The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

The importance of prophets

Since the days of Adam, God has always spoken to his children through a prophet. 1 And he does so today—we have a living prophet to guide us.

The Bible contains the teachings, warnings and prophesies of ancient prophets as they ministered among their people—primarily the people of Israel. The Bible contains many prophesies about the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

But what about people in other parts of the world? Did they know about the coming of Jesus Christ? Did they have prophets and scriptures?

Yes!

The Book of Mormon people were Jesus' other sheep

At the end of his ministry, Jesus gave a special prophecy about the scope of his work among the nations of the earth. He said,

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold [the people in Judea]: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” 2

To the Book of Mormon people the resurrected Christ said,

"...ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold..." (3 Nephi 15:21).

Clearly, Jesus is the Savior of all people in every location and in every age.

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ

In our day, in order to dispel doubt, disbelief and confusion about Jesus Christ and his gospel, Heavenly Father brought forth another testament of Jesus Christ as a companion to the Bible. This other testament is called the Book of Mormon. Like the Bible, the Book of Mormon contains the history of a chosen people—the ancient inhabitants of America—and the prophets who taught and prophesied of Jesus Christ.

About four centuries after Christ, a prophet named Mormon abridged the sacred writings of his people against the backdrop of their thousand-year history. In the language of reformed Egyptian, Mormon engraved his book with hieroglyphs on plates of gold; then, at the end of his life, Mormon delivered the plates to his son, Moroni for safekeeping. Over the next two decades, Moroni added to and completed the record then hid it away in a protective stone vault on a hill in modern upstate New York.

Fourteen hundred years later, this same Moroni, now a glorified angel, was sent from the presence of God to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Angel Moroni instructed the Prophet concerning the conditions for retrieving his the gold plates and translating them. In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published and shortly thereafter the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established again on the earth.

The Book of Mormon proves the universal mission of Jesus Christ

The Book of Mormon gives an account of God’s dealings with three separate civilizations. It gives an account of Christ’s visit to the Americas after his resurrection and his teaching these people the fulness of his gospel. It proves that

“God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old.” 3

The Book of Mormon is a powerful witness that Jesus is the Christ, who manifests himself unto all nations.

Questions about 'The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ'

• When God speaks to his children, whom does he use as his mouthpiece?



• Did God call prophets for his children in other places besides Biblical locations?



• The scriptures are the word of God as delivered by prophets. What set of scriptures are the word of God and the the testament of Jesus Christ for ancient America?



• Who were the 'other sheep' whom Jesus prophecied he would visit after his resurrection?



• Who was the ancient American prophet who abridged the Book of Mormon?



• To whom did the prophet Mormon deliver the sacred record before he died?



• To whom did the angel Moroni deliver the sacred record in our day?



• What important scriptural information does the Book of Mormon contain?

References for 'The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ'

1. Amos 3:7 – Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
2. John 10:16
3. D&C 20:11