How Can I Know That the Book of Mormon Is True?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 3-5 in a lesson titled “My Work Shall Go Forth.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

During his first few years as the Lord’s prophet, Joseph Smith didn’t yet know everything about the “marvelous work” he had been called to do. But one thing his early experiences taught him was that to do God’s work, his eye must be “single to the glory of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:1, 5). For example, if the Lord counseled him to do something he wasn’t sure he wanted to do, he needed to follow the Lord’s counsel. And even if he had “many revelations, and … power to do many mighty works,” if he felt that what he wanted was more important than God’s will, he “must fall” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:4). But Joseph learned something else just as important about doing God’s work: “God is merciful,” and if Joseph sincerely repented, he was “still chosen” (verse 10). God’s work is, after all, a work of redemption. And that work “cannot be frustrated” (verse 1).

Some principles contained in this scripture block are: (1) I can trust God (Doctrine and Covenants 3:1-16), (2) I can serve God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength (Doctrine and Covenants 4), (3) Through the Holy Ghost, I can gain a witness of the Book of Mormon (Doctrine and Covenants 5), and (4) Jesus Christ gave us His word through Joseph Smith (Doctrine and Covenants 5:1-10). This essay will discuss the principle “Through the Holy Ghost, I can gain a witness of the Book of Mormon,”  found in Doctrine and Covenants 5.

In March 1829, Martin Harris’s wife Lucy, filed a court claim accusing Joseph Smith of deceiving people by pretending to translate gold plates (see Saints, 1:56-58). So Martin asked Joseph for more evidence that the gold plates were real. The revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 5 is the Lord’s response to Martin’s request. The following is what I learned from this section. 

Doctrine and Covenants 5:7: What does the Lord say would happen if the gold plates were displayed for the world to see? Why do you think that would be the case?

·         7 Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you.

If people do not believe the words of Jesus Christ, they will not believe the words of His prophet – even if the evidence is right in front of their face. We must have a desire to believe before we can develop faith. Without a sincere desire to believe, no amount of evidence will convince us.

Doctrine and Covenants 5:11-15 and 2 Corinthians 13:1: What is the role of witnesses in the work of the Lord?

·         11 And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you.

12 Yea, they shall know of a surety that these things are true, for from heaven will I declare it unto them.

13 I will give them power that they may behold and view these things as they are;

14 And to none else will I grant this power, to receive this same testimony among this generation, in this the beginning of the rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness – clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.

15 And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth of my word. (D&C 5:11-15)

·         1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (2 Corinthia 13:1)

According to the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a witness is an “attestation of a fact or event;” a “testimony” and “something serving as evidence or proof.” A person who is a witness is “one that gives evidence:” “one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place,” and “one who has personal knowledge of something.”

In the work of the Lord, the role of witnesses is to testify of the truthfulness of the Lord’s words. There are two groups of witnesses who testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and their names are listed in the front of every Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ under the headings of “Three Witnesses” and “Eight Witnesses.” The Twelve Apostles testified to the truthfulness of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Doctrine and Covenants 5:16, 24; Moroni 10:3-5. How can I gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon for myself?

·         16 And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of the Spirit –

24 Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.

·         3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Anyone who sincerely wants to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon can receive a testimony if they have a real intent to act on such a testimony, have faith in Jesus Christ, and ask God. I know this to be true because I tested the Lord. I studied the Book of Mormon because I sincerely wanted to know of its truthfulness. I had a real intent to abide by such a testimony, and I had faith that Jesus Christ would give me an answer. The answer came so strongly that I could not deny it even if I so chose to do. I know that the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ is the word of God because the Holy Ghost testified to me of its truthfulness.