Book of Mormon, Gold Plates, Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.

What is the Book of Mormon About?
Surprisingly, the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is not about Joseph Smith, it

is about Jesus Christ.  It is another testament of the Savior's visit to the Western Hemisphere.  Prior to the Saviors birth,God allowed many peoples to know of him. Though he lived in Jerusalem, and his birth was known and prophesied of the Jews, it was also known to other peoples that God loves and cares about.

What does it Talk About?
 It talks about different sets of peoples, and their arrivals and spiritual history, following both Kings and Judges in the land of the American Continent. The many groups of peoples are known as Nephites and Lamanites but it also referances other groups of peoples such as as the Jaredites and Mulikites and others.

When does it take place?
 It begins with an Old Testament prophet named Lehi, a contempary of the prophet Jeremiah,  who was testifying just prior to the Old Testament Jerusalem being taken captive into Babylon at the time of king Zedikiah. Lehi recorded events taking place on the American Continent  beginning around 600BC.  The record ends about 421AD. However, records are also referred to within it's pages about other groups on the continent some long before Lehi and his families arrival, one in particular of which is called the Jaredites, who left during the time of the Tower of Babel.

Why is it called the Book of Mormon?
It's full title is "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ". Mormon was a prophet, the last known prophet of the peoples on the American Continent.  Like old testament prophets and kings, records were kept.  Mormon abridged all of these records into a book.  Each of the chapters in the Book of Mormon are named after Prophets who kept the records.  The chapters of the Book of Mormon, though abridged by Mormon, were written by Ancient Prophets.

Why Should I Read it?
The Book of Mormon along with the Bible help us have a clear picture to who Jesus Christ and his Father are.  The Bible, though insightful, is full of many events that take place which happen because God is trying to help people to turn to him, and most of the time, throughout the Old Testament, they do not. Though there are many peoples in the Book of Mormon who also are in need of repentance, and the destruction of people because of unrighteousness eventually ends the Book of Mormon record, we get an insightful and better understanding of God and his love for those who are righteous, because of much of the righteousness of the peoples that recorded in it's content.  It can be utilized, along with the Bible to gain insight as to God, his true character and His Son Jesus Christ and their unfaltering and unyielding love for each of us.

What are the Gold Plates and Joseph Smith?
Joseph Smith, while calling upon God in prayer, was visited by an Angel, the Ancient Prophet For detailed info on translation click here.

Book of Mormon Stories
art by Jerry Thompson

Mormon, Mormon Told him of a Book, deposited in a rock, under a hill.  The account that Mormon had abridged.  Mormon instructed Joseph about the record and that it  gave the account of the former inhabitants of the American Continent. He was able to obtain the record and translate them. Through a means introduced to us in the Bible in many places Ex 28:30,  Lev 8:8, as well as Num 27:21, Deu 33:8 and many others. This means, This means, called Interpreters or Stones in the Book of Mormon Alma 37:21, Ether 3:23 were sealed up in the hill along with the record by the prophet Mormon. The record was written on plates of Gold, that is why they are often refereanced as the Golden Plates.  They lay hitten, deep in a hill,  under stone and in a  stone box, until God found a faithful servenat here in America, in whom He could confide.

What New insight does it Give us on Jesus?

And he Healed Them
Artist Gary Kapp

It helps us to know that many knew of him.  It gives us the added insight of Jesus's teachings to a different group of people, it also helps us see consistency and congruity in the gospels of the Holy Bible. The Bible and along with the Book of Mormon are a stronger witness of the truthfulness of Jesus's teachings.  Jesus called 12 apostles in the Old World as well as on the Americas. I personally love the teachings of Jesus and the healing of Children in the book of Mormon, and the tears he shed for them recorded in  3 Nephi 17 It helps me to see the great love Jesus has for  each of us.  The Holy Bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons Acts 10:34., He cares for all of his people, everywhere.  It makes perfect sense that Our Father in Heaven would teach others of his Son Jesus, of Jesus's arrival to Earth and of his teachings to all men women and children.
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Does The Holy Bible talk about the Book of Mormon?

Yes! The Holy Bible does talk about the book of Mormon, in many places it references it, but interpretations are often miss understood.  I will give you 3 different witnesse as should be the case according to Matthew 18:16. Ezekiel 37:15 - 24 tells us of "sticks", meaning scrolls, It brings all people under the title of one title though in two lands, it references David as a father, and one King (Jesus Christ) being the King of them all.  Looking at the entire chapter of Ezekiel 37 gives great insight, the first entries speak of bones, that talk (meaning people, long burred, testifying through ancient records.) It talks of bones coming together and breath in them. wind and prophesy. These records are contained in the Book of Moromon and in the Holy Bible.  Isaiah 29:4, 11-12 The story of the History of the Lost Manuscripts of the Book of Mormon helps establish this prophecies fulfillment. also, Jesus spoke of Other Sheep, who would hear his voice and he would bring into the fold John 10:16 The book of Mormon teaches us that the Jews believed this to be the Gentiles but Jesus book of Mormon Peoples he was speaking of them. 3 Nephi 15:21-22.

How Can I know if the Record of the Book of Mormon is True?
You can Read it and ask God, the giver of all truth, if this record about Jesus is a true record from Him.  And, as the Book of Mormon Prophet Mormon states, after reading. .."IF you ask with real intent, having faith in Jesus Christ, he will manifest the truthfulness of it unto you,  By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." John 16:3.

To have a Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ delivered to you Click Here.
If you do not have a Holy Bible,  you can also request a King James Version here as well.

Jesus Teaches We are God's Children & are Inspired of Him!

The nag hamadi Gospel of Thomas, states;

Thomas 1:3 "the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father."

