The Most Correct Book on Earth: The Doctrinal Harmony between the Book of Mormon and the Bible

I marvel at my son Aaron and daughter-in-law Chloe for how they have demonstrated in their life the miracle that happens to those that accept the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live by its teachings. Aaron had once told me he wanted to grow up and be like me, but really it is the other way around – I want to be like him when I grow up.

Introduction

Joseph Smith made some astonishing claims concerning how the Book of Mormon came to be. He told how he came into possession of golden plates that contained inspired writings of ancient prophets in the Americas. Joseph said that an angel had told him of their location. This book would be translated by him and contain important scriptural writings. Joseph Smith made this bold statement concerning the importance of that book:

Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 2:52)

It is clear that Joseph Smith placed great importance on the Book of Mormon and taught that without it the religion he founded would be void. Following the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, Joseph presented many other revelations from God that were truly stunning. Everything that followed after the printing of the Book of Mormon is inter-connected. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were two inseparable events.

It is a valid argument that one can validate Joseph Smith as a true prophet based on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rests upon that outcome.

The Book of Mormon then is the one key piece of evidence that ties everything together like the spoke of a wheel. The purpose of this book it to present the evidence of the doctrinal harmony between the Book of Mormon and the Bible. From the smallest to the grandest of teachings they are completely in harmony and supportive of each other as the gears of a watch. Making it impossible to take one or the other away and say that one or the other be correct and true while the other a false book.

Orson Pratt, an Apostle of the church in the 1800s, and a man personally acquainted with Joseph Smith, made the following profound statement:

"The Book of Mormon claims to be a divinely inspired record, written by a succession of prophets who inhabited ancient America. It professes to be revealed to the present generation for the salvation of all who will receive it, and for the overthrow and damnation of all nations who reject it. This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God to man, affecting both the temporal and eternal interests of every people under heaven to the same extent and in the same degree that the message of Noah affected the inhabitants of the old world. If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions who will sincerely receive it as the word of God, and will suppose themselves securely built upon the rock of truth until they are plunged with their families into hopeless despair.

The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it. Therefore, every soul in all the world is equally interested in ascertaining its truth or falsity. In a matter of such infinite importance no person should rest satisfied with the conjectures or opinions of others: he should use every exertion himself to become acquainted with the nature of the message: he should carefully examine the evidences of which it is offered to the world: he should, with all patience and perseverance, seek to acquire a certain knowledge whether it be of God or not. Without such an investigation in the most careful, candid, and impartial manner, he cannot safely judge without greatly hazarding his future and eternal welfare." (Orson Pratt’s Works : p. 107)

This powerful statement places the Book of Mormon in a most precarious position. Orson Pratt takes the matter to an extreme and states in such bold language that the book is either the greatest good work, or the most vile and evil lie. He also states that our acceptance or rejection of it would determine our salvation. We can’t with any halfhearted attempt, read a few pages of the book and say we have concluded our study. Basing our opinion of its truth on a superficial study would be a mistake. No one should risk being deceived about this work, either in believing in something that is false or in ignoring something that is true.

Orson Pratt advises us to make the matter of studying the Book of Mormon of utmost importance in our lives. Joseph Smith said the following regarding what it could do in our lives. If this statement is true then every truth seeking Christian would spend time every day searching and pondering what the Book of Mormon contains.

I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and that a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (Joseph Smith - History of the Church 1:461)

The reason why the latter part of this statement is true is because there is a single purpose to the whole of the Book of Mormon and that is found in its single most profound doctrine - that of the divinity of Jesus Christ. The title page of the Book of Mormon contains this stated purpose as follows:

"Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.…to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Title page of Book of Mormon)

The Book of Mormon should never be regarded as a threat to the Bible or to Christianity. It is very much in line with the Bible and is intently focused on teaching us about Christ. It is a book that should be studied intently by all professing Christians to gain a better knowledge of Jesus Christ and be better prepared to follow him. In the end, it is our belief in Jesus Christ that matters most. Joseph Smith stated the following:

The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it (Joseph Smith - History of the Church 3:30)

To this end the Book of Mormon stands as another witness to the life and mission of Jesus Christ. People worldwide will benefit from a diligent study of the doctrines found in the Book of Mormon. You will find a verification of the teachings that are found in the Bible, and a strengthened faith in God.

"…hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ…And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know..." (2 Nephi 33:10, 11)

Key Messages from the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is rich in doctrinal teachings. The story line rarely goes far without bringing this to our attention. The title page lists each of the main doctrinal messages that the Book of Mormon was meant to convey.

"Which is to show unto the 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-- And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations."

It is plain that the authors were not interested in simply writing an entertaining novel, but rather had specific messages in mind to deliver. These messages are in line with the purposes of God and the messages of the Bible. Like any scripture, it is meant to teach us about how God has interacted with people in the past and about how we can live so as to be in line with God’s will and partake of His blessings.

It is clear that those who wrote the writings were leading others to Christ. Could Satan have presented such a powerful testimony of Jesus? No good thing could come from the master of lies. Only the spirit of truth from God could have written such a testimony. Here is a short sampling of quotes from the Book of Mormon that encourage us to believe in Christ.

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye