The Book of Mormon; a divine testimony of Jesus Christ

Hello! Sorry it's been a while. School can be pretty overwhelming :). Thankfully, one of my classes now encourages posting on my blog, so I can remember to do it more often.

Today I'd like to share my thoughts on something very sacred and very important to me.
In my darkest times, times when I've felt lonely, scared, stressed out, or just plain sad, the Book of Mormon has been a light that I have been able to turn to. It's helped to bring me closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

This book of scripture was written by ancient prophets in America who knew and testified of Jesus Christ. It was translated by Joseph Smith (a modern day prophet) through divine guidance. (If you haven't come into contact with this book before, here are links to the introduction and a place where you can request a physical copy).

Another modern day prophet said this about the importance of the Book of Mormon to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: How important is the Book of Mormon? ... Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The enemies of the Church understand this clearly. This is why they go to such great lengths to try to disprove the Book of Mormon, for if it can be discredited, the Prophet Joseph Smith goes with it.

Like Pres. Ezra Taft Benson says, there have been many attempts to discredit the Book of Mormon and many articles by church members who have supported it with logical arguments and historical evidence*. While I love reading those articles and learning from their insights, I don't have the scholarly experience necessary to write something like that. Thankfully, I don't need to.

I have read and still read the Book of Mormon. I have come to know my Savior through the verses and have also come to better understand the Holy Bible.
One of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon is Alma 33. A missionary-- Amulek-- is using the example of Moses and the Brass Serpent to testify of Christ.

19 Behold, [the Son of God] was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly...?

 Christ really is the one to turn to for healing. He loves us and wants to help us with our daily challenges. One way to come to Him, to "behold (him) quickly," is by reading the Book of Mormon.

I know that the Book of Mormon was brought to me by the power of God. He inspired ancient prophets to write it, prepared Joseph Smith to receive it, gave him the tools to translate it, and guided missionaries who taught my ancestors about it. He also blessed me with a love for it, with a desire to read it, so that I already know that it's His word to me.

Earlier I mentioned that the Book of Mormon has helped me through some tough times. One of those times was when I was preparing to be a missionary myself. I left home, traveled to Argentina, and was with a group of other young adults who were preparing. I was homesick and trying to learn Spanish. One day, I zoned out the teacher and just opened up the Book of Mormon I was holding. I was praying to know that God still loved me and was there to help me through this. The scripture I read said, "Behold, I know my sheep, and they are numbered." As I read it, I felt like the person who had written it had reached through time and seen where I was at and had put those words on the page for me.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I know that "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Joseph Smith, Introduction). Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ saw our difficult times and gave us an added help to get through them. If we read the Book of Mormon, we'll be able to feel Their presence in our lives through the Spirit and will be able to return to Them in the end.

*(For example: "Profile of a Prophet" Hugh B Brown (a lawyer)
                     "Book of Mormon and DNA Studies"
                     Hugh Nibley (a professor) also wrote books and articles about the Book of Mormon)

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies

One of the most inspiring stories in the Book of Mormon is the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies--also known as the people of Ammon.
These people were Lamanites who had separated themselves from the other Lamanites because they had been converted and now believed in God. The other Lamanites were angry with the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. They probably felt betrayed and confused by the change in their friends and former brothers-in-arms. The Lamanites prepared to go to war against the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.
When the Anti-Nephi-Lehies heard about the preparations, they were naturally scared. The king and the prophet counseled together and with God to decide what to do. They felt inspired that they should not fight against the Lamanites.
In fact, they gathered together all of the people and challenged them to make a covenant with God: that they would never raise a weapon against anyone ever again. As a symbol of that covenant, every single person took their weapons and threw them into a pit, burying them where they couldn't be reached.
When the Lamanites were ready, they came and attacked the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. As they'd agreed, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies didn't fight back. Instead they knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father.

22 And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay (1,005) of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God.
23 Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword—
24 Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbearfrom slaying them; and there were many whose hearts hadswollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.
25 And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them.
26 And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved. (Alma 24)

 When I read through this story last, I had a few cool thoughts I'd like to share.
I wondered why, when Heavenly Father had saved so many people who placed their trust in Him, He chose not to save the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Then I remembered that only a generation after these people came the 2,000 Stripling Warriors (read that story here). These young men were protected by the mighty power of God... and maybe by 1,005 angels as well.
The example of faith that their uncles, fathers, mothers, sisters, aunts, grandparents, cousins, and many others who died for their covenants must have also been a powerful force for the young men.

