The Book of Mormon

THE BOOK OF MORMON

Before I go forth I'd like to quote a wonderful point made from Lowell  L Bennion on his book "Understanding the scriptures" and specifically in its chapter 12 talking about the book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is the most unusual scripture in the way the original record was kept, preserved, and translated. It is unique in its content; no other scripture is so miraculous in character. No other scripture is so misunderstood and misinterpreted as the Book of Mormon. It is considered by many to be a history of the American Indian, a guide to archaeology of the Americas, and/or pure dictation from God. It is none of these. We should let the Book speak for itself.
The Book of Mormon is not a history of the pre-Colombian American Indian. Its history ends about A.D. 420. It does not describe what happened in the Western Hemisphere between 420 and 1492, nor does it tell of other immigrants who may have come to the American continent before, after, or even during the Book of Mormon period. We should not assume that all native Americans are necessarily descendants of Lamanites.
This scripture describes 3 small groups that came to the Western Hemisphere: the Jaredites, then the Lehi colony, and then the Mulekites. It mentions no one else. Other peoples may have come across the Bering Strait, from Europe, or even from the isles of the Pacific before, during, or after the Book of Mormon period.
The Book of Mormon is not a geographical text. It contains no maps. Places and movements are named not for their own sake, but are incidental to other subject matter. Locations are given only in relative terms.
The Book of Mormon is not a text in anthropology or archaeology.
The Book of Mormon is a profoundly religious record. Its purpose is to make people know the covenants of the Lord to the Jews, that they are not cast off forever and also to convince the Jews and the gentiles that Jesus is the Christ> This is the real purpose of the Book of Mormon, anything else is pure speculation and it is not declared by the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is an abridged, religious account. As Mormon and Moroni abridged the account, they apparently made it even more religious  in emphasis that the original record may have been. To have a complete knowledge of the truth of it Moronih gave us his promise like contained in Moronih 10:3-5 and that is the only way to prove the book of Mormon for sure.
Let's go ahead by the Bible.
The book of Mormon declares that the Jaredites and the Nephites worshipped the Lord after the Babel's tower until 400 a.c.

Psalms 65:8 "They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens"
Zephaniah 3:10 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants,even the daughter of my dispersed shall bring me mine offerings."
Isaiah 24:16 "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous."
The history teaches us that in the Old Testament only the Jews was worshipping Jehowa, but those scriptures clearly are saying to us that the history is very wrong, from this clue it is easy to understand that those people should be Hebrew by lineage and  at this point it is easy to connect with the topic in question.
Psalms 77:15 explains this very well.
"Thou hast with thyne arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph."
It is easy to see the difference between Jacob and Joseph in the redemption. At this point  we have to add that in the book of Mormon is affirmed that Jesus Christ after his resurrection appeared also in this continent bringing His Gospel.
Psalms 98:3  "All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God."
Isaiah 52:10 repeat the same words. Pretty clear, isn't it? I would like to add something here. On the book "The 100" A ranking of the mst influential persons in history of Michael H. Hart, speaking of Pizarro and Cortes it is written:"When, in 1967, the Israelis won a dramatic victory over Arab nations which greatly outnumbered them, and which possessed far more military equipment, many persons were surprised. It was an impressive triumph; but history is studded with examples of military victories won against sizable numerical odds.However, Pizarro's conquest of an empire of over 6 million with a force of only 180 men is the most astonish military feat in history. The numerical odds he overcome were considerably higher than those which faced Cortes, who invaded an empire of roughly 5 million with a force of 600 men.But, one might ask, did not Spanish firearms give them an overwhelming tactical advantage? Not at all. Arquebuses, the primitive firearms of the time, had a small range and took a long time to reload. Although they made a frightening noise, they were actually less effective than good bows and arrows. In any event, when Pizarro entered Cajamarca, only 3 of his men had arquebuses, and no more than 20 had crossbows. Most of the Indians were killed by conventional weapons such as swords and spears. Despite their possessions of a few horses and firearms, it is plain that the Spanish entered the conflict at an overwhelming military disadvantage. What then happened?  Speaking about Cortes and mentioning the same things the writer added:" Cortes was also aided by Aztec legends concerning the god Quetzalcoatl. According to Indian legend, this God had instructed the Indians in agriculture, metallurgy, and government; He HAD BEEN TALL, WITH WHITE SKIN, AND A FLOWING BEARD. AFTER PROMISING TO REVISIT THE INDIANS, HE HAD DEPARTED. To Montezuma, it seemed very possible that Cortes was the returning god, and this fear seem to have markedly influenced his behavior. Certainly the Montezuma's reaction to the Spanish invasion was very weak and indecisive. At this point is a clue, but what a clue!! please read White and Bearded God to have a complete list of the traditions of the Indians American on this topic from non Mormons historians.
Psalms 60:7 and Psalm 108:8  Efraim is the defender of his head (maybe the Church?) But in the old time surely it didn't happen, Efraim was the best in idolatry!
Jeremiah 31:6-9 it is saying the same.
Colossians 1:6,23 "Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringhet forth fruit, as it doth also in you." Maybe somebody could say Paul was referring to the world known, well it is enough to go to the verse 23 "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; wherefore I Paul am made a minister." We have here 3 important notices, First : was preached it is clear the Gospel, second : in everywhere, third he is speaking about the same Gospel when he is saying :wherefore I Paul am made minister. Pretty cool, right? Our Church teaches us that the Gospel was taught to Adam and after that in all the dispensations. It would be interesting to note that Paul Himself writing to the Romans explained that changing the law there was a necessity of a change in the priesthood, right? well if the Gospel needed the Melchisedec priesthood to be in force it is pretty easy to understand that it was a simple restoration of something that was already on the earth once, and also it is easy to realize that Melchisedec had the Gospel.
Zechariah 10:3,4,6,7 "Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for I the Lord of host hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle. Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.and I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man......" By the way, if the prophecy about the house of Judah was fulfilled, why the other one it won't be?

