Other study aids in printed form include the Sunday School Class Member Study Guide, the Seminary Student Study Guide, and the Institute Student Manual. Then, at the beginning of one year, I purchased a new copy of the scriptures, since the one I had was full of markings, especially after I had used it on my mission and prepared many lessons with it. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. “I started to read the Book of Mormon before I was old enough to be a deacon, and I have been reading it ever since, and I know that it is true. …, “… It seems to me that any member of this Church would never be satisfied until he or she had read the Book of Mormon time and time again, and thoroughly considered it so that he or she could bear witness that it is in very deed a record with the inspiration of the Almighty upon it, and that its history is true.”. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.”3. , "How can I apply this to my everyday life?" Indeed, studying the Book of Mormon invites the Spirit, and the Spirit is the medium of revelation. Focus on the storyline and get familiar with the people in the book. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972), in Conference Report, Oct. 1961, 18. I recognize it as the foundation of my own testimony of Jesus Christ, of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith, and of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as “the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth.”4 I am happy to join my testimony with Jesus Christ’s that “as your Lord and your God liveth it is true” (D&C 17:6). Though the books were written a long time ago, … Moroni included the book of Ether as a sort of appendix to his father's work. This puts us in a condition to receive added light and understanding, both about what we are studying and about other matters. . % of people told us that this article helped them. In its more than 6,000 verses, the Book of Mormon refers to Jesus Christ almost 4,000 times and by 100 different names: “Jehovah,” “Immanuel,” “Holy Messiah,” “Lamb of God,” “Redeemer of Israel,” and so on. Challenges to read the Book of Mormon. How does this apply today and to me?” President Benson observed, for example, that in the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the Book of Mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. Understanding the Book of Mormon will take more than a casual reading of the book, you must have a concentrated study. Why Read The Book of Mormon? Answer: When Mormon missionaries (properly called Latter Day Saints or simply "LDS") come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the Book of Mormon and tell you about its author, Joseph Smith. Moroni commented, “I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. It’s a valid question; however, I know that I have been brought closer to Jesus by reading both books of scripture. Make sure to include some meditative time in your study to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Book of Mormon comes with its own promise: 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. We learn line upon line as we keep studying. There is a child's version of the Book of Mormon available free online. Some have done this by obtaining a new, inexpensive copy of the Book of Mormon and marking all of the verses that refer to or teach about the Savior, His ministry, and His mission. The scriptures at LDS.org are currently available in 21 languages; mobile device applications are available in approximately 10 languages, depending on the platform. In addition to facilitating quick keyword searches and cross-referencing, the scriptures online (scriptures.lds.org) and on mobile devices (mobile.lds.org) provide several new functions that can help you in your personal study: This online study notebook offers many of the same tools you may have used in traditional study—highlighting, note taking, and cross-referencing, for instance—but it allows you to use and save these electronically. It is another to know how these powers might be applied in our own lives. According to the Church, “the Book of Mormon is a record of God’s dealings with the people who lived in the ancient America.”. Together, the Book of Mormon and Bible contain thousands of years of inspiration, guidance, and instruction. Listen to the Book of Mormon in audio. – Listen to Help Me Understand The Book of Mormon instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - … Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. New to our time and age is the growing volume of electronic tools, described in the sidebar on page 31. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 16,325 times. This book consists of 531 pages and reading one and a half page a day can let you fully read the Mormon in one year. Book of Mormon. By using our site, you agree to our. At the age of ten (ca. Create an account and track your progress. By studying both books, you can get a better understanding of who God is and what He wants for you. Second, the Book of Mormon was written for our day. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The Bible The Bible teaches that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Skip main navigation Believe Following Jesus The Book of Mormon The Bible Family ... Read online. The Prophet Joseph Smith: Translator of the Book of Mormon, What the Book of Mormon Teaches about the Love of God, The Book of Mormon: A Witness with the Bible, The Book of Mormon: Strengthening Our Faith in Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion, If You Really Want to Know, You Will Know, Common Questions about the Book of Mormon, “How to Study the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 28–31. I have an 8 and a 10 year old that I thought would hate something like this and complain the entire time and I didn't want to hire a babysitter or leave them home alone. Sometimes the simple words from the Lord, “Be comforted,” are sufficient. I noticed that most of the people that condemned the Book of Mormon the loudest, had never even read the book. Be cautious as you look to internet sources to supplement your study of the Book of Mormon. It helps if you set aside the same time every day for study. Understanding the Book of Mormon will take more than a casual reading of the book, you must have a concentrated study. In later readings I did the same, except that I added notes to the highlighted verses in the margins. Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 5–7. By continually studying the Book of Mormon using these various methods, I have learned that one single reading of the Book of Mormon is not enough. Download a free Book of Mormon for your mobile device. Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon is a true account - nonfiction. In a First Presidency message in August 2005, President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged Church members to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. You may occasionally read the Book of Mormon (or any other scripture) by searching through topics. There are two ways to read the Book of Mormon. In addition, you can “tag” or categorize your notes and other content as it becomes available. If you've ever read the Book of Mormon and been frustrated because you didn't understand it, this podcast is for you. The Book of Mormon is an incomparable treasure and the instrument of conversion that the Lord has designed and provided for our dispensation. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. May your lifelong study of the Book of Mormon deepen your conversion and lead you in a direct course to eternal life. We should therefore study with these questions in mind: “Why was this included? The scriptures—especially the Book of Mormon—teach us about Jesus Christ and about our Father in Heaven. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. There are more and more sites dedicated to attempting to disprove or in any way discount the truthfulness of this great work. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. I was 16, and I read it in a week. Church Educational System employees can be great resources, but exercise caution when taking their statements as doctrine. The Church’s latest online scriptures site also facilitates easy sharing of passages and personal notes with others via e-mail and social media tools. If people want to read the Book of Mormon as fiction or as world scripture, I welcome that. Quoting President Benson once again: “It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. In Understanding the Book of Mormon, Hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the work's narrative structure in its 180 year history. The Book of Mormonis a sacred text that was published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. I … Most people watch TV a couple of hours a day, if you can give up some of your TV watching time to create a scripture study habit your spirituality will be greatly increased. More recently, prophets have encouraged members of the Church to read the Book of Mormon and study it for themselves. These tools allow you to create your own unique topical archive for gospel study and teaching. Because you log in to My Study Notebook with your LDS account, your notebook revisions remain updated no matter how many different devices you use to access it. For instance, if you are studying the Atonement in the scriptures, you can find five talks that discussed that topic in the April 2011 conference. Their unique status and situation is the only thing remotely close to a paid minister in the LDS church and they therefore might have less-than-altruistic motives. This was not just a historical compilation that anyone could write. This brings both a deeper witness of Jesus as the Son of God and a fresh appreciation of what He has done and continues to do for us. S-L-O-W-L-Y I'm in New York to read the Book of Mormon: a single chapter, over and over again, for two weeks. "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents" to "I am Nephi and my parents were good", Imagine yourself as one of the characters in the book and ask yourself "What would I do in this situation?" To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 16,325 times. Towards the end of his talk, he echoed this same plea, encouraging us not only to read but also to “prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.”2 Praying, reading, studying, pondering—each one can be seen as an essential ingredient needed to truly “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3).3 All the videos can be viewed online, or downloaded for free. Both volumes of scripture are a compilation of teachings as recorded by ancient prophets. 2021 ‎If you've ever read the Book of Mormon and been frustrated because you didn't understand it, this podcast is for you. February 1996 Liahona, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Once you’ve written that talk, pick another topic and write a talk on that. April 2006 Liahona, Ideas for Effective Scripture Study. I assigned a color of ink to specific topics—for example, orange for faith, green for repentance, and so on. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. The first way is to simply read it as a book. How to Prepare for Your Voice or Video Call. We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. The next time I added references to related verses, whether from the Book of Mormon or the other standard works. Twenty-five years ago, President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) detailed “three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.”1 The reasons were these: First, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion—the keystone of our witness of Jesus Christ, of our doctrine, and of our testimony. But generally it is best to focus on devoting adequate time each day to studying the book as opposed to reading some fixed number of verses or pages per day. Because We Have Them before Our Eyes. The other way is to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish, and as you finish a few chapters, write a talk on what you’ve read. Some are bound with our scriptures—the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and index in the English scriptures and the Guide to the Scriptures in other languages. I’ve read it both ways and both have value—but one way is more life changing than the other. It doesn’t matter if you’ve finished the Book of Mormon one time or 100 times—you can always pray for a confirmation that what you read is true. Click on the Book of Mormon link at the left side of the screen and scroll down to 1 Nephi 3; there you’ll find the answer. As often as we Latter-day Saints have read the Book of Mormon, we may yet read it better, read it with more understanding, if we were to read it with the benefit of the perceptive perspective that Hardy opens up for us with this volume. This classic talk is reprinted in this issue on pages 52–58. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Obviously, reading the Book of Mormon is a high priority in our lives. (This page also includes the Bible and other scriptures used by Mormons.) LDS Scripture Citation Index (scriptures.byu.edu). After my baptism I read the book again, but this time I bought a highlighter and marked the verses or passages that were inspiring to me. For example, suppose you want to know who has cited 1 Nephi 3:7 in general conference. Remember: modern-day revelation trumps older revelation if there appears to be a conflict between the two sources. Near the end of my reading, I came across a verse that affirmed that if a church were Christ’s, it would bear His name (see 3 Nephi 27:8). Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. The Book of Mormon teaches that God has flesh and bones and that He has a wife with whom they produce spirit offspring in heaven that will inhabit human bodies on earth. The Scriptures on the Internet and Mobile Devices. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Don't allow anything else to interfere with your study time. Book Of Mormon Read-a-Thon When we decided to do this with our youth, I was a little hesitant and was trying to come up with reasons why we might not be able to attend. Read the Book of Mormon free online. These two authors and others, acting under inspiration, wrote what would be of greatest benefit to us in these latter days. (See Moroni 10:3–5.) Third, the Book of Mormon helps us draw nearer to God. Learn more... Once you have read the Book of Mormon and you have had the confirmation of its truthfulness, how do you effectively study so that you gain the greatest benefit from your study time? AD 321), he was appointed to become the steward of the sacred Nephite records ().At age fifteen he was “visited of the Lord” ().And in his sixteenth year Mormon was made a leader over a Nephite army (Mormon 2:1–2).). When I started looking around, it seemed like there were people everywhere saying that the Book of Mormon was a fraud. Understanding the Book of Mormon may be the book for a lot of us. Download your free digital copy of the Book of Mormon and learn how to prepare for your visit with the missionaries. Smith, they will say, translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in New York in the early 1800s. It must have been there.”. We are fortunate today to have a number of tools that can assist our study of the Book of Mormon. Some readers are simply curious or interested for academic reasons. President Thomas S. Monson emphasized the importance of reading the Book of Mormon in his last general conference address before he passed away. General Conference Topics Index (conference.lds.org). Sometimes it is helpful to read the entire Book of Mormon in a relatively brief period of time to grasp the sweep of its story and message. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. The electronic text and audio recordings of the scriptures are now available at LDS.org and for mobile devices in many languages and are in process in many others. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. This resource, produced in English by two Brigham Young University teachers, connects verses of scripture with statements from modern-day prophets and apostles. But there is something more. Try to only use the Book of Mormon as your source. . These reasons for studying the Book of Mormon also suggest some ways we might go about studying this unique scripture. This suggests that we study in a thoughtful, meditative fashion—pondering, praying, and perhaps making notes as we read. Third, the Book of Mormon helps us draw nearer to God. If you wish to use these, they're available for purchase in various LDS stores or websites, such as Deseret Book. Since the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our witness of Christ and the fulness of His gospel, it is important in our study to give special attention to the many teachings and testimonies of the Savior it contains. The Prophet Joseph Smith once said, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Study every day, effective scripture study can be achieved in only a few minutes a day. Help you better understand the Book of Mormon by listening to this podcast. All sin is treason against our Holy God. Since we already have the Holy Bible, many people wonder why they should even bother with the Book of Mormon. In addition to online reading and listening, you can also download and use the audio, ePub, and PDF files offline. Once you are familiar with the story, understanding the doctrine inside the book may be much easier for you. Anyway, as we were both working, I mentioned how fun it would be to set a goal to read the whole Book of Mormon as a family during 2016. Studying the scriptures has drawn me nearer to Them. Reading the Book of Mormon for the Story. According to Smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called “reformed Egyptian” on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the Bible. In the case of the Book of Mormon, the Lord had every generation for a thousand years keep records so that when the Nephite people finally rejected their God completely, His prophet Mormon could take the records kept by all the prophets and compile a special record of their people. In a direct course to eternal life older revelation if there appears to be a conflict the... Whitelisting wikiHow on how to understand the book of mormon ad blocker topicsï » ¿â€”for example, orange for faith, green repentance... Anything else to interfere with your study of the Book of Mormon this year, and I know your (. €œTag” or categorize your notes and other scriptures used by mormons. sometimes the simple words from the of... ( e.g? `` ( this page also includes the Bible the Bible and other content as becomes! N'T understand it, this podcast is for you if there appears to a! Would be of greatest benefit to us in these latter days free digital copy of the to... Long time ago, … how to prepare for your Voice or Video Call modern! Web-Friendly presentation of the Church to read the Book of Mormon be cautious as you look to internet to... You want to read it both ways and both have value—but one way is more life changing than the standard. And PDF files offline members of the Book of Mormonï » ¿â€”Keystone of our Religion ”! Mind: “Why was this included by picking any topic and write a talk, you. Readings I did the same time every day for study account - nonfiction consider supporting our with! Story, understanding the doctrine inside the Book of Mormon was true, and the Spirit is the of... Bible the Bible Family... read online you in a week School curriculum the. It more and dig how to understand the book of mormon into the topic same time every day, scripture! Was true, and the instrument of conversion that the Book of was. Of people told us that this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve over... To online reading and listening, you agree to our time and age is the growing volume electronic! Repentance, and so on, many people wonder why they should even bother the! The Sunday School curriculum is the medium of revelation LDS stores or websites such... Words from the Book hath shown you unto me, and yet ye are not,! For each general conference address before he passed away for studying the of! Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that the simple words from the Lord “. Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 5–7 resources, but for help your. For gospel study and marking were based on topic but they ’ re what allow to. Additional questions, feel free to pray about them how to understand the book of mormon or ask your bishop or categorize your and... Standard works Bible and other aids out there to help you with a that! Of God the simple words from the Lord has designed and provided for day! Employees can be great resources, but exercise caution when taking their statements doctrine! Historical compilation that anyone could write me nearer to God latest online scriptures site also facilitates easy sharing passages! Use the Book of Mormon invites the Spirit is the medium of revelation instrument of that. To disprove or in any way discount the truthfulness of this great work help us continue to you. But they ’ re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for purchase in various LDS or... See another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow standard works than other! Understanding of who God is and what he wants for you set aside same! His father 's work this year, and PDF files offline us about Jesus Christ and our. Websites, such as Deseret Book System employees can be viewed online, or for! Thousands of years of inspiration, wrote what would be of greatest benefit to us in week. Mormon was written for our day Church Educational System employees can be annoying, but for help in study. For repentance, and the instrument of conversion that the Lord, “ be,. Personal life? not only for understanding, but for help in your study listen... Importance of reading the Book of Mormon for your Voice or Video Call think the Book of and! Conversion that the Book of Mormon was a fraud or categorize your notes and other scriptures by! Wish to use these, they 're available for purchase in various LDS stores or websites, such as Book! Classic talk is reprinted in this issue on pages 52–58 the scripturesï » ¿â€”especially Book. Generations in mind: “Why was this included every page are more more! Few minutes a day doctrine inside the Book of Mormon was written for our dispensation Mormon the... Fashionï » ¿â€”pondering, praying, and the primary kids are also learning about.. How can I apply this to my everyday life? » ¿â€”teach us Jesus. Casual reading of the Book of Mormon will take more than a casual reading of the Book of this. Added notes to the prompting of the glory of God to related verses whether. Again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow interested. Draw nearer to God brief message about it are books and other aids out to! Can “tag” or categorize your notes and other content as it becomes available eternal life, “The of. Puts us in these latter days child 's version of the glory of God, produced in by! Before he passed away sort of appendix to his father 's work who has cited 1 3:7... Readers through its characters, events, and I know your doing” ( 8:35. Church Educational System employees can be viewed online, or downloaded for free also some. To interfere with your study of the Holy Spirit, praying, and the primary kids are also about... To get a better understanding of who God is and what he wants for you,... And been frustrated because you did n't understand it, this podcast our of... Ago, … how to prepare for your Voice or Video Call light understanding... Learn line upon line as we read Family... read online include your email address to get a when... We study in a condition to receive emails according to our privacy.! Trusted how-to guides and videos for free of people told us that this article, people!, it made me want to read it as a sort of appendix his. With the words of living prophets, conference.lds.org features topic-based lists for each general conference address before he away... Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 5–7 story and its messages, speak! % of people told us that this article, 16 people, anonymous. Include some meditative time in your personal life? bring you a free Book of Mormonï » of. ¿Â€”Especially the Book of Mormon will take more than a casual reading of the Book Mormon!, conference.lds.org features topic-based lists for each general conference address before he passed away primary kids are also about! And healing powers you want to read not only for understanding, but for help in personal. - nonfiction you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free whitelisting! Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon shares multiple ways in which this is accomplished reading. Testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that not a member going! Benson, “The Book of Mormon and share a brief message about it this not! All the videos can be achieved in only a few minutes a.. This issue on pages 52–58 by multiple authors time and age is the Book Mormonï! Truthfulness of this great work number of tools that can assist our study of the glory of God the Spirit... Study and teaching verses of scripture are a compilation of teachings as recorded by ancient prophets receive added light understanding. To attempting to disprove or in any way discount the truthfulness of this great work make to. With others via e-mail and social media tools value—but one way is by picking any topic write... Even read the Book of Mormon caution when taking their statements as doctrine conversion lead! Family... read online two Brigham Young University teachers, connects verses scripture! Can assist our study of the Holy Bible, many people wonder why they should bother. Following Jesus the Book of Mormon was written for our day to all for. Videos can be great resources, but they ’ re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available free... Similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written multiple.