Finally, I thought of the question in "The War Room" (amazing movie, you should watch it). "Do I just let him walk all over me?"
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies not only were walked over, they were killed.

For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor, and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also—counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ—requires more than mere belief or supposition that he is doing the will of God; but actual knowledge, realizing that, when those sufferings are ended, he will enter into eternal rest, and be a partaker of the glory of God.   ~Joseph Smith

Although many of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies were killed, many more people were converted. And through the scriptures we can know that those who were killed were taken up to heaven.

This story has come to mean much more to me. To me it is now a story of how a large group of people, unified in faith, can find new life through conversion and through the resurrection.

42 Evidences of the True Church of Christ

I just finished this amazing book called "The Greatest Quest" (by Blaine and Brenton Yorgason). It's about a group of college students during WWII (one of whom was an atheist), who look through the Bible to see what elements were involved in Christ's original church. They came up with 15 points at first, but over the years, they found 42 "evidences" that would identify a church that had the same blueprint as Christ's.
Their reasoning for wanting a church that mirrored Christ's from Jerusalem was the principle that Christ is perfect, therefore his church would be perfect. (see also evidence #32)
I really enjoyed following them as they visited different churches and honestly tried to figure out if their teachings went along with the list they'd compiled.
Although this book is a novel, it's based on a true story.

I'm personally going to go through my Bible and highlight the verses they picked out, and identify how my church applies those 'evidences.'

There are many other deep questions, answers, and spiritual discussion, but here are the 42 points they found and the scriptures that supported them:
(Note, I don't mean to violate any copyrighted material, and I don't claim any of this as mine)

1. The Godhead consists of three separate and distinct beings-- God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost
*Genesis 1:26-27; 3:22
*Matthew 3:17; 28:19
*Luke 3:22
*Acts 7:55
*1 John 5:7

2. God the Father, as well as his Son Jesus Christ, who is a resurrected personage, both have bodies of flesh and bone and spirit
*Genesis 32:30
*Exodus 33:23
*Luke 24:39, 41-43
*John 20:17; 21:13-14
*Acts 7:55-56
*1 John 3:2

3. Jesus is the Christ, the literal Son of God, the Messiah, and the only perfect person upon the earth-- and not only a great teacher.
*Luke 9:35
*John 17:4-5
*Hebrews 1:6-7
(there are many other scriptures supporting this point, but they only had a few listed(

4. Jesus Christ, as revealed in the New Testament, is Jehovah, God of the Old Testament
*Exodus 3:14
*John 8:58
*Isaiah 43:11
*Hosea 13:4

5. The Holy Ghost is a distinct personage of spirit and is the third member of the Godhead.
*Matthew 3:15-16
*John 14:26; 16:13-14; 20:21-22
*Ephesians 1:17

6. The Holy Bible is the word of the Lord insofar as it is translated correctly. It is the record of the Jews and will be joined with another record in the last days (these days) to relate God's word to his people. This second record will come from a descendant of Joseph.
*Ezekiel 37:15-17
*Isaiah 29:18
*Revelation 20:12-14

7. Jesus Christ is recognized as the head of his Church,
with other officers named, beginning with a foundation of apostles and prophets, and including teachers, saints, elders, evangelists, bishops, deacons, priests, and high priests.
*John 15:16
*Mark 3:14-15
*Ephesians 2:19-20; 4:11-14

8. Officers in Christ's church will be "called of God." They will receive their authority through "the laying on of hands." On cannot call himself to the ministry
a. College degree or license insufficient
b. Royal priesthood will be known as such
c. Bishops and leaders are to marry and to have children
*Acts 19:25
*Hebrews 5:4, 10
*1 Timothy 3:2; 4:2-3

9. Members of Christ's church will be "workers," and will be called "saints." In addition, women will be included in activities and leadership.
*Proverbs 12:4
*Romans 1:7
*Ephesians 4:12
*1 Corinthians 11:7
*2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

10. There will exist within the church separate entities for each of the groups of members. Adult and youth organizations will exist. This point stands to reason, if Christ is concerned with helping each individual from that person's own level of understanding.
*Ephesians 4:11-14

11. Christ's church will believe in the "virgin birth" of Jesus Christ but will not believe in the "immaculate conception" of Mary.
*Isaiah 7:14
*Matthew 1:19-20, 23
*Luke 1:26-31, 42

