Daniel Bowen

Evaluation
English 2010
10/11/14

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon was published in 1830 by a man named Joseph Smith. This book
is claimed to be more scripture revealed to Gods prophets in ancient times, in the same manner
that the Bible was constructed. The book starts in 600 B.C. and is written by many different
Prophets who received revelation or inspiration from God. They wrote these revelations on
metal plates and passed them down for years and years until the last Prophet who had them
buried them in the ground before his whole civilization was wiped out. A further evaluation is
necessary to see what the Book of Mormon consists of and how it relates to the Bible. I want to
evaluate different stories in the Book of Mormon, some of the authors, references to Jesus
Christ and how the Book of Mormon correlates to the Bible using scriptures.

The Book of Mormon and how it starts is something in itself that needs to be evaluated.
As said earlier, the Book of Mormon takes place around 600 B.C. The first book is called 1
Nephi and is written by the hand of Nephi. In the first chapter it says in vs 4 For it came to pass
in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi,
having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets,
prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be
destroyed. As it says here Nephi and his father, Lehi, are currently in Jerusalem. Nephi says
that the reigning king of Judah is Zedekiah. Lets go to the Bible and see who Zedekiah is. In 2
Kings 24:18 it says that Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began his reign and
continued to do so for 11 years. It establishes that he is now currently the King. We can see
how the Book of Mormon lets you know that it is talking about the same Jerusalem that the Bible

does and that its all around the same time period. Further, Lehi is one of those Prophets that is
commanded by the Lord to call the people of Jerusalem to repentance. Going back to the Bible,
2 Kings 24:2 says that Judah was destroyed according to the word of the Lord, which he spake
by his servants the prophets. Basically, the setting from which the Book of Mormon starts off is
in ancient Israel. The same location that the Bible takes place. Years later Lehi and his son
Nephi and the rest of there family are commanded by the Lord to build a boat so that they can
be lead to a promise land, which is ancient America. The rest of the Book of Mormon takes
place here on this Continent.

There are many scriptures in the Book of Mormon that talk about Jesus Christ and direct
someone to follow him. With references to Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon it helps
someone have a clearer distinction on who Jesus Christ is and the nature of Him. These
Prophets over in ancient America were directed by Jesus Christ just like the prophets in the
Bible were. In 2 Nephi 25:26 it says And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of
Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may
know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. This sets the stage that these
Prophets follow Jesus Christ and teach about Him. Another scripture from the Book of Mormon
that states the mission and life of Jesus is In Alma 7:11-13 11 And he shall go forth, suffering
pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled
which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12 And he will
take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will
take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh,
that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the
flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their
transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony

which is in me. From an evaluation of the Bible and Book of Mormon that following passage
seems to sum up the life of Jesus Christ and his purpose.

An evaluation of one of the most climatic parts in the Book of Mormon is very essential
to understanding the Book of Mormon. As the plates are being passed down throughout the
generations there comes a time when Christ is born and when Christ is crucified and the
Prophets are still writing. In 3 Nephi around the year 34 A.D. these people in ancient America
claim that Jesus Christ as the resurrected Lord comes and visits them. After Christ was killed
the people were marveling at the change that had taken place because of the prophecies that
were given in the past about the destruction of the land after Christs crucifixion. In this record it
says that they saw a man descending out of heaven. He came and stood in the midst of them.
The man said Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
Jesus teaches the people a lot of the same things that were taught in the Bible in the book of
Matthew. It is widely known as the Sermon on the Mount. He establishes his church and calls
apostles to have authority to act in his name and to help Him in bringing forth salvation for these
people. What is so striking and miraculous about this is that the Book of Mormon claims that
Jesus Christ came to the Americas to show his love to them as a resurrected being.

In all, The Book of Mormon is known as modern day scripture to members of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because it testifies of Jesus Christ as does the Bible. It has
references that go back to the Bible and support it. The style of the writing is a lot like the Bible
and is claimed to be written by Prophets of God who have received revelation from the Lord.
The claim is a big one and something that should definitely be sought out and read by someone
who is interested. The Book of Mormon is here to fully support the Bible and help everyone
come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Citation:
The Holy Bible, The Old and New Testaments, King James Version. Published in 1999 by the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, print.
The Book of Mormon, Salt Lake City, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1989,
print.
mormon.org, What Is the Mormon Church and Religion? mormon.org. N.p.,n.d. Web. 13 Oct.
2014.