Two Controversial Books Worth Reading

Last week I read an interesting article in the National Geographic about Charles Darwin (see "Darwin's First Clues, Feb 2009). I can remember being assigned to read his book The Origin of Species in college.

About this book, published in 1859, the National Geographic article states: "Almost inarguably, it's the most significant single scientific book ever published. After 150 years, people still venerate it, people still deplore it, and The Origin of Species continues to exert an extraordinary influence -- though, unfortunately, not many people actually read it."




I smiled as I read this statement because of the parallels one can make with the Book of Mormon. First published in 1830, the Book of Mormon is "almost inarguably, the most significant single [religious] book [with the exception of the Bible] ever published. After 150 years, people still venerate it, people still deplore it, and the Book of Mormon continues to exert an extraordinary influence -- though, unfortunately, not many people actually read it."

The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a sacred record of peoples in ancient America, and was engraved upon sheets of metal. In or about the year A.D. 421, Moroni, the last of the ancient prophet-historians, sealed up the sacred record and hid it up unto the Lord, to be brought forth in the latter days, as predicted by the voice of God through his ancient prophets. In A.D. 1823, this same Moroni, then a resurrected personage, visited the Prophet Joseph Smith (then age 17) and subsequently delivered the engraved plates to him.

Joseph Smith translated the sheets of metal, or plates, by the gift and power of God. Following the publishing of the first edition of the Book of Mormon in 1830, God instructed Joseph to organize a new church based upon a restoration of the original teachings and instructions of Jesus Christ. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I have drawn closer to God and have found great spiritual comfort, insight and personal inspiration by reading and studying the Book of Mormon. It is an abiding source of eternal truths and wisdom for all.

We should not shy away from the controversy! For this reason I love the following quote: "Each of us has to face the matter -- either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is the Church and kingdom of God, or it is nothing," Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008), president of the Church from 1995-2008.