The coming forth of the
Book of Mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an
angelic visitation in 1823 to 17-year-old Joseph Smith.
Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the
Latter-day Saints was published for the world. "The Book of
Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth," Joseph
Smith stated, "and the keystone of our religion." These scriptures
testify of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, His
mission, and His ministry.
The Prophet Joseph
received these ancient metal records written in "reformed
Egyptian" from the heavenly messenger Moroni and translated them by "the
gift and power of God" into the Book of Mormon. The
sacred writings chronicle God's dealings with his people in
the western hemisphere centuries ago.
The prophetic work of
Joseph Smith rapidly unfolded as the Book of Mormon went
"before the world." Joseph declared that "a man
would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by
any other book."
keystone
A central stone in an arch. It holds all the other stones in place, and if removed, the arch crumbles (see Ensign, Nov. 1986, 4).
Moroni
The last Nephite prophet in the Book of Mormon (circa A.D. 421). In 1823 Moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 (The Guide to the Scriptures, "Moroni, Son of Mormon," 167–68).
