the first record of his family and people. From Nephi, we learn that Lehi was a good father, a prophet, and a man of great faith and courage.

Lehi was a wealthy man, living at the time of Zedekiah’s reign over Judah (about 600 B.C). He and his family lived quite comfortably and their life could easily have continued along a smooth and undemanding path had not Lehi received, and more importantly, accepted a call from God. When he was called to be a prophet, he promptly went to work doing the challenging assignment God gave him. He was to call the people to repentance. As can be expected, the people didn’t want to be called to repentance. This was at a time when there were numerous prophets, including Jeremiah, and none of them were successful at bringing the people back to the path God required of them.

All of the prophets were in great danger. Jeremiah was imprisoned after he warned that the temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed if the people didn’t change their ways. For his own safety, Lehi was instructed by God to pack up whatever belongings were needed to live in the wilderness and leave. His wealth must be left behind. The man who once lived in a large, impressive home was now to live in a tent.

"And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. (1 Nephi 2:3-4"

How would you react if asked to leave behind everything you own except for the absolute essentials? Do you remember the rich man who approached Jesus?

"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

"And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

"And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." (Mark 10:17-22)

When Heaven seems far away and a long time in coming, sometimes we can begin to focus so much on our material possessions we lose sight of eternity. When weighing the eternal results of our choice, it would seem easy to give up our possessions, but very few actually do it.

Lehi did, however. God said to leave it all behind, go live in a tent and go someplace, but you won’t know where until you get there. He had no idea where he was headed or what the journey or the rest of his life would look like…and yet he went without question.

The years ahead were difficult, filled with hardships and sorrow, as well as joy and faith. While Lehi was not perfect—no one is—he was remarkable for the way he worked hard to follow God’s plan for him and for his family no matter how long and hard the journey was. He continued in faith through years of hiking the wilderness, a long ocean journey, and the building of a new home in the land God had provided for them. During this time he struggled with the wickedness of two of his children. His wife delivered two more children in the wilderness. He watched with pride as his younger son Nephi grew into a valiant prophet and was followed by all but the two rebellious brothers.

It was many years before Lehi again lived in a real home instead of a tent or a boat, but throughout it all, he held onto his faith. When God asks us to leave behind something we thought was important, and go to uncharted territory, whether it’s a physical move, a spiritual journey or a simple walk into a new way of life, we can look to Lehi for inspiration and comfort.

In many ways, the Book of Mormon and the Bible are similar. Both testify of the Savior’s divinity and of our Heavenly Father’s active role in our lives. However, there is one significant difference: the Book of Mormon was written for us. Although it was written in ancient times, the people of the Book of Mormon civilizations didn’t have this book. It was written by the prophets, who added their testimonies and experiences and then passed it along to the next prophet. It wasn’t shared with their people, because it wasn’t their book. They had the original scriptures brought from Jerusalem, but not the Book of Mormon.

Because the authors were prophets, they were able to see our day and to know what would be of worth to us. They write about their own civilizations, and yet the problems they describe are the problems we face today. Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, described how the book relates to our own civilization:

“I know of no other writing that sets forth with such clarity the tragic consequences to societies that follow courses contrary to the commandments of God. Its pages trace the stories of two distinct civilizations that flourished on the Western Hemisphere. Each began as a small nation, its people walking in the fear of the Lord. Each prospered, but with prosperity came growing evils. The people succumbed to the wiles of ambitious and scheming leaders who oppressed them with burdensome taxes, who lulled them with hollow promises, who countenanced and even encouraged loose and lascivious living, who led them into terrible wars that resulted in the death of millions and the final extinction of two great civilizations in two different eras.

No other written testament so clearly illustrates the fact that when men and nations walk in the fear of God and in obedience to his commandments, they prosper and grow, but when they disregard him and his word, there comes a decay which, unless arrested by righteousness, leads to impotence and death. The Book of Mormon is an affirmation of the Old Testament proverb, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34.)Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Power of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Jun 1988, 2 “

President Hinckley described their day, but you can see that it describes the world today as well. The United States, for instance, also started as a small nation of people who, for the most part, were religious people and became a large nation which struggles with a growing lack of respect for the values God gave us. The challenges President Hinckley describes are those we face today. Many nations in the world today face these challenges and the answer, while not an easy one, is found in the pages of the Book of Mormon…written for our day.

The book is not just a gloom and doom warning, however. It doesn’t just describe the sad results. It tells us how they happened and what we can do to prevent or overcome the problems. If nations return to righteousness, if they learn to care more about God and virtue than about greed and power, we can enjoy the blessings reserved for righteous civilizations.

My father was not a member of the church. I converted as a teenager without my family. One day I found a copy of the Book of Mormon under the driver’s seat of the car while retrieving something he sent me for. It had a bookmark in it, and was clearly well-read. I asked him about it. He explained that he read it once to see what I’d gotten myself into and then found he enjoyed the stories, so he kept it in the car to read while he waited for people.

There are many ways to read the Book of Mormon. The first time, you might read out of curiosity. You might read it again for pleasure. Whatever your reason, you should also consider reading it to find out if it’s true. You already know that millions believe it is; why not find out for yourself?

