Preface

President Ezra Taft Benson gave a landmark sermon at October 1986 General Conference entitled The Book of Mormon – Keystone of Our Religion. This sermon has greatly strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon, and it continues to have a great impact on how I interpret current events worldwide. I strongly recommend that each of us study it. To help with our understanding of President Benson’s sermon, I have prepared an outline which is found in my Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Commentary, Lesson 1.

President Benson said in part: “Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generation….If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?

“And there is example after example of how that question will be answered. For example, in the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet.

“From the Book of Mormon we learn how disciples of Christ live in times of war. From the Book of Mormon we see the evils of secret combinations portrayed in graphic and chilling reality. In the Book of Mormon we find lessons for dealing with persecution and apostasy. We learn much about how to do missionary work. And more than anywhere else, we see in the Book of Mormon the dangers of materialism and setting our hearts on the things of the world. Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort, and great protection” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Book of Mormon – Keystone of Our Religion, Conference Report, October 1986).

President Russell M. Nelson, our living Prophet, testified about the power of the Book of Mormon: “The Book of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere. It teaches what it really means to be born again. From the Book of Mormon we learn about the gathering of scattered Israel. We know why we are here on earth. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon. Period….

“When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions” (The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?, Ensign, Nov 2017).

We have a family tradition of vacationing at Bear Lake on the Utah – Idaho boarder where we attend the Pickleville Playhouse and see a melodrama with heroes and villains.  Melodramas are popular because they “exaggerate emotion and emphasize plot or action” (Dictionary definition). The real-life plot and action of the Book of Mormon far outstrips any book or play written by men.   

In the most important ways the Book of Mormon is the opposite of a melodrama because it is the real-life history of two civilizations, the Nephites and the Jaredites.  The Book of Mormon is an amazing, divinely inspired, combination of plot and action with the doctrine of Christ, and the emphasis is on Jesus Christ and His Gospel.

In a melodrama we cheer the heroes and boo the villains.  As I study the Book of Mormon, sometimes I find myself doing the same.   The ultimate Hero is Jesus Christ, and the ultimate antichrist/villain is Lucifer.  Moreover, in the Book of Mormon, as in life, both Jesus and Lucifer have agents who advance their respective purposes. 

As part of our study of the Book of Mormon I will discuss some of its disciples of Christ/heroes, and some of its antichrists/villains. A disciple is defined as “a pupil or learner; a name used to denote…all followers of Jesus Christ” (LDS Bible Dictionary).  Antichrist is a word used by John to describe one who would assume the guise of Christ but in reality would be opposed to Christ.  In a broader sense it is anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel or plan of salvation and that openly or secretly is set up in opposition to Christ.  The great antichrist is Lucifer; but he has many assistants both as spirit beings and as morals” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Antichrist).  In this book I will often speak of antichrists.

This book will consider lessons we can learn and apply to ourselves, and to our day. I will generally follow the Book of Mormon 2024 Come Follow Me study schedule. I will draw from some of my previous books that have been published online at my web site at www.lessonsonlife.net. I will also draw from many other sources, both secular and religious.

Importantly, I recognize that I am solely responsible for the thoughts, ideas, and conclusions as they are expressed and applied in this book.

Lesson Index

Chapter 1

1. Importance of the Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon
2. Lehi’s Family had both Disciples of Christ and Antichrists
3. Nephi was a Universal Man; A Man for All Seasons
4. The Oneness of Lehi and Sariah is an Example for All, Especially Married Couples
5. The Other Liahonas in Our Lives
6. Agency, Freedom, Accountability, and Acceptable Government
7. Sam the Brother of Nephi and Hyrum the Brother of Joseph Smith were, like Jesus, Meek Men
8. Nephi’s Temple Experience Can Be Our Temple Experience
9. Miracles Have Not Ceased
10. The Love and Mercy of God is the Carrot; The Consequences of Sin is the Stick
11. King Benjamin’s Core Values - Mosiah 2-5
12. We are All Beggars Before God - Mosiah 4:16-27
13. All Things Should be Done in Wisdom and Order - Mosiah 4:27
14. Born Again as the Children of Christ, His Sons and His Daughters - Mosiah 5:7
15. The Miracle at Gapyeong - A Modern-Day Army of Helaman From Southern Utah - Updated
16. Establishing Zion and Being At One
17. The Condescension of Christ and His Divine Sonship
18. Alma’s Two-Year Ministry Among the Nephites- Lessons for the Latter Days
19. The Prayer of Faith - Alma 33-34
20. A Marvelous Work and a Wonder - Alma 36
21. Justice and Mercy, and Repentance and Atonement - Alma 42
22. The Reign of the Judges - Lessons for the Latter Days
23. King-men, Freemen, and The Family - A Proclamation to the World
24. So, What’s in a Name?… The Answer is Everything - Helaman 5:6-7
25. The Test of Contention & Ease and Prosperity - Helaman 11-12
26. Russell M. Nelson and Samuel the Lamanite on Repentance
27. The Importance of September 21-22 in the Creation and in the Restoration
28. Compassion or Contention - It’s Our Choice
29. The Power of Priesthood Ordinances
30. The Sermon at the Temple Gives Greater Understanding to the Sermon on the Mount
31. The Lord’s Covenant to Gather Israel is Being Fulfilled in Ukraine
32. Jesus’ Covenant People Sermon for the Latter Days