855. Interestingly, the words of Abinadi contain the word “Father” exactly eight times, “Son” eight times, and “Christ” eight times, as if to signal Christ’s fatherhood and sonship equally. [12] For evidence of this as an authentic part of the earliest Christian accounts of Jesus’ passion, see Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (London: United Bible Societies, 1971), 177. The reliability of eyewitness testimony and the Book of Mormon November 14, 2020 Dan Peterson Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! David Whitmer. As I traveled to a weekend assignment, I took with me an unusual book which was my constant companion. That stylistic feature enhances the simplicity and directness of his message, and it also implements the plainness of Isaiah’s vision: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2; Mosiah 14:2). We ask that all comments be respectful and nonjudgmental of any woman's choices or beliefs. President Gordon B. Hinckley “Believe in the Book of Mormon as another witness of the Son of God. Lehi most often calls Him “a Messiah,” “the Messiah,” “the true Messiah,” “the holy Messiah,” “this Redeemer,” “their Redeemer,” or “thy Redeemer.” In addition Lehi learned from the angel that this Redeemer would be called “the Lamb of God.” Lehi’s messianic terminology manifests greater variation than that of any other Book of Mormon prophet, and Lehi is the only one ever to call the Lord “a Savior” (1 Nephi 10:4), “a prophet” (1 Nephi 10:4), “the great Mediator” (2 Nephi 2:27–28), or “firstfruits unto God” (2 Nephi 2:9). Thus, some form of Christ's name is used on an average of one reference for every 1.7 verses (see Susan Easton Black, Finding Christ through the Book of Mormon … Testimonies of the Book of Mormon Church leaders testify of the Book of Mormon. Moreover, in many cases, the attributes and functions of Jesus Christ emphasized by each Book of Mormon prophet correspond closely with the personal circumstances and experiences of these prophets. It bears the mark of inspiration from beginning to end, and carries conviction to every honest-hearted soul.” (Journal of Discourses, 25:99–100. These points take on added meaning in the context of Lehi’s personal experiences. Thus he alone referred to Jesus as the “Holy Child, Jesus” (Moroni 8:3) and saw the Redemption of Christ most powerfully efficacious in the salvation of little children (see Moroni 8:8). Indeed, little room is left for God the Father to figure into Abinadi’s soteriology. to those who stand in need” (Alma 34:28). The earlier Book of Mormon writers use greater variety in their names for Christ than do the later writers. The reliability of eyewitness testimony and the Book of Mormon November 14, 2020 Dan Peterson Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! “Believe in the Book of Mormon as another witness of the Son of God. No form of human revenge or avenging would ever bring back the lives that were lost in the atrocity of Ammonihah. So, I picked up my copy of the Book of Mormon and started to read it. We will continue to collect and publish testimonies through the … For example, the Book of Mormon’s principal focus is to testify of Jesus Christ and His doctrine. . . Nephi’s word Jesus, like the name Joshua (which derives from the Hebrew root yashac, meaning “to deliver, rescue, or save”), added emphasis to the Messiah’s role as Savior, a mosiah (see Isaiah 49:26); see John Sawyer, “What Was a mosiac?” Vetus Testamentum 15 (1965): 475–86; see FARMS Update, April 1989. They all spoke and bore testimonies about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and also about the fact that the final battles of two great nations written about therein occurred all around where we were sitting—that the Nephites and Jaredites walked, and fought, struggled and died right there in that expanse of land next to the Hill. The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. William E. McLellan's Testimony of the Book of Mormon Author Larry C. Porter In 1880 James T. Cobb, a graduate of Dartmouth and Amherst colleges and a resident of Salt Lake City, was making an attempt to establish the falsity of the Book of Mormon through an extensive examination of its origins. This text is the only one in which a Book of Mormon prophet used the name “Jehovah.” [16] Assuming that the word “Jehovah” in Moroni 10:34 is a literal translation of the ancient Hebrew tetragrammaton (the protected holy name of God), it appears that he finally felt safe in writing this name as a concluding seal, knowing that no one else in his lifetime would see the record and, in reading it, misuse that sacred name. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr. (Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1990), 157–73. 1342: Did B.H. ), “In relation to reading the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, … no man can be an efficient missionary of this church unless he is familiar with these books. The sharing of testimony is confirmed in our hearts as the Spirit bears witness of truth. Mormon had a great love for children, perhaps owing in part to having been recognized as a chosen and worthy child at a very young age. He survived for over 20 years after the rest of his people were destroyed. ), “I translated the record by the gift and power of God.” (History of the Church, 4:537. The solemn testimony of the Three Witnesses has appeared in every edition of the Book of Mormon since 1830. . Moroni’s young manhood was spent in war, as he led a division of ten thousand into a hopeless slaughter. They are corroborated by the credentials of authentic personal experience and complex individual diversity. Those words became the centerpiece of Benjamin’s speech, during which he announced to his people that his son Mosiah was their new king (see Mosiah 1:10; Mosiah 2:30) and gave the people a new name that distinguished them above all people (see Mosiah 1:11). Mormon abridged much of the Nephite records. Alma had tasted the transforming joy that came when he called upon the name of Jesus Christ for mercy (see Alma 36:18–21; Mosiah 27:24), and in his subsequent sermons Alma described how the “image of God” might be “engraven upon your countenances” (Alma 5:19) and how the word of Christ is