Why do we need the book of Mormon?

As a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I'm asked alot of times by friends, family, and yes; the occasional investigator will ask this; what do we need the Book of Mormon for?

I will attempt to answer in simplicity the real extent to which we need the Book of Mormon. Please bear with me as i'm not a perfect teacher, and so therefore do not always say things in the most simple of ways.

Now, for those of you who have questioned sincerely what do I need with the book of Mormon, one need look no further then Isaiah for the answer. In isaiah 6:9-13 As we can see Isaiah a Prophet in the old testament, was commanded to speak in such a way that his speech would be beyond the understanding of any who read his words. Much as was done with many other old testament prophets. A book of mormon prophet named Jacob taught his people plainly as to why this is he states in Jacob 4:14 As we can see from these two scriptures, the bible, although a wonderful source of spiritual enlightenment, and revelations of god. It is written in a language totally foreign to those that deal in plainess. It is, the best place anyone should go, for a record of the beggining of the human family, a book chalked full of the revelations of God to his anceint covenant people. Facts I would never dispute, nor is it my intention to tell you that the Book of Mormon is a better source of learning then the Bible.

However, what I would like to say, is that the book of Mormon, was written by the ancient inhabitants of the america's, for our day! Its predated to 600 BC, durring the time of Jermiah's prophecying. God, specifically instructed the Book of Mormon prophets to write in plainess, as Nephi proclaims, "My soul delighteth in plainess". These prophets words were given, as a way for the lord to reclaim both Jew and Gentile. To give unto the people what they really needed, when they stopped asking for things they could not understand, then he would grant unto them the plainess of his teachings.

Secondly, the Book of Mormon fufills many of the prophecies found in the Bible, to name off a few, but to be short in writting I will only give you the books and some of the reffrences, and will let you look them up if you so wish. Note:I've also included in this post the relevance of the scriptures as well. Ezekiel 37:15-17 The Book of Mormon was written by a group that are of the tribe of Ephraim. Isaiah 29 The book of Mormon is the voice of a people brought down low into the dust, because the ones who wrote the thing experienced anniahlation. Psalms 89 The book of Mormon was a book literally found burried in a hill. "Truth springing up from the ground", and many other prophecies, such as the one found in matthew 13 where christ says that the kingdom of heaven is likened unto the seed of a mustared tree, or a treasure in a field, Leaven which was hidden in three meassures of meal, and a seed that a man sewed ina field. For the Book of Mormon, was litterally sewn in a field of tree's. It was most deffinitely a treasure waiting to be found, (Joseph smith himself giving up all worldly persuits to bring fourth and testify of the Book of Mormon); it gained its strongest support from the leaven, or testimony of three special witnesses who litterally saw the angel moroni, and the plates of which have been spoken. The book was harrold in by the calling of angels, "Birds come to nest in the branches there of" not to mention John in his inspiried writings in the book of Revelations 14 "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the evelasting gospel". As we can see from these and many more prophecies, like the ones in Malachi of the lords words hissing fourth, the book of Mormon is most deffinitely needed in this dispensation. Any one who sincerly questions, and wishes to know of the truthfullness of it for themselves, need look no further, then to ask God the Eternal father, truely desiring the answer of it, through humble and sincere prayer. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Rumors

As a missionary, although you would think it would not be so; I hear a lot of rumors about people, places, things; some good, and some are bad. Sadly, such talk, however harmless it must seem to the user, may infact be a deadly poisoun that destroys the target with blinding speed. as it says in James 3:8-9 from what we can see of this scripture, the tongue is indeed an unruly thing, it is full of deadly poisoun. Many may ask themselves, well is it really cursing man if i'm not really saying anything directly to him? The answer is still yes! Just because you don't say directly to the person what you think of them, when you voice it to others it is just as bad!

Through this evil source, you may find the destruction of whole nations, but not just nations alone, but the individuals that inhabit them. I have found, that more often then not, when you spread a rumor here, or a rumor there, it spreads; and just like a plague of locust swarming in on the crops, they will eventually multiply. The saddest part about it, is that the people effected by such action usually go completely unaware of whats happening untill it grows too late! Sure, they may notice the snickering, or maybe even the people that act so strangely around them, but most of the time they will just brush it aside, as mere coincidence, or maybe they'll begin to think something is wrong with them, losing all hope of recieving the love and respect of their peers! I shouldn't have to remind anyone, that people like sheep or goats are herd animals, they require friendship, love, and the interactions of others to feel complete. To find a good lesson to remember, one need look no further then the churches own history. JS-H 1:1 Rumors began to circulate about our beloved prophet Joseph Smith even from the beggining of the churches devolopment. Due to this fact he was forced to publish this letter known as the wentworth letters to "Disabuse the public mind" as it were, or to silence the rumors that had arisen.

It is sad but it is also true, when an unkind thought it communicated one against another, the the rumor, no matter how harmless it seems, destroys the lives and lively hood of a person. They poisoun the mind, and can damage the reputation of one, who may not even be guilty of the act. Inconclusion, I would exhort you, if you have heard a rumor about someone, ignore it; or tell the person that has told you that although you respect their opinion, but you cannot believe that untill you know it for yourself. Then ask the affected person about themselves, get to know them; you will soon find that the shadows of the cloak of rumors, can only be parted by simple an honest communication. Its truth, it can part any cloak, that may cast darkness upon someone who may or may not be innocent, let us all walk a little closer to the lord. Let us attempt to bind up the broken hearted, not hurt needlesly destroy the already hurt!

Thoughts of a missionary!

So recently, had a chance to listen to many sides of the different groups that exsist, that do proclaim themselves to be, or do hold the title of Christian. I've had a chance to learn, from groups of people that we called Anti's or anti-mormons. They are people that go after missionaries, and members alike. I've recently had a chance to see what some of my own friends have said on the subject of my religion! Now, don't get me wrong this is not to go after them, to chastize anyone, or to be a state deffending our beliefs. But is merely to clear up mis-understandings that have seemed to have taken root inside the minds of many friends who truely do not know what to think. The first misunderstanding I would like to clear up, if I could talk to my friends right now, is the misconception, of the principle of what I do out here as a missionary. To all those who would like to know, its very simple. I "Invite others to come unto christ" the key word being "INVITE"! The term invite, does not mean to force, to endeanvor to prove by virture of intellgence what i'm doing, but to ask people if they would like to participate. This invitation is delivered by the missionaries, and is fufilled when the member prays to god by themselves for a witness that this work is true, and that this church is true! we do not pray with them when they recieve the witness for themselves, we do not use intellegence and whit, to win them over and bring them in. Its god that calls them to this church, that tells them its true. We, might testify unto them of the truthfullness of this church, but the witness that is required for them to enter this church, is the convincing evidence of the holy spirit! As it says in Romans 8:26

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

When an investigator asks for gods help, they recieve the spirits witness of this church! Its not through any intellegence on my part, or the part of any missionary, but the witness of the spirit. As is found in Galatians 5:20-22 " 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Through this witness they recieve the answer to their prayers! They join this church based off the witness given them by the spirit. We do not sit there and watch over their shoulder until they decide that based off the evidences its true, but they pray and recieve the witness! Its not god's way to force, but to invite. Thats what I do, I invite others to come by themselves and recieve greater light and truth, through asking god, and hearing the message, not by listening to me alone! I leave these things unto you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.