A new update to Mormon Messages entitled, Book of Mormon: An Introduction, narrated by Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, spoke about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, stating that this book are the words of ancient prophets of God, spoken by the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation.
Can we believe this?- The answer is Yes, it is believable, as it is also believable that the Bible is the word of God.
The Book of Mormon is as believable as the Bible.
Many outside the Church, even those who disaffected from the Church would deny my statement that the Book of Mormon is as believable as the Bible. Those that doubt or deny will claim that the Bible is clearly the word of God, but not the Book of Mormon, but have they really thought about it?
Many who read and believe the Bible do so by their personal choice. Many have not researched the Bible or read history or seek historic evidence of its existence in past centuries, but they still believe. They have not sought out physical proof that Jesus lived on this earth and died on the cross, yet they simply believed it when they read it. They may believe the words spoken by others, by a local pastor or friend who speaks to them about their local Christian church. For a large number of these people, what it comes down to for them, is they simply believe. An act of mind and heart that is no different for those who simply believe the Book of Mormon.
Some may claim that the Bible is backed up by historic fact, proven that it was written by ancient people, but none of these temporal claims can prove it is the word of God.
Please read that last sentence again, it said that no historic evidence can prove the Bible to be the word of God and no historic evidence can prove the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
For anything to be the word of God must be proven by the Holy Spirit, not by historic evidence.
It is true that historic fact can prove something existed in the past, that a person did live on the earth and died on the earth, that a person wrote something long ago, yet this alone does not prove it was the word of God. Many ancient writings exist from many different people about many different subjects. Does that prove they wrote the word of God? How do you know that a famous thinker from the past was not inspired by God? Simply, physical proof alone cannot prove anything is of God, more is required.
In the Bible, a prophet is of God when he speaks by the Spirit of Revelation or Spirit of Prophecy. To recognize this as true requires the same Spirit. This is a rule set out by Paul the Apostle where he said, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:14 ). It was established by Paul that the words he spoke and wrote were not given to him by men, they were given to him by the Spirit of Revelation, “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” ( Galatians 1:12 ).
The word of God is the word of God when it is confirmed by the Spirit of Revelation or Spirit of Prophecy, such that you will know it is true and of God.
A person may believe it is the word of God, but no person can testify as a witness that any word is of God without the Spirit of Revelation or Spirit of Prophecy confirming to them it is of God. It is the only method by which the ancient prophets spoke and wrote the word of God. No one can say that any person is a prophet of God by mere belief alone, it is only by revelation they can testify it is true.
How many of you can testify the Bible is the word of God by the Spirit of Revelation?
If you believe the Holy Ghost spoke a confirmation to you, then he has not spoken to you. A belief is not a sure knowledge neither is it a true experience, it is merely an acceptance that something is true without a sure confirmation. When a person receives the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of Revelation and Prophecy, he or she will know he exists and the words he spoke are true. It steps beyond a belief, it is a surety that it is true, it is a confirmation, as true as God himself appearing and saying he exists.
What then can any person do to determine if the Book of Mormon is the word of God?
You can believe it is true and seek a confirmation from the Holy Spirit of Truth, or desire to sincerely know it is true and seek the same Spirit. Either way, such sincere actions of mind and heart will gain a spiritual testimony, a spiritual witness from the Spirit of Prophecy or Spirit of Revelation.
I can testify that I have done the same.
Having received the Spirit of Prophecy or Revelation, I do have a spiritual witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith was God’s prophet and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church of Jesus Christ.
You may read my testimonies by clicking the menu link above entitled “Testimony”
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
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