What the Book of Mormon Actually Is (and Where It Came From)

Most people have heard of the Book of Mormon. Almost nobody I ask can tell me what it actually is, or where it came from. So in this first episode I pull out a globe (and an 1830 first edition of the Book of Mormon) and walk you through the whole story: Jerusalem 600 years before Christ, a prophet named Lehi, a family that crossed an ocean, and the day the risen Christ visited the people on the other side of the world.

Then I tell you about the day on my mission, 25 years ago, when a quote scared me so much that a room full of missionaries knelt down and prayed to find out if this book was actually true… and what happened next.

This show is for everyone. I'm making it for my family and for my friends of every faith who ask me what we actually believe. If you're a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I hope you finish this episode saying, "Yes, that's what we believe!" If you're Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, or you left the Church years ago, I'm not trying to convert you. I just want you to know what this book actually is. And I promise, if you read it, it will bring you closer to Jesus Christ.

Tell me in the comments where you're from and what you believe. And if you think I'm wrong, tell me that too. I read every one's comments.

QUOTES

"Either the Book of Mormon is true, or it is false…" – Elder Bruce R. McConkie, "What Think Ye of the Book of Mormon?", General Conference, Oct 1983"Why a Book of Mormon? … the perfect test of spiritual integrity." – attributed to Joseph Fielding McConkie [source not yet located – drop this line if unconfirmed]"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ…" – Joseph Smith, Elders' Journal, July 1838

CHAPTERS

0:00 - "Heaven or hell" – the McConkie quote

0:26 - Welcome to Episode

10:52 - An 1830 first edition (one of the first 5,000)

2:00 - Why I'm doing this podcast

3:38 - The quote that scared me on my mission

5:30 - Where did the Book of Mormon come from? (the globe)

6:38 - Jerusalem, Jeremiah and 600 BC

7:38 - Lehi leaves Jerusalem

8:51 - Nephi builds a boat

10:05 - Metal plates, Nephites and Lamanites

11:05 - Christ's birth and death, seen from America

12:38 - Christ visits the Americas

13:36 - Written in real time

14:10 - Another Testament of Jesus Christ

15:17 - Two witnesses of the resurrection

16:24 - Napoleon Hill and reading everything

17:37 - "Why do we need a Book of Mormon?"

19:07 - The perfect test of spiritual integrity

21:15 - Back to the prayer

22:27 - My testimony (from the Stick of Joseph podcast)

27:56 - Why I collect these books

28:04 - The challenge: read it (Chandler Hendry)

31:31 - For everyone, whatever you believe

32:37 - Next week: the secret in the first chapters

33:31 - Closing words (Joseph Smith)

The Book of Mormon can be read for free here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/34406_eng.pdf

WHO IS RUSSELL BRUNSON?

New York Times bestselling author, co-founder of ClickFunnels, and a book collector who believes the most important book in his library is the Book of Mormon. Not an official representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – just someone who loves this book.

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