Witnesses of God's divine word
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Scriptures of the Restoration — the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price — stand with the Bible as witnesses of God's divine word, declared Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve during the Saturday afternoon session.
He said, "In the Bible, we read this important declaration: 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Corinthians 13:1). This assures God's children that divine doctrines are confirmed by more than one scriptural witness."
Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon witness of Jesus Christ and teach that He is the Savior of the world, Elder Nelson stated.
"Scriptural witnesses authenticate each other," he said, adding, "Love for the Book of Mormon expands one's love for the Bible, and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible."
Elder Nelson cited 2 Nephi 29:7-8: "Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And ... the testimony of the two nations shall run together also."
"The scriptural story of Jesus Christ is indeed a two-hemisphere story," Elder Nelson affirmed, mentioning that Nephi was being taught by the premortal Messiah at the time Mary and Joseph were preparing for the Savior's birth.
Elder Nelson said, "To doubters of that second witness — the Book of Mormon — the Lord issued a warning: 'Because you have treated lightly the things you have received ... (you) shall remain under ... condemnation until (you) repent and remember ... the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given (the Bible, and) ... do according to that which I have written"' (Doctrine and Covenants 84:54, 57).
Scriptures of the Restoration clarify the Bible, Elder Nelson said. He noted that the Book of Mormon fulfills prophecies of Isaiah and Ezekiel in the Old Testament and clarifies New Testament teachings such as the Resurrection, the need for the Holy Ghost and the three degrees of postmortal glory.
He said, "Willingly we share scriptures of the Restoration with people across the world. The Book of Mormon records the personal ministry of the resurrected Lord to people of ancient America."
After he referred to some of the Savior's statements recorded in 3 Nephi 9 such as, "Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the father from the beginning ..." (verse 15), Elder Nelson said, "Those declarations of the Lord summarize who He really is and who He really wants us to be. He wants us to come unto Him and, in due course, be embraced gloriously in His loving arms."
He concluded, "I express my profound gratitude for scriptural witnesses. I have seen the mighty change that comes to people who apply the Lord's teachings in their lives. Such transformation leads to the blessing of eternal life."
