Articles of Faith: Is Joseph Smith a True Prophet of God?

As I continue my series on the Articles of Faith, I feel that I must share information about Joseph Smith. As Joseph Smith was the writer of the Articles of Faith, it is good to know something about the author.

As a disclaimer, I must clearly state that I am an ardent supporter of Joseph Smith. I know that he was and still is a prophet of God because the Holy Ghost bore a strong witness to me.

In his book titled Articles of Faith, Elder James E. Talmage listed three classes of evidence to show the authenticity of Joseph Smith’s mission.

1. Fulfilment of Prophecy, wrought through the lifework of Joseph Smith, is abundantly attested. John the Revelator, from his prophetic vision of the latter-day dispensation, understood and predicted that the Gospel would be again sent from the heavens, and be restored to the earth through the direct ministration of an angel in the latter-days: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”  A partial fulfilment of this prediction appears in the coming of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, …, whereby the restoration of the Gospel was announced, and the speedy realization of other ancient prophecies was promised; and a record, described in part as containing “the fulness of the everlasting Gospel” as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants of the western continent was committed to his care for translation and publication amongst all nations, kindred, and tongues. A further fulfilment was realized in the personal visitations of resurrected beings, who had ministered as bearers of the Holy Priesthood during their time of mortality, this Priesthood comprising divine authority and appointment to preach the Gospel and administer the ordinances thereof….

2. Joseph Smith’s Authority was conferred upon him by direct ministrations of heavenly beings, each of whom had once exercised the same power upon the earth. We have already seen how the angel Moroni, formerly a mortal prophet among the Nephites, transmitted to Joseph the appointment to bring forth the record which he, Moroni, had buried in the earth over fourteen hundred years before. We learn further, that on the 15^th of May, 1829, the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood was conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery under the hands of John the Baptist, who came in his immortalized state with that particular order of Priesthood, which comprises the keys of the ministration of angels, the doctrine of repentance and of baptism for the remission of sins…. In delivering his message John the Baptist stated that he was acting under the direction of Peter, James, and John, apostles of the Lord, in whose hands reposed the keys of the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, which in time would also be given. This promise was fulfilled a month or so later, when the apostles named visited in person Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, ordaining them to the apostleship, which comprises all the offices of the higher order of Priesthood and which carries authority to minister in all the established ordinances of the Gospel….

[After the Church of Jesus Christ was organized, other ancient prophets visited Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to give other authority: Moses (gathering of Israel), Elijah (work for the living and the dead, sealing families together), and Elias (dispensation of Abraham, blessing succeeding generations.]

3. Joseph Smith was a true Prophet –In the days of ancient Israel an effective method of testing the claims of a professed prophet was prescribed. “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follows not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Conversely, if the words of the prophet are verified by fulfilment there is at least proof presumptive of his divine calling….

4. The Doctrines Taught by Joseph Smith, and by the Church today, are true and scriptural. To sustain this statement, we must examine the principal teachings of the Church in separate order. [Following this statement, Talmage launched into his writings on the Articles of Faith.] (Articles of Faith, 1913, 16-17, 22, 23, 28)

Talmage is not the only Apostle to author a book about the Articles of Faith. In his book titled A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Elder Bruce R. McConkie discussed how the Articles of Faith are the fruits of Joseph Smith.

As it is with belief in Christ; as it is with accepting him as the Son of God, whose atoning sacrifice makes salvation possible; as it is with believing all that the prophets and apostles have taught in days gone by – so it is with accepting Joseph Smith as the prophet of the latter days. All spiritual things must be accepted by faith. But in the process of gaining faith, those who are wise will taste the fruits of those who profess prophetic insight. Those who partake of the fruits of true prophets will find them sweet, full of flavor, delicious to the taste, and desirable to the soul, while those who seek nourishment from the fruits of false prophets will remain unrefreshed spiritually. The fruit they eat will be bitter to the taste; it will be as wormwood in their bellies, and from it they will gain none of the sustenance needed for the long journey back to the presence of the Lord.

