The BIBLE and the BOOK OF MORMON -
What Is Their Relationship?

“Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up.”
D&C 10:52

I like to call the Book of Mormon the "Bible's Best Friend", and I think it's a fair analogy. Others like to call the two books missionary companions – that is also a good description. Let me tell you why.

The Holy Bible is a record of God's dealings with Mankind from the Creation through the ministry of Christ. It centers on the House of Israel, and it specifically follows the Tribe of Judah - the Jews - on through the Birth of Christ and His ministry.

The Book of Mormon is a record of God's dealings with a nation raised up on the ancient American continent from two families of the Israelite Tribe of Joseph as they were lead away from Jerusalem by God and given their own land of inheritance.

The Book of Mormon does three things:
ONE - it stands as a second witness to the teachings in the Bible,
TWO - it backs up Biblical teachings while putting them in the correct perspective and meaning,
THREE - it builds upon Biblical teachings, further teaching and testifying upon the same themes.
Thus the Book of Mormon helps to establish the truth of the Bible while building upon its foundation with further knowledge and understanding.

These two books complement each other while testifying of the same truths. But while the Holy Bible was written as a record of the past - reminding us of what God has done - and as a "reference" for those who were already within the Covenant and later within the Church of Christ, the Book of Mormon was specifically written to be given to the world in our day as a record of what He has done in the past and as an invitation to come, learn, and follow (and how to do so). It's prophetic writers literally speak to us in our day to help prepare us for His Coming. It's one big, long 'missionary tract' to confirm the truths of the Bible while putting them in a correct perspective and further pointing us towards Christ.

Now, let's read some Book of Mormon scriptures on the subject. Please follow along with the free Book of Mormon you ordered and hopefully have received:

1 Nephi 13:20-49 … the prophet Nephi prayed to receive the same vision his father received earlier - within this vision he sees a vision of the gentile nations who discover the Americas and bring a remnant of Christianity to it, including the Bible; the writings of Nephi's descendants will come forth to help correct erroneous mistakes and interpretations; other books will also come forth

2 Nephi 3:12-13, 18-21 … This is entire chapter is the prophet Lehi quoting a prophecy made by the Old Testament patriarch Joseph concerning the House of Israel and the tribe of Joseph specifically. In it, he quotes a revelation the Lord gave Joseph, and it speaks firmly about the future of the tribe of Joseph, of which tribe the Book of Mormon people are descendants. Of two future scriptural records he prophecies and give several reasons why both will come forth:

"Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins [meaning Joseph] 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
     [1] confounding of false doctrines and
     [2] laying down of contentions, and
     [3] establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and
     [4] bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also
     [5] to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord." (2 Nephi 3:12-13; everything in brackets added by me for ease of understanding)

"And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy [Joseph] loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it. And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith. And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words. Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers." (2 Nephi 3:18-21; compare this 'crying from the dust' to 2 Nephi 26:16-17, Isaiah 29:4)

2 NEPHI 27 … when the Book of Mormon is to come forth; references made to Isaiah 29.

2 NEPHI 28:27-29:14 … Nephi gives a lengthy discourse on the House of Israel and the Latter-Days ... 'Wo unto him who says - We have received the word of God and need no more'; the Lord speaks to many nations and they all record His word; the testimony of two nations is a witness of God and that He deals with all nations the same; records of the Jews, the Nephites, and the Ten Lost Tribes 

NOW... with this understanding, go to the Old Testament and read EZEKIEL chapter 37: Verses 1-14 prophecy of the Lord restoring the House of Israel, and then verses 15-20 speak of TWO RECORDS that will be had when the Lord gathers and redeems Israel ... and then verses 21-28 continues the restoration of the House of Israel. These two records will become one in our hand - and one in the Lord's hand! - in the restoration of the House of Israel!

"MORMON" - What Does the Word Mean?

The prophet Joseph Smith taught in 1841 that “Mormon” means ‘more good’.” (Times and Seasons, 4:194; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 299-300) Many Latter-day Saints have taken this ‘more good’ to mean ‘better’, when this is not the correct understanding. Elder John H. Vandenberg related the experience of introducing two business associates to the Book of Mormon. One of them asked what the word ‘Mormon’ meant and he replied –

  “…The meaning of the word, as given by Joseph Smith, is `more good.' The gentlemen seemed interested, thanked me, and departed without further comment.
     “In retrospect I have recalled this experience and pondered over the words 'more good', which undoubtedly mean "an extension of the good." Joseph Smith, in commenting on the subject, referred to the Bible as being ‘good.’ As to the Book of Mormon, he stated: ‘It may be well to observe here, that the Lord greatly encouraged and strengthened the faith of his little flock, which had embraced the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, as revealed to them in the Book of Mormon, by giving some more extended information upon the scriptures.’ (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 1, pp. 131-32.)” (“Touchstone Of Truth” Elder John H. Vandenberg, April 1974 General Conference; underlining by myself for emphasis)

Supporting the truths in the Bible and continuing its teachings, the Book of Mormon truly is an "Extension (or, 'continuation') of the Good" that was already had in the Holy Bible.

"MOST CORRECT BOOK...?

Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (Preface to the BOOK OF MORMON) How could he say the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book? How dare he?

Let's think for a moment: most any English-language Bible used today is a translation of a translation of a translation ... in the case of the Old Testament, it has gone from Aramaic to Hebrew to Greek to Latin to German to English. The New Testament, being written first in Greek, has not gone through quite as many translations to get to us. 

Let's examine another thing Joseph Smith said:

"I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors." (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols. [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 6: 57.)

"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." (Articles of Faith #8)

With each translation, errors - unintentional or otherwise - can and do seep in to what's being translated. It's just a matter of human fault. Additionally, translators can translate concepts and doctrine from their point of view and not necessarily create an exact translation.

The English-language Book of Mormon has been translated directly from the original tongue without three or four other languages in between. Other language versions of this volume have been translated from the original manuscript written out while the Book of Mormon was first translated.

The Book of Mormon has one more thing going for it in this regard: it's translation into English and then into other languages have all been at the direction of a prophet and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It has been at the hands of those who are lead by a prophet - and by the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, the Bible has not had this advantage.

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:19-21)

It would be impossible to correctly translate scripture into another language without the aide and assistance of the Holy Spirit - He through whom it came in the first place! Unfortunately for the Holy Bible, it has not always been translated by persons who even believe the Holy Spirit speaks in their day! Hence He has not been called upon to assist in the translations.

It is the testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - as well as my personal testimony - that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore His church to earth. He translated the Book of Mormon by the power of the Holy Spirit and presented it to the earth as the word of God - not to replace the Holy Bible but to stand next to it as a Second Witness of its truths.