The Book of Mormon and Our Day

The Book of Mormon is written for our day. President Ezra Taft Benson testified that the Book of Mormon was written for us today when he said, "The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us." (The Book of Mormon- Keystone of Our Religion) This book is evidence of God's love for his children today because he did prepare something for us today. For me, the books of Helaman and 3 Nephi seemed to especially mirror our day. These two books are about the period right before Christ came to a people. It has several similarities with us today such as the unbelief of the people in the coming and the very existence of Christ.

For me, the lessons that Mormon chose in these books seem to stand out to me in some ways. In these books Mormon highlights the dangers of "secret combinations". (See: Helaman 2:13) A secret combination is an organization created to help people to sin against the laws of man and God. (See: Helaman 6:23) In our day we have been warned that in order to confront the challenges that these kinds of organizations present by standing up for truth. (Standing for Truth and Righteousness)

Mormon teaches that the reason that the Nephite civilization began to wane during this time was because of the "wickedness and abomination" among the Nephites and specifically the members of the church. (See: Helaman 4:11) Today we are tempted to do what is wrong and to do something other than what the Lord would have us do. Meanwhile, Mormon testified that there is safety in the word of God,

"Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Helaman 3:29-30)

I know that the commandments of God can bless our lives. They can keep us safe in troubled times and help us to return to God's presence and hope that we do study the word of God in the scriptures and obey them to help us to return to God's presence.