The Book of Mormon, Why?

Jeremiah asked,

"First I would like to say, I know nearly nothing about the mormon belief system. With that in mind, I would like to honestly ask, why would God have the book of mormon written, when His word was already completed with the Bible?
I hope you do not find my question offensive because I am asking out of ignorance. But what does the mormonism provide that Jesus has not already fulfilled?"

Thanks, it's a great question.

When you ask, “Why would God have a Book of Mormon written” the question that comes to my mind is, Why would God have Malachi write when Zechariah had already written, why Zechariah when Amos had written, why Ezekiel when Isaiah, Abraham and Moses had written and all the others that came before? I think part of the answer is found in Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Another good question is, What is the Bible? We believe that the Bible is the Word of God revealed to ancient prophets and recorded by them.

So, Why the Book of Mormon? The first answer is, because God had other prophets and they also received His Word and recorded it.

John 10:16

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

We have the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon, Another Testament. A testament or a witness in this sense serves to testify and witness of the Savior Jesus Christ and His teachings and gospel.

With the Bible, many have interpreted its contents differently and as a result we had many Christian religions formed because of doctrinal disagreements while still claiming authority and guidance from the self-same Bible. So another answer to the question, Why the Book of Mormon, is to serve as an additional witness of Christ and His teachings.

In the Book of Mormon, we read:

2 Nephi 29: 7-11

Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.

Also in Ezekiel 37: 16-17

Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

The Bible is the record of Judah or the Jews while the Book of Mormon is the record of Ephraim and Joseph. The Book of Mormon contains the record of the descendents of Lehi and his son Nephi, who were descendents of Joseph.

So the Book of Mormon serves not to replace the Bible, but to support, confirm and clarify all that is found in the Bible.

2 Nephi 3:12

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.

Another answer to, Why the Book of Mormon? brings us to a discussion of Joseph Smith, the translator of the Book of Mormon.

The Lord gave the Book of Mormon as evidence of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. Here is a document that people can hold in their hands, study, question and pray about to: One, come to know that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God, and Two, to know that the Lord’s Church had been reestablished upon the earth.

Moroni 10: 2-6

2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

With so many different religions all based on and using the Bible, the Lord saw fit to bring forth another testament of His Gospel in conjunction with the Restoration of His Church.

Let me know if you have more questions or if I can clarify anything that I said.

Thanks!

I would also refer you to two previous posts on this blog, “My Words Never Cease” and “The Council of Carthage…” The first is more discussion on the Book of Mormon, the second delves into the Apostasy and the Restoration.