The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon-Keystone of Our Religion

September 21, 1823
 On the night of September 21, 1823, Joseph retired to his attic bedroom in
his familys log home in Palmyra, New York, but he stayed awake after the
others in the room had gone to sleep, earnestly praying to know more about
Gods purposes for him.
In answer to his prayer, Joseph saw a light appear in his room that grew
brighter and brighter until the room was lighter than at noonday. A heavenly
messenger appeared at his bedside, standing in the air, wearing a robe of
exquisite whiteness. (Joseph SmithHistory 1:3031.) This messenger was
Moroni, the last Nephite prophet, who centuries earlier had buried the plates
upon which the Book of Mormon was written and who now held the keys
pertaining to this sacred record (see D&C 27:5). He had been sent to tell
Joseph that God had forgiven his sins and had a great work for him to do. As
part of this work, Joseph was to go to a nearby hill, where a sacred record,
written on gold plates, was deposited. Joseph was to translate the record
and bring it forth to the world.
The next day, Joseph went to the hill where the Book of Mormon plates were
buried. There he met Moroni and saw the plates, but was told that he would
not receive them for four years.
On September 22, 1827, [Josephs wife, Emma,] went with him to the hill
and waited nearby while Moroni delivered the plates into the Prophets hands
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 5759).
When pressed for specifics about the process of translation, Joseph
repeated on several occasions that it had been done by the gift and
power of God and once added, It was not intended to tell the world
all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon.
Nevertheless, the scribes and others who observed the translation
left numerous accounts that give insight into the process. Some
accounts indicate that Joseph studied the characters on the plates.
Most of the accounts speak of Josephs use of the Urim and Thummim
(either the interpreters or the seer stone), and many accounts refer to
his use of a single stone. According to these accounts, Joseph placed
either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into
the hat to block out extraneous light, and read aloud the English words
that appeared on the instrument. The process as described brings to
mind a passage from the Book of Mormon that speaks of God
preparing a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light
[Alma 37: 2324] (Book of Mormon Translation, Gospel
Topics, lds.org/topics).
Think of the short time Joseph took to translate the Book of
Mormon. Working from April to June of 1828, Joseph
translated the 116 pages that Martin Harris later lost. Joseph
began translating again on Tuesday, April 7, 1829, with Oliver
Cowdery as scribe. The manuscript was completed eighty-
five days later, on June 30 of that year. Of course, not all of that
time was spent working on the translation. Conservatively
estimated, this left sixty-five or fewer working days on which
the prophet and his scribes translated this book, which
contains 531 pages in its current edition. (See John W.
Welch, Ensign, Jan. 1988, pp. 4647.) That calculates to an
average of eight pages per day. Consider this when you
translate a book, or as you schedule your own reading of the
Book of Mormon (A Treasured Testament, Ensign, July
1993, 6162).
 Ifwe do not know all of the details
surrounding the coming forth of the Book
of Mormon, how can we know that this
book is true?

What has helped you gain a testimony of

the Book of Mormon?
 First came Moroni with the plates from which was translated the
Book of Mormon. What a singular and remarkable thing this was.
Josephs story of the gold plates was fantastic. It was hard to
believe and easy to challenge. Could he have written it of his own
capacity? It is here, my brothers and sisters, for everyone to see, to
handle, to read. Every attempt to explain its origin, other than that
which he gave, has fallen of its own weight. He was largely
unschooled; and yet, in a very brief time, he brought forth the
translation which in published form comes to more than 500
pages.
Through all of these years critics have tried to explain it. They
have spoken against it. They have ridiculed it. But it has outlived
them all, and its influence today is greater than at any time in its
history (The Stone Cut Out of the
Mountain,Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 85).
 Why do you think these men needed to show
faith like the prophets of old before the Lord
would allow them to see the plates?
According to vs. 3-5, what responsibility would
these witnesses have after seeing the plates?
What responsibility do we have when the Lord
manifests to us the truthfulness of the Book of
Mormon?
How might testifying of the truth be
demonstrated of our faith?
 1820 First Vision received
1823 Moronis visits began
1829 Priesthood restored
June 1829 Book of Mormon translation
completed
April 6, 1830 Church organized
 What do you think this statement means?
 There are three ways in which the
Book of Mormon is the keystone of
our religion. It is the keystone in
our witness of Christ. It is the
keystone of our doctrine. It is the
keystone of testimony (The Book
of MormonKeystone of Our
Religion, Ensign,Nov. 1986, 5).
 For [more than 180] years this book has been examined and
attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like
perhaps no other book in modern religious historyperhaps
like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands.
Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted
and have diedfrom Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to
deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly
pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination
because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its
young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-
grandfather, who said simply enough, No wicked man could
write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless
it were true and he were commanded of God to do so (Safety
for the Soul, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 89).
 In moments of doubt or
troubling times, hold the ground
you have already won, even if that
ground is limited. When those
moments come and issues surface,
the resolution of which is not
immediately forthcoming, hold fast
to what you already know and stand
strong until additional knowledge
comes
(Lord,I Believe, Ensign or Liahona, May 2013,
9394).
 Every Latter-day Saint should make the
study of this book a lifetime pursuit.
Otherwise, he is placing his soul in
jeopardy and neglecting that which could
give spiritual and intellectual unity to his
whole life. There is a difference between a
convert who is built on the rock of Christ
through the Book of Mormon and stays
hold of that iron rod, and one who does
not (The Book of Mormon Is the Word of
God, Ensign, Jan. 1988, 5).
 Consider how the Book of Mormon
has influenced your life.
What could you do to give greater
priority to studying the Book of
Mormon?
Moronis promise Moroni 10:3-5, if
you desire to strengthen your
testimony of the book of Mormon
you can do so by studying the book
and praying about its truthfulness.