Why The Book of Mormon?

[Rivers]

President Manson urged us to read the Book of Mormon daily in his conference address.  Why can't I read a Standard Work of my choice daily? Why do we elevate the Book of Mormon above the rest?

 

[Hamba Tuhan]

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

Pres Benson: 'It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life”, and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon'.

[carbon dioxide]

At the end of the day, reading any of the scriptures is good advice.  Perhaps taking some time away from the Book of Mormon and reading the D&C would be good.  The BOM may hold great importance but sometimes one might need a break.

[Rivers]

Don't get me wrong.  The Book of Mormon is great but I fear church members are missing out on all the great stuff in the Old and New Testaments by only focusing on The BOM.

 

[Robert F. Smith]

2 hours ago, Rivers said:

Don't get me wrong.  The Book of Mormon is great but I fear church members are missing out on all the great stuff in the Old and New Testaments by only focusing on The BOM.

Yes, you really cannot understand the Book of Mormon without reading the Bible.  They go together.

[Ahab]

8 hours ago, Rivers said:

Don't get me wrong.  The Book of Mormon is great but I fear church members are missing out on all the great stuff in the Old and New Testaments by only focusing on The BOM.

Most people are aware that the Bible is the word of God to ancient people who really lived and I think modern Prophets focus on wanting others to appreciate  the Book of Mormon for what it is because fewer people appreciate it. Plus the Book of Mormon is more relevant to these days than the Bible as the way to bring more people to a greater understanding of Jesus Christ and his work in these latter days.

[Jane_Doe]

9 hours ago, Rivers said:

Don't get me wrong.  The Book of Mormon is great but I fear church members are missing out on all the great stuff in the Old and New Testaments by only focusing on The BOM.

 

I don't feel that anyone is being told *not* to read the Bible-- after all we spend twice as long in Sunday School on it than the BoM.  Just that in a larger world full of many Christians of other faiths, reading the Bible is kind of a given already.  But for people (especially investigators/recent-converts/returning folks) reading the BoM is not such a given already.

[CV75]

10 hours ago, Rivers said:

President Manson urged us to read the Book of Mormon daily in his conference address.  Why can't I read a Standard Work of my choice daily? Why do we elevate the Book of Mormon above the rest?

As he explained in several ways, it is to get "a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel." He also mentioned "continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study," the last item of course includes the other standard works.

What makes the Book of Mormon unique to you "in a time of great trouble and wickedness" in protecting you "from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today?"

[clarkgoble]

10 hours ago, Rivers said:

President Manson urged us to read the Book of Mormon daily in his conference address.  Why can't I read a Standard Work of my choice daily? Why do we elevate the Book of Mormon above the rest?

I'm sure Pres. Monson would be overjoyed if more members actually just read their scriptures. The Book of Mormon is important because it contains key texts of the atonement, on the last days, and on faith in a way that's easy to understand. (My experience with books like Romans is that it's hard for most people to figure out what on earth Paul is saying) However I also think the gospels in particular are important to read and think everyone should read the NT regularly as well. 

[Tacenda]

34 minutes ago, Jane_Doe said:

I don't feel that anyone is being told *not* to read the Bible-- after all we spend twice as long in Sunday School on it than the BoM.  Just that in a larger world full of many Christians of other faiths, reading the Bible is kind of a given already.  But for people (especially investigators/recent-converts/returning folks) reading the BoM is not such a given already.

I disagree, I've been in the church long enough to have seen, even in those Bible years we are told to read the BoM. Oops, I see that you mentioned the bold, got a little trigger happy.

Edited April 6, 2017 by Tacenda

[HappyJackWagon]

Because focus on the BoM and continually reading increases investment in Mormonism specifically instead of Christianity in general. I've never heard the brethren focus on the PoGP and the D&C can lead people into deep church history study which I don't think is top on the brethren's list of to do's for the members.

[thesometimesaint]

What makes Mormon's Mormon? The Book of Mormon. Funny, not funny Ha Ha, is Mormon's calling for not reading their Book of Mormon.

[The Nehor]

The Book of Mormon is the most critical scripture we have. God's gift to us to make it through this dispensation. Read the rest as well but I would not replace the Book of Mormon entirely or leave it out of my daily reading.

[hope_for_things]

55 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Because focus on the BoM and continually reading increases investment in Mormonism specifically instead of Christianity in general. I've never heard the brethren focus on the PoGP and the D&C can lead people into deep church history study which I don't think is top on the brethren's list of to do's for the members.

In some ways I think the BoM is like young adult (YA) fiction.  Its characters are fairly one dimensional, good or bad (black and white literally in this case) and the narratives follow the standard hero's journey.  This is not to disparage the BoM or YA fiction, I actually like both of them. 

I also think the BoM is much easier to read than the Bible as it was written in the 19th century (using KJV prose) so its much closer in time to our present day, where texts written 2000 years ago are much more foreign and difficult to comprehend.  

[Guest]

12 hours ago, Rivers said:

President Manson urged us to read the Book of Mormon daily in his conference address.  Why can't I read a Standard Work of my choice daily? Why do we elevate the Book of Mormon above the rest?

 

The Book of Mormon is so contemporary, it teaches of all the blessings of God, while warning us and keeping aware of the snares that await the world and the unrepentant. Besides reading it daily does not mean that you can't or that you shouldn't also read other Standard Works. 

[thesometimesaint]

14 minutes ago, hope_for_things said:

In some ways I think the BoM is like young adult (YA) fiction.  Its characters are fairly one dimensional, good or bad (black and white literally in this case) and the narratives follow the standard hero's journey.  This is not to disparage the BoM or YA fiction, I actually like both of them. 

I also think the BoM is much easier to read than the Bible as it was written in the 19th century (using KJV prose) so its much closer in time to our present day, where texts written 2000 years ago are much more foreign and difficult to comprehend.  

