The introduction to the Book of
Mormon states that it "contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel,"
a concept and phrase that is also found in a number of scriptures in the
Doctrine and Covenants (see D&C 20:8-9). This phrase occasionally causes
some confusion among those who read it. Many suppose that a “fulness” must mean
that the Book of Mormon must contain a comprehensive catalog of all LDS doctrines,
beliefs, and teachings. This often leads
some to wonder why the Book of Mormon does not deal with certain key doctrines
of the faith, such as baptisms for the dead, celestial marriage, or exaltation.
Others assume that this statement about the fulness must represent some kind of
exclusivist truth claim, or a shot at the truth of the Bible. I believe that
this confusion stems from a misconception concerning what the gospel actually
entails, and a misunderstanding about what the Book of Mormon is actually
supposed to do.
What Do We Mean By “A
Fulness”?
A more careful look at the
introduction shows that The Book of Mormon has four basic jobs to do when it
comes to doctrine:
1) Relate
the account of Christ's ministry in the Americas
2) Set
forth the doctrines of the gospel
3) Outline
the Plan of Salvation (in which the gospel plays a central role)
4) Tell
us what we must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life
to come
"The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is
the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after
His resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan
of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain
peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come" (Introduction to The Book of Mormon).
If a doctrine doesn't relate to
these four goals, you may not be able to find it in the Book of Mormon. That is because the Book of Mormon is
(largely) unconcerned with what Joseph Smith called "the appendages."
“The fundamental principles of our religion are the
testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died,
was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all
other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it"
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2011),
45–56).
This isn't to say that the other
doctrines are not important. Rather it simply speaks to the fact that all other
doctrines and teachings of the church depend in some way on the atonement of
Jesus Christ, and the gospel which comes to us as a result of His atonement.
What Do We Mean By
“Gospel?”
However, another source of
confusion arises from the fact that sometimes we mean different things when we
talk about the gospel. Most often, when
we use the term "gospel," what we actually mean has more to do with
one (or more) of the following three senses than it does with the others. The
problem arises when I mean one thing when talking about the gospel, while you
understand something else. At any rate,
here are some of the senses in which we use the term Gospel (especially as it
applies to the Book of Mormon).
1) The Gospel in the
general sense of “the good news”: The word “gospel” actually means the “good
news.” The good news refers to the message that Christ suffered, bled, and died
for our sins, and that on the third day after his death He was resurrected,
thus breaking the bonds of sin and death for all mankind, to bring them back
into the presence of God (to be judged: see below), and to place immortality
and eternal life within our reach through His grace, on conditions of
repentance. This is certainly good news for you and me!
3 Nephi 27:13-15 Behold I have
given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto
you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father
sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and
after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto
me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the
Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good
or whether they be evil—And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore,
according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may
be judged according to their works.
2) The formal gospel:
The forms which are made up of the first principles and ordinances of the
gospel.
Articles of Faith 1:4 We believe
that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the
remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
In those places in the Book of
Mormon where the gospel is formally stated, the principle of enduring to the
end is also included as a fundamental principle of the gospel. (See 2 Nephi 31,
3 Nephi 11, and 3 Nephi 27).
3 Nephi 27:16-17 And it shall come
to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and
if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father
at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. And he that endureth not
unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire,
from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
“Once we have entered the strait and narrow path by our
faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and the ordinances of baptism and
confirmation, we must exert every effort to stay on the path. We do so by
continually exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, making commitments,
and following the Spirit.
Once we have been forgiven of our
sins, we should try every day to remain free from sin so that we can always
have the Holy Ghost with us. In the covenant of baptism, we promise our Father
in Heaven that we will obey His commandments for the rest of our lives. If we
fall short, we must repent in order to retain the blessings of the covenant. We
promise to do good works, serve others, and follow the Savior’s example. In the
scriptures this lifelong commitment is often called ‘enduring to the end’” (Preach My Gospel, 66).
3) The gospel of the
higher law: The higher, or royal law, most notably as it is expressed in
the Sermon on the Mount--focusing on love for neighbor & God (at least) as
much as self.
Does the Book of Mormon contain the gospel in any of these
senses? Let's check:
I. The Gospel as the
good news:
The list of scriptures in the Book
of Mormon which contain statements of the good news of the gospel is as long as
my arm. I think even a cursory reading
of the Book of Mormon would reveal that it is filled to the brim with the good
news of Christ and his triumph over sin and death on our behalf.
2 Nephi 2:6-9 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through
the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth
himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who
have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of
the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things
known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no
flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and
mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the
flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to
pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Wherefore,
he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all
the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.