12. Christ's church will believe in immortality and eternal life, and in a heaven and a hell. After the resurrection, we will be assigned to different places according to the judgement. The first resurrection will be fore the righteous and will commence 1,000 years before the second resurrection.
*John 3:16-17; 5:28-29; 14:2
*1Corinthians 15:20-22, 40-42
*1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

13. The Savior's church will honor Sunday as the Sabbath, with the understanding that the resurrection transpired Sunday morning, the first day of the week-- and thus replaced Saturday as the Sabbath.
*Hosea 2:11
*Matthew 28:1
*John 5:18
*Acts 20:7
*1 Corinthians 16:2

14. Officers as well as members of Christ's church will receive continuous revelation from God.
*Amos 3:7
*Matthew 16:13, 16-19
*Ephesians 1:17

15. Members of the Lord's church will be payers of tithes and offerings
*Malachi 3:8,11
*Luke 11:42
*Hebrews 7:4-5

16. Members of the church will regularly partake of the Lord's supper. The sacrament represents the flesh and blood of Christ and is partaken of in remembrance of him.
*Matthew 26:26-28
*Acts 20:7
*1 Corinthians 16:1-2

17. Members of the Lord's church will experience miracles, such as visions, tongues, and prophecies. In addition, the church will practice divine healing. When members of the church are sick, elders of the church will anoint them with oil and heal them.
*Matthew 9:18
*Mark 6:5; 16:17-18
*Acts 5:12, 16
*James 5:14-15

18. Church leaders will teach that the resurrected Jesus Christ will come again to the earth in the last days. This "second coming" will be greatly anticipated.
*Job 19:25-26
*Matthew 24:30
*Acts 1:11; 3:19-21

19. Members of the Lord's church will be persecuted for their beliefs.
*Matthew 5:10-12; 24:9
*Luke 6:22-23

20. The church as a whole, as well as its members, will be recognized for their "fruits"-- as will the prophets who lead them. The church will esteem honesty, virtue, and wholesome activity.
*Proverbs 15:4
*Luke 6:43-44
*2 Corinthians 9:10
*Philippians 4:17
*Hebrews 13:18

21. The church must provide salvation for all of God's children, not just those who receive the gospel while living on the earth. It will practice baptism for the dead.
*Mark 16:16
*John 3:1-8
*1 Corinthians 15:29

22. The church will build temples similar to the one Solomon built, which was destroyed and built again at the time of Christ. These temples will have unique purposes, including baptism and other ordinances. Temples will also be holy places, contain the Holy of Holies, and be used by members as places of worship.
*Isaiah 2:3
*Malachi 3:1, 7

23. Christ's original church was organized by him and named after him, and his church today will also be named after him.
*Acts 4:10-12
*Ephesians 1:22; 4:11-14; 5:23-24

24. Specific authority to function in the administration of the church is called "priesthood." It is obtained through ordination by one having the power to so ordain.
*1 Samuel 13:9-14
*Mark 6:7
*John 7:16; 20:21
*Acts 19:2-5
*Hebrews 5:4-6, 8-10

25. A higher priesthood authority is required to bestow the Holy Ghost than to baptize
*Matthew 16:19
*Mark 1:7-8
*Acts 8:15-18; 19:2-6

26. The church that Christ originally organized did not baptize infants since the prerequisite for baptism was (1) a capacity for repentance of past personal sins, and (2) a personal belief in the divinity and teachings of Christ.
*Mark 10:14-15; 16:16
*Acts 2:38; 8:12

27. The church is to send out missionaries (in twos), to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ
*Mark 6:7
*Luke 10:1

28. The church will have a welfare system to provide for the poor and the needy within the church. Members are to provide for themselves and their families first, and then receive help from the church.
*Deuteronomy 15:11
*Psalm 9:18
*Isaiah 14:30
*Mark 10:21
*Luke 18:22
*Romans 15:26

29. The church will have a law of health. Alchoholic beverages will not be used by members of the church.
*Ephesians 5:18
*1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:9-10

30. The church will be one that is restored to the earth. Christ's original church experienced a great apostasy or falling away, but his church will be returned or restored again in the last days.
*Jeremiah 31:31-34
*Acts 3:19-21
*2 Thessalonians 2:1-13
*Revelation 14:6-7

