The Book of Mormon was translated from Gold Plates which were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith by the Angel Moroni. Moroni was one of the last of the Nephites. His father, Mormon, had gathered and abridged the records of the Nephites and the Jaredites who lived many years ago on the American Continent. The Gold Plates contained the history of the people, but more importantly, they contained the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon is the “the keystone of our religion”. In an arched doorway, the keystone is wedge-shaped stone that both sides of the doorway lean on to make the archway stand strong. A testimony of the Book of Mormon helps us to strengthen our testimony of Jesus Christ, and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Just as the 3 Witnesses and the 8 Witnesses wrote their testimony of the reality of the Gold Plates and of Joseph Smith’s translation of them by the power of God, we can share our own testimonies of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon with others. If we need to gain a testimony of the book, Moroni promises that if we read it and pray with real intent and faith, we can know that it is true. (Moroni 10:3-5)