Alma 34:8-10 And now, behold, I
will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto
you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take
upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins
of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it. For it is expedient that an
atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God
there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish;
yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except
it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. For it is
expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice
of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a
human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
2 Nephi 9:5-11 Yea, I know that ye
know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from
whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it
behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto
man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto
him. For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the
great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the
resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came
by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off
from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite
atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put
on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs
have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down
to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. O the wisdom of God,
his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits
must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the
Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. And our spirits must have
become alike unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out
from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery,
like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who
transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children
of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of
darkness. O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our
escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell,
which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit. And
because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this
death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its
dead; which death is the grave.
II. The Formal Gospel
When you hear the Book of Mormon
contains the fullness of the gospel, it doesn’t mean that the Book of Mormon is
the only scripture that matters, or that it contains all there is to know about
everything. Rather, this phrase is meant
to highlight the fact that the Book basically revolves around one thing; the
gospel of Jesus Christ. It should come as no surprise then that The Book of
Mormon contains the most comprehensive treatment of the basic principles and
ordinances that make up that gospel.
"The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel
of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:9). That does not mean it contains every teaching,
every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we
will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. And they
are taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of
salvation and exaltation" (Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning, Salt Lake City, 1988, pp. 18-19).
For the sake of clarity (and simplicity), here are the
specific principles and ordinances make up the gospel of Jesus Christ:
1) Faith
2) Repentance
3) Baptism
by immersion
4) The
reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands for the remission
of sins
5) Enduring
to the end
The good news that comes to us as
a result of the redeeming sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ is more than
just a nice story. There are certain
things we need to do (or attributes we need to cultivate) in order “to gain
peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.” This is what I
mean by the term “The Formal Gospel.”
The fullness of the
gospel and the Bible
Have you ever wondered why there
are so many different ideas in the Christian world about what you actually have
to do to follow God? Part of the problem has to do with the sheer variety of
interpretation; even though most Christians rely on what amounts to the same
Bible, each one interprets it differently. Some insist that baptism is an
absolute requirement for salvation, and others see it as a dead work that is
unnecessary under grace. There are as many different permutations of the formal
gospel as there are Christians in the world. This can make it difficult to
understand what the Bible says concerning the formal gospel.
Moreover, it can be difficult to
discern more than the outline of the formal gospel in the Bible as it currently
exists, although it is certainly there (see Acts 2:37-39). The Book of Mormon,
on the other hand, contains the most fully developed treatment of the formal
gospel which can be found in all of scripture. As detailed in the passages below,
the gospel is explicitly stated and defined in several places in the Book of
Mormon and in at least three instances there is also some kind of statement
declaring that these principles represent His gospel (or “the doctrine of
Christ”). However, I have also found
that the gospel is repeated and explained and developed (either in its
entirety, or at least in part) over and over again throughout the Book until
there can be no doubt: these principles and ordinances are what constitute the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Nephi 31:13-15 Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of
heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent,
repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take
upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your
Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye
receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy
Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto
the Holy One of Israel. But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice
of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed
unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of
water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can
speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this
should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me. And
I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true
and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
2 Nephi 31:21 And now, behold, my
beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given
under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold,
this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
3 Nephi 11:33. 38-39 And whoso
believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they
who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And again I say unto you, ye must repent,
and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise
inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my
doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against them.
3 Nephi 27:20-22 Now this is the
commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized
in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that
ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church;
for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye
have seen me do even that shall ye do; Therefore, if ye do these things blessed
are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
In light of these (and many other)
passages, we can confidently declare that The Book of Mormon contains the
fullness of the gospel in the sense that it contains the fully developed and
fully realized formulation of the principles and ordinances of the gospel. However, this should not be taken to mean
that the Book of Mormon contains a comprehensive list or treatment of every
single doctrine ever taught by the church or set forth by the Lord. Rather, as stated above, it contains the
fully developed formulation of the gospel as it was taught by the Lord himself.
This fact should make the Book of
Mormon particularly valuable to all humble seekers of truth because it can
sometimes be difficult to discern a clear statement of precisely what
constitutes the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Bible, which is why there are so
many interpretations and opinions in Christendom concerning what one must do to
follow Christ and to one day be saved by Him. With that said, I feel obligated
to point out that the Book of Mormon is not intended to supersede or replace
the Bible. Moreover, when we say the Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the
gospel, that does not also mean that we are saying that the Bible does not. At
least in the context of the formal gospel, all it means is that the Book of
Mormon contains full and clear statements of the gospel, which echo and
establish what is already taught in the Bible.
D&C 42:12 And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.
Part of the purpose of the Book of
Mormon is to testify of and establish the truths taught in the Bible. This
added witness does not lessen the value or importance of the Bible, rather it
establishes it, and in so doing, it helps to clarify the gospel, and overcome
disagreements about God’s word.
D&C 20:8-12 And gave him power
from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of
Mormon; Which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the
gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also; Which was given by
inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is
declared unto the world by them—Proving to the world that the holy scriptures
are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this
age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he
is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen.
