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==1. The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of Our Religion== | ==1. The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of Our Religion== | ||
===Helpful Insights=== | ===Helpful Insights=== | ||
− | *The Keystone of Our Religion: The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion because the essence of our religion is revelation, and the Book of Mormon is tangible evidence | + | *The Keystone of Our Religion: The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion because the essence of our religion is revelation, and the Book of Mormon is tangible evidence that revelation has been received. This is why Terryl Givens calls the Book of Mormon the “sacred sign” of our faith. [Terryl L. Givens, By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002), 62-88] |
*Witness of Christ: Of the 6,607 verses in the modern editions of the Book of Mormon, 3,925 of them make direct reference to Jesus Christ, an average of 1 reference to Christ every 1.7 verses. [Susan Easton Black, Finding Christ through the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1987), 16-18] | *Witness of Christ: Of the 6,607 verses in the modern editions of the Book of Mormon, 3,925 of them make direct reference to Jesus Christ, an average of 1 reference to Christ every 1.7 verses. [Susan Easton Black, Finding Christ through the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1987), 16-18] | ||
*Keystone Witness of Christ: If BoM is true, then the resurrected Christ was seen and touched by thousands of people in ancient America. Thus, Jesus really rose from the dead and the Atonement is real. | *Keystone Witness of Christ: If BoM is true, then the resurrected Christ was seen and touched by thousands of people in ancient America. Thus, Jesus really rose from the dead and the Atonement is real. | ||
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*Modal for Testimony: The Book of Mormon presents a revolutionary model for revelation as a dialogue that ultimately provides the means for seeking one’s own testimony [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=10&num=2&id=250] | *Modal for Testimony: The Book of Mormon presents a revolutionary model for revelation as a dialogue that ultimately provides the means for seeking one’s own testimony [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=10&num=2&id=250] | ||
*Keystone in Testimony: If a person gains a testimony of the BoM, then they also gain a testimony that (1) God exists, (2) Jesus Christ atonement is real, (3) Joseph Smith is a prophet, (4) the Church is true. [Introduction to the Book of Mormon] | *Keystone in Testimony: If a person gains a testimony of the BoM, then they also gain a testimony that (1) God exists, (2) Jesus Christ atonement is real, (3) Joseph Smith is a prophet, (4) the Church is true. [Introduction to the Book of Mormon] | ||
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===Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information=== | ===Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information=== | ||
*Some critics have said the Book of Mormon teachings of Christ are reflective of Joseph Smith’s environment, rather than an ancient Israelite. Recent research actually shows that the Book of Mormon teachings about the Messiah are consistant with ancient Jewish beliefs. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/papers/?paperID=6&chapterID=52, or http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2003_Monotheism_Messiah_and_Mormons_Book.html] | *Some critics have said the Book of Mormon teachings of Christ are reflective of Joseph Smith’s environment, rather than an ancient Israelite. Recent research actually shows that the Book of Mormon teachings about the Messiah are consistant with ancient Jewish beliefs. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/papers/?paperID=6&chapterID=52, or http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2003_Monotheism_Messiah_and_Mormons_Book.html] |
Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual - Lesson 1: The Keystone of Our Religion
Thus, it is important not impose modern standards and expectations on to the record. Of course we still can, and should, “liken” the text to our own lives, but at the same time caution must be taken to remember that “likening” is a tool for practical application, not a method of scriptural exegesis. Understanding this is important because many criticisms against the Book of Mormon rely on modern assumptions about the it, rather than what it actually says.
In the Introduction to the Book of Mormon, it says that the Book of Mormon is a “record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas” and that the Lamanites are “among the ancestors of the American Indians.” This opens up a number issues related to Book of Mormon geography, archeology, populations, and modern DNA studies. The following maybe helpful to Gospel Doctrine instructors who would like to be prepared should any of these issues arise during their lesson:
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