What is the Book of Mormon about?

Question

Has anyone read it?

You want to know what is interesting to note?

The mormons all seem consistent with what they say. So either they are on to something, or the brainwashing techniques they are using is extremely effective worldwide.

However, those who speak against them--everyone seems to have something different to say. So, with that, either there is a lot of stuff going on in that church that the mormons don't know about, or the anti's are extremely misinformed.

I'm so confused. I have a Book of Mormon, and I think I will have to take a gander through it. Thanks for the input all.

Answer 1

I suggest you acquire the Book of Mormon, either from your local missionaries or log on to lds.org and get a free copy delivered to you. There are too many misinformed replies to your question that are misled and twisted.

In short, the Book of Mormon is about two civilizations that migrated from Jerusalem to the Americas. One of the civilizations, called the Jaredites, came to the Central and South American region at the time of the Tower of Babel.

The other group left Jerusalem in 600 B.C. and it is from those families that the Book of Mormon is primarily focused upon.

Throughout these translated scriptures done by Joseph Smith is one important theme running, which is the divinity and testament of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.

Get the book and read it for yourself. Much of the replies given here are skewed.

Answer 2

First, corrections:

Desiree Returns: The Smith family had a very prosperous farm, so Joseph Smith, Jr. was very well-nourished.
Also, there were 8 witnesses, not 0 as you stated.

Fuzzylipbalm: The Lamanites, a people in the Americas before the birth of Christ, were cursed for rebelling against God. I never saw people of African descent mentioned there, although it was later interpreted that way by the 2nd leader of the church, a man of bigoted beliefs. Not a Book of Mormon teaching.
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The Book of Mormon is a record of a group of Israelites (who traveled to what is now the American continents) from 600 BC to 421AD. There are prophecies of Christ, a record of Christ ministering to His followers, wars, loves, famines, immolation, decapitation, tribulations, etc.
It's not exactly a boring read!

The Book of Mormon is a compilation of writings of many various prophets that is comparable to the Bible, and, in my opinion, is more readable. LDS (Mormons) read both the Book of Mormon and the Bible almost equally.

Answer 3

The Book of Mormon is a record made by the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. It records their belief in God and Jesus Christ and also the teachings and instruction by their Christian leaders. The Book of Mormon, in effect, acts as a "second testament" of Jesus Christ, in connection with the Bible. Mormons consider the Book of Mormon to be scripture along with the Bible. It does not replace the Bible for Mormons, but is "another witness of Jesus Christ" to the world.

I have read in numerous times.

Answer 4

Guitarpicker 56's answer is a good one!! He said what it's really about. It is another testament of Christ.

Christ said before his death that He had other sheep that He had to go teach. We believe that some of the other sheep He taught were the ones on the American continent. He came to the america's after His death and resurrection.

As far as some of the other answers go, they obviously weren't reading it for the right reasons, or haven't read it at all. Their information is based on what they have either heard or what they wanted to believe about it when they read it. Most of what you will hear is really twisted, and isn't correct at all.

Like others have said, I would suggest that you get a free copy of the book and read it yourself. That will be the only way for you to know for yourself what it is really about. If you do get one, try to read it with an open mind, and a prayer in your heart that God will show you if it's true or not.

Here are some links for you. The first one is the site where you can order a free copy, the second is about most of what others have said about the authenticity of the B of M.

