Why We Should Study the Book of Mormon
Three powerful reasons why studying the Book of Mormon should be a lifetime pursuit.
1. It Is the Keystone of Our Religion
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
President Ezra Taft Benson explained this more fully:
“The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity. Unlike the Bible, which passed through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who tampered with the text, the Book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just one inspired step of translation. Therefore, its testimony of the Master is clear, undiluted, and full of power. But it does even more. Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly, this divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ.” (Ensign, Nov. 1986)
2 Nephi 25:26
“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.”
As an arch collapses without its keystone, the Church’s standing depends on the Book of Mormon’s truthfulness. Opponents of the Church recognize this significance and work extensively to discredit it — understanding that doing so would undermine Joseph Smith’s credibility, priesthood authority, and the Restoration itself. Conversely, millions have testified to receiving a spiritual confirmation of its truth, validating all claims of the Restoration.
2. It Was Written for Our Day
Mormon 8:35
“Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.”
The ancient record keepers witnessed our era and selected material most beneficial to us. When we study the Book of Mormon, we should continually ask ourselves why specific passages were included and how they apply to contemporary living.
Notably, a substantial portion of the book examines the decades preceding Christ’s appearance in the Americas. Through careful analysis of this period — why certain peoples faced destructive judgments while others stood at the Bountiful temple to witness the risen Christ — we gain a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming.
3. There Is Power in the Book of Mormon to Change Our Lives
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book 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. The scriptures are called ‘the words of life’ (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.”
President Marion G. Romney testified: “I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity — the pure love of Christ — will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.”
Neglecting this study brings condemnation:
D&C 84:54–57
“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received — Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.”
Conclusion
Three powerful reasons justify a lifetime of studying the Book of Mormon: it is the keystone of our religion; it was written specifically for our day; and there is a transformative power in its pages that flows into the lives of sincere students. Through this mechanism, the Lord uses the Book of Mormon to identify the Elect — those who recognize and obey His voice.
Continuous study — not merely reading, but internalizing and implementing its principles — should remain a constant pursuit in every Latter-day Saint home.