Current Lesson No. Twelve
The Book of Mormon and the Battle for the Souls of Men
the 190th Anniversary of September 22, 1827
The 190th anniversary of a great milestone in the battle for the souls of men – Heber C. Kimball and his wife Vilate were given a most remarkable symbolic vision on September 22, 1827, the Vernal Equinox but more importantly, the day the Book of Mormon plates were given to Joseph Smith. This vision was symbolic of men holding the priesthood of God being organized and prepared for the battle for the souls of men. The weapon they were armed with and were to use was the Book of Mormon. Heber described this vision:
“It was one of the most beautiful starlight nights, so clear we could see to pick up a pin.” Heber stated that they saw a bow form in the sky, and “it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast. In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west. They continued marching until they reached the western horizon. They moved in platoons, and walked so close that the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers.
“We…could discern the form and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army. When the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time. I could hear their steps. When the front rank reached the western horizon, a battle ensued, as we could hear the report of the arms, and the rush.
“No man could judge of my feeling when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as ever I saw armies of men in the flesh; it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery we gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear.
“After I became acquainted with Mormonism, I learned that this took place the same evening that Joseph Smith received the records of the Book of Mormon” (Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, p.15-17).
The Book of Mormon is weapon in the battle that will bring salvation to many souls – The Lord said: “As I live, even so will I come in the last days….And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth” (Moses 7:60, 62).
The “truth…out of the earth” refers to the Book of Mormon. President Benson, referring to this scripture, taught: “The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to ‘sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out [His] elect.’ This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching and our missionary work” (A Witness and a Warning).
Some people may consider the Book of Mormon a small and simple thing of no consequence. But the Lord’s people understand “that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass…. And the Lord God doth work by [small] means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).
Invitation – My wife Susan and I add our invitation to the one expressed in the last two paragraphs of the Introduction to the Book of Mormon:
“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. 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. (See Moroni 10:3-5)
“Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah.”