Lessons on the Book of Mormon 2020
Lesson No. One
The Most Important Book in the World
Title Page of the Book of Mormon – The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “The title-page is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates” (History of the Church 1:71). It was written by Moroni and consists of two paragraphs. The first refers to "an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites." The second refers to "an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether, which is a record of the people of Jared...."
1. “Jew and Gentile” as used in the Title Page – The term “Jew” in the Book of Mormon has a particular meaning different from the way it is used in the Bible or the way it is commonly used today. In the Book of Mormon, a Jew is a political term referring to a citizen of the kingdom of Judah whose capitol was Jerusalem. When Nephi refers to himself and those who left Jerusalem with him as Jews he is not referring to his genealogy. Rather, it is like us saying we are Americans. Nephi’s linage was from Joseph not Judah, and we must remember that the Book of Mormon is a record of the house of Joseph. But Nephi was a citizen of the nation or kingdom of Judah, and therefore he was a Jew as the term is used in Book of Mormon. Furthermore, in Book of Mormon terminology, everyone who was not a Jew was a gentile. In this way Joseph Smith and those who live in the latter days are also referred to as gentiles because we live in gentile nations. “Jew and Gentile” as used in the Title Page includes everyone in the world.
2. “Remnant of the house of Israel” as used in the Title Page - The phrase “remnant of the house of Israel” means latter day Israel. Remember, the Book of Mormon was written for the latter days. The word “Israel” includes Jacob and his descendants, but more importantly, Israel means the chosen people who have the Lord as their King, a prophet as the Lord’s spokesman, revelation as the Constitution, the Scriptures as the code, and the Commandments as the law. Latter-day Saints are spiritually Israel, but politically Gentiles. In the millennium, both the political and ecclesiastical will be combined as Israel.
3. The Title Page gives two stated purposes of the Book of Mormon –
a. The first is to teach the latter day "remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever."
b. The second is to convince the whole world "that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations." The covenants of the Lord included the promise that Israel will be gathered in the latter days. They will be gathered geographically into wards and stakes and temple districts in their own lands. Then "they shall come to a knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved (1 Nephi 15:14; 22:12).
4. “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations” (Title Page) – Through the Book of Mormon the world can also learn that Jesus is the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament. In the Book of Mormon Jesus is never referred to as our Elder Brother or our Best Friend. In the Book of Mormon Jesus is the Eternal God, the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer, and the Holy One of Israel who loves and cares for the people of all nations.
5. The Title Page contains evidence of the divinity of the Book of Mormon –
a. It was written by Moroni and consists of two paragraphs. The first refers to "an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites." The second refers to "an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether, which is a record of the people of Jared...." There is no reference on the Title Page to the small plates of Nephi.
b. The small plates of Nephi contained what is now 1 Nephi through Omni in the Book of Mormon, and they were never abridged. When Moroni wrote the Title Page he knew Mormon had been commanded to include the small plates of Nephi with his abridgment of the other plates “for a wise purpose” (1 Nephi 9:5; Words of Mormon 1:6-7). But neither Mormon nor Moroni knew that 116 pages of Book of Mormon manuscript would be lost. They did not know that Joseph Smith would be commanded not to re translate that part of the record, but rather translate the small plates that were a record of the same events.
c. The reason the small plates of Nephi became part of the Book of Mormon was not known until it was revealed as recorded in D&C 10:29-46. If Moroni had known that the small plates would be included in the translation he would have referred to them on the title page. This is evidence of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.
Introduction Page – This page, containing nine paragraphs, was written by Elder Bruce R. McConkie and first published in the 1981 Edition. I will comment on several of these paragraphs.
1. The Book of Mormon “contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel” (1st paragraph). President Ezra Taft Benson also explained this term: “The fullness of the everlasting gospel does not mean that it contains every teaching or every doctrine that has been revealed. Rather, it means in the Book of Mormon we will find the fullness of those doctrines required for our salvation” (A Witness and a Warning, p. 18).
2. “The crowning event…is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ” (3rd paragraph). This is the focal point and supreme moment in the entire history of the Book of Mormon. Third Nephi is sometimes called the “fifth gospel” emphasizing its importance.
3. “It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel” (3rd paragraph). President Benson has written: “The book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity….It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement….The Book of Mormon is also the keystone of the doctrine of the resurrection” (Ensign, Nov. 1986, 4-7).
4. The Book of Mormon “outlines the plan of salvation” (3rd paragraph). Even though Old and New Testament prophets understood and taught the plan of salvation, this essential doctrine is not clearly explained in the Bible as we now have it. However, in the Book of Mormon the plan of salvation is taught over and over again. It is referred to as the plan of redemption, the merciful plan of the great Creator, the plan of our God, the plan of restoration, the plan of mercy, and the plan of happiness. An understanding of the plan of salvation is one of the greatest motivators there is to keep the commandments.
5. “The Prophet Joseph Smith said: ‘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.’” (6th paragraph). By this definition alone, the Book of Mormon is not only the most correct book on earth, it is also the most important book on earth. There is nothing more important than to “get nearer to God.”
6. “We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon” (8th paragraph). President Benson said, “We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. The Bible sits on the pulpit of hundreds of different religious sects. The Book of Mormon, the record of Joseph, verifies and clarifies the Bible. It removes stumbling blocks, it restores many plain and precious things. We testify that when used together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon confounds false doctrines, lays down contentions, and establishes peace” (Ensign, Nov. 1984).
7. The Book of Mormon is the best tangible evidence of the restoration of the gospel. The Book of Mormon establishes the doctrine of the restoration: “that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah” (last paragraph). This is another reason why the Book of Mormon is the most important book on earth.
Testimony of Witnesses
1. Testimony of Three Witnesses – The Three Witnesses, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, give a spiritual witness of the plates and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. These witnesses were shown the plates and the engravings thereon by an angel sent from God. They heard the voice of God saying that the plates were “translated by the gift and power of God.” He also commanded them to testify of these things to the world which they did. Even though all three left the Church they never denied their testimony that has been printed in every Book of Mormon.
2. The Testimony of Eight Witnesses – The Eight Witnesses give a physical witness of the plates. The Eight Witnesses were the second of the two groups of "special witnesses" to the Book of Mormon's golden plates. They were all members of the Whitmer or Smith families: Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel Harrison Smith. Joseph Smith Sr. was Joseph's father, and Hyrum and Samuel H. Smith were his brothers. Christian, Jacob, Peter Jr. and John were David Whitmer's brothers, and Hiram Page was his brother-in-law. Though some of the Whitmers left the Church none of the Eight Witnesses denied their testimony of the Book of Mormon and seeing and holding the plates.
3. Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith – If a person will read the Prophet Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, as recorded in Joseph Smith History 1:1-75, and prayerfully ask God of the truthfulness of the Prophet’s testimony, their prayer will be answered by a manifestation of its truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3-5)
Testimony of other witnesses – The Book of Mormon teaches that Lord will raise up witnesses to establish its truthfulness. There will be “three witnesses” and a “few” or eight other witness. Nephi continues: “Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word” (See 2 Nephi 27:12-14, emphasis added). As the Lord establishes His word as contained in the Book of Mormon, I desire to be one of these many witnesses as I teach and testify of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.