askandanswer Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 From my scripture reading this morning: 9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them. My understanding of this scripture is that it says, in part, that if ye believe the Bible, you will also believe the Book of Mormon. On my mission, I encountered a great many people who believed the Bible but chose not to believe in the Book of Mormon. How true is the idea contained in this verse, that if you believe the Bible you will also believe the Book of Mormon, and are any qualifiers or additional information needed to make the wording of this idea more accurate or true? Anddenex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zil2 Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 Quote 9 For behold, [the Book of Mormon] is written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also; and if ye believe [the Book of Mormon] ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them. Mormon is addressing the remnant of the Lehites (and I suppose the Mulekites) - people who would not know the Bible, but receive it through the Gentiles. Perhaps the people you're thinking of are not of the house of Israel. Perhaps they don't really believe the Bible, but rather, believe what they've been taught about the Bible or what they've been told that the Bible says - neither of which may be true, neither of which is the same as believing the Bible. Vort 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CV75 Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 1 hour ago, askandanswer said: From my scripture reading this morning: 9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them. My understanding of this scripture is that it says, in part, that if ye believe the Bible, you will also believe the Book of Mormon. On my mission, I encountered a great many people who believed the Bible but chose not to believe in the Book of Mormon. How true is the idea contained in this verse, that if you believe the Bible you will also believe the Book of Mormon, and are any qualifiers or additional information needed to make the wording of this idea more accurate or true? "May" is a modal verb that expresses possibility, not certainty like "will." askandanswer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikbone Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, askandanswer said: and are any qualifiers or additional information needed to make the wording of this idea more accurate or true? Probably Mormon 7:8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ. I know that many people read the Book of Mormon with the only intent to disprove and ridicule. Laying hold upon the gospel of Christ is the key. If ones intent is faith, repentance, and following Christ’s gospel. I don’t understand how anyone can read the Book of Mormon and perceive it as a work of hoax. I’m not saying that reading the Book of Mormon with good intent will always be followed with spiritual confirmation. please see: https://video.byui.edu/media/Clayton+M.+Christensen+"Decisions+For+Which+I've+Been+Grateful"/0_tdb0a80p Probability one of the best talks that I have ever heard. It’s from Clayton Christensen a Seventy at the time. He happens to be a very impressive man. In the talk he relates how he had previously read the Book of Mormon seven times without confirmation (each of those cases were assignments from his parents, seminary teacher, BYU professor, or Mission President). It wasn’t until he read it while in Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar with the singular intent to know if the gospel was true, that he receive confirmation. Edited March 26, 2023 by mikbone zil2 and askandanswer 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askandanswer Posted March 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 3 hours ago, CV75 said: "May" is a modal verb that expresses possibility, not certainty like "will." But the very next phrase contains a will, indicating that if you believe that (the BIble) then ye will believe this also. CV75 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carborendum Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 4 hours ago, askandanswer said: My understanding of this scripture is that it says, in part, that if ye believe the Bible, you will also believe the Book of Mormon. On my mission, I encountered a great many people who believed the Bible but chose not to believe in the Book of Mormon. How true is the idea contained in this verse, that if you believe the Bible you will also believe the Book of Mormon, and are any qualifiers or additional information needed to make the wording of this idea more accurate or true? I'll go ahead and give the unkind answer that is politically incorrect to say. What Mormon says is true. The problem is that most sectarians don't believe the words of the Biblical prophets. They believe man's interpretation of the Bible as it fits their wants and desires. With their lips they do honor me. But their hearts are far from me. They will live and die on the hill of the Trinity which isn't anywhere in the Bible. They will live and die on the hill of "once saved, always saved." This is not found anywhere in the Bible. But they will tout all kinds of scriptures that support their interpretation. What @zil2 & @mikbone both said are true. The chapter was written to the remnant of the Lamanites. But it was also written to ALL the remnant of Jacob. And (according to the chapter heading) it was written to ALL men. It is true that many sectarians only read the Book of Mormon to ridicule it rather than to seek wisdom. But that basically means that they are not following the commandments of the Bible to begin with. (Phil 4:8). Anddenex, askandanswer, Vort and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laronius Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 I'm pretty sure the Lord is not implying any forced recognition of the truthfulness of the Bible or Book of Mormon. But rather He is stating that if someone understands and believes the truths taught in the one they will, if they are open to it, find an additional witness of the same truths in the other. And if anything, because of the purer source of the Book of Mormon, come to understand what the Bible actually teaches. Anddenex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anddenex Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 (edited) I love the simplicity of this teaching and assertion. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are given by the same author -- Jesus Christ. How true? Very true. It's hole point is to witness against believing in one while denying the other. It would be the same if the Lord said (providing an example of two prophets). I have sent Joseph Smith that you may believe in Peter. And if you believe Peter then you will believe in Joseph Smith. Its highlights the irony of accepting a portion of God's words while denying the other portion. This will also be true when other scripture is revealed (and other scripture that has been revealed). We now can say the same thing with the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price (with a caveat adding: they are meant to bring a person to Christ). If we believe in the Bible (words of Christ), then we will also believe in other words of Christ (the Book of Mormon). And if we accept the Book of Mormon and the Bible, then we will accept the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Our agency isn't removed when truth is given or an invitation is given. This scripture all the more highlights how agency is the most important principle/doctrine in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Edited March 26, 2023 by Anddenex laronius, mikbone, Carborendum and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askandanswer Posted March 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 9 hours ago, CV75 said: Thanks @Anddenex, that's a very useful analogy comparing the Bible and BOok of Mormon with Peter and Joseph Smith. Anddenex 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CV75 Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 12 hours ago, askandanswer said: But the very next phrase contains a will, indicating that if you believe that (the BIble) then ye will believe this also. Good point! It does show the progression of good choices making things more certain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pam Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 This is from a website that I use frequently regarding Mormon 7:9: Mormon says if you believe the Bible, you will believe the Book of Mormon. How is it then that so many Bible lovers have rejected the Book of Mormon? Before we answer that question, let's consider the testimony of Nephi. He declared a similar doctrine: that if you believe in Jesus Christ, you will believe in the Book of Mormon, And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me (2 Ne 33:10). Based on these two prophetic statements, everyone who either believes in Christ or believes the Bible will believe the Book of Mormon. Why is it then that the Book of Mormon is summarily dismissed by most of the Christian world? The answer is because the Christian who believes the Bible but rejects the Book of Mormon doesn't believe in the Bible as much as his preacher's doctrine that there can be no other scripture or revelation. Similarly, the Christian who claims faith in Christ yet rejects the Book of Mormon does not really know the voice of the Master. For if he knew the Master, he would recognize His voice whether it came through the pages of the Bible or the Book of Mormon. Of these, the Lord said, whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me (DC 84:52), for My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (Jn 10:27). Therefore, when a "Christian" rejects the Book of Mormon, it makes no statement about the book, but it makes a big statement about the "Christian." Bruce R. McConkie "From these passages we reach certain clear conclusions relative to believing in Christ and in his holy word. Among them are these: A belief in Christ and a belief in the Book of Mormon go together; they are locked in each other's arms; they cannot be separated. Like Ezekiel's two sticks, they are one in the hands of the Father. Those who believe in Christ also believe the Book of Mormon because it contains the words of Christ. Those who believe the words of Christ, as given by his disciples and as recorded in Book of Mormon, believe in Christ. And those who do not believe these words do not believe in him. The Book of Mormon bears witness of Christ and of the Bible; it is written to persuade men to believe in their Lord and in his ancient word. Those who believe the Book of Mormon believe the Bible, and those who believe the Bible believe the Book of Mormon." (The Millenial Messiah, p. 177) Brigham Young: "No man can say that this book (laying his hand on the Bible) is true...and at the same time say, that the Book of Mormon is untrue...There is not that person on the face of the earth who has had the privilege of learning the gospel of Jesus Christ from these two books, that can say that one is true, and the other is false. No Latter-day Saint, no man or woman, can say the Book of Mormon is true, and at the same time say that the Bible is untrue. If one be true, both are." (Journal of Discourses, 1:38) askandanswer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askandanswer Posted March 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Thanks @pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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