Ezra Taft Benson taught that “the Book of Mormon … was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. … Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. … If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, ‘Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?’ ” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6).
This statement is usually interpreted quite liberally among church members; for example, an account of Nephite and Lamanite wars is teaching us to be nice to our neighbors. A lengthy discussion of plates and records teaches us to write in our journals. The story of converts being tossed into fires along with the scriptures teaches us how thankful we should be for the gospel.
These interpretations may suit the learning needs of a deacon’s quorum, but surely there is a more substantial interpretation that lays out in more direct terms just how the Book of Mormon is “for our day.”
Mormon tells us that not even 1/100th of the Nephite saga could be included in his record. Yet he was inspired to include what he did. Why? Moroni tells us:
“Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.” (Mormon 8:34–35)
I recently came across an interpretation of the Book of Mormon that sets forth the Book of Mormon narrative as a model or paradigm for the latter-days— i.e. the time from the beginning of the restoration until the end of the world.
Before I present the parallels of our time and the events of the Book of Mormon, I should first point that, as Bruce masterfully demonstrated in a previous post, the human mind can find patters in virtually anything.
By presenting this, I am in no mean trying to find chiasmus in “Green Eggs and Ham,” and I fully acknowledge that such an interpretation may be wholly unfounded and tenuous.
That said, the following exposition contains some very uncanny parallels that I feel are deserving of some attention. Some are more convincing than others, but I’ll let you be the judge. Sorry it’s so long, but hopefully it will be worth it.
So, here it is—the Book of Mormon, and Our Day:
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A Visionary Patriarch
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Lehi:
Lehi had a dream of wandering through a wasteland, encountering a tree, a spacious building, and obtaining information pertinent to his family and posterity. |
Joseph Smith Sr.:
Joseph Smith Sr. had dreams that bear striking resemblance in form and purpose to Lehi’s dream. |
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A Charismatic Founding Leader Involved in Both Religious and Civic Governance
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Nephi:
Nephi was at once the primary religious leader (prophet) as well as the king of the City of Nephi. |
Joseph Smith Jr.:
Joseph was continually active in his prophetic roles, and also became involved in secular governmental affairs, most notably as mayor of Nauvoo and US Presidential candidate. |
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An Exodus and Reestablishment Into A New Land
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Journey to Zarahemla:
Mosiah was warned to leaved the City of Nephi with all those that would follow him. They took their journey through the wilderness, and established themselves among the natives in Zarahemla. |
Journey to Utah:
Brigham Young led the saints that would follow him across the plains, and established the community in the Salt Lake Valley, which involved interactions with the natives. |
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Revolutionary New Insights and Emphasis On the Atonement of Jesus Christ
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King Benjamin:
King Benjamin’s notable address to the people of Zarahemla centered on the themes of the atonement of Christ, the assumption of a new name, and salvation through covenant. |
John Taylor:
President Taylor’s most notable publication was Mediation and Atonement, which set forth the principles of the Atonement in unprecedented terms; also, John Taylor was instrumental in the early phases of temple constructions for the SLC, Manti, St. George, and Logan temples. |
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An Outreach to Foreign Converts and A Zionistic Centralization
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Ammonite Converts:
Ammon and his missionary companions set out to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. Once converted, the converts (Ammonites/Anti-Nephi-Lehies) uproot themselves and migrate to the Nephite land of Jershon. |
European Converts:
The church saw success in its missionary efforts in Europe. The model for new converts was to leave their homelands and “come to Zion.” Many flocked to America and established themselves there among the saints. |
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A Separation of Church and State
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Alma and Nephihah:
Alma, who was at once the chief judge and the high priest, determines that it is no longer feasible to perform both duties at once. He appoints Nephihah to be the chief judge, and focuses solely on his spiritual ministry. |
Heber Manning Wells:
First governor of the State of Utah. While the Utah territory had other secular governors prior to statehood, in the early phases of settlement, there was little distinction between legal and ecclesiastical authority, which of course changed after some time. |
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A Period of Strife and Warfare
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Nephite-Lamanite Wars:
Beginning with Zerahemnah, and continuing through with Amalickiah, Ammoron, and Tubaloth, the latter part of the Book of Alma and early Helaman recount a scene of continuous warfare and one battle after the next. |