The prophetic fruits of Joseph Smith are many and varied. All are as delicious as manna and as overflowing with goodness as the fruits of Eden. Volumes have been and will yet be written about them. They have not grown in secret nor been harvested in the night. In this work, however, it will be our purpose, in large measure, to feast upon but one of his prophetic fruits – the doctrines he taught relative to the basic beliefs of true Christians as these are summarized in the Articles of Faith.

In his now famous Wentworth Letter, written in March 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith gave an account “of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints,” of which he had “the honor, under God, of being the founder.” (HC 4:535.) As the climax of this inspired historical account, he uttered these prophetic words: “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” He then listed the thirteen Articles of Faith in almost the verbatim language they now contain. (HC 4:540-41.)

“These Articles of Faith were not produced by the labored efforts and harmonized contentions of scholastics, but were struck off by one inspired mind at a single effort to make a declaration of that which is most assuredly believed by the Church…. The combined directness, perspicuity, simplicity and comprehensiveness of this statement of the principles of our religion may be relied upon as robust evidence of a divine inspiration resting upon the Prophet, Joseph Smith.” (HC 4:535n.) The Articles of Faith are part of an eternal fulness of everlasting truth that was then and is now in process of being revealed by the Lord to his people. They did not, when first given, mention all of the basic doctrines then known, and since then added light and knowledge have been revealed relative to many things, as the Articles of Faith themselves said would be the case. (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 14-16)

If you are sincere in your desire to know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God, I will give you the procedure that I followed. First, I studied every single book in my house about Joseph Smith (lots of them). Then the Holy Ghost gave this prompting, “If you want to know if Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, study the Book of Mormon.” I embarked on a study of the suggested book, sincerely and prayerfully studying it.

I suggest that you start by reading Moroni 10:4-5 in the last chapter of the book. As you study, ask God if what you are reading is true. If you are honest and sincere in your studies, you will receive an answer from God. I know because I received an answer when I met the requirements of study, humility, sincerity, and prayer.

 

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.

Does the Book of Mormon Testify of Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week concerned Christmas. The lesson was titled “He Shall Come into the World to Redeem His People” and was introduced by the following information. 

From Nephi to Moroni, every Book of Mormon prophet was committed to the sacred purpose summarized on the book’s title page: “the convincing of [all people] that Jesus is the Christ.” One prophet saw Him as a premortal spirit, and another saw His mortal ministry in a vision. One stood on a wall to proclaim the signs of His birth and His death, and another knelt before His resurrected body, touching the wounds in His hands, feet, and side. All of them knew this essential truth: “There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who … cometh to redeem the world” (Helaman 5:9).

So during this Christmas season, as believers around the world celebrate the goodness and love of God in sending His Son, ponder how the Book of Mormon has strengthened your faith in Christ. As you think about His birth, ponder why He came and how His coming has changed your life. Then you can experience the true joy of Christmas—the gift that Jesus Christ gives to you.

There were several principles taught in this lesson with all of them being worthy of this discussion. Two of the principles were (1) Jesus Christ was born to be my Savior and (2) Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world. I feel prompted to discuss a third principle: The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ.

“Another Testament of Jesus Christ” is more than just a subtitle for the Book of Mormon. It is also a statement of the divine purpose of the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The following scriptures are just a few of the scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ.

1 Nephi 6:4

4 For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.

1 Nephi 19:18

18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.

2 Nephi 25:23, 26

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

26 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 33:4, 10

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

3 Nephi 11:8-11

8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

I love to study the Book of Mormon because it always brings me closer to Christ. There are numerous stories that strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. However, my favorite story is found in 3 Nephi 17, and it took place during the personal visit of the resurrected Jesus Christ to some people living in ancient America.

In 3 Nephi 17, we are told that Jesus Christ had instructed the people for several days. He could see that they could not understand all that He had taught them, so He told them to go home, ponder the things that He had taught to them, and prepare their minds to be taught some more on the morrow. He said that He needed to go to the Father, and He also needed to show Himself to the lost tribes of Israel, who are not really lost because Heavenly Father knows where they are.

The people had tears in their eyes, and He understood that they wanted Him to stay longer with them. He had compassion for them and asked them to bring forward all people who were sick, lame, blind, halt, maimed, leprous, withered, deaf, or afflicted in any manner. The people were brought forward and were healed.