Most of the writing is not challenging. I find it far easier to read than the Old Testament. It’s more like the New Testament, so if you have experience reading the Bible, you’ll find no trouble reading most of the Book of Mormon.

Try to read it all the way through, even if there are spots that seem complicated or confusing to you. In future readings, those difficult spots will seem easier. Only when you’ve read it all will you completely understand why it has converted so many people. Pray before reading. God knows if it’s true—ask Him to tell you as you read. You may want to start with a section near the end, so you’ll know how to tell if it’s true:

“And 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.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moro. 10:4–5.)

Then go back and read from the start, keeping in mind that God has promised to tell you personally whether or not it is true. You won’t have to take anyone else’s word for it.

Consider keeping a journal as you read. This can help you keep track of the people and events, the doctrine, and the teachings. If you record your feelings about what you are reading, it will help you as you seek to find out if it’s true.

Many people mark scriptures as they go along. They mark those that inspire them or that they consider important. Many use one color of marking pencil just for references to the Savior, so they can then go back and review all the teachings about Jesus when they are finished. You will find you must mark a great deal of the book when you do this. Boyd K. Packer explained:

After the people of Lehi had arrived in the Western Hemisphere, Lehi had a vision of the tree of life. His son Nephi prayed to know its meaning. In answer, he was given a remarkable vision of Christ.
In that vision he saw:
• A virgin bearing a child in her arms,
• One who should prepare the way—John the Baptist,
• The ministry of the Son of God,
• Twelve others following the Messiah,
• The heavens open and angels ministering to them,
• The multitudes blessed and healed,
• The crucifixion of the Christ,
• The wisdom and pride of the world opposing his work. (See 1 Ne. 11:14–36.)

That vision is the central message of the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is in truth another testament of Jesus Christ.”Boyd K. Packer, “‘The Things of My Soul’,” Ensign, May 1986, 59

The Book of Mormon begins with a celebration of good parents. Nephi, who was a teenager when the Book of Mormon begins, but a grown man by the time he began to record his record, wrote, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…”

Nephi’s parents were Lehi and Sariah. Parenting wasn't easy for them. Lehi was a wealthy planter, but rather than enjoy his comfortable life and the privileges of wealth, he accepted God’s call to be a prophet. He, along with others in his time, were sent to try to convince the people to repent or face destruction. The people, naturally, weren’t too thrilled to have their sins pointed out to them and Lehi’s life was in danger. He and Sariah packed up a few essentials and took their family into the wilderness to a place God promised to provide for them.

Their two oldest children, Laman and Lemuel, were determined not to be good sports about this. They lacked faith, and didn’t believe God expected them to leave their comfortable home to go on an extended camping trip, into a world none of them knew about. Their younger sons, Sam and Nephi, followed the teachings of the gospel and their parents, however. Nephi, although the youngest child at the time, was to be his father’s successor and lead the church. Sam accepted this, because he had faith, but Laman and Lemuel consistently resented their younger brother’s right to rule over them, even when instructed to follow him by an angel. Repeatedly, they tormented their younger brother, even trying to kill him at various times. After the death of their parents, Nephi led the righteous portion of the family away from the rest for their own safety, and two groups, Nephites and Lamanites, were formed.

All of this must have challenged Laman and Sariah throughout their years. Clearly they were righteous people, and Nephi honored them, calling them goodly. They must have been good parents, doing all they could to raise their children in righteousness, and yet they lost two of their children to wickedness. However, Sam, Nephi, and the two younger brothers born in the wilderness stayed steadfast in the gospel.

James E. Faust, a member of the First Presidency until his recent death, asked, “Who are good parents? They are those who have lovingly, prayerfully, and earnestly tried to teach their children by example and precept ‘to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.’” Lehi and Sariah most certainly did those things. The scriptures record numerous times when Lehi gathered his family and instructed them in the ways of God. The younger brothers also worked to help their older brothers gain a testimony. The entire family worked together to try to keep from losing their two oldest boys and to reclaim them after they were lost. In fact, even after the two groups separated, the Nephites continued to send missionaries to them in hopes of reclaiming the brothers, and later their descendants.

President Faust reassured parents that the way their children turned out is not necessarily a reflection on their parenting skills. If they did the right things, they are good parents, regardless of the choices their parents made. If they neglect to care for their children and to teach them correct principles, they are held accountable even if the children turn out well.

We lived before we were born, and so we brought with us the spirits and personalities we had there. We have agency, so each of us must choose for ourselves, even children. President Faust offered this comfort to parents whose children have chosen a wrong path:

“I believe and accept the comforting statement of Elder Orson F. Whitney:
'The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”
A principle in this statement that is often overlooked is that they must fully repent and ‘suffer for their sins’ and ‘pay their debt to justice.’ I recognize that now is the time “to prepare to meet God.” If the repentance of the wayward children does not happen in this life, is it still possible for the cords of the sealing to be strong enough for them yet to work out their repentance? In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told, ‘The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,
‘And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.’”James E. Faust, “Dear Are the Sheep That Have Wandered,” Ensign, May 2003, 61

It is heartbreaking to watch a child follow a path you know will ultimately lead to suffering and sorrow. However, even when it seems there is nothing we can do, we can pray, live righteously, and trust God to take care of the rest.