There were no more "ites" among them.

SEE https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/4-ne/1?lang=eng

[hope_for_things]

24 minutes ago, thesometimesaint said:

There were no more "ites" among them.

SEE https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/4-ne/1?lang=eng

I'm familiar with 4th Nephi, I've read the BoM many times.  What's your point?  

[JLHPROF]

I view it as the D&C is instructional.  The Book of Mormon is testimony building.
Personally I'd rather read the NT or the D&C.  I have a harder time with the Book of Mormon.

[JAHS]

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly" No such disclaimer on the Book of Mormon. It was translated only once by the power of God, so perhaps a little more reliable in correctly communicating the doctrines. Of course we do study the other scriptures anyway on a rotating basis in our Sunday school classes, but we should always do some reading in the Book of Mormon. 

[hope_for_things]

12 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

I view it as the D&C is instructional.  The Book of Mormon is testimony building.
Personally I'd rather read the NT or the D&C.  I have a harder time with the Book of Mormon.

I have a hard time reading the D&C without any context for the revelations.  Some of the more recent scholarship that I've founds like JSP material, Robert Woodford's dissertation, and other books and resources have helped as I've studied the D&C this year.  Better understanding of the historical context has really helped make things more interesting.  

Sunday School Mormonism is typically just a proof texting parade.  And while there is some value in reading scriptures that way, it really only scratches the surface.  

[filovirus]

18 hours ago, Rivers said:

President Manson urged us to read the Book of Mormon daily in his conference address.  Why can't I read a Standard Work of my choice daily? Why do we elevate the Book of Mormon above the rest?

 

The Bible and BoM are not mutually exclusive. I true reading of the BoM will have the reader studying the Bible right along side it.

However, I have found the BoM to be little more approachable, mainly because of the modern wording and how it follows a natural order of events. The epistles in the NT can be dry for straight read through. The OT feels a little too removed from modern religion. D&C is not easy to read through, but great for studying doctrine. The four gospels and Acts are just as approachable as the BoM.

[The Nehor]

11 hours ago, hope_for_things said:

In some ways I think the BoM is like young adult (YA) fiction.  Its characters are fairly one dimensional, good or bad (black and white literally in this case) and the narratives follow the standard hero's journey.  This is not to disparage the BoM or YA fiction, I actually like both of them. 

I also think the BoM is much easier to read than the Bible as it was written in the 19th century (using KJV prose) so its much closer in time to our present day, where texts written 2000 years ago are much more foreign and difficult to comprehend.  

I do not know that I agree that the characters are one-dimensional. The heroes have flaws. Nephi's manner riled up his brothers. Jacob seemed almost depressed. Captain Moroni lost his temper and ruined his own plans. Alma the Elder was naive about sin clawing into the church he led. Aaron used a really bad missionary approach in reaching the Lamanites at first. King Lamont and his father rashly ordered their Lamanite subject to listen tothe missionaries whether they wanted to or not; well-intentioned but may have contributed to the ensuing angry backlash when their opponents overthrew the government and started killing believers. Mormon violated the commandments Jesus gave when he swore an oath not to lead the Nephite army. Moroni seems to have been almost neurotic with paranoia that his readers would find his written communication puerile and awkward.

The villains are also not one-dimensionally evil. Laman and Lemuel regularly repented and sought their rights of inheritance according to the Law of Moses that their younger brother would gain. Sherem was loyal to the scriptures in his fundamentalist way. King Noah was a popular and loved monarch until things fell apart. Nehor sought a more upbeat and happy society free from scriptural harshness. Korihor had a simple and almost child-like philosophy, one would almost think he read Ayn Rand. Amulon was dealing harshly with Alma but he had a real case to believe he was an unpatriotic traitor. The Zoramites were courageous patriotic church goers who observed and insisted upon proper dress standards in church at all times. Amlici wanted a stronger central government.

 

[Freedom]

On 4/5/2017 at 10:47 PM, Rivers said:

Don't get me wrong.  The Book of Mormon is great but I fear church members are missing out on all the great stuff in the Old and New Testaments by only focusing on The BOM.

 

If you were god and you wanted your children to read at least one book, which would you choose?

[Thinking]

12 hours ago, JAHS said:

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly" No such disclaimer on the Book of Mormon.

Have you not read the title page?

Quote

And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men

 

12 hours ago, JAHS said:

It was translated only once by the power of God, so perhaps a little more reliable in correctly communicating the doctrines.

And of course there have not been any corrections to that one translation, right?

 

[Bobbieaware]

5 hours ago, Thinking said:

Have you not read the title page?

 

And of course there have not been any corrections to that one translation, right?

 

Joseph Smith never said the Book of Mormon is perfect, only that it is the most correct book ever written. Moroni (he wrote the title page) appears to agree with Joseph Smith because on the title page he uses the phrase "And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men," which appears to indicate he's unaware of there being any mistakes in the text. And I'm in the same boat with Moroni because if there are any doctrinal errors in the book I have yet to find one.

As for as the changes made to text, none of those changes alter the basic meaning of any of the passages, but serve to only subtly clarify. For instance, throughout the Book of Mormon Jesus Christ is called God. So when the most major textual change made to the text (1 Nephi 11:18) goes from saying Mary is the mother of God to Mary is the mother of the Son of God it's no big deal because throughout the Book of Mormon Christ is referred to as being both God and the Son of God, so that particular change of text does not serve as evidence that there have ever been any doctrinal inconsistencies within the book. (By the way, it's my opinion that the first edition rendition of 1 Nephi 11:18 accurately reflects what was written on the plates. And why not, for is not Mary the mother of God according to the flesh because Christ truly is God made flesh?)

Edited April 7, 2017 by Bobbieaware