Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith(1)(The Book of Mormon)

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/jstestimony
"On the evening of the...twenty-first of September [1823]...I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God....
"While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
"He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrists; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.
"Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me.
"He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.
"He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;
"Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted Seers in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book. . . .
"Again, he told me, that when I got those plates of which he had spoken—for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled—I should not show them to any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did I should be destroyed. While he was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place again when I visited it.
"After this communication, I saw the light in the room begin to gather immediately around the person of him who had been speaking to me, and it continued to do so, until the room was again left dark, except just around him, when instantly I saw, as it were, a conduit open right up into heaven, and he ascended until he entirely disappeared, and the room was left as it had been before this heavenly light had made its appearance.
"I lay musing on the singularity of the scene, and marveling greatly at what had been told to me by this extraordinary messenger; when, in the midst of my meditation, I suddenly discovered that my room was again beginning to get lighted, and in an instant, as it were, the same heavenly messenger was again by my bedside.
"He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit, without the least variation; which having done, he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before.
"By this time, so deep were the impressions made on my mind, that sleep had fled from my eyes, and I lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what I had both seen and heard. But what was my surprise when again I beheld the same messenger at my bedside, and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before; and added a caution to me, telling me that Satan would try to tempt me (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father's family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. This he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building His kingdom; otherwise I could not get them. . . .

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[littledaz123]

I don't mean to be intrusive, but did you injure your right eye?

[thrond]

I was born with a condition called ptosis--and don't worry; I've never been self-conscious about it.

[joyflute]

Friend, you gave a testimony of the truthfulness Jesus as found in the Bible...the ONLY way to God and Heaven is thru Jesus Christ...The Book of Mormon agrees with the Bible and talks about His gospel throughout....hundreds and hundreds of verses...it is another testimony of Jesus....there is not a "demonic word in the book". Thanks for your belief in Jesus.if you really believe in him you won't be deceived.....Now REALLY read one of the 130 million copies and REALLY pray about it.

[joyflute]

Don't give up your faith that there are honest people in the world...people looking for the truth....I've bit into the sandwich dozens of timesand swallowed it all, hook line and sinker....Mormons preach from the Bible too...Get out that Book of Mormon and make a list of good and bad that it teaches...NO BAD..unless faithful husbands, chastity,sharing all with the poor, preaching without pay, babies going to heaven if they die....fighting for freedom,wives,and children not riches.serving mankind

[joyflute]

This is a smart and unselfish service from you Thrond...Wikipedia says over 130 million Book of Mormons have been sold and only 9 books world over have sold more than that. If you see a Mormon person doing something "bad" he is going against his religion--it gets headlines because people know that they know better. Mormons love the Bible. Read the Bible and Book or Mormon together, you will learn that Jesus Christ was real, and he truely loves us and gave his life for us. These are true books

[Konigsdisziplin]

yikes, who's the cromag with the fucked up eye? dude, seriously...you buy this? wow...and i felt naive just because i still have some faith that there are still honest people in the world. i digress; you sure did bite into a bullshit sandwich and swallowed it all

[dfeivelson]

Sorry dude, the book of Mormon is a book of lies and deception and is of demonic influence. The only way to God and to Heaven is thru Jesus Christ.

[pimpmaroc]

book of morons

[AmazingAtheism]

@ 49 sec

[AmazingAtheism]

He licked his lips when he mentioned the opened robe??? eek

[AmazingAtheism]

Mormons are sooo cute, they walking around saying they are Christian; awe look at 'em, too cute

[6gording6]

The Gospel was already preached to its fulness.Why does he say that he was going to preach the gospel to its fulness if it was already so?May God;s grace be on all of you who believe in our Lord Jesus savior of the world.

[dsm93talon]

obviously!

[thrond]

Yes.

[LowKey76]

Why wasn't Nephi wearing his garments?

[greatzoom39]

Wow. If it wasn't so sad (and scary) it would be funny......

[chadandbarby]

This is not going to cut it. You better look at all the issues that are swept under the rug.

[littledaz123]

Thank God,I hoped I wouldn't offend you. It just peaked my very human curiosity.

By the way I appreciate you doing this, it's a very good project. Hopefully it can help more people turn to Christ. Please contact me if I could be of any help.

[MillionaireMC]

good stuff.

[PreMissionKid]

its on becasue people need to at least have a chance to hear the truth. keep going thrond, you are doin good stuff

[Benimarkadasim]

ouch. no stopping the mormon church now.

[chargerx3]

why is this posted? is it needed? Please consider removal.