Then Jesus Christ commanded that all the little children should be brought forward, and the multitude gave way to make room for the children. Once the children were brought forward, Jesus commanded the multitude to kneel down on the ground. Then He prayed for all the people, and the multitude bore the following record:

16 …The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father. (3 Nephi 17:16-17)

After praying for the people, “he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them” (3 Nephi 17:21).

Verse 23 tells us that He said to the multitude: “Behold your little ones.” Then verse 24 tells us that the people cast their eyes towards heaven, and “they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (3 Nephi 17:23-24). Then verse 25 tells us:

25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children. (3 Nephi 17:25).

Did Your Study of the Book of Mormon Move You Closer to Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Moroni 10, the last chapter in the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, in a lesson titled “Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him.” The lesson was introduced with the following information. 

The Book of Mormon opens with Nephi’s promise to show us that “the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith” (1 Nephi 1:20). The book closes with a parallel invitation from Moroni: “Remember how merciful the Lord hath been” (Moroni 10:2-3). What examples of the Lord’s mercy have you seen in the Book of Mormon? You might think of the merciful way God led Lehi’s family through the wilderness and across the great waters, the tender mercies He showed to Enos when his soul hungered for forgiveness, or the mercy He showed to Alma, a bitter enemy of the Church who became one of its fearless defenders. Or your thoughts might turn to the mercy the resurrected Savior showed to the people when He healed their sick and blessed their little children. Perhaps most important, all of this can remind you of “how merciful the Lord hath been” to you, for the Book of Mormon was written to invite each of us to receive God’s mercy—an invitation expressed simply in Moroni’s farewell words, “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

The scripture block for this week contained at least three principles that could be discussed. They are: (1) I can know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 10:3-7), (2) God has given me spiritual gifts (Moroni 10:8-25), and (3) I can be perfected through the grace of Jesus Christ (Moroni 10:30-33). I feel prompted to discuss the third principle. Here are the verses for this principle:

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

Moroni’s counsel to “come unto Christ” involves more than learning of and thinking about Him. Rather, this is an invitation to come unto Christ in the most complete sense possible – to become as He is. As you look back on your study of the Book of Mormon this year, what have you felt and learned about Jesus Christ? How has the Book of Mormon helped you to come unto Him. Are you more likely to rely more completely on His grace? How has your study helped you to “deny not” the Savior’s power?

Consider sharing your own witness of the Book of Mormon with someone who needs to hear it, including loved ones, and friends who may not know of its message. I can think of two bits of understanding that I gained in the past two or three weeks.

The first experience that I wish to share happened this week when we studied Moroni 10, which is famous for verses 4-5 about how to learn if the Book of Mormon is true.

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.

The lesson material suggested an April 2019 General Conference talk titled “Seeking Knowledge by the Spirit” and given by Elder Mathias Held of the Seventy. Elder Held spoke of two young men in dark suits who came to the home and taught he and his wife about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Elder Held and his wife wanted to know how they could know if what the missionaries were teaching was true. They knew of the scripture saying that we can “know them by their fruits,” so they decided to look for the fruits with “the eyes of our very rational minds.” They found a Church with (1) “friendly and happy people and wonderful families,” (2) no paid clergy but members who “accept assignments and responsibilities,” and (3) “A church where Jesus Christ and families are at the center of everything.”

There were other things that they liked about: (1) “the emphasis on personal growth, on education, on hard work and self-reliance,” (2) “the remarkable humanitarian program,” and (3) “the general conferences, with the wonderful music and the profound spiritual principles shared there.”

The Herds liked what they saw and could not find any faults with the Church. However, they wanted to know everything before being baptized. After ten months of studying the gospel, they read in Mosiah 18, “As ye are desirous to … bear one another’s burdens, … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, … if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord?”

These investigators of the Church of Jesus Christ recognized this passage from the Book of Mormon to be the answer to their questions about being baptized. This experience resonated with me and taught me that the Book of Mormon can answer all kinds of questions. As a long-time member, I sought to gain confirmation that the Church of Jesus Christ is true, and I found my answer in Third Nephi 27 where Jesus Christ teaches that His Church will be called by His name and built upon His teachings.

