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Randy Faulk & S.T.A.I.R. Associates
San Antonio, TX 78251-2216
 
 

                             THE BOOK OF MORMON

Revelation 14:6 "That in the last days, an angel was to come bringing the everlasting gospel back to the earth."     

Ezekiel 37:15-19 "Take thee one stick and write upon it for Judah..Then take another stick and write upon it for Joseph..."And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."

Jeremian 36:2 "Take thee a roll of a book and write thereon all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against all the nations, form the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day."

Now, let us examine what we have learned from these three scriptures:  

Question: If it was necessary for an angel of the Lord to come to earth to bring back the everlasting gospel, how did the earth lose the everlasting gospel in the first place? Or, put another way, what caused the everlasting gospel to be taken from the earth, and when?

Answer: Let us look at 2 Thessalonians 1-3, which describes the Apostacy which will preced the Second Coming of Christ: 

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as taht the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you be any means: for that day [the Second Coming of Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [Satan, the Devil]."

The Apostacy began when the last Apostle died and the Priesthood Authority was taken from the earth. This period began with what is commonly known as "The Dark Ages." There was a church on the earth, but it was not even remotely like the "Primitive Church," which Jesus Christ organized and in which He ordained Apostles, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, and the like. I refer you to Ephesians 4:11-13

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; amd some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faithm and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man."

Where are these "Apostles," "Prophets," "Evangelists," and the "like," on the earth today? Where were they during the "Dark Ages"?

Question: What is the "Stick of Judah" And what is the "Stick of Joseph"

Answer: The "Stick of Judah" is the Bible, which is the history of the Tribe of Judah, whose descendant is Jesus Christ. The "Stick of Joseph" is The Book of Mormon, which is the history of the Tribe of Joseph, the same Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers.

Question: What is a "Stick"?

Answer: "The Ancient Hebrews, Greeks and Romans used Papyrus for their writing material. The Papyrus was made by taking thin strips from a tall plant which was found in Egypt. The strip was called a 'stick' or a 'roll of a book.'" I refer you to Jeremiah 36:2 for another definition of "stick," which again is "a roll of a book."                

             


"Let me share a precious secret with you. I was looking for an article or a set of articles relating to the "Book of Mormon." I asked my wife, Jeanne, to find my original copy of "The Book of Mormon on Trial," by Jack H. West, which I purchased on September 1, 1991, before we were married and even before I knew that the Holy Ghost was prompting her to find me. When she handed me the manuscript, to my surprise and delight, I had put the "CHURCH NEWS" from January 6, 1996 in the inside cover of the "The Book of Mormon on Trial." Here is a transcript of the January 6, 1996 edition of the "CHURCH NEWS." 

President Gordon B. Hinckley, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said in a talk given in a "Fireside [Chat] in Birmingham, England on 29 August 1995,

  • "I know The Book of Mormon is true. You just have to read it. You only have to read it prayerfully, and you'll know it is true. It speaks for itself.
  • It is its own greatest testimony of its truth.
  • And the marvelous thing is, every time you read it you see things you never saw before.
  •  Read it. I know it's true."                      
  • Church News, January 6, 1996, front page. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Published by the Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah., Page 1.

A Thought From The Scriptures

  • "And [God] gave [Joseph Smith, Jr.] power from on high, by the means which wer before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;"
  • "Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;"
  • "Which was given by inspiration,and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them--"
  • "Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in the age and generation, as well as in generations of old;"
  • "Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever, Amen"--D&C 20:8-12   Ibid., Page 16

 

  • "With the beginning of a new year and the annual change in the Church curriculum comes the opportunity to renew our study of the Book of Mormon.
  •  Also, there comes to mind classic prophetic declarations about this sacred writing."
  • "The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that 'the Book of Mormon" was the most correct of any book on earth, the keystone of our religion, and that a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than any other book.'"
  • "President Ezra Taft Benson taught us: 'The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ...
  • It tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel.
  •  It testifies of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him.' (Ensign, June 1988. p.3.)
  •  'Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit,
  • otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life.'" (Ensign, November 1986, p.4.)