to be planted in each convert’s soul, where if nourished it would spring up as an everlasting tree of life (see Alma 32:28–40; 33:22–23). Amulek, therefore, made no attempt to explain or depict the mechanics of the great, last, infinite, and eternal sacrifice to “atone for the sins of the world” (Alma 34:8; see also 11:40). Eyewitness testimony is a potent form of evidence for convicting the accused, but it is subject to unconscious memory distortions and biases even among the most confident of witnesses. then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts” (Helaman 13:17, 32). He gave the only discourse on the relationship of justice and mercy (see Alma 42) as well as the most complete description of the evidence that the divine judge will assess in making that judgment: “Our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us” (Alma 12:14). This intimacy bespeaks the fact that Moroni had indeed walked many years with Jesus as his only companion, evidently on a first-name basis. [2] Thus, their teachings and testimonies of Jesus are based on firsthand knowledge and acquaintance. [10] God the Father is implicit in the passage “he shall grow up before him as a tender plant” (Mosiah 14:2; emphasis added) and explicit in Abinadi’s statement about Christ “having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father” (Mosiah 15:2; see also 15:5). The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. Indeed the main body of laws of priestly sacrifice in Israel came to be known as the Holiness Code. The charts are reproduced from John W. Welch and J. Gregory Welch, Charting the Book of Mormon (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1999). Eyewitness testimony is a potent form of evidence for convicting the accused, but it is subject to unconscious memory distortions and biases even among the most confident of witnesses. Had not this been the case, I never would have embraced it to this day.” (Journal of Discourses, 3:91. The attributes of Christ featured by Abinadi correlate readily with these experiences of Abinadi. Indeed, so holy was the Day of Atonement in the Jewish tradition that on this day—and on this day alone—could the name of God, YHWH, be pronounced. 6 which shall bring to pass the resurrection. Testimonies of the Book of Mormon. Amulek’s favorite and most distinctive name of Christ is “the Son,” or “the Son of God” (eight occurrences). They bespoke the character, individuality, and qualities of the person. He is the central commanding figure, from the title page, March 23, 2019 Uncategorized “The Book of Mormon Brought Me Closer to Christ–El Libro de Mormón me acercó a Jesucristo” by: Dave Trottier When he used the name “Jesus Christ,” a favorite expression with his son Moroni, Mormon uniformly augmented the personal name of Jesus Christ with the more formal title “Lord Jesus Christ” (Moroni 7:2; 8:2; 9:26). Lehi’s strong Israelite roots are also apparent in his reference to the Lord as the “firstfruits” that typically belonged to God. Lehi spoke emphatically about the Messiah who would come to redeem “all mankind” (1 Nephi 10:6; see also 2 Nephi 10; 2:27), and make intercession “for all the children of men” (2 Nephi 2:9–10). Significantly different names for Christ are used by the various writers of the Book of Mormon. The testimony was moved to the beginning of the Book of Mormon in later editions, with standardized spelling. As is well known, the New Testament testimonies of Christ reflect a variety of views about Jesus. So unequivocal was Abinadi’s formulation that the priests of Noah found it the basis of their blasphemy charge: “For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men” (Mosiah 17:8; emphasis added). . It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. Nothing else would ever be commensurate with the “great and last sacrifice” that would be “infinite and eternal” (Alma 34:14). The Book of Mormon Videos YouTube channel is a collection of videos based on accounts from The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The testimonies of those witnesses of the Book of Mormon in this book can burn in our hearts, strengthen our faith and fortify our minds – and we can know for ourselves that their words are true. The Testimonies of the Book of Mormon Witnesses Alexander L. Baugh. The earlier writers tend to connect the Lord more with Israel than do the later authors. These witnesses' written testimonies follow the Book of Mormon's introduction. He is the same eternal God who came down to earth to atone for the sins of all mankind and to make the Resurrection possible, but He is also ever new and different, since our own experiences cause us to emphasize and cherish different things about Him, even at different times in our lives. The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421. … [They] contain the words of eternal life unto this generation.” (Journal of Discourses, 22:146, 335. Well does their modern testimony mention that many testimonies have been given of Him. Located in Church archives. The Book of Mormon has been organized into 6,607 verses, of which 3,925 refer to Jesus Christ, employing more than 100 titles. And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them” (Mormon 9:12–14). For Nephi and Jacob, the images of Christ as the keeper of the only gate that leads to eternal life (see 2 Nephi 9:41; 33:9) and as the example that people must follow (see 2 Nephi 31:10) were distinctively vivid metaphors. Indelibly changed by his own overwhelmingly joyous conversion and rescue as he stood at the brink of God’s destroying judgment, Alma personally knew of the mercy of God (which he mentions more than sixteen times), of the deliverance of God (more than twelve times), of God’s “plan of redemption” (eight times), of the joy of conversion (more than twenty times), and of the inevitability that God will judge all people (more than ten times). From the profiles left in their written words, it is evident that these prophets bore the name of Christ personally upon their hearts and souls. ), “I felt much of the spirit of God bearing witness to the Book of Mormon. Moroni used very few titles for Christ that reflect Jesus’ position or official station (such as “Lord,” “Lord God,” or “Father of heaven and