The Book of Mormon was written for our day. The chapters and layout of the Book of Mormon follow the major events of the Latter-days from the father of the Prophet Joseph Smith to the end of the millennium. Like father Lehi, Joseph Smith, Sr. also had a Vision of the Tree of Life and both were patriarchs of their families and the church. Nephi and Joseph Smith, Jr. both are the primary prophets for establishing the church in their day and ironically both were younger righteous sons. King Mosiah I and Pres. Brigham Young both are known for gathering and organizing their people.
Next, King Benjamin gives one of the best discourses from the tower on the Mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ. Pres. John Taylor wrote a wonderful book called, “The Mediation and Atonement of Jesus Christ”. Then King Mosiah II and Wilford Woodruff make major changes in their governments and organizations by going from the reign of Kings to the reign of Judges, and going from practicing polygamy to the Manifesto. Next, the Book of Alma parallels the great wars of World War I and II and the many wars that followed. Afterwards, the great increase in missionary work started under Pres. Kimball’s administration, and continues through our latter-day prophets. Then comes the increase of secret combinations, as talked about in the Book of Helaman, to our current time when our world and society are drenched in terrorism, drugs, and a fascination with the occult.
3 Nephi covers the events leading up to the coming of Jesus Christ to the Americas that parallels our day and the events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ in the Latter-days. 4 Nephi is symbolic of the 1000 years of Millennium peace. Finally, the Book of Mormon ends with the final judgments and destruction of the Nephite nation as described in the books of Mormon and Moroni that relate to the end of the Millennium, the final judgment, and destruction that will occur at the end.
Hence, looking at the Book of Mormon as a whole, it literally covers all of the major events from the Restoration of the Gospel to the end of the Millennium. Why? So that we can cling onto the Rod of Iron, or the Word of God, in order to prepare all of us for the Second Coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. This layout of the Book of Mormon is not a coincidence, but done by divine direction through His prophets. The Book of Mormon is REALLY for our day!
Book of Mormon Latter-Days
Lehi Patriarch/Vision of Tree of Life Joseph Smith Sr.
Nephi Prophet/Younger son Joseph Smith Jr.
Mosiah I Exodus/Gathering of people Brigham Young
King Benjamin Spoke/Wrote on the Atonement John Taylor
Mosiah II Change in Government/Manifesto Wilford Woodruff
Alma Wars/Missionary Work 20th Century Prophets
Helaman Secret Combinations 21st Century Prophets
3 Nephi Savior Comes 2nd Coming
4 Nephi Peace Millennium
Mormon/Moroni The End Judgment/Exaltation
Very insightful and thought provoking.
The Book of Mormon is most assuredly for our day. You may be interested in a recently released documentary on this very subject. http://www.bookofmormonforourday.org/ It suggests that our latter-day history is a complete repeat of the Book of Mormon historical record. Nearly every latter-day sign of the time is foreshadowed in the Book of Mormon. It is a powerful witness of how essential the Book of Mormon is to our day and time. This record is the “most correct book on earth.”