31. Christ's church will believe in being saved by the grace of Christ through exercising faith in him. In other words, it will teach that when we repent of our sins and forsake them, the atonement of Christ will cleanse our sins.
*Matthew 7:21-29
*Mark 16:15-16
*Luke 6:46-49
*1 Timothy 4:10
*James 1:22-25; 2:14-26

32. The church will preach only the true gospel of Christ, with no variations. It will neither add to the meaning of Christ's teachings nor takeaway from them--even though current revelation will provide insight into them.
*Matthew 5:19
*Galatians 1:6-9
*Ephesians 4:5
*Hebrews 13:8-9

33. Christ's church will espouse a pre-earth life, or a pre-existence, such as that taught by the Orthodox Jews. Included in this teaching will be the doctrine of fore ordination and not predestination. God the Father will be recognized as having created the individual spirits of all people.
*Genesis 1:26-31
*Job 38:4-7
*Ecclesiastes 1:4-5
*John 17:5
*Ephesians 1:4-5
*Hebrews 12:9

34. The church will believe in the "original sin" of Adam. Nevertheless, it will teach that Christ atoned for Adam's sin, and that we will be punished for our won sins, as Adam's sin has already been atoned for.
*John 1:29
*Acts 24:14-15
*Romans 5:6-19
*1 Corinthians 15:21-23

35. Christ's church will teach that the gathering of Israel, in the last days, will be literal.
*Isaiah 5:26-30; 11:12-13; 35
*Jeremiah 3:14-18; 31:10

36. Members of the true church will respect the beliefs of others and will allow all people to worship as they choose.
*Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2
*2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

37. The church will be subject to the laws of the land, regardless of the type of government in power in that land--thus rendering to Caesar that which is his, and to God that which is his.
*Matthew 22:21
*Mark 12:17
*Luke 20:25

38. Is should be recognized that, while perfection is to be sought by each member of Christ's church, the members will have human failings and will make mistakes, and they will thus need to grow and learn--line upon line, precept upon precept.
*Isaiah 28:10
*Ephesians 4:11-14, 28, 32

39. After repentance, baptism by immersion is essential, as is receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. A person performing these ordinances of baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost must be duly authorized to perform such ordinances.
*Matthew 3:13-15
*John 3:5
*Acts 2:38, 41; 22:16

40. The Savior's church will have an unpaid ministry. This lay ministry will be called "by revelation," even as the apostles called new members to their quorum following the resurrection of Christ.
*Amos 3:7
*Micah 3:11
*John 10:13
*Acts 1:22-26
*1 Corinthians 9:18
*1 Peter 5:2

41. Satan is a real spirit being and not a figment of people's imagination.
*Job 1:6
*Matthew 4:10
*Mark 1:13; 8:33
*Luke 13:16; 22:3, 31
*John 13:27
*Acts 26:18

42. The Holy Ghost will bear witness of the truthfulness of the Savior's plan, when it is presented. This is the one sure way of knowing which, if any, of the churches belongs to the Savior.
*John 16:13-14
*1 Corinthians 12:4-12
*Galatians 5:22-26
*Ephesians1:17

The Path to Life

Have you ever heard the old saying that people who get lost tend to walk in circles?

Jan L. Souman, a German psychologist, wanted to determine scientifically if this was true. He took participants of an experiment to a large forest area and to the Sahara desert and used a global positioning system to track where they went. They had no compass or any other device. Instructions to them were simple: walk in a straight line in the direction indicated.

Dr. Souman later described what happened. “[Some] of them walked on a cloudy day, with the sun hidden behind the clouds [and with no reference points in view]. … [They] all walked in circles, with [several] of them repeatedly crossing their own path without noticing it.” Other participants walked while the sun was shining, with faraway reference points in view. “These … followed an almost perfectly straight course" 

Without visible landmarks, human beings tend to walk in circles.

(Quoted by Eder Uchtdorf, Jan L. Souman and others, “Walking Straight into Circles,” Current Biology vol. 19 [Sept. 29, 2009], 1538–42)

There is a story in the Book of Mormon about the Tree of Life. It is a story that gives you a metaphor. There is a dark wasteland, with a narrow path going through it. Along this path there is a rod that people can grab, like a railing. Both the path and the rod lead to a BEAUTIFUL Tree, with DELICIOUS Fruit! But, as people came walking down the path, they soon encountered a dark mist, that blinded them. There was also a river close by, a filthy river.

