The Fulness of My Everlasting Gospel

Perhaps the most famous verse in the Doctrine and Covenants about the Book of Mormon is this one where the Lord bore His witness of the truthfulness of the ancient record: “And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true” (Doctrine and Covenants 17:6). The book is true, just as the Lord Himself is alive. I realized today that if you swap the chapter and verse numbers, we have another testimony from Him of the truthfulness of the book. He said to Oliver Cowdery as he was serving as scribe for the record: “I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee—that the words or the work which thou hast been writing are true” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:17). Again, the Lord bore witness that the Book of Mormon that Joseph was in the process of translating was true. Just as the Book of Mormon bears witness that the words of the Bible are true, so too the words of the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants affirm the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

                The Lord spoke about the Book of Mormon in several other revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. In His preface (the first section) He declared, “And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:29). The Book of Mormon was given through the mercy and power of God, and we can feel both of those in our lives as we study its pages. In an early revelation the Lord explained one of the purposes of the book: “And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:19-20). The Book of Mormon was preserved so that the Lamanites might come to rely on the Savior and come unto Him through repentance. But the book was not written only for the Lamanites—it is for all the world: “And gave [Joseph Smith] power from on high, by the means which were 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 this age and generation, as well as in generations of old” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:8-11). The Book of Mormon is a witness to all the world that God speaks to His children in this age and generation.  

                Other passages affirm that the Book of Mormon contains the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord said this while the book was still being translated: “Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work. And, behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my disciples, desired in their prayers should come forth unto this people” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:45-46). After it was published the Lord described the Book of Mormon this way: “Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:5). The Book of Mormon contains “the fulness of the everlasting gospel” including the parts of His gospel that ancient prophets earnestly desired would come forth in our day. Given that, the Lord expects us to read and study and be changed by the words of the Book of Mormon. He gave this sobering commentary of the Saints just 2½ years after it was published: “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:57). The Lord’s words in the Doctrine and Covenants are clear: the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and we are under condemnation if we do not remember it and use it.