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

There are many people who don’t believe in God, but there are many others who believe in Him, but believe that once Jesus’ earthly ministry ended, God decided His work was done and lost interest in the people yet to come until after they died.

Nephi, the second prophet of the Book of Mormon, talked about this to his people:

3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord—

4 And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.

5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;

6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work. 2 Nephi 28 in the Book of Mormon

At no time has God ever turned His back on His children. He’s our Father in Heaven and He loves us. There have indeed been times when the fullness of the gospel wasn’t on the earth and there were no prophets to guide us. After the Savior and his apostles were gone, there were no more prophets for a time, due to the way the world had treated the Savior and His followers. They killed the Savior, and they killed those who tried to carry on His work, and so God stopped calling prophets. Had they reacted differently, an apostasy wouldn’t have occurred.

However, even during this time, God didn’t abandon us. We’ve always been able to turn to God on a personal level. People throughout history have prayed at critical moments in their lives and in the history of the world. Through the Light of Christ, God could allow even those without the gift of the Holy Ghost or access to a prophet to know what was true and right if they chose to ask.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, a high-ranking church official known as a General Authority, said:

“As the sun gives life and light to the earth, a spiritual light gives nourishment to our spirits. We call this the Light of Christ. The scriptures teach us that it “lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” 2 Thus, all mankind can enjoy its blessings. The Light of Christ is the divine influence that allows every man, woman, and child to distinguish between good and evil. It encourages all to choose the right, to seek eternal truth, and to learn again the truths that we knew in our premortal existence but have forgotten in mortality.

The Light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the Light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost. The Light of Christ will lead the honest soul to “hearkeneth to the voice” 3 to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Unspeakable Gift,” Ensign, May 2003, 26)

God knew we needed prophets to get us through the first days of the world and to prepare for the arrival of the Savior. The final days are equally important and also require the guidance of prophets. God has restored the fullness of His gospel to help us prepare for the return of the Savior to the earth and is actively guiding His church. While in the past, we had to seek out all answers from God on a personal level, we can now turn again, as did the people of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, to the prophets for guidance.

Of course, we are still free to turn to God individually, and in fact, He has instructed us to do so. He expects us first to find out who the prophet is, and to know for ourselves what is true. Then He asks us to continue our personal relationship with God, integrating that with our willingness to follow the prophets He has lovingly sent us.

Would you like to find out how you can personally confirm the identity of God’s own prophet, receiving the answer from God Himself? Visit, How Can I Know This is True?

In Isaiah 29 of the Bible, Isaiah discusses how the fullness of the gospel will disappear and the prophets will no longer guide us.

For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:10)

From this verse we understand that even in the days of the Old Testament, the prophets knew there would be an apostasy, a time when there would be no more prophets, no more direct guidance of the church from God, this due to the choices of the people. Because there would be no guidance, many churches would spring up with differing doctrines, chosen by men and over time, no one would remember what was true or what the Bible really meant.

But Isaiah also foresaw a time when that would end, when there would be a restoration.

“Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” ) Isaiah 29:14.

These scriptures are repeated in the Book of Mormon, quoted by the prophet Nephi. His people, though living far from Jerusalem now, had originally come from Jerusalem, and had brought with them the scriptures, including the words of Isaiah. Nephi loved Isaiah’s teachings, and quoted them often. You can read them in 2 Nephi 27.

The Book of Mormon is often referred to by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the marvelous work and wonder, but in reality, the verse refers to all of the restoration of the gospel. Of course, the Book of Mormon is important to that restoration, since it assures the world the Savior didn’t come just to convert the Jewish people or those who lived in Jerusalem. Because Jesus also came to the people of the Book of Mormon, we understand He came for all people everywhere, bringing to all the opportunity to be redeemed of our sins.

Neal A. Maxwell, a high ranking church leader, said,

“After all, the Book of Mormon’s stated purpose is for “the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ” (title page), making it a divine gift to the entire human family.