Answer 5

I have read it a dozen times. It is scripture. It is inspired text, holy writ. The doctrines support the Bible and are a second witness to the divinity of Jesus the Christ.
Yes, on the surface, it is a spiritual history of a family that left Jerusalem around 600 b.c. and journied to the American continent where they flourished for a while until one half destroyed the other half in around 400 a.d. The last writer ended his record in 421 a.d. and buried the record to come forth in a future time known to God. That time came in the 1820s when the same writer, Moroni, visited Joseph Smith and eventually delivered his record to Joseph for translation in Sept. 1827. In May 1829, the completed record was published. It has gone through some editorial revisions since then but the doctrine is unaltered.
It also includes an edited record of an earlier people that came to America from the Tower of Babel. They ultimately destroyed themselves with the last survivor living to see the Jewish immigrants inhabit the land.
The lessons taught by their history is what is valuable to us today. We learn that God blesses those that are obedient to His commandments and that those that disobey are ultimately punished for their disobedience.
At the end there is a challenge to all who read it. Study it out in your mind, pray about it with sincerity and faith and you will feel the truth of the record via the Holy Ghost.
I know it to be a true record. I feel its truthfulness inside me.

Answer 6

it's not about joesph smith AT ALL. he was just the translator. It is similar to the bible in the fact that it is a compliation of various authors-mainly diary type entries just like the bible- it's Another testament of Jesus Christ. but what's different is it is about different people than in the bible and deal primarily what was happening on this continent. (the americas both south and north) it is newer than the bible as far as translation goes but not by dates of events (although the old testament is older than any books in the b of m.) it's a little harder to read because it has not been translated into the way we speak now days because of not wanting to loose any of it's truthfulness in incorrect translation, but still understandable and you can still relate things to your life. There are stories as well as geneaology just like in the bible. it basically goes hand in hand with the bible. Without the bible the b of m would be incomplete, and without the b of m the bible is incomplete. but judge for yourself- you can request a free copy at mormon.org
* EDIT- to those that challenge the origin of the b of m- i would like to point out that the bible was challenged for centuries of it's origin and authenticity. God doesn't do things scientifically- He does them spiritually and in a way that still requires faith- otherwise than there would be no question of faith-everyone would know that it was correct. the bible still to this day has not had official authentication scientifically -it has been cannoned as holy scripture because of it's wide stream acceptance, but not scientifically proven. it is just widely accepted without mainstream question primarily beause it has been around for so long- were as the b of m is still in it's childhood, open for ridicule. And also for those out there- there are scholars out there that can rip the bible to shreads too- does that mean that it is not true? no it just means that anyone can find something if you look hard enough. there will always be opposition to the truth- says so in the bible:)

Answer 7

If you are really interested- Visit www.Mormon.Org - You can get one for free.

I think you will find Mormon.org easier to use than LDS.org - LDS is set up mostly for members, where as Mormon.org is set up for people investigating the church.

Answer 8

I have read the whole thing. It was the most boring book I ever read. Practically every other sentence starts with "And it came to pass". I'm not kidding! Anyway it's about a man and his four sons who allegedly came to the Americas and settled there, and about the "history" of their descendants (none of it can be verified, by the way). Jesus is supposed to have come to this people, and God interacted with them. At one point, some of the people were rebellious, and God turned their skin dark (Joseph Smith, the author, grew up in a very racist society). There were a couple of changes like this; the dark people then became righteous so their skin became white again, and the other group rebelled and their skin was turned dark. This is a major reason why black people were not allowed in the priesthood for so long. I remember very few details about it because it all runs together. And besides, that was 40 years ago that I read it! The best part was the description of the navigation device the people used to get here. But that only takes a few verses to describe.

Answer 9

It is the scriptures which were given to Joseph Smith, Jr.; by an angel name Moroni. There are some things I don't understand in it, but I have read it.

Answer 10

I know it contains historical inaccuracies. The people who supposedly came to the Americas came on boats that had glass windows although glass hadn't been invented. They also used a compass which hadn't been invented. They talk of elephants and chariots in the Americas although these items didn't appear in th Americas until the Europeans came over. Joseph Smith wasn't a student of history or he would have known this. Also the three witnesses that appear at the book of Mormon were also apostatized by the Mormons. Not a good start. They were denounced by Joseph Smith Dec 16, 1838 history of the church volume 3 pg 232. Don't just claim there is misinformation prove your case! And Joseph Smith who caimed to interpret it had a criminal record. See New York vs. Joseph Smith.