In the nearly 160 years since the Book of Mormon was published, it has left a monumental impact throughout the world, and continues to fill a central role in the onward progress of the Church.

Since its earliest beginnings, the book has overcome nearly insurmountable odds, not in just surviving, but in prevailing. The gold plates were translated in about three months by a largely uneducated young man of 24. The book was published by a printer who bootlegged the first printed pages to a scandalous newspaper. It was distributed by novice missionaries who at first apparently met with little success.President Joseph Fielding Smith aptly described the history of the Book of Mormon when he said, "No book ever published has passed through the intense criticism and the most bitter opposition of the learned as well as the ignorant, yet it has triumphed over them all."

Today, the book has been through so many printings that they have long since ceased to be numbered. According to conservative estimates, about 35.2 million copies have been printed in 80 languages. And, if current printing trends hold, that number will double in less than 10 years.

Also of interest, the number of non-English copies printed annually are fewer, but are increasing more rapidly, than those printed in English.

One interesting characteristic of the book is that it continues to carve new, ever-widening niches in its history.

For example, this year has been a pivotal year in the history of the Book of Mormon, with the landmark number of about 3.4 million copies printed and distributed throughout the world. Of greater significance, say leaders, more people are reading it than ever before, and finding within its pages the "convincing power" that changes lives.

One who has seen many examples of this is Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy and executive director of the Curriculum Department. He said that in this past year of emphasis on the Book of Mormon, "many people who had not become familiar with this wonderful book of scripture have begun to study it for the first time. It has changed many lives.

"We have been reminded how much the members love President Ezra Taft Benson and respond to his advice. He has asked us to read and re-read the Book of Mormon, and unnumbered thousands have done so."

Elder Pinnock said that many pre-teens have also started reading the Book of Mormon and are developing "habits that will last a lifetime. Often, parents must assist those Primary-aged children, but what a blessing it is for both parent and child.

"People have found in the Book of Mormon a true friend," he continued. "Here is a book that stands by us, always willing to release from its pages that which we need to know during a particular period of our life."

He added that "members and leaders, more than ever before, are relying on the Book of Mormon for sound doctrine, for principles on how to relate with others, while utilizing the book as a personal compass in their lives.

"I have had many people tell me they use the Book of Mormon to find the comfort, peace and joy they are promised in the scriptures."

The book has also influenced countless missionaries, said Elder Robert L. Backman, also of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy and executive director of the Missionary Department.

"Missionaries are reading the Book of Mormon more," he said. "They are increasing their exposure to the book and the use of the book at the missionary training centers. We are asking them to find those parts that are significant to them and to be able to use those in bearing testimony of the book."

Pres. T. Kay Edmunds of the Ohio Akron Mission agreed that the missionaries are more effective because of their study of the Book of Mormon.

"By our elders reading and studying the book in their regular study, they have become so much stronger and more faithful. They have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and they convey that to the people.

"President Benson's October conference address to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon has had a terrific impact on all our mission. We anticipate this year being an excellent year. We are going to flood the Ohio Akron Mission with the Book of Mormon."

"President Ezra Taft Benson is a great inspiration to me personally," he said. "It is so exciting to see the things the Lord is actually accomplishing. All we have to have is the enthusiasm and faith to put into action what He has asked us to do."

Assisting in missionary work is the Family-to-Family Book of Mormon program. Since 1985, the number of copies of the Book of Mormon used in this program has nearly doubled each year, according to the Missionary Department.

In the program, distribution has increased from 447,000 in 1985 to 1.4 million in 1988. Following President Benson's October conference address, the numbers have increased significantly, said L. Farrel McGhie, recently released as the program's director.

Church leaders have said that the future of the Book of Mormon is to be yet more dynamic than its past.

"My beloved brothers and sisters, we hardly fathom the power of the Book of Mormon, nor the divine role it must play, nor the extent to which it must be moved," said President Benson in his most recent conference address.

"Now my good saints, we have a great work to perform in a very short time. We must flood the earth with the Book of Mormon and get out from under God's condemnation for having treated it lightly."