Sunday, November 19, 2023

Examples of Teachings in the Book of Mormon that Clarify Biblical Teaching or are Unique to the Book of Mormon

The following is based on:

 

Allen H. Richardson and David E. Richardson, 1000 Evidences For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2 vols. (2d ed.; South Jordan, Utah: Artisan Enterprises, 2003, 2:18-19

 

Critics often ask for specific examples of any “plain and precious things” found in the Book of Mormon that are not also found in the Bible. Below is a brief list of a few such examples:

 

·       The importance of record keeping (1 Nephi 3:1-7; 4:13-16; 3 Nephi 23:9-13)

·       The Lord prepares a way for us to keep all of His commandments (1 Nephi 3:7)

·       How mysteries are made known (1 Nephi 10:19; Mosiah 2:9; Alma 12:10; 26:22)

·       The perpetual cycle of pride to sin to humility to repentance (Helaman 12:1-3)

·       The gentiles will assist the house of Israel (1 Nephi 22:8011; 2 Nephi 10:18)

·       The law of consecration (2 Nephi 2:2)

·       Why God allows evil and the importance of moral agency (2 Nephi 2, 10-16)

·       The purpose of man’s existence (2 Nephi 2:25)

·       The lost prophecy of the latter-day Joseph (2 Nephi 3:6-16)

·       Jerusalem is not to be the only location for the House of the Lord (2 Nephi 5:16)

·       The definition of priestcraft (2 Nephi 26:29; Alma 1:16)

·       The symbolism of the remnant of Joseph’s coast (Alma 46:23)

·       The responsibility of stewardship (Jacob 1:19)

·       How to magnify one’s office (Jacob 1:19, 2:2)

·       The symbolism of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac (Jacob 4:5)

·       The lost teachings of Zenos, a prophet in Jerusalem in Biblical times (Jacob 5:1-77)

·       The “other sheep” spoken of in John 10:16 are identified (3 Nephi 15:16-24)

·       The true meaning of service (Mosiah 2:17)

·       The eternal indebtedness of mankind to the Lord (Mosiah 2:20-25)

·       A description of the natural man, and how to overcome (Mosiah 3:19; Alma 5:6-45)

·       How to retain the remission of sins (Mosiah 4:11-16)

·       The limits of discipleship (Mosiah 4:27)

·       The office and calling of a seer (Mosiah 8:13-17)

·       The true church should bear the name of Christ (3 Nephi 27:8)

·       The law of common consent (Mosiah 29:25-26)

·       The powers of translated beings (3 Nephi 28:36-40)

·       The key to rending the veil of unbelief (Alma 19:6; 33:21)

·       Why people are given weaknesses (Ether 12:27)

·       A description of the doctrine of desire (Alma 32:27; 41:5)

·       The relationship between justice and mercy (Alma 34:15-16)

·       Baptism is only for those who are accountable (Moroni 8:5-23)

 

. . .

 

The following is a partial list of many Biblical teachings clarified in the Book of Mormon:

 

·       We all lived in a pre-earth existence before we were born (Alma 13:3).

·       The purpose of Adam’s fall (2 Nephi 2:22-25).

·       The Holy Ghost is a literal being, not just a medium or a power (1 Ne. 10:22; 11:27; 12:18).

·       The process of receiving revelation and inspiration (1 Nephi 17:45; Enos 1:10)

·       All worthy males may have the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred upon them (Alma 13:18-19).

·       Man can be saved from his sins, not in his sins (Alma 11:37).

·       God’s word is not limited to the Bible (2 Nephi 29:3-13).

·       The manner in which the doctrine of Christ should be taught (2 Nephi 25:26-27)

·       Baptism is essential to salvation (2 Ne. 31:4-12).

·       The necessity of organized religion (Mosiah 26:21-28).

·       The manner in which faith is developed and maintained (Alma 32:26-34)

·       The fate of those who seek for a sign (Jacob 7:15-20; Alma 30:59).

·       The true process of being born again (Mosiah 5:2-9; Alma 5:6-45).

·       The importance of the gathering of the House of Israel (1 Ne. 15:13-18; 3 Ne. 20:26).

·       After death, there is a spirit paradise and a spirit prison (Alma 40:11-14).