Why Would the Book of Mormon Need to Testify of Jesus Christ?

You may be wondering what the ancient people in the Americas have to do with Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ came to redeem the world, those outside of the Holy Land are not exempt from his influence. We learn in the Book of Mormon from prophets that Christ was prophesied to visit those lands and minister to His people there. Because prophecies of Christ were recorded in the Book of Mormon, the people were also entitled to signs of His coming.

Signs of Jesus Christ’s Birth

One of the Lord’s prophets in the Book of Mormon is Samuel the Lamanite. He was sent to warn the Nephite people, who were at that time very wicked, about the coming of Jesus Christ. In his sermon, Samuel delivers many warnings contingent on the Nephites’ repentance, and he also gives several prophecies regarding Christ’s birth.

Samuel visited the Nephites about five years before Christ was going to be born. Samuel said,

Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name. And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; . . . And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never beheld. (Helaman 14:3 – 5)

These signs became very important to the righteous people at this time. Not only did these promises sustain their faith, but the realization of these signs actually saved the lives of the believers (see 3 Nephi 1:8 – 21).

Signs of Christ’s Death

Samuel the Lamanite also foretold signs of the death of Jesus Christ. This time would be one of great destruction.

But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead. (Helaman 14: 20)

Samuel goes on to prophesy of earthquakes, tempests, and fire that would destroy cities and those who did not believe. These events would happen in darkness and would continue for the three days that Christ’s body lay in the tomb. (See Helaman 14:21 – 27.) The purpose of these signs is “to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men” (Helaman 14:28). Following the realization of these signs, Jesus Christ would visit the Nephite and Lamanite peoples in all His glory. You can read more about how these signs were manifested in 3 Nephi chapters 8 through 10.

Why Signs Are Important

We have read accounts of those who unrighteously ask for grand signs like those prophesied of in the Book of Mormon. Heavenly Father prefers we not ask for signs when the witness of the Holy Ghost would suffice. Sometimes, though, He offers signs to His people to signify major events, like the birth and death of His son, and also to prove to His people that He keeps His promises. The Church of Jesus Christ says that “[signs] remind the children of God of covenants the Lord has made with them. Signs may also bear witness of a divine calling or indicate the Lord’s disapproval” (“Signs,” lds.org)

The fact that the Book of Mormon gave signs of both Christ’s birth and death are important because they prove that the Book of Mormon really does witness of the Savior. Heavenly Father ensured that His people all over the globe would know that His Son would come to redeem them. No one was excluded from that knowledge and the blessings that come from that knowledge. We can take comfort in knowing that God will give us every opportunity to learn of and accept His gospel.

I’ve read the Book of Mormon through several times, and each time I’m increasingly grateful for this testament of Jesus Christ. The signs given in the Book of Mormon prove that God keeps His promises, and these accounts solidify my faith in the promises that He makes today. The Book of Mormon also prophesied of Christ’s Second Coming, and because I know that God has fulfilled His promises before, I know that He will continue to do so. We should be so excited that the Book of Mormon contains signs of Christ’s birth and death, because it goes to prove that the miracle of Jesus Christ extends to all people.

Where did The Book of Mormon come from?

The Book of Mormon is a collection of writings that chronicle the course of some people living in the ancient Americas from about 600 BC to 400 AD. Most were of Israelite descent through Joseph and his son, Manasseh. These words were passed from prophet to prophet, eventually ending up in the charge of Mormon, the next-to-last Book of Mormon prophet. Mormon compiled all the records he had into one set of plates and, per divine guidance, hid them in the ground.

The golden plates weren’t unearthed until 1823, when an angel guided Joseph Smith to the site.[1] The plates weren’t taken from the site until 1827 when Joseph began his translation. The translation of the Book of Mormon was made possible by divine tools and revelation; Latter-day Saints believe the translation of the Book of Mormon to be more perfect than any other book.

Why is the Book of Mormon important?

The Book of Mormon serves several purposes, the most important being that it testifies of Jesus Christ, just as the Bible does. The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to “persuade [us] to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God” (Jacob 1:7). The Book of Mormon illustrates that two witnesses are more powerful than one. The Lord prophesied of the resistance the Book of Mormon would endure:

Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? . . . Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? . . . I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever (2 Nephi 29:6–9).

The Book of Mormon is no different from the Bible: its purposes and doctrines are the same.  Both are God’s revelations to ancient prophets with contextual history.

The Book of Mormon and Bible work together

Both sets of scripture testify of Jesus Christ. Jesus actually visited the Book of Mormon peoples after His resurrection. The Bible supports this theology. In John 10:16 Jesus Himself explains that “other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

The doctrines of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon support each other. The Book of Mormon actually acts as clarifying scripture for several doctrines presented in the Bible. Because the Bible has undergone so many translations and versions, it only makes sense that key gospel truths could be lost or distorted in those processes.

For instance, the Book of Mormon clarifies and expands on the doctrine of baptism. Jesus Christ Himself was baptized and showed by way of example that we all must be baptized. Other Christian denominations have misinterpreted this doctrine; some faiths do not baptize by full immersion and many practice baptizing infants. The Book of Mormon provides insight into the baptismal ordinance: baptism must be done by immersion, being “buried in the water” (Mosiah 18:14), and baptism should be performed only on those able to comprehend the ordinance and its covenants—“unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin” (Moroni 8:10)—, not infants.

We need both books

The Bible and Book of Mormon rely on each other. Not only do we learn of how the gospel of Christ worked in two different societies, we also learn more about the doctrine of Christ when we allow the Bible and Book of Mormon to work together. Both books testify of Christ, and both show us the processes we need to follow to return to Him. When you combine the Bible and the Book of Mormon, you see that the gospel of Jesus Christ knows no bounds—it transforms and exalts souls.