D&C 10:62-63 Yea, and I will
also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they
shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and
shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine
which is in me. And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may
not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to
contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do
err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.
2 Nephi 3:2 Wherefore, the fruit of
thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and
that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which
shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto
the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and
establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the
knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my
covenants, saith the Lord.
For more on the importance of the Bible in Latter-day Saint
belief, check out my article “Do Latter-day Saints Really Use The Bible?”
III. The Gospel of
the Higher Law
The Book of Mormon contains what is
sometimes called the “sermon at the temple,” which the Savior taught when He
appeared to the Nephites in America after His death and resurrection. In this sermon, the Sermon on the Mount (as
it is known in the Bible) is largely reproduced (with some minor
alterations). The sermon at the temple (along
with other parts of the Book of Mormon), also contains some fairly detailed
teachings about the nature of the new, higher law of the gospel (and how it was
meant to both fulfill and replace the lesser law represented by the Law of
Moses). The higher, nobler “royal law” of the gospel hinges on the principles
of faith, hope, and charity (the pure love of Christ), which are attributes of
Jesus Christ himself. In order to more fully live the higher law, each of us
must learn to adopt these principles and to model our lives on the life of the
Savior in order that we may become like him, and one day inherit all that the Father
has.
2 Nephi 25:23-27 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade
our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled
to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look
forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. For,
for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and
we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because
of the commandments. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of
Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that
our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their
sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the
deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look
forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was
given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden
their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.
3 Nephi 9:15-22 (esp.20) 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. I am in the
Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. I
came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my
coming are fulfilled. And as many as have received me, to them have I given to
become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my
name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses
fulfilled. I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of
blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I
will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me
a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy
Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their
conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it
not. Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world,
to save the world from sin. Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a
little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold,
for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore
repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.
Moroni 7:28 For he hath answered
the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they
who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he
advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the
heavens.
Moroni 7:38-48 For no man can be
saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his
name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and
awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption
made. But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I
judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not
faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.
And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is
it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that
ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the
atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life
eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. Wherefore,
if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be
any hope. And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope,
save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart. If so, his faith and hope is vain,
for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a
man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost
that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not
charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity. And charity
suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not
her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in
iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye
have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave
unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But
charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found
possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye
may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true
followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that
when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that
we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
Conclusion
Clearly the Book of Mormon does
indeed contain the fullness of the gospel, in every sense which we have
examined here. While the Book of Mormon is not an encyclopedia of all that the
Church believes and teaches, there is no evidence that it ever claimed (or was
intended) to be a comprehensive source for all doctrine. Rather, the purpose of
the Book of Mormon is to point to Jesus Christ.
“The four major writers (engravers and/or compilers) of the
Book of Mormon are Nephi (117 pages), Jacob (19 pages), Mormon (338 pages), and
Moroni (50 pages). All four of these authors were personal witnesses of Jesus
Christ… All four of these authors indicate that the major purpose of their
writings is to lead people to Christ. Some of them also indicate that they
intend their writings to serve as a second witness of the teachings of the
Bible (the “record of the Jews”). At no time do any of them indicate that they
will include all the teachings and ordinances of the gospel. In fact, they
frequently mention they will include only those things which are necessary to a
belief in Christ or those things which they have been inspired or commanded to
write.
These four writers also understood that their writings would
come forth in the last days during a period of unbelief, when the true Church
had been taken from the earth…Thus, their stated purpose was to help lead us to
Christ and to the true Church, rather than to provide all the teachings and
ordinances of the gospel that we might receive after becoming members of the
Church” (Daniel H. Ludlow, “Why do we say that the Book of Mormon contains the
fulness of the gospel?,” Ensign,
April 1986, lds.org).
In addition, the fact that the Book
of Mormon contains a fullness of the gospel does not automatically mean that
Latter-day Saints value the Book of Mormon above the Bible. The truth and value
of the Book of Mormon does not in any way lessen the truth and value of the
Bible. Latter-day Saints love and revere both books equally as scripture and
hold them to be equally the word of God.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon
is to lead us to Christ, and in doing so, to show us the way to follow him, in
word, thought, and deed. The Book of Mormon therefore set forth the gospel as a
pattern by which we can model our lives on the life and attributes of the
Savior. The Book of Mormon contains so many teachings on the atonement of Jesus
Christ and what it means because Jesus Christ and his atonement are the only
means by which you and I can become clean from all our sins and transgressions.
The fulness of the gospel as it is presented in the Book of Mormon is designed
to teach us how to become the Sons of God, and “be purified even as he is pure,”
through Jesus Christ and His gospel so that we may one day enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven and be saved.
You may also enjoy my article: “Why Do We Need The Book of Mormon?”
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