As the people are walking through the wasteland, some get onto the path and some of those on the path hold onto the rod. As they are walking on the path, (and those walking OFF the path, as well) they come into the mist of darkness. Many who are on the path lose their way and wander off, unless they're holding onto the rod. Some might stumble across the path, and grab onto the rod. Maybe some of the people holding the rod call out to friends, and strangers to come and join them. Some of the people wandering around drown in the river. 

The people holding the rod finally come to the Tree of Life, and eat the fruit. Some are happy there, and stay at the tree, forever happy with the fruit. Some look around, and see something that makes them ashamed to be at the tree. They see a HUGE building full of people. This building is floating in the air, and the people inside are dressed in very stylish clothes. They are also laughing, laughing at the people who are at the tree. The people who are ashamed leave the tree, and try to get to the building, but many are drowned in the process. 

What does this big metaphor mean? (there's this cool part int he Book of Mormon where Nephi asks the same thing, and an angel appears, and shows him different scenes from the future, and Nephi figures it out, but I'll just tell you :))

The dark wasteland is the world. I think that there are some beautiful parts of the world, but compared to heaven... I'm sure is seems to be a wasteland. 

As we travel through the world, some find the path, which is the way to happiness. The rod represents the Gospel ("The Iron Rod is the Word of God").  The people on the path had a better chance of staying on the path if they knew the gospel/held on to the rod. The river is worldliness. Some people get lost (or drowned) in it. The tree is the Love of God, and Eternal Life

The people who make it to the tree,who actually BELIEVE the gospel stay at the tree, and are happy there. But some people look into the building, which represents the pride of the world. They look at these popular people, and they want to be like them more than they want to be with God, and so they leave the tree (and maybe they gradually do it, just a little step at a time), but they will most likely just get drowned in worldliness. 

But is that the end? Are there only a few who get to make it to the tree? 

No. 

Because there is a one-man rescue party that can go away from the path and rescue those who are lost. It's Christ, and he sacrificed himself to bring people back.

Here is a video showing people who were drowning in worldliness before they found the gospel.

This life can have purpose and can have joy, but it's sooo much easier to find lasting joy when you are on the path. 

After All We Can Do
By Robbie Pierce

I had been in that hole for a very long time-
In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.
The shaft was above me; I saw it quite clear,
But there's no way I ever could reach it from here.
I could not remember the world way up there,
So I lost every hope and gave in to despair.


I knew nothing but darkness, the floor, and the wall.
Then from off in the distance I heard someone call:
"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter!
Take rocks and take sticks and build up a fine ladder!"
This was a thought that had not crossed my mind,
I started to stack all the stones I could find.


When I ran out of stones, then old sticks were my goal,
For some way or another I'd climb from that hole.
I soon had a ladder that stood very tall,
And I thought, I'll soon leave this place once and for all!
I climbed up my ladder, a difficult chore,
For from lifting those boulders, my shoulders were sore.


I climbed up the ladder, but soon had to stop,
For my ladder stopped short, some ten feet from the top.
I went back down my ladder and felt all around,
But there were no more boulders, nor sticks to be found.
I sat down in the darkness and started to cry.
I'd done all I could do, and I gave my best try.
But in spite of my work, in this hole I must die.
And all I could do was to sit and think, Why?


Was my ladder too short? Was my hole much too deep?
Then from way up on high came a voice: "Do not weep."
And then faith, hope, and love entered into my chest
As the voice calmly told me that I'd done my best.


He said, You have worked hard, and your labor's been rough,
But the ladder you've built is at last tall enough.
So do not despair there is reason to hope,
Just climb up my ladder; I'll throw down my rope.
I climbed up my ladder, then climbed up the cored.
When I got to the top of it, there stood the Lord.


I've never been happier; my struggle was done.
I blinked in the brightness that came from the Son.
I fell to the ground as His feet I did kiss.
I cried, "Lord, can I ever repay Thee for this?"
He looked all about. There were holes in the ground.
They had people inside, and were seen all around.


There were thousands of holes that were damp dark and deep.
Then the Lord looked at me, and He said: "Feed my sheep,"
And He went on his way to save other lost souls.
So I got right to work, calling down to the holes,
"Get up! Get ready! There is nothing the matter!
Take rocks, and take sticks, and build up a fine ladder!"


