by Bernadette Jasmin

Created on: July 10, 2008

The Book of Mormon is the keystone upon which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints stands. What is a keystone? "The keystone of an arch holds the other stones in place. 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."

In 1982 the subtitle Another Testament of Jesus Christ was added to the title of the Book of Mormon. It is an additional testament of the Savior. It is fundamental to a testimony of the restored gospel. It increases understanding of important gospel doctrines found in the Bible. According to modern revelation "The Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the 'fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ'. That does not mean it contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation." (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 4; or Ensign, Nov. 1986,6).

This book is also an account written and abridged by Mormon, an ancient prophet, of the Americas. Later his writings were translated from the "gold plates", into early colonial English by Joseph Smith, Jun.

Where did the book come from?

Joseph Smith, Jun. testifies that at the age of 14 he resided in the town of Palmyra, New York. There was a great furor about religion during that time. As he prayed about which of all the churches in the area he should join he had a celestial visitation from God the Father and his son Jesus Christ in a grove of trees. This patch of ground would later be called, "The Sacred Grove", by many visitors to the area.

In the course of time Joseph Smith had other celestial visitors. At some point one of these visitors the angel Moroni, an ancient prophet, delivered to him the "gold plates" that would later be called the Book of Mormon.

Other witnesses were allowed to feel and see the plates as confirmation of its validity. In the beginning of the Book of Mormon these personal witness are documented in the persons of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris and several others besides.

What does the book contain?

The Book of Mormon sites the cycle and progression of the historical downfall of a people brought to the Americas by the Lord. Throughout the Book of Mormon many sagas are played out in the lives of these people and their dealings with God. A reader can witness the cycle of righteousness and decay of

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