For most of the Christian world the Book of Mormon is relegated to the same status as the Muslim Koran or Hindu Bhagavad Gita. It is a work of man masquerading as a work of God. While we feel and know differently, does our testimony betray us? How do our lives demonstrate the profound principles, prophecies and witness of Jesus Christ made clear in this marvelous work? Joseph the Palmyra seer said that it was the “most correct book on earth” and the “keystone of our religion.” Is it the keystone of your life?

Sadly, many who proclaim belief in the Book of Mormon, do not give it the prominent place in their lives that it should have. Some have not read it and those that have do not read it regularly nor follow its principles and teachings nor share its wonderful message with others. This treasure from heaven, delivered by the hand of an angel and translated by the power of God, collects dust on too many shelves.

The Book of Mormon came forth not just as an added witness of Jesus Christ. While it certainly is that it is much more. The preface which is a literal translation taken from the very last leaf of the plates is the best definition of it’s purpose; “to shew unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever; …”

It came forth to fulfill the promise that God made with the house of Israel; “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.” (Isa 54:7) And it came forth to be the standard around which latter-day Israel should gather, and the messenger that would prepare the way for the coming of our Savior.

The book cannot take itself to scattered Israel so the Lord call his church out of the wilderness, established the cause of Zion, restored the priesthood and commissioned them as ambassadors, hunters and fishers to seek out lost Israel to unstop their ears and open their eyes and make them clean by washing them in the waters of baptism and place within them the gift of the Holy Ghost that they might once again become his covenant people. For those that profess a belief in the Book of Mormon, this is the work whereunto they are called.

September is an important month in the history of the Book of Mormon because it is the month that plates were delivered to Joseph and as we recently learned in Sunday school the Book of Mormon is “The latter-day trumpet-call sent to invite repentance and warn the Gentiles …” and was “presented to the Palmyra Seer on the Feast of Trumpets, the very day set aside in the Mosaic Law to call Israel to repentance by sounding the trumpet. (see “The Latter-Culmination” by Bob Moore, page 22) The blowing of the trumpets was understood by former day Israel to be a call to repent and prepare oneself to stand trial before God who would execute his judgment ten days later on the day of atonement. The Feast of Trumpets begins on the new moon which this year is September 8.

It is clear perhaps to each of us that the latter-day judgments have already begun. Latter-day revelation makes it clear that judgment would be like a whirlwind and begin on his house (the church) and then go forth from there. Today we find the church fragmented and broken into many pieces and despite our best efforts we continue to fragment and break apart; a clear indication that the whirlwind judgments of God are upon us. In many ways we are also seeing the beginnings of the judgments coming upon the world. Terrorism, economic failure, disease, and natural disasters are all part of the headline news each day and seem to be growing in frequency and scale.

What should our response be to the judgments that are upon us? Is your Book of Mormon dusty?

I’d like to suggest that together we use the month of September to rekindle our passion for the Book of Mormon and ultimately discover in ourselves how we can engage in the great work that it calls us to. It’s message clearly calls (trumpets) us to repentance but it also calls us to thrust in our sickle with our mights and reap while the day lasts.

There are a couple of specific activities that we can participate in:

We can attend the Book of Mormon festival that will be held September 10-11. (Details have been provided as inserts into our bulletin.)

Additionally, we can spend time just reading and studying. I plan to dedicate a minimum of 30 minutes each day in September to reading and studying the Book of Mormon. I want to read it completely through at least once this month. Will you join me? Make reading it a family activity. Gather together around the kitchen table or on the floor in your family room and spend 30 minutes together each day reading this wonderful work. Discuss how its principles can be applied to your lives and how you can build and share a witness of this book with another. You might have to give up 30 minutes of television or some other activity but in the grander scheme it is a small sacrifice for the blessings that will surely come.

“… let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.” (Moroni 9:6)