I have a question for you regarding the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. A substantial portion of the book simply seems out of place for the historical period it was written in (555-549 B.C.,* if my sources are correct). I find in The Book of Mormon the use of New Testament doctrines, language and concepts during a time period which, according to when the book was reportedly written, is distinctly Old Testament. I am not thinking here of isolated expressions like the terms gospel, Christian or church, but passages that reflect a combination of New Testament texts. For example, 2 Nephi 31:13 reads: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism --yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel".

Here we have almost the whole plan of salvation, as distinctively revealed in the New Testament times (i.e., the threefold combination of repentance, water baptism and reception of the Holy Spirit in Peter's Pentecostal sermon in Acts 2:38), combined with echoes of John the Baptist's teaching (baptism with the fire and the Spirit--Mt. 3:11) and Paul's later reference to tongues of angels (1 Cor. 13:2). Then, to site another example, in 2 Nephi 31:21 there appears to be a clear reference to Acts 4:12 combined with Jesus' characteristic topic of "the kingdom of God" ("there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God").

There are certainly other references which I cannot expound upon, given the limitations of e-mail, but I think you can see where my dilemma is. The Book of Mormon abounds with explicit references to Christ, to his life and ministry and to the three persons of the Godhead long before New Testament times, even though none of these concepts or terms ever appear in these forms in our Old Testament or other ancient Jewish literature. Given this, it is easy to imagine a nineteenth-century writer, well versed in the KJV, composing such a collage of concepts, while it is difficult to believe the Book of Mormon to be the ancient inspired work of God that it claims to be. Your comments on this would be appreciated.

* [The Book of Mormon was actually written between 600 BC and 421 AD] Bev

It is my understanding that one reason Christ came was to fulfill the Law of Moses and bring a higher law.  The Law of Moses was given to the Children of Israel as a lesser law, a schoolmaster if you will, because of their inability to comply to the gospel that Moses presented to them the first time he descended from Mt. Sinai and found them worshipping the golden calf.  Paul does hint that Moses performed baptisms.  He wrote, "MOREOVER, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."
(1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

The gospel of faith, repentance, baptism and the reception of the Holy Ghost, has always been the steps onto the "strait and narrow path" that leads to Eternal Life.  Adam was taught these principles and ordinances by the Lord himself.  "And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you."   (This statement made by the Lord to Adam is part of a scripture, not in the Bible, but additional writings of Moses that were revealed to the Prophet, Joseph Smith called the Book of Moses 6:52 in the Pearl of Great Price.)

The gospel along with these sacred ordinances and the priesthood authority to perform them were lost through wickedness several times down through ancient history.  Noah carried them into the next dispensation and then  was revealed to Abraham. There have been what appears to be fonts for baptism that have been discovered which date long before Christ.

Of course, John the Baptist went about teaching and baptizing before Christ began his ministry which was inaugurated when Christ came to John to be baptized in the river Jordan (Matthew 3:14).

The real test of the truth of The Book of Mormon is not just in the corroborating archeological evidences that have been discovered long after it was published.  It's not in the prophecies in the Bible that speak of these descendants of Joseph who would be separated from their brothers in a land of everlasting hills (Rockies to the Andes - see Genesis 49:21,26) nor is it in the prophecy of Ezekial when he wrote of the branch of Joseph who would write and have their writings (The Book of Mormon) become "one in thine hand" with the writings of Judah (The Bible) see Ezekial 37:15) It's not in the many nuances of names and customs that are mentioned in the Book of Mormon that were not known when Joseph translated the ancient records which have since proven to be accurate.

What I'm getting at here is that it's practically impossible for anyone, let alone someone with Joseph's limited education, to have conjured up this book and yet it's truth does not rely on these evidences.  The truth of it is to be spiritually discerned.  Here is it's own promise in the very last chapter:

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
(Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:4-5)

I have put this promise to a genuine test and have received my own strong convictions accordingly.

I sincerely hope this helps.  Thanks for your email and question.

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[BEV'S COMMENTS: I also bear witness that if you follow Moroni's promise as stated above, by Donny, you will get an answer to your prayers.  Back in the 1970's I put Moroni's promise to the test.  I knew that IF the Book of Mormon were true and IF it really was scripture from God, then all the other things the missionaries had been teaching me, like the Joseph Smith story (The First Vision) were also true. So I had to pray to find out for myself. As I knelt there, humbly asking if the book were true, I felt an unearthly warmth move from my head to the bottom of my feet.  I was wrapped in peace and love, and I had my answer.  Since that time, I have prayed to have a solid testimony of many things I learn.  What a great blessing to know that a loving Father in Heaven really does listen to every single one of His children, and He will reveal truth to us, if we sincerely want to know.  I know he will reveal it to each of you also.]

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Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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