The second experience happened two weeks ago when we studied Moroni 1-6. In Moroni 6:5, we read, “And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.” This verse brought my patriarchal blessing to my mind, particularly the five different places where it counsels me to stay active in the Church. Then, I thought about the testimony meeting where I first began to question my testimony, which led me on a six-month quest to gain confirmation and the experience discussed in a paragraph above. If I had not been in that meeting on that day, I would not have heard the testimonies given and might not have ever decided to gain confirmation of my own testimony.

Have You Studied the Book of Mormon Recently?

My Come Follow Me Studies took me to 2 Nephi 31-33 in a lesson titled “This is the Way.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Among Nephi’s last recorded words, we find this declaration: “The Lord commanded me, and I must obey” (2 Nephi 33:15). This is a good summary of Nephi’s life. He tried to understand the will of God and courageously obeyed it –

Whether that meant risking his life to get the brass plates from Laban, building a boat and cross the sea, or faithfully teaching the doctrine of Christ with plainness and power. Nephi could speak persuasively of the need to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ,” of the following the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20, 18), because that is the path he followed. He knew by experience that this path, though demanding at times, is also joyful, and that “there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 31:21).

In 2 Nephi 31-32, Nephi taught the doctrine of Christ: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. He also taught the importance of prayer in helping us to live the doctrine of Christ.

As he concluded his writings, Nephi gave us the principle for this discussion: “The Book of Mormon persuades us all to believe in Christ” (2 Nephi 33). Second Nephi 33 contains only fifteen verses, so we will look at all of them to understand why Nephi wrote what he did.

1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

5 And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.

6 I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

7 I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.

8 I have charity for the Jew—I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.

9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, 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 he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

11 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 that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.

14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.

I put emphasis on the thoughts that I considered to be Nephi’s reasons for writing his record. Did you find any other reasons as you read the verses?

The full title of the record started by Nephi is the “Book of Mormon – Another Witness of Jesus Christ.” The Book of Mormon was written, preserved, and brought forth in our day as another witness to the Bible of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I have studied this book seriously for more than forty years, and it has been instrumental in my testimony and conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I invite and encourage you to study the Book of Mormon and to ask God if it is His word to His children. I did, and my answer was positive. What answer will you get?

How Can We Live in Happiness?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 2 Nephi 3-5 in a lesson titled “We Lived after the Manner of Happiness.” The lesson was introduced with the following information. 

Reading 1 Nephi, you might get the impression that Nephi was somehow larger than life. “Large in stature” both physically and spiritually (1 Nephi 2:16), he seemed unshaken by the trials he faced. Or at least that is what we might assume. While Nephi’s faith was remarkable, his tender words in 2 Nephi 4 reveal that even faithful people sometimes feel “wretched” and “easily beset” by temptations. Here we see someone who is trying, who wants to be joyful, but whose “heart groaneth because of [his] sins.” We can relate to this ad to the hopeful determination that follows: “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted” (see 2 Nephi 4:15-19).

While Nephi and his people learned to live “after the manner of happiness”

(2 Nephi 5:27), they also learned that happiness does not come easily or without periods of sorrow. It ultimately comes from trusting the Lord, “the rock of [our] righteousness” (2 Nephi 4:35).

The principle for this discussion comes from 2 Nephi 3:6-24: “Joseph Smith was chosen by God to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Lehi shared with his son Joseph a prophecy given by Joseph of Egypt. The prophecy was about a future “choice seer,” Joseph Smith. Verses 6-24 tell of many things that Joseph Smith would do to bless God’s people.

6 For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.

7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.

8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.

9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.

10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.

11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.

14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;

15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.

16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.

17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.

18 And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.

19 And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.

20 And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.

21 Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers.

22 And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy.

23 Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book.

24 And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.

Joseph Smith’s work has been “of great worth” to me, and it can be of great worth to you. From his work, I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are two separate Beings of flesh and bone. From his work, I know that families can live together for eternity. One important part of Joseph Smith’s mission was to bring forth the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I have studied the Book of Mormon and prayed to God to know if it is true. I received a witness that the Book of Mormon is true and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s church on earth today.