World Wars 1 & 2:
The first half of the 20th century is scarred by global warfare. |
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An Expansion of the Church
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Nephite Travels and Expansions:
In the post-war reconstruction phase, the Nephites travel, expand, and their influence is widened. Also, Nephi and Lehi start a preaching initiative among the Lamanites, but this time, the Lamanites stay in their own lands instead of centralizing in Jershon. |
Worldwide Missionary Efforts:
Under David O. MacKay, the post-WWII era church saw great expansion within the United States as well as phenomenal growth overseas. |
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Convert Populations Begin to Exceed Original Members in Numbers and Righteousness
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Flourishing Church Among the Lamanites:
The Nephites begin to decay in pride and disbelief. Meanwhile, the church among the Lamanites flourishes, and they become more righteous than the Nephites. |
Non-US Church Membership Exceeds 50%:
While inactivity rates are a phenomenon worldwide, recent years has shown an increase in the internationalization of the Church, and the US members now find themselves a minority in the records of the Church. |
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Genesis of Non-Governmental Guerilla Strikes
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Gadianton Robbers:
The Gadianton robbers are a military force that have no land-holding political ties. They hide in the hills and the mountains, and initiate surprise guerrilla attacks. Eventually their influence seeps into government positions as well. |
Rise of Terrorism:
While terrorism is not a new invention of this decade, it has risen to public awareness, and terrorist organizations are becoming increasingly active and empowered. |
It seems reasonable to assume that our current time is analogous with that time found in mid-Helaman. If this model is at all reliable, we might look to what comes next in an attempt to forecast the future. Let’s see what’s ahead:
- The increase of the Church among the Lamanites (Helaman 6)
- The Church, much like the business world, has its eyes on China and India. Missionaries are already in India, and who knows what’s behind the floodgates of China’s doors.
- Increased Gadianton Activity (Helaman 6)
- Political assassinations, corruption, intrigue…every political conspiracy theorists’ worst fears come true.
- Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 13-16)
- A prophetic voice independent of the ecclesiastical hierarchy among the Nephites (Nephi was prophet) Most of the Nephites reject him (Even though his message is NOT at odd’s with Nephi’s teachings), and they will not hear his words. Will latter-day saints have ears to hear a voice of prophecy from anywhere but temple square? Or will we resort to throwing stones and shooting arrows?
- Slippery Treasures (Helaman 13)
- Samuel warns that their riches will become “slippery.” I can only imagine this is analogous to fiat money, to the federal reserve’s money printing splurges, to the credit crisis, inflation, … could Samuel have been… Ron Paul???
- Samuel warns that their riches will become “slippery.” I can only imagine this is analogous to fiat money, to the federal reserve’s money printing splurges, to the credit crisis, inflation, … could Samuel have been… Ron Paul???
- Gadianton Demise (3 Nephi 2-4)
- After a great showdown where the Nephites abandoned their lands and centralized in Zarahemla (gathering of Israel?) the Gadianton robbers find themselves powerless. Their new leader, Zemnarihah is defeated at the Nephite leadership of Lachoneus
- Societal Disintegration (3 Nephi 7)
- Despite the Nephite success, it isn’t long before societal decay takes its toll. The nations essentially disassemble, and the society devolves into a loose collection of tribal factions. Given the current state of political turmoil in certain areas of the world, this scenario seems increasingly likely.
- Jacob the Anti Christ
- Jacob, a factional leader, rises to power, and “had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus.” (3 Nephi 7:9) He doesn’t wreak too much havoc, but does recruit a good number of people, and escapes to the land northward with them. Is this a foreshadowing of the long prophesied Antichrist of the last days?
- Cataclysmic Destruction (3 Nephi 8 )
- The last days are said to be full of terrible natural disasters.
- The Coming of Christ (3 Nephi 11)
- At the zenith of all prophesies concerning the last days lies the foretelling of the Second Coming of Christ.
- Zionist Utopia (4 Nephi)
- Following the visit of Christ, the world lives in millennial bliss. Satan is bound, societal distinctions dissolve, and the law of consecration is lived in its fullness.
- Burning the Vineyard for the last time. (Mormon, Moroni)
- After a “short season” of wickedness once again poisoning the society, the civilizations are swept off the face of the earth, and Moroni signs off with nothing more than a reference to the afterlife:
- “I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.”
- After a “short season” of wickedness once again poisoning the society, the civilizations are swept off the face of the earth, and Moroni signs off with nothing more than a reference to the afterlife:
So what do you all think? Is this nothing more than a scriptural inkblot test? Or is there some substance to both the retrospective and the prospective parallelism found in this analysis? If nothing else, does it give you a better gauge to determine how much longer to you have to “procrastinate the day of your repentance?” 