Another Testiment of Jesus Christ

As I look at church history and the order that things were done I see something interesting. Before the priesthood, before temples and family history work, before all the "staples" of a Mormon's life there was the Book of Mormon. Why was this book so important that it was the first thing that God revealed to Joseph Smith after revealing himself to the boy prophet?

Jeffrey R. Holland said "The Book of Mormon was the first and is still the greatest of all the missionary tracts in this dispensation" What does teaching with the Book of Mormon do? I find that it does at least 3 things;

1. It brings the teacher and learner to a knowledge of God and his Sons atoning mission. Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith 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." It serves as a keystone to a deep and real testimony of Jesus Christ. It gives us examples of how great men have received testimonies of Christ and gives us the steps for us to follow in like manner.

2.It invites the special spirit of the restoration. The knowledge of the Book of Mormon is to important for our Salvation for God to allow that to go unblessed. If we read and study with real intent then we are promised that He will make these things known unto us through the Spirit. "Reading, pondering, and praying about the Book of Mormon are critical for an enduring conversion. Those who begin reading the Book of Mormon for the first time take important steps towards coming to know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and the the true church has been restored to the Earth."

3.It gives the Spirit the opportunity to bear witness of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The messianic message of the Book of Mormon brings the readers mind to Christ. This puts them in a state of being that is conducive to receiving revelation "And I did read them many things which were written...but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the [prophets]."

The Savior gives us a warning in the book of Mathew "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" As members of the Lords church, we are the elect. Joseph Smith spoke wisely when he called the Book of Mormon the "Keystone of our religion". As we read ponder, and pray over the message that it contains it will hold our testimony together just as a keystone holds an arch together. It becomes a keystone in our personal testimony of the atoning mission of the Savior.

The Book of Mormon was the first defense that God gave us in this dispensation. He knew the fight is our future. He saw the waves of filth washing over the world in the forms of violence and pornography. He has provided us a Dam to protect us from it. The Keystone of that Dam is the Book of Mormon. As we read ponder and pray from its pages we will be protected from the world.