It now was my calling to spread the good word,
The most glorious message that man ever heard:
That there's one who is coming to save one and all,
And we need to be ready when He gives the call.
He'll pull us all out of the holes that we're in
And save all our souls from cold, death, and from sin.

So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope:
Just climb up your ladder; He'll throw down His rope.

Videos about the Scriptures

How the Scriptures can Bless our Lives

(From General Conference April 2010)

The Book of Mormon-- A Gift from God

(General Conference Oct. 2011, Tad Callister?)

A Mormon Message about the Bible

A Funny Video parody of a movie based on 3 Nephi

 

 Video based on Ether 8

What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anyway? part 8

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 

This is one of my personal favorites. I love the scriptures, and the comfort they can give me. 

So, the first part: The bible.

(In English) we use the King James version of the Bible. Throughout the book, there are footnotes with "JST" = Joseph Smith Translations.
i.e. In Exodus, when Moses is sending the plagues, it says "And the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart". Wait a sec. Why would God do that? that just doesn't make sense. JST says "And Pharaoh hardened his heart against the Lord." That's better, isn't it?
JST also clarifies confusing passages; you know, when it seems everything is contradicting each other, and then a whole 'nother thing comes out?
Anyway, JST makes those things clearer.

Since we already have a bible, why doesn't that just work? Why do we need other scriptures?
There was an awesome talk given in General Conference that I'm going to post.....
jk. I've just spent 10 min trying to find it :S. Well, in the talk, it says to imagine one point. How many lines can you draw through that point? An infinite amount, right? Or at least a lot :). But now, take two points. How many lines can you draw connecting them? Just one.
(Side note-- This is one of my brother's favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 29:3 ... Many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible)

****** *****

The Book of Mormon is the second point. Historically, it was written by the early people of America. Geographically, it probably takes place in Central America, and ends up in the NE US area. Spiritually, it is the "journal" of the prophets of that place. The first prophet was Lehi/Nephi (there used to be a Book of Lehi, but it was stolen from Joseph Smith; so the first book is actually the 1st Book of Nephi). The last one was Moroni. He was probably the last living "Nephite." He sealed up the Book of Mormon in the "Hill Cumorah" (a place in NY, I believe). Then, Joseph Smith got them. He didn't write anymore in them, he just tranlated them. Here are some excerpts from his own record about the Book of Mormon. (When he refers to "the plates", it's talking about the Book of Mormon, which was written on Gold Plates)

JS--H 1:29-35, 50, 52-54, 59 "The Vision with Moroni; Joseph Smith finds the Gold Plates"
29 ...on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer ...
30 While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a ^alight appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a ^bpersonage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.

 31 He had on a loose robe of most exquisite ^awhiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.

 32 Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was ^aglorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like ^blightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was ^cafraid; but the ^dfear soon left me.

 33 He called me by ^aname, and said unto me that he was a ^bmessenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do...

34 He said there was a ^abook deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the ^bfulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;

 35 Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a ^abreastplate, constituted what is called the ^bUrim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted ^c“seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.

50 I left ... and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant that I arrived there.

 52 Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the ^aplates, the ^bUrim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them.

 53 I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger, and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates.

 54 Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him...
59 At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to ^ame with this charge: that I should be ^bresponsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any ^cneglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to ^dpreserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.

Here is an intersting story from Martin Harris, who helped fund the translation: JS--H 1:64-65
64 “I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

 65 “He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of ^aangels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were ^bsealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.”

 Another thing about the Book of Mormon. There are some people who give Mormons a hard time becuase they have another book of scripture, and there is a scriptures in Revelations that says: "22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" 

I have two things to say (but they both have the same effect). 

1) There is a scripture in Deutronomy, also that says "4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Does that mean that the whole Bible after Deutronomy is forbidden? I doubt it. I think that it's just talking about not changing the scriptures, or adding to the book of Deutronomy.

2) Revelations (although it is placed at the end of the New Testament) was written before many of the other books of the Bible. At least the 3 books of John were written after it. 

I'm going to finish up now, with my testimony (my feelings and beliefs) of the Book of Mormon.

I know that it's true. I can feel Heavenly Father speaking to me and answering my questions through the scriptures. Even if you do not believe in what the Mormons believe, I think that you should at least read the Book of Mormon. It might have something to help you. There is peace, there is war, there is inspiration, there is everything you need. I love my scriptures, and have them all marked up from my times reading them. I hope that you can also know that they are true.