Doubt Not: The Book of Mormon’s Unmatched Witness of Christ

God has not left us alone to figure out how to fortify our faith and center our lives on the Savior. He provided ample means to assist us in becoming more Christ-centered through the miraculous gift of the Book of Mormon. There is no book better at building faith, and therefore dissolving doubt, than The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. If we are sincere in helping those we love who are experiencing doubt, we will do all we can to persuade them to drink daily and deeply from the Book of Mormon. 

The Book of Mormon is different than any other book on the planet, excluding the Bible (1). Though the Bible offers prophecies and stories about Jesus Christ, it pales in comparison to the Book of Mormon when it comes to explaining why we desperately need a Savior and Redeemer. The explanations that do exist in the Bible are cloaked in complex language, symbolism, parables, and stories. The Book of Mormon, on the other hand, contains many explanations for Christ in plain and straightforward language. Those explanations and declarations of Jesus Christ are unequaled in the world’s literature. 

This is an excerpt from Doubt Not, But Be Believing by David B. Marsh.

The Book of Mormon does something more than just teach truth, though it does that very well. “There is a power in the book,” explained President Ezra Taft Benson, “which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.” (2)

Those we know who are experiencing doubt need that power, especially the power to avoid deception.

There is a serious problem, however, that you will likely face with your friends and loved ones who are doubting. One of the biggest roadblocks I have run into when helping those with doubt is that they have usually stopped reading the scriptures and other Church publications. The sooner we can persuade them to keep reading the scriptures (especially the Book of Mormon) the better chance they will have of avoiding the sophistry that will justify their doubt and possibly lead them out of the Church. 

This is an excerpt from Doubt Not, But Be Believing by David B. Marsh.

A twin roadblock to not reading the Book of Mormon is reading it with the intent to find evidence against it. This disingenuous approach will not yield the spiritual confirmations that should accompany a study of the book. It offends the Spirit and all but obliterates the possibility of receiving any divine witness of its

truthfulness. “What we get from a book,” said Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “especially a sacred text—is mostly dependent on what we take to its reading—in desire and readiness to learn, and in attunement to the light communicated by the Spirit of the Lord.” (3) As its final contributor, Moroni counseled us to approach it “with a sincere heart” and “with real intent” (Moroni 10:4). The cynical and suspicious will find this hard to do. 

The Book of Mormon Is Replete with Teachings about the Savior

The first four times I read the Book of Mormon I did not grasp the heart of the book. I discovered principles that were new and helpful; I learned doctrine that brought understanding. But I did not see how completely Christ-centered the book really was. I admit to being a slow learner, but over the years, and even recently, I get the impression that I was, and am, not the only one that doesn’t see the chief emphasis of this remarkable book.

Not long ago, I attended a youth Sunday School class with eight sixteen- to seventeen-year-olds. At the beginning of class, the teacher and the youth had the following exchange:

Teacher: What have you learned in seminary about the Atonement?

Students (not just one either): We haven’t got there yet.

Teacher: Where are you in the Book of Mormon?

Students: Alma.

While I sat in the back of the room, my outward appearance was calm, but inside I was bursting with shock and dismay. I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. I was completely astonished that somehow a seminary class could get halfway through the Book of Mormon and not know anything about the Atonement yet.

I knew from my own study that there were at least thirty-seven discourses in the Book of Mormon on the Savior and the plan of salvation, and that sixteen of them were in the first half of the book.

The main intent of every Book of Mormon prophet, not just Nephi, was to invite all who read the book to come unto Christ and be saved (see 1 Nephi 6:4).

Mormon’s abridgment allowed him to compile dozens of Christ-centered speeches that resulted in a modern-day-miracle publication that is unequaled in all literature with respect to its testimony of the Savior and the Atonement.

President Boyd K. Packer once described the Book of Mormon as “the saga of a message” or “a testament.” That message or testament is found in the thirty-seven discourses I mentioned above. President Packer went on to say, “As the influence of that message is traced from generation to generation, more than twenty writers record the fate of individuals and of civilizations who accepted or rejected that testament.”(4) Those with doubt must be given a chance—a full chance—to accept or reject that message. We can help them see just how much the Book of Mormon is drenched in doctrine about Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon is more abundant with teachings about the Savior than any other book I have ever read. It’s power to testify to us of Jesus Christ and our need for Him is truly unsurpassed. If there is any book we ought to persuade those who have doubts to read, it is the Book of Mormon. We should point their attention to the fact that the Book of Mormon is all about Jesus Christ and that it is what they ought to spend a major portion of their reading and studying on as they seek to solve their doubt.

A personal experience related by Elder M. Russell Ballard confirms the power of the Book of Mormon:

One of my fine missionaries who served with me when I was the mission president in Toronto came to see me some years later. I asked him, “Elder, how can I help you?”

“President,” he said, “I think I’m losing my testimony.”

I couldn’t believe it. I asked him how that could be possible.

“For the first time I have read some anti-Mormon literature,” he said. “I have some questions, and nobody will answer them for me. I am confused, and I think I am losing my testimony.”

I asked him what his questions were, and he told me. They were the standard anti-Church issues, but I wanted a little time to gather materials so I could provide meaningful answers. So we set up an appointment ten days later, at which time I told him I would answer every one of his questions. As he started to leave, I stopped him.

“Elder, you’ve asked me several questions here today,” I said. “Now I have one for you.”

“Yes, President?”

“How long has it been since you read from the Book of Mormon?” I asked.

His eyes dropped. He looked at the floor for a while. Then he looked at “It’s been a long time, President,” he confessed.

“All right,” I said. “You have given me my assignment. It’s only fair that I give you yours. I want you to promise me that you will read in the Book of Mormon for at least one hour every day between now and our next appointment.”

He agreed that he would do that.

Ten days later he returned to my office, and I was ready. I pulled out my papers to start answering his questions, but he stopped me.

“President,” he said, “that isn’t going to be necessary.” Then he explained: “I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.”

“Well, that’s great,” I said. “But you’re going to get answers to your questions anyway. I worked a long time on this, so you just sit there and listen.”

And so I answered all his questions and then asked, “Elder, what have you learned from this?”

And he said, “Give the Lord equal time.” (5)

Let’s resolve to help our doubting loved ones give the Lord equal time. Perhaps the best thing we can do to help them dissolve their doubt is to ensure they are centering their life on the Savior and getting to know Him more each day by studying the Book of Mormon. 

This is an excerpt from Doubt Not, But Be Believing by David B. Marsh.

NOTES

1. Boyd K. Packer, “ ‘The Things of My Soul,’ ” Ensign, May 1986.

2. Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, November 1986.

3. Dallin H. Oaks, “All Men Everywhere,” Ensign, May 2006.

4. Packer, “ ‘The Things of My Soul.’ ”

5. M. Russell Ballard, “ ‘When Shall These Things Be?,’ ” Ensign, December 1996; www.lds.org/ensign/1996/12/when-shall-these-things-be.