Understanding the Book of Mormon, part 2 by Ross Anderson

How Latter-day Saints experience the Book of Mormon, part 2

In this series of posts, I am exploring the multi-faceted relationship Latter-day Saints have with the Book of Mormon, particularly how the book is used in their lives.

In 2006, Mark D. Thomas presented at paper at the Sunstone Symposium, entitled "Marketing Research and the Book of Mormon." Thomas surveyed 57 respondents, all active members of the LDS Church, about their experience with the Book of Mormon. He asked them the kind of questions asked in marketing research: first, what they liked about the Book of Mormon, and second, why they valued that attribute. While the study is not large enough to be quantitatively reliable, it is qualitatively helpful to discern what drives Latter-day Saints when they read the book.

Based on my interpretation of Thomas’ remarks, and the response offered by John-Charles Duffy, I have summarized people’s answers into five basic ways the Book of Mormon functions in Latter-day Saint religious experience.

The first function is what Duffy calls therapeutic, meaning that the act of reading the Book of Mormon gives people certain positive feelings that they value. Respondents said that, as they read, they felt something positive. They felt close to God. They felt what they interpreted as the presence of the Spirit. They experienced good feelings like hope, peace, comfort, encouragement, and uplift.

One of the leaders of the LDS Church, Richard G. Hinckley, expressed this in an article in the Ensign magazine (June 2008, 68-69):

"When I read the Book of Mormon, something inevitably happens to me. My burdens feel lighter. Faith and hope replace my worries, concerns, and doubts. Life appears brighter."

The second function Thomas’ study identified can be called aesthetic. Simply put, respondents like the story itself, which makes it accessible and thus a tool people will use. In particular, people said they liked reading their own historical circumstances – their own life, and the life of the nation – within the Book of Mormon drama.

This aesthetic response to the Book of Mormon leads directly to its third function, which I call the moral use. People said that they like how the Book of Mormon provides guidance for how to live their lives. It provides moral certainty and religious authority against the evils of the world. It shows its readers how to live a fulfilled life. People like the ideals that reading the book points them to, such as peace, virtue, values, and eternal life.

Latter-day Saints experience the moral guidance of the Book of Mormon through a process they call "likening the Scriptures." This unique LDS phrase comes from 1 Nephi 19:23, where Nephi wrote that, as he taught his people, he "did liken the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." The phrase describes how the reader places himself within the text, to see his own individual life situations and issues in the pages of the book. She compares the scriptures to her own life, asking questions like, "What principles are taught in the scriptures I just read?" and "How do those principles relate to my life?"

Latter-day Saints have great confidence that the Book of Mormon will provide wisdom for their lives. They believe that its teachings are applicable today because its ancient writers prophetically selected material that would speak to the modern world.

The moral use of the Book of Mormon is repeatedly urged upon Latter-day Saints by their leaders. For example, President Gordon B. Hinckley recently challenged the LDS to finish reading the Book of Mormon by the end of the year (Ensign, August 2005, 6):

"Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

Usually the Book of Mormon is studied individually or as a family. Some Latter-day Saints mark the pages with colored pencils, or make notes in the margins. Many use study supplements, dozens of which are available from LDS booksellers. Unlike traditional Christian Bible studies, groups that meet informally to discuss the Book of Mormon are rare. But the Book of Mormon is a regular subject of Sunday school classes. LDS leaders do not preach expositionally from the Book of Mormon. Yet its principles inform many of their talks, and they often retell the book’s familiar stories to underscore religious principles and reinforce moral behavior.

Tomorrow: two more functions of the Book of Mormon in LDS religious experience.

Ross Anderson (D.Min., Salt Lake Seminary) is the founding pastor of Wasatch Evangelical Free Church in Roy, Utah, where he has served since graduating from seminary in 1983. He was born in Utah and raised in California as an active member of the Mormon (Latter-day Saint) Church. He is passionate about incorporating ex-Mormons into the church, and is the author of Understanding the Book of Mormon. Ross blogs at http://rossanderson.us

Comments

[Irving Salzman]

Thanks for the interesting article.

From what I was informed when I was a neophyte believer, there are 4 volumes Mormons place on the level of scripture: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrines and Covenants (Forgive me if I err in ignorance). We - evangelicals - believe that there was/is a sufficient qualitative difference in the canonical books of scripture as to have been easily recognized as such by the early church and to have been easily distinguished from the non-canonical books. I would be curious to know if Mormons too can discern a qualitative difference between the Bible and their other writings. God said of His word in Isaiah 55 that it does not return void. Inasmuch as the Bible truly is the word of God, I would expect that there would be a discernible difference. Grateful for your comments.

[Ross Anderson]

Irving, you are correct about the four "standard works" of LDS scripture. In chapter 5 of my book, I discuss the LDS scriptures, and chapter 6 is about how Latter-day Saints view the Bible in relation to the Book of Mormon. Rather than seeing a qualitative positive difference between the Bible and their other writings, the opposite seems to be true.

I believe most Latter-day Saints carry two basic ideas about the Bible. First, although it is accepted as divine scripture, it is seen as inaccurate and incomplete. Second, the Book of Mormon is seen as a corroborating witness that supports the Bible's message.

In essence, the Bible is viewed as flawed. The LDS Church's Eighth Article of Faith says: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." The issue is not so much correct translation as it is transmission. The Book of Mormon presents the Bible as being so mishandled over the years that important truths have been lost (1 Nephi 13:26).

As a result of this perspective, while the Bible has a revered place and Latter-day Saints are encouraged to read it, the Bible is definitely not "first among equals" in LDS scripture, and does not function as the final authority in Mormonism.

[Irving Salzman]

Thanks so much for your response, Ross! I hate to ask you another question as I know that you must be busy. (I'm also in ministry - a pastor - and there just never seems to be enough time in the day!) But I just wondered if, in your book, you included a chapter or section designed to give helpful tips for believers in their witness to Mormons. Thanks so much if you're able to get to this. If not, thanks so much for your excellent posts!

[Ross Anderson]

Irving, chapter 9 is called "With Gentleness and Respect: How Do We Talk to Latter-day Saints about the Book of Mormon?" The focus is somewhat narrow, because it deals with the BoM and not all the issues that could be discussed with Latter-day Saints. And it is as much about attitude and sensitivity as it is about particular content.

[Irving Salzman]

Ross, thanks. I understand fully. The demeanor and tone with which we approach evangelism and ministry to others is all important. I often quote 1 Peter 3:15 vis-a-vis the importance of the two qualities of gentleness and reverence in our witness. Thanks much for all of your posts this past week.