Thomas 1:50...'We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.'

I have been interested in this and other statements of Jesus and from Jesus Christ that point to the fact that we are Children of God.

Are we in fact, children of God?  Ask yourself, is this true, ask God, am I your spirit child?

The King James Version of the Bible gives us a number of scriptures which seem to attest to this fact.

Psalms 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Jesus of course taught that we become "Children of the Most High" when we accept his message, he also taught that if we turn from his message we can become children of the devil.

The message that Paul gave to the Hebrews is that God is the father of our spirit. He includes both ideas of coming spiritually and of being spirit children, we can come unto God, and we are his spirit children.

Hebrews 12: 9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

The message in Acts is very literal for it speaks of each of us being offspring of God.

Acts 17:29
For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

There is no doubt that God certainly is our Father, Jesus taught us, after his death, when he appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb that His Father was not just Mary's Father but  the father of all the brethren.

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

James teaches the same thing.  He tells us also that we are made after God's image.

James3:9 
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Jesus Christ, in being the Savior, saved us from something, besides sin, he saved us by showing us who we really are.

Luke 6:1-2 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

His answer was this...
Luke 6:5 "And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

but Luke goes on to further explain by telling the story of  Jesus healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath Day, this gives us the additional needed insight we need to know because we are Gods children we have answers within us.

What did the Savior do before the healing, He asked questions; In this way he was stating very matter of factually, in front of priests of his day, you, the people can know.

Luke 6:9:"... Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

This is the type of question you would ask a priest or a rabbi, but Jesus Christ is addressing the people. Jesus is asking people to think it out for themselves - you have it within you, you figure it our!

Matthew 12:11 - 12 "...What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?  How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Christ helps the people to reason it out.

I am glad that he has confidence in each of our abilities to reason. You can be inspired!"

Then is the miracle recorded in the text the healing miracle.

Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole.

Because we are Children of God his spirit dwells in us,
1 Cor 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

He is in you, you are his child, he will answer you. This is the Message spoken by Paul in The Acts of the Apostles. Feelings are how the spirit speaks.  Through strokes of ideas we learn of God.

Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Italics added)

God, through his son, gave us the ultimate application of the Chinese Proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."  Jesus didn't give us fish, He taught us how to fish. In fact, he taught us that we are fishermen. We can know truth.

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

This means, God the Father of Our Spirit has confidence in your ability to listen to the spirit and know truth.

1 John 4:6  6 
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
 As we exercise our faith and accept Christ and his atonement we gain more truth. Then as we come to have a knowledge of this truth it will increase...As a well of living water springing up! This is exactly what Jesus told the woman at the well.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Personal witness of truth are these revelations in our life.

You can figure it out for yourself Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior knew you could.  Why?   Because we are Gods offspring!  Want to know more... Click Here 

Jesus's Message of Baptism. Do I Need to be Baptized?

The Savior is recorded as saying the words "Come" "
Follow Me" and "I am the Way" many times in the gospels.

Come: move or travel toward or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker.
Follow: to come after a person or thing proceeding ahead.
Way: A method, style or manner of doing something.

Jesus wanted  us to do the things that he did, be what he was and proceed in the style and manner that he proceeding in.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus spoke of Himself as being the "Way" in which to "Come" unto the Father, and his Father - God.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is saying, again, follow me and do the things that you see me do if you want to get back to your Father and my Father.

John 6:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The essence of Jesus's message to us, if it were to be distilled down to it's simplest form is this:  Follow Him,

John:17: 20 -23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Our Heavenly Father's love for us is immense. God loved us so much that he sent his Son (John 4:9-10)  And his request of us, is that we simply follow Him  What should we do to follow?  On the day of Pentecost, those who had felt the spirit of truth wanted also to know exactly this same thing, what do we do next?  Peter explains very explicitly the path or the way they are to follow;

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus was Baptized, (Matthew 3:13-17 )  Mathew 3:16 Jesus was baptized by immersion.
 It pleased the Father that Jesus showed this example  Jesus did this so that we would know what we are to do. Jesus was perfect, yet he was baptized. We need to be baptized of the water and of the spirit.  We are to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost following Baptism. Peter had that authority or those keys given him, of the Son, to Baptize. As did John at the time of Jesus, in fact it was John who baptized our Savior, Jesus the Christ. recognized John, and praised him, saying that there was not any greater other than Jesus Himself -.

Being Baptized by immersion by one holding the proper authority was the way Jesus did it, and we are to follow.

Baptism is necessary to enter into the kingdom of God. The gate is narrow and the way is straight and not many will find it. (Matthew 7:13 -29)   It is important, to be baptized but also to be baptized by one holding the authority of a true priesthood.
"It was to the bank of this river (the Susquehanna, in Missouri) that the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery went on May 15, 1829, to pray about the importance of baptism. In answer to their prayer, John the Baptist appeared to them, conferring the Aaronic Priesthood, the type of Priesthood held of John the Baptist, on them and commanding them to baptize each other. "
(Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith, Chapter 7)

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is has this priesthood authoirty to baptise.  Click Here.  If you would like to speak with missionaries in person about this and other truths .
 My daughter is on a mission helping people to recognize the need for baptism by immersion by one holding the keys and Jesus's authority. She is very happy to explain to people about The Church of Jesus Christ and about the keys for the authority to be baptized. Missionaries volunteer their time to speak with people and show them the "way" of  the gospel. it is free and it is easy.  I know that Jesus will bless your life as you ,,,
Take the time to listen, and "Come and Follow Jesus's Way.  
Missionaries can help you learn what the first steps to Baptism are.  
Ask the Missionaries They Can Help YOU!