A Spokesman for the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 3:18 - "And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it."

Elder Bruce R. McConkie - “Note these words of the Lord: ‘And I, behold, I will give unto him [Mormon] that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins [the Nephites], unto the fruit of thy loins [the Lamanites]; and the spokesman of thy loins [Joseph Smith] shall declare it.’ That is, Mormon wrote the Book of Mormon, but what he wrote was taken from the writings of the Nephite prophets; and these writings, compiled into one book, were translated by Joseph Smith and sent forth by him unto the Lamanites”

Seek this Jesus - A Book of Mormon Daily Podcast invites you to discover the joy and guidance that comes from studying the Book of Mormon everyday. This podcast would hope to just be a supplement to your studies. 

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Transcript

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Welcome to Seek This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps. One of the powerful themes in the Book of Mormon is how God carefully prepared his word to come forth in the last days. Prophets saw our time long before it arrived, and testified of what would happen. In Second Nephi three, eighteen, the Lord makes a remarkable promise to Joseph of Egypt's descendants, he said, And the Lord said unto me also, I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins, and I will make for him a spokesman, and I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins, and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it. Here we see a prophecy about two key figures. One would be responsible for writing the record, and another would be raised up as the spokesman to declare it. Elder Bruce Armakonki explained what this means. Mormon wrote the Book of Mormon, but what he wrote was taken from the writings of the Nephite prophets, and these writings, compiled into one book, were translated by Joseph Smith and sent forth by him unto the Lamanites. So Mormon wrote the record, but Joseph Smith was raised up as the spokesman to declare it to the world. Today we'll look at how this prophecy was fulfilled, what it teaches us about God's work and how it applies to our lives. First, the role of the writer. Mormon, the prophet historian, had one of the most difficult callings in Scripture. He lived in a time of great wickedness and destruction. His people were crumbling all around him, and yet God gave him a sacred assignment to gather and preserve the spiritual record of his people. We sometimes forget what a miracle this really is. Mormon was not just keeping a journal, he was divinely directed to choose from centuries of Nephite records and compile them into one book, guided by the Spirit to include what would be most needed in our day. He testified that he was writing unto the remnant of the house of Israel, and also unto the Gentiles in the latter days. Even though his nation was falling apart, Mormon worked tirelessly to ensure the voice of his people would not be silenced. What a great learning. God never abandons his word. Even in times of destruction, he is preparing a way for truth to survive. When we hold the Book of Mormon, we are literally holding centuries of prophetic voices that God preserved for us. Second, the role of the spokesman But Mormon's writings alone were not enough. They were hidden in the earth for centuries. The world could not benefit from them until God fulfilled his promise. I will make for him a spokesman. That spokesman was Joseph Smith. A young farm boy from upstate New York with little formal education was called and prepared by God to be the translator and declarer of the record. Through the gift and power of God Joseph translated the writings of Mormon into the English language. This is why Elder McConkey described Joseph as the spokesman. Mormon wrote the message, but Joseph declared it. He was the chosen voice through whom ancient testimony could be heard again in modern times. Without Joseph Smith, Mormon's words would still be buried in the earth. But through Joseph, the words were brought to light and declared to the world. This shows us how God works. He raises up servants, sometimes young, inexperienced, or unexpected, yet filled with divine power to accomplish his work. Joseph Smith became the mouthpiece not only for Mormon, but also for the restoration of Christ's church in its fullness. Why did the Lord choose this way of preserving and restoring his word? One reason is because he works by witnesses. The Bible contains one witness of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon provides another. Together they establish the truth in the mouths of two witnesses, fulfilling God's eternal pattern. Joseph of Egypt saw this clearly. He prophesied that his descendants would write and that another seer, a choice seer raised up by God, would declare it to the world. In this way God ensured that faith in Christ would not rest on one record alone, but on multiple witnesses that confirm each other. When we read the Book of Mormon alongside the Bible, we see the hand of God weaving his plan together across centuries and continents. We hear Isaiah's voice joined with Nephi's, Paul's testimony reinforced by Alma's. It is one grand chorus testifying of the same Redeemer. And Joseph Smith was the spokesman who made sure this chorus could be heard in our day. So what does this prophecy mean for us right now? It means that God has not left us in silence. He raised up a spokesman so that his word could be heard clearly in the last days. But having a spokesman is not enough unless we choose to listen. The Lord kept his promise by raising up Joseph Smith to declare Mormon's writings. The question is, are we opening the book and letting that voice reach our hearts? Each time we read the Book of Mormon, we are hearing the voices of prophets across time, Nephi, Alma, Mormon, declared through the spokesman God raised up. Their words are not just ancient history, they are living testimonies meant to shape our faith, guide our choices, and draw us closer to Jesus Christ. When we approach the Book of Mormon with this perspective, it becomes much more personal. We're not just reading a scripture text. We are hearing God's promise fulfilled. I will make for him a spokesman. We are listening to a divinely appointed voice declaring truth to us in this very day. The Lord's promise in Second Nephi three eighteen is simple but profound. I will make for him a spokesman. Mormon wrote the record, Joseph Smith declared it, and now the Book of Mormon is in our hands. Let's not take that miracle for granted. Let's treat the Book of Mormon as what it really is, the living voice of God raised up for us. Here is today's challenge. Choose one passage in the Book of Mormon and read it as if Joseph Smith himself were standing before you, declaring it with power. Ask yourself, what is the Lord telling me through his spokesman today? As we do this, the Book of Mormon will not just be a book on our shelf or digitally in our pocket. It will become a living testimony that draws us closer to Jesus Christ. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today. As we open the scriptures for ourselves, the Spirit will teach us things no podcast ever could. If you are exploring the truths of the Book of Mormon for the first time, you can receive a free copy using the link in the description found in every episode of Seek This Jesus. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you stay focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.