In fact, Nephi tells us that God “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world” (2 Ne. 26:24). The knowledge concerning God’s plan of salvation, repeatedly and carefully set forth in the Book of Mormon, can counter the hopelessness and despair of some who lament the human predicament in which they feel mortals are “conceived without consent” and “wrenched whimpering into an alien universe” (Morris L. West, The Tower of Babel [1968], 183). So many mortals desperately need to know there is divine design. No wonder the Lord told Joseph Smith that the Restoration came to increase faith in the earth! (see D&C 1:21).”(Neal A. Maxwell, “‘By the Gift and Power of God’,” Ensign, Jan 1997, 36)

It isn't true that we were forced to come here. We agreed to come here and are here by choice. We could make this choice because we lived with God as spirits before we were born. This means we weren’t wrenched whimpering, but embarking on an exciting learning opportunity of our own choosing.

The teachings of the restored gospel assure us of this, which reassures us our Heavenly Father really does love us and that there is a reason for all that happens to us here.
The Book of Mormon answers many of the questions we have about mortality, God, Jesus, and the plan of salvation. It offers comfort and reassurance, but also guidance for making the most of our mortal experience. The writing is simple and clear, easily understood once you’ve become accustomed to Biblical-type language. It can be read as a fascinating storybook, and we often do read it just for that. However, it’s full value can only be realized when we treat it more as a handbook of instructions and a testament of the Savior and His Father.

You can read it online, but nothing quite equals holding it in your hands and reading it. Would you like a free copy of your very own? Visit Mormon.org.

29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.

30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish. (2 Nephi 26)

The people of the Book of Mormon often struggled with pride. One way pride showed itself was in priestcraft. Teachers and leaders in the church work for God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes incorrectly known as the Mormon Church, is a lay church, and we call our church jobs callings. This means we are called of God to do God’s will and to also serve our Savior. When on the Lord’s errand, we do things the Lord’s way and for His glory, not our own.

There are some teachers and leaders, both in callings and working in church colleges, who are very popular. As in any other field, there are very popular speakers as well. There is nothing wrong with this unless they allow themselves to become more important than the church they claim to serve. If they work to gather a following and speak so forcefully that what they say matters more than what God Himself says, when their purpose becomes fame and wealth rather than serving God, they are practicing priestcraft.

Dallin H. Oaks, a high ranking church official, said:

“Some may serve for hope of earthly reward. Such a man or woman might serve in Church positions or in private acts of mercy in an effort to achieve prominence or cultivate contacts that would increase income or aid in acquiring wealth. Others might serve in order to obtain worldly honors, prominence, or power. . . .

Unfortunately, not all who accomplish works under that heading are really intending to build up Zion or strengthen the faith of the people of God. Other motives can be at work.
Service that is ostensibly unselfish but is really for the sake of riches or honor surely comes within the Savior’s condemnation of those who “outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within … are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matt. 23:28.) Such service earns no gospel reward.”

Our leaders serve without pay, in part so they can avoid priestcraft. No matter how large a congregation becomes, the leaders become no wealthier. In the world, we often hear of popular, charismatic leaders who gather large followings and who use the offerings from their services to live expensive, lavish lifestyles. It is always a challenge for a leader who finds himself to be popular to be certain his motives stay pure and so our leaders avoid this entirely by working for God, not money.

Before the world began, we lived with God. When God told us He was sending us to earth to live, and said we would need a Savior, Satan volunteered. However, He did not intend to follow the plan God had created for us and in addition, He demanded all the glory be given to Him, not God. Jesus also volunteered, but said He wanted to follow God’s plan exactly, and He wanted no glory or honor for Himself.

As we serve our Heavenly Father and our Savior, we want to be certain we do so by following the example of our Savior, not Lucifer. We should teach God’s truth in God’s way, and do it with all the honor and glory given to God.