Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Forty-Eight

The Book of Revelation and the Book of Mormon Were Written for the Latter Days

Alonso Cano - St John the Evangelist on Pathmos
The Apostle John Writing the Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation is the word of God and came to us in a unique way – The book of Revelation and the Gospel of John were both written by John the beloved apostle of the Lord Jesus. Both books were directed to members of the Church, to those who understand the plan of salvation, who enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost, and who have the hope of eternal life.

However, the Book of Revelation builds on the Gospel of John and teaches about the plan of salvation beyond what John taught in his Gospel. In doing so John uses much symbolism and speaks about beasts, wars, and plagues; about saints and angels. Joseph Smith taught: “It is not very essential for the elders to have knowledge in relation to the meaning of beasts, and heads and horns, and other figures made use of in the revelations” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 287-288).

However, the vast majority of the doctrinal themes taught in Revelation can be understood by people who know and believe the plan of salvation. It may be in this sense that the Prophet Joseph Smith said that Revelation was “one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written” (HC 5:342)” (Bible Dictionary, Revelation of John).

“A guided tour. An interesting circumstance in the Revelation is that an angel come to John and explains things to him – a sort of guided tour. This is consistent with the visions given to Nephi, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Enoch, who had similar guided tours. It appears to be a typical visionary experience” (Ibid).

The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST) and Joseph Smith’s sermons are great helps in understanding Revelation – The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote and spoke about the book of Revelation. Many of these teaching can be found in the JST and in the book, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In these works the Prophet gives wonderful insights and interpretations of not only difficult passages of the book of Revelation, but how the book applies to those of us who live in the latter days.

Doctrines taught Revelation, like the Book of Mormon, emphasize the plan of salvation and the latter days – Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught about Revelation: “We find in the book either passing allusions, brief commentary, or fairly extended considerations of such doctrines as: preexistence and the war in heaven, the creation of the earth, the Lord’s dealings with men in successive dispensations, our Lord’s atonement and resurrection, what is required to overcome the world and gain exaltation, the gross darkness of the apostasy which followed New Testament times, the setting up of the church of the devil and the reign of the anti-Christs, the restoration of the gospel and the latter-day gathering of Israel, concourses of plagues and desolations to be poured out in the last days, final destruction of the great and abominable church, the Second Coming and Millennial reign, resurrection and eternal judgment, and final celestialization of the earth” (Understanding the Book of Revelation, Ensign, September 1975).

Many of these doctrines, especially those relating to the plan of salvation, are taught in great detail in the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God and came to us in a most unique way – There has never been a book like the Book of Mormon. It is a marvelous work and a wonder as set forth in its introduction:

  • The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophesy and revelation.

  • Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Moroni. It is an account of two great civilizations, the Nephites/Lamanites and the Jaredites. After thousands of years all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.

  • The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after His resurrection.

  • The Book of Mormon puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.

  • After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni who hid up the plates in the Hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him concerning the ancient record.

  • In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto Him and obey the laws and ordinances of His gospel may be saved.

  • Because a man or a woman will get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book, it is the most important book on earth.

  • Those who gain a divine witness from the Holy Spirit of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon 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.

Testimony – It seems appropriate to conclude our 2019 study of the New Testament with Lessons from the book of Revelation in preparation for our 2020 study of the Book of Mormon. Both books are the word of God to the people of the last days, and both books testify of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal importance of His gospel.