The announcement this month that one of America's premier publishers is about to undertake a commercial effort to publish the Book of Mormon is an acknowledgment that the collection of latter-day scripture is more than relevant to the modern world.
Travelers may be able to find the book at airport shops and elsewhere, but the true test of its worth is not in the cover price — whether retail or wholesale — the true test of the Book of Mormon is how the reader comes to value this other testament of Jesus Christ.
The crowning event in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Savior to the Americas following His resurrection and the teachings to the Nephites, as recorded by ancient prophets, compiled by the prophet Mormon and translated by the prophet Joseph Smith.
President Gordon B. Hinckley has remarked, "The Book of Mormon is more widely read than at any time in its history. . . . Its appeal is as timeless as truth, as universal as mankind. It is the only book that contains within its covers a promise that by divine power the reader may know with certainty of its truth" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 38).
He continues, "I know of no other writing which sets forth with such clarity the tragic consequences to societies that follow courses contrary to the commandments of God. . . . No other written testament so clearly illustrates the fact that when men and women walk in the fear of God and in obedience to His commandments, they prosper and grow, but when they disregard Him and His word, there comes a decay that unless arrested by righteousness, leads to impotence and death" (p. 37).
What other message do today's searchers for truth need to hear? Those who have prayerfully studied the Book of Mormon receive that testimony promised by Moroni that the work is the truth, that Joseph Smith did what he said he did and brought forth to today's doubting public a clear vision of heavenly purpose.
That was the testimony borne by Joseph Smith, ultimately sealed with his own blood, and the message thousands of Latter-day Saints have taken and are taking to those who will listen.
President Hinckley has said, "The evidence for the truth of the Book of Mormon is found in the lives of the millions, living and gone, who have read it, prayed about it, and received a witness of its truth. . . .
"Unbelievers may doubt the First Vision and say there were no witnesses to prove it. Critics may scorn every divine manifestation incident to the coming forth of this work. . . . they may discount our theology. But they cannot in honesty dismiss the Book of Mormon. It is here. They can feel it. They can read it. . . . Each time we encourage a man to read the Book of Mormon, we do him a favor. If he reads it prayerfully with a sincere desire to know the truth, he will know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the book is true. And from that knowledge will flow a conviction of the truth of many other things" (p. 38-39).
Those who read the book for the first time will find within its pages the course laid out for eternal life. They will be able to conclude, with the testimony of Joseph Smith that "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man could get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
Those who have gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon agree and can drink daily from the fountain of its inspirational waters. Thousands of others will soon have that same opportunity, and Latter-day Saints must be ready to invite them to worship with them after receiving a testimony from this work. We must be ready to share our own testimonies with those of our leaders and our ancestors that the kingdom of God rolls forth due in part because the Book of Mormon is with us today.
