The Record was translated by a modern day prophet on earth from the record he was led to. That sound absurd but I what I find important is not the but the reasons why. Why would a young man at the age of 14 claim to be a prophet and experience hardship and persecution all his life if it was not true. He was dragged out of his home by angry mobs at night to be tarred and feathered (to have boiling tar poured on our skin and the have feathers dumped on you) mainly to humiliate you, not to mention the pain of having your child die from the effects of exposure to the cold on that night. To me it just wouldn't make much sense why he would endure such experiences if it was all lie or a hoax.
Joseph Smith Once said of the book "I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth 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". Scriptural accounts of the faith of others strengthen our own. As Nephi's family was commanded by the lord to leave Jerusalem and they had no other reason to go than to follow the lords command and even they didn't all completely agree with the decision. Nephi was beaten by his own brothers and ridiculed and he says "I will go I will do the things which the Lord hath commanded for I know the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he hath commandeth them". It really impresses me that the things we are asked to do which seem daunting that the lord provides the will provide a way. That by following Nephi's counsel that we come closer to our Savior and understand him better.
Many do not trust the Book of Mormon because of the way in which it came to be. It seems foreign to many and it is a lot to believe lets be honest. And in a lot of ways it is very hard to believe I realize this. Every person is eventually backed up to a wall of faith and there must make his stand. Everyone can look into the principles taught by the Book of Mormon and find them to be true, false, or in between but I know in my experience that the Book of Mormon has taught me gospel principles by which I can choose to live my life for the better. References
210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM100
0004d82620aRCR
CM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