A remnant would escape from Jerusalem. Lehi proclaims in the book of Mormon that in the first year of the king Zedekiah, king of Juda, there came many prophets unto the people of Jerusalem prophesying that unless the people repented, the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. The Bible mantain the same idea.
2 Chroicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words; and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy."
Evidence for Lehi's departure six hundred years before Christ is clearly found in the Bible
2 Kings 19:30-31
"And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward, For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.
The Book of Mormon is a written record of these people, who are a branch of Joseph, a remnant of the house of Israel. In Ezekiel 12:16 we read this about the impending destruction of Jerusalem: "But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen wither they come: and they shall know that I am the Lord."
Lehi lived in Jerusalem where he too prophesied of the coming destruction of that great city. Then, being warned of God, he fled with his family, thereby being saved "from the sword, from the famine and pestilence". It is interesting to read Alma 10:23 Nobody before had put in relationship those 2 scriptures, but they are related.
But the prophecy of Ezekiel also declared that those who were saved would "declare all their abominations among the heathen." The question we need to ask ourselves is: if they were going to declare all their abominations among the heathen, then where are these declarations of theirs? Do we have them today? In this scripture the Lord is speaking about Jews declaring their message among the heathen nations. If they did this, as the Lord said they would, if this scripture is true, then we should have some written record from them, or at least about them and what they said.
In Ezekiel 14:22-23 we read, "Yet behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters (could this be Lehi and his family?). Behold they shall come forth unto you and ye shall see their way and their doings..."
At this point, let's ask ourselves the question: How can others see their ways and their doings without some sort of a written record? Then, we need to ask a follow-up question: What is the purpose of this record? The remainder of the above verse gives the answer: "...and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem even concerning all that I have brought upon it and they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it. Saith the Lord God."
The Book of Mormon easily fulfills these words of Ezekiel, and also I could explain better those passages adding several other clues, but I will do this later.Isaiah 43:9,19,21-22
"Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: Who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, it is true..... Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers, in the desert. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. But thou hast not called upon me,O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel."
Isaiah 66:18-21

18

For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

19

And I will set A SIGN (BOOK OF MORMON?) among them, and I will send those that ESCAPE of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the ISLES AFAR OFF, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and THEY SHALL DECLARE my glory among the Gentiles.

20

And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

21

And I will also TAKE OF THEM for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

 

Not only is declared that there will be a sign among them and that they will declare His glory but also is specified that those people will have TWO different priesthood  they will be PRIESTS AND LEVITES