What we would miss if we did not have the Book of Mormon!
We would miss what it is:
* Another testament of Jesus Christ.
* The book’s major writers (Nephi, Jacob, Mormon) and the book’s translator (Joseph Smith) were all eye witnesses of the Lord.
We would miss what it affirms:
* The individual identity of Heavenly Father and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
* The necessity of the fall of Adam and the wisdom of Eve, that man might have joy.
We would miss what it refutes:
* Revelation ends with the Bible.
* Infants need to be baptized.
* The fall of Adam tainted mankind with “original sin”.
* Happiness can be found in wickedness.
* Individual goodness is adequate for exaltation (ordinances and covenants are needed)
We would miss what it fulfills:
* Scattered Israel will be gathered in the latter days and how that will be done.
* The land of inheritance for the lineage of Joseph is in the Western Hemisphere.
“ Other sheep shall hear His voice.
* God will do a marvelous work and a wonder speaking, “out of the dust”.
* The “stick of Judah” and the ”stick of Joseph” will become one.
We would miss what it clarifies:
* Our premortal existence.
* The Atonement of Jesus Christ.
* The Resurrection.
* Death is a necessary component of God’s great plan of happiness.
* Postmortal existence, which begins in paradise.
* How the resurrection of the body, reunited with the spirit, becomes an immortal soul.
* How human behavior is influenced more by the power of the word than the power of the sword.
* The important role of angels.
* The eternal nature of the Priesthood.
* How ordinances are properly performed: for example, baptism, sacrament, conferring the Holy Ghost.
* How our judgment by the Lord will be according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts.
We would miss what it reveals:
* Baptisms were performed before Jesus Christ was born.
* Joseph, 11th son of Israel foresaw the prophetic role of Joseph Smith.
* Plain and precious parts of the Bible have been lost.
* The importance of individual agency and the need for opposition in all things.
* Temples were built and used by people in ancient America.
* Warnings about secret combinations.
* Nephi (600-592 B.C.) foresaw the discovery and colonization of America.