  • "Even though many have read the Book of Mormon once or twice and have a general familiarity with its history and some of its teachings,
  •  it is another matter to discuss and understand its doctrines and principles.
  • Remember, it is not biographical, geographical, or historical in the full sense of any of those fields,
  • but it contains elements of each.
  • The Book of Mormon is rather, primarily a witness of the message and mission of Christ.
  • It provides the foundation for gospel understanding.
  • It will give clearer meaning and understanding to the Bible.
  • It is a prerequisite to unlock the meaning of all the works of the scriptures."
  • "How does one acquire such an understanding?
  • Such understanding comes only to the sincere and diligent individual who strives daily to apply the gospel truths learned.
  • As the years advance, one's needs change.
  • Likewise, life's experiences can teach and broaden our souls.
  • There is, then, a continuing necessity for devine direction and inspiration.
  • The Book of Mormon is a sacred resource that can be drawn upon to meet the ongoing challenges of life.

  • For those who seem to be on a plateau and not moving forward,
  • they should heed the counsel of President Marion G. Romney, who said,
  • 'ONE cannot honestly study the scriptures without learning gospel principles becaues the scriptures have been written to preserve principles for our benefit.'"
  • "Learning the gospel formthe written word, however, is not enough.
  • It must also be lived.
  • As a matter of fact, getting a knowledge of the gospel and living it are interdependent.
  • They go hand in hand.
  • One cannot fully learn the gospel without living it.
  • A knowledge of the gospel comes by degrees:
  • one learns a little, obeys that which he learns,
  • learns a little more and obeys that.
  • This cycle continues in an endless round.
  • Such is the pattern by which one can move on to a full knowledge of the gospel." (Ensign, September 1980, p.4)

  • "President Gordon B. Hinckley has described the Book of Mormon as one of the cornerstones of our faith.
  • Of this he said, '[It]...speaks  as a voice from the dust with words of ancient prophets declaring the divinity and reality of the Savior of mankind.
  • The evidence for its truth, for its validity in a world prone to demand evidence,
  • lies not in archaeology or antropology, though these may be helpful to some.
  • It lies notin word research or historical analysis, though these may be confirmatory.
  • The evidence for its truth lies in reading it. It is a book of God.'" (Ensign, November 1984, pp. 51-52.)

  • "Further, President Hinckley has written:'
  • Brothers and sisters, without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon,
  • regardless of how many times you previously have read it,
  • there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord.
  • There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, 
  • and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.'" (Ensign, June 1988, p.6.)
  • "As you begin your new study of the Book of Mormon, this year,
  • and make it one of discovery,
  • one of increased understanding and revelation,
  • and one of learning to apply and live the principles of goodness, life and salvation,
  • invite the Spirit of the Lord so that your study will be an ongoing spiritual adventure in coming to believe, follow, and know Jesus Christ." Ibid., Page 16.

 

  • So, there you have it, the testimonies of the Prophets of the Church who testify of "the divinity and the reality of [Jesus Christ] the Savior of mankind."
  • I cannot add to this, and I most certainly not detract from it,
  • so I will simply add my testimony that the Book of Mormon is indeed, the word and work of God. 
  • I always find it interesting and even enlightening that just when I am searching for the right or inspired scripture to emphasize my meaning, inevitably, some passage of scripture will divest itself and come to my aid...

  • "Behold, will ye reject these words?
  • Will ye reject the words of the prophets;
  • and will ye reject all of words which have been spoken concerning Christ,
  • after so many have spoken concerning him;
  • and deny the good word of Chirst,
  • and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit,
  • and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for you?"

  • "Know ye not tht if ye will do these things,
  • that the power of the redemption and the resurrection,
  • which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt befor the bar of God?"

  •  "And according to the power of justice,
  • for justice cannot be denied,
  • ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable,
  • and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment."

 

  • O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate,
  • and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life." 
  • " O be wise; what can I say more?"

WHAT CAN I SAY MORE? 

Randall D."Randy" Faulk this 31st day of August, 2007