![]() ![]() Can a small number of us bring the whole Church under condemnation because we trifle with sacred things? What will we say at the Judgment when we stand before Him and meet His probing gaze if we are among those described as forgetting the new covenant? If the early Saints were rebuked for treating the Book of Mormon lightly, are we under any less condemnation if we do the same? The Lord Himself bears testimony that it is of eternal significance. This is one of the reasons why we have recently added the words “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” to the title of the Book of Mormon. Is this what the Lord meant when He called the Book of Mormon the “new covenant”? It is indeed another testament or witness of Jesus. The word testament is the English rendering of a Greek word that can also be translated as covenant. Has the fact that we have had the Book of Mormon with us for over a century and a half made it seem less significant to us today? Do we remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon? In the Bible we have the Old Testament and the New Testament. And then the Lord said, “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon” ( D&C 84:54–57). Not only had treating this sacred book lightly brought a loss of light to themselves, it had also brought the whole Church under condemnation, even all the children of Zion. As a result of that attitude, he said, their minds had been darkened. In 1832, as some early missionaries returned from their fields of labor, the Lord reproved them for treating the Book of Mormon lightly. Surely the Book of Mormon is a sacred thing, and yet many trifle with it, or in other words, take it lightly, treat it as though it is of little importance. In 1829, the Lord warned the Saints that they are not to trifle with sacred things (see D&C 6:12). After indicating that those who receive the Book of Mormon with faith, working righteousness, will receive a crown of eternal glory (see D&C 20:14), the Lord follows with this warning: “But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation” ( D&C 20:15). Once we realize how the Lord feels about this book, it should not surprise us that He also gives us solemn warnings about how we receive it. ![]() Doesn’t this tell us something about how the Lord views this sacred work? It came before priesthood quorums and Church organization. The Saints were given the Book of Mormon to read before they were given the revelations outlining such great doctrines as the three degrees of glory, celestial marriage, or work for the dead. It was published just a few days before the Church was organized. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon preceded the restoration of the priesthood. Think of that in terms of what it implies. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the next thing to follow. In that marvelous manifestation, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned the true nature of God and that God had a work for him to do. ![]() The only thing that preceded it was the First Vision. Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly of the importance of this modern book of scripture than what the Lord Himself has said about it.īy His own mouth He has borne witness (1) that it is true ( D&C 17:6), (2) that it contains the truth and His words ( D&C 19:26), (3) that it was translated by power from on high ( D&C 20:8), (4) that it contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ ( D&C 20:9, D&C 42:12), (5) that it was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angels ( D&C 20:10), (6) that it gives evidence that the holy scriptures are true ( D&C 20:11), and (7) that those who receive it in faith shall receive eternal life ( D&C 20:14).Ī second powerful testimony to the importance of the Book of Mormon is to note where the Lord placed its coming forth in the timetable of the unfolding Restoration. This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years, then hidden up by Him so that it would be preserved in its purity for our generation. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon, given to mankind 156 years ago. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. My beloved brethren and sisters, today I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times.
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