THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK OF MORMON

"In a revelation directed to the Shakers, the Lord gave specific instruction concerning the preparation and schooling of Leman Copley, a recent convert from the Shakers:  'My servant Leman Copley shall be ordained unto this work, that he may reason with them (his former people, the Shakers), not according to that which he has received of them, but according to that which shall be taught him by you my servants; and by so doing I will bless him, otherwise he shall not prosper.' (D&C 49:4)  There is a remarkable lesson for us here.  Leman Copley's missionary approach was not to be based upon what he had learned as a Shaker, but what he had learned as a Latter-day Saint. 

In short, his assignment was not to establish common ground and glory in similarities; rather, he was to be true to the truth, to declare with boldness what had been delivered to earth by revelation in this final dispensation of grace.  By being true to the Restoration he would be prospered.

A later incident in Church history further illustrates the power of this principle.  Elder Parley P. Pratt writes of an occasion wherein the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon addressed a large congregation in the East:

'While visiting with brother Joseph in Philadelphia, a very large church was opened for him to preach in and about three thousand people assembled to hear him.  Brother Rigdon spoke first and dwelt on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible.  When he was through, brother Joseph arose like a lion about to roar; and being full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon and translated them by the gift and power of God.

He commenced by saying: 'If nobody else had the courage to testify of so glorious a message from Heaven and of the finding of so glorious a record, he felt to do it in justice to the people and leave the event with God.'  This was no time to declare a message such as any other minister from any other church might deliver.

This was no occasion for sharing and seeking to establish doctrine from the Bible.  Joseph's work is a new and independent revelation and his witness an independent witness.  What was the result of Joseph Smith's sermon in Philadelphia?  'The entire congregation were astounded, electrified, as it were and overwhelmed with the sense of the truth and power by which he spoke and the wonders which he related.  A lasting impression was made; many souls were gathered into the fold.  I bear witness that he, by his faithful and powerful testimony cleared his garments of their blood.  Multitudes were baptized in Philadelphia and the regions around.' (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pg. 298-299)…

Do we desire to know more about how to avoid pride and the perils of the prosperity cycle; how to avoid priestcraft and acquire and embody charity, the pure love of Christ; how our sins may be remitted and how we can know when they have been forgiven; how to retain a remission of sins from day to day; how to come unto Christ, receive his holy name, partake of his goodness and love, be sanctified by his Spirit and eventually be sealed to him?  Do we know how to prepare for the second coming of the Son of Man?  If so, we must search and study the Book of Mormon.  This volume of holy writ is without peer.  It is the most relevant and pertinent book available to mankind today…This volume is not just a book about religion.  It is religion…As Moroni explained to Joseph Smith:  'Those who are not built upon the Rock shall seek to overthrow this church; but it will increase the more it is opposed' (Messenger and Advocate 2:199) (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, McConkie, Millet & Top, pgs. 378-379).