The Book of Mormon was originally written by Joseph Smith. He, as he related, found some plates buried in a hill near Palmyra, New York. Later he said, he discovered a wonderful pair of glasses which made it possible to read the writings, which up to this point was strange writings on tablets. When he finished the translation, the golden plates disappeared and were never found again. One thing taught by Joseph Smith and later by Brigham Young was polygamy (many wives), but had to be revised when it was outlawed by the Congress. Since its original writing, the Book of Mormon has gone through a number of revisions. The places referred to in the Book of Mormon have not been found or excavated by archeologists.
The “ground rules” for this study is that the Word of God (Bible) is the final authority. It is divinely inspired (God breathed). No other book can claim divine authorship. Listed below are a number of things the Bible teaches:
- God: His existence is eternal. His home is Heaven. He is holy and divine. No man has seen God. John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” God is a Spirit; John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.“
- Jesus Christ: Virgin born, Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and she shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Preexisting (before His birth) John 8: 58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
- SIN: Transgression of the Law, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
- Salvation: Jesus is the ONLY way or means to be made fit for Heaven.. Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” It is a gift. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- Retribution: Rewards and punishment. Romans 4:6-8, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” There is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun.
God’s Word is very clear that “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20. There is a place of punishment and a place of reward, the results are permanent. A careful study will help you in discerning the truth as revealed in God’s Word.