The apostle Paul wrote, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” – 2 Cor. 13:1
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I sat in a world history class in college when the professor, upon coming to that point in world history touching on Jesus Christ, said something to the effect of …
“It’s just hard to teach about someone for whom we have no reliable written history.”
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Perhaps some dismiss the Bible as a single, unreliable witness of Jesus Christ, rationalizing the birth of Christianity as being the result of a very charismatic man who managed to create a large and enduring following.
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Moroni, the final author of the Book of Mormon, engraved on it’s title page that one of the primary purposes of the book is to serve as a witness to the world that truly “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God”.
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Lest we be tempted to dismiss the Bible as a witness of Jesus Christ, here we have another witness that Jesus interacted with people on earth half a world away from those events in Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon witnesses of Christ’s teachings, ministry, and resurrection among those people. It’s teachings that are 100% consistent with those in the Bible.
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And lending to that witness, the book was brought forth by divine power, including heavenly visitations of angels and Christ himself.
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The prophet Joseph Smith added his witness saying,
“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.” – D&C 76:22-23
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Nephi, the first author in the Book of Mormon, wrote,
“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.” – 2 Nephi 25:26
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No matter our religious affiliation, a study of the Book of Mormon can bring us to a deeper understanding of, witness of, and relationship with Jesus Christ.
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May we all embrace the great gift and witness of Jesus Christ that is “The Book of Mormon.”