earth”). I assume that the word “kindred” in Alma 15:16 does not encompass the women and children, although the phrase “all my kindred” in Alma 10:11 may. My Testimony of The Book of Mormon I bear witness to my family, my loved ones, my posterity, and the world that The Book of Mormon is true and indeed contains the gospel of Jesus Christ! For Amulek it is the magnitude of the Atonement that is impressive. Thus the Book of Mormon has become the focal point of attack by many of our critics: disprove the Book of Mormon and you disprove the Church and undermine testimonies. . He wrote both the Words of Mormon and the book of Mormon. In the early texts, more forms of expression were used and greater variety exists in their formulations. He knows that without repentance and charity “all are hardened; . It does not prove the truthfulness of a doctrine, book, or belief, nor does it … That emphasis goes hand-in-hand with the fact that Lehi had prayed mightily and wept bitterly over the wickedness of his people and the stubbornness of his eldest sons. And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, [3] because the death of Christ [6] bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and [7] all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death. About 30 B.C. [8]. The dominant feature of Abinadi’s teaching is about the Redemption and that it will come through suffering (the words redeem or redemption appear nineteen times in Abinadi’s words). Nephi and his brother Jacob also experienced the harrowing episodes of being led through an uncharted desert and across an endless expanse of ocean by the Liahona. Of all Book of Mormon prophets, he spoke especially of the “multitude of his tender mercies” (1 Nephi 8:8; see also 1:20), of His “infinite goodness” (2 Nephi 1:10), and of the “arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15). Jacob thus saw Christ in connection with traditional atonement imagery drawn from Israelite temple practices. The Three Witnesses were closely associated with Joseph Smith, Jr. at the time he founded the church. Amulek, one of Alma the Younger’s most celebrated converts, was a wealthy man who had acquired prestige and riches by his own industry. Likewise, Abinadi made no mention of any apostles, disciples, or others who might come to the aid of the suffering Messiah. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr. (Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1989), 177–99; Robert L. Millet, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” in The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, The Doctrinal Foundation, ed. 318. A testimony of the Book of Mormon leads to so many other elements of testimony. ), “The Lord has been operating for centuries to prepare the way for the coming forth of the contents of that Book from the bowels of the earth, to be published to the world, to show to the inhabitants thereof that he still lives, and that he will, in the latter days, gather his elect from the four corners of the earth.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. I assume that some of Amulek’s own family (see Alma 10:11) were among those who “had been taught to believe in the word of God” and who were accordingly martyred (Alma 14:8), and he was undoubtedly a close friend of many of the other martyrs and of the men with whom he was cast out. Alma tried to appeal to all segments of Nephite society—to the faithful in Gideon, to the apostates in Ammonihah, to the inconstant in Zarahemla, and to the poor in Antionum—and his use of terminology reflects his broad orientation. [11], Benjamin’s speech, which was delivered at the temple in Zarahemla, where blood sacrifices were routinely performed under the law of Moses (see Mosiah 2:3), emphasized more than any other aspect of Christ’s ministry the atoning functions of His blood. ), “In this day when the Bible is being downgraded by many who have mingled philosophies of the world with Bible scriptures to nullify their true meaning, how fortunate that our eternal Heavenly Father, who is always concerned about the spiritual well-being of His children, has given to us a companion book of scriptures, known as the Book of Mormon, as a defense for the truths of the Bible that were written and spoken by the prophets as the Lord directed. …, “By this second witness we may know more certainly the meaning of the teachings of the ancient prophets and, indeed, of the Master and His disciples as they lived and taught among men. The missionary experiences of the sons of Mosiah and Captain Moroni are also discussed. To Amulek, who himself had been exposed to terrible risks of harm and torture, it was especially pertinent to describe the Atonement as encircling people “in the arms of safety” (Alma 34:16; emphasis added), a phrase unique to him in all of scripture. But this is no easy task—in fact, it is impossible, because the Book of Mormon is true. ), “And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.” (D&C 42:12. The stories are sometimes uncannily accurate, sometimes completely fictional, and often a mixture of the two; and they can change to suit the situation. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I could lay it down only to sleep, eat, and change trains. The testimonies become linguistically more definite as time progresses. Just as Abinadi himself went down alone into the pit of certain martyrdom that awaited him in Noah’s court, so God Himself would come into the world. President Monson’s Testimony of the Book of Mormon I remember, and have often spoken of the fact of reading it in my youthful days, and how there came into my heart an abiding testimony that the book was true, that it was in very deed exactly what it purports to be—the sacred history of the forefathers of the American Indian. His personal leadership was unsuccessful because of the awful conditions of the Nephites at his time. To Lehi, who fled from Jerusalem and the lands of his inheritance, the Messiah would be, above all, a Messiah and a Redeemer who would come to restore the fallen, the lost, and the displaced. The record often indicates when and how important details about Christ were revealed. I have read it many times. 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