Books of Books

If you have not seen the streaming series The Chosen, you might consider watching it. I'be really enjoyed watching it. It presents many of the events recorded in the New Testament Gospels, and the people involved in those events, in a way that makes them relatable. There is admittedly a significant amount of artistic and interpretive license taken in the storytelling, so, of course, you should always return to the scriptures themselves, and read, study, ponder and pray about the actual accounts and give those the higher precedence.

I bring up the series because there are two scenes that I find to be particularly interesting and have wondered if they would, or rather hoped that they would, cause people to stop and reflect on the assumptions and approach they often take toward scripture in general. In Season 2, Episode 1, Thunder, Jesus and his followers have been in Samaria, successfully preaching the Gospel. The priest of the Samaritan town invites Jesus to teach in their synagogue, but this particular group of people accepts only the five Books of Moses (the Pentateuch) as sacred scripture. While contemplating what to teach, Jesus speaks with his disciple John and they mention how much these people miss out on by not having the other scriptures — the historical books, the books of poetry and wisdom, and the books of the prophets. There were actually such groups (e.g., the Sadducees), and they undoubtedly had their reasons for setting aside the writings of the later books and could almost certainly justify doing so using the scriptures that they did accept (for example, Deuteronomy 4:2 can be used to argue that nothing should be added after the Books of Moses). And they as certainly felt they were using strong and valid arguments. Yet, they truly were missing out on so much that God gave to the people of Israel over the centuries! 

Nicodemus taught by Jesus

The other scene is in Season 1, Episode 6, Indescribable Compassion. Nicodemus, the great Pharisee who had the courage to seek an audience with Jesus early in His ministry and have a frank and open discussion as recorded in John chapter 3, is talking to another Pharisee, Shmuel, about John the Baptist. Shmuel is arguing that John's claims were heretical even though his words and behavior could be interpreted to be fulfilling prophecies of Isaiah. Shmuel used some scriptures from Exodus when making his arguments. Then Nicodemus asks Shmuel what he would do if God did something that didn’t fit into the little box constructed by his interpretation of scripture? Would he tell God to get back into the box or would he question his interpretation? It is a scene of artistic license, but a fascinating question, nonetheless. 

Consider what the earlier group in Samaria would have in their scriptural treasury if they had followed Nicodemus' approach. They would have enjoyed the marvelous prophecies of Isaiah, the wisdom of Solomon, and the songs of David, among others. We see a similar thing happen with the Old and New Testaments. After the days of Jesus, the books of the New Testament were written and added to the Christian canon, and we feel sad that our Jewish friends leave such wonderful things on the table! Would that they had appreciated and understood the wise counsel of Gamaliel when Peter and John were brought before the Jewish council for preaching the Gospel message: "... if this … work be of men, it will come to naught: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (see Acts 5:38-39) Would that over the years, when the work of the Apostles did not "come to naught" that they had reconsidered the limits that they were putting on God!

As weak humans who fall short of the glory of God, who have been told by Him “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:8-9) — as such weak mortals, we ought to be cautious about insisting that God fit into our interpretation of His words. We are prone to mistakes, short-sightedness, faulty reasoning, and pride (if not outright arrogance). We should try to understand to the best of our ability, but also always remember the warning of the Apostle Peter "... that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" for it came as holy men were moved by the Holy Ghost (see 2 Peter 1:20-21). And we should ever apply the counsel of the Apostle Paul to “prove (test) all things [and] hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thess 5:21)  

Of all those times where we know God spoke to and dealt with a group of people we know of it because they have left us a record. It is manifestly obvious that we know nothing about any people and God's dealings with them if there is no such record, or if we do not currently have in our possession the record they did leave. Without the record, we can know nothing about them other than, perhaps, some guesswork based on dead and decaying relics and pottery shards. If a record of such a people was found, and if we truly loved the word of God wouldn't we — shouldn't we — be anxious to learn what was said and taught? Wouldn’t we want to know about it, read it, understand it, and test it, and then as Paul counsels, to hold fast to it if it proved to be good? Imagine what such additional information could confirm, validate or clarify! 

Consider this reasoning by Christ: “... because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished…” (see 2 Ne 29:9 (4-14)) And so, while members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints love, study, believe and treasure the Bible — that wonderful book of books — we also invite the world to consider another testament of Jesus Christ, another record of the dealings of God with another group from the House of Israel — another book of books, The Book of Mormon. 

We invite each person to individually read and ponder and pray about it, to hold fast to it if it proves good. Don't skim it or half-heartedly thumb through it. The claims for this book are too important, too bold for such a casual perusal. And don't make a purely intellectual evaluation of it. Make also a spiritual evaluation of it. It stands or falls on its own and, like the Bible, every person must decide for themselves whether it stands. But a true evaluation cannot be made without reading it, really reading it, honestly reading it. So, 

“... I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you, that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:3-5) 

The purpose of the Book of Mormon is clear. It is to stand as a second witness, a companion to the Bible to declare to the world about Jesus Christ and the covenants the Lord has with His people. It is to invite all to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. The following is part of its purpose as declared in its title page: 

“Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever — and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself to all nations."

Millions have found the principles, promises, doctrines and testimony of the Book of Mormon to be true. Please don’t limit God to a box of your own or someone else's construction, and don't deny yourself the wealth of wisdom and joy available from all that He has provided through, in, and about his Son, Jesus Christ.