The Book of Mormon is a source of peace for anyone willing to read it and follow the principles it teaches. It is unlike other books in that it’s not just about learning something new, and often more about feeling something new, or even feeling something familiar that you’d forgotten about.
The Book of Mormon “outlines the plan of salvation”
Even though, the verbiage “only true and living church” makes salvation sound out of reach for people not of the same faith as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the theology taught in the Book of Mormon teaches that all can be saved. Even after this life there is a chance for redemption. Jacob explained it beautifully:
Saving all of humankind is only possible through an infinite atonement, something that is repeated and taught over and over in the Book of Mormon.
The manual for Come, Follow Me helps further explain why the Book of Mormon is so meaningful in relation to the Atonement of Jesus Christ:
The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes this plan possible, and every doctrine, ordinance, covenant, and commandment that God has given is meant to help accomplish the plan.
The Book of Mormon teaches the doctrines, ordinances, covenants, and commandments that make the plan actually bring happiness.
I can be a witness of the Book of Mormon
Just like the 3 and 8 witnesses who bore testimony of the Book of Mormon (more particularly, the plates), it’s possible to have a personal witness.
Like Simon in the Bible we can know for ourselves through the Holy Ghost:
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was a miracle
The restoration is still ongoing and we are able to participate.
Joseph Smith was told his name “should be had for good and evil among all nations”:
Imagine if people weren’t talking about Joseph Smith, would it seem like this prophecy were still forthcoming? For good or for bad, our generation fulfills the prophecy by speaking good or bad of Joseph Smith. Silence from the world is the only thing that it doesn’t predict, which is the actual case of almost all of the rest of humanity.
Just as the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was a miracle, gaining a testimony of it is also a miracle. Knowing there is a second witness with the Bible to the actual divinity of the Savior is a powerful motivation and source of comfort.
