Talks on Doctrine—The Book of Mormon

Talks on Doctrine

By Elder Matthias F. Cowley

THE BOOK OF MORMON

THE Book of Mormon is the scripture written by prophets of God who, with their people, lived at one time upon the Western hemisphere. They occupied the American Continent from about 2200 years B.C. until 400 years A.D. The Book gives an account of a colony which came from the Tower of Babel, and of two other colonies which came from Jerusalem. Each of these peoples attained a high degree of civilization. They built many cities, towers, temples and roadways.

Through fighting among themselves the descendants of the colonists from the Tower of Babel were utterly destroyed. They were called Jaredites after Jared, their first ruler. They had inspired prophets who taught them the gospel of Christ, and predicted His atonement and His coming in latter days to reign upon the earth as the ruler of all nations. The Book of Mormon gives a brief account of their rise, progress and fall through their wickedness and apostacy from the truth.

The colonists from Jerusalem were divided into two nations. One was known as the Nephites, after their prophet Nephi, and the other as Lamanites, after their leader Laman. Eventually in warfare the Nephite nation was utterly destroyed. The American Indians are the descendants of the Lamanites. The Book of Mormon records their history, their doctrines, and their prophecies.

The Book of Mormon is the book referred to in the 85th Psalm, and in the 29th chapter of Isaiah, for the plates from which it was translated were taken from the dust of the earth. It is the record of the stick of Ephraim, as the Bible is the record of the stick of Judah, as mentioned in the 37th chapter of Ezekiel. The Nephites and Lamanites were literal descendants of Jacob through his son Joseph, and are the other sheep of the fold of which Jesus spoke. (John 10:16)

The discoveries in North, South and Central America made by archaeologists bear out the statements of the Book of Mormon. Three witnesses bear a solemn testimony that they saw the plates and handled them, saw the angel who delivered the plates to Joseph Smith and heard the voice of God testifying to them that the Book was true and had been translated by the gift and power of God.

To all mankind this promise is made: “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.” (Moroni 10:4)

Tens of thousands of honest people have put this promise to the test, and bear a solemn testimony that the Book of Mormon is true and has a divine origin.