=13. The Consistency of the Book of Mormon= sustains belief in its
Divine origin. The parts bear evidence of having been written at
different times, and under widely varying conditions. The style of the
component books is in harmony with the times and circumstances of
their production. The portions which were transcribed from the plates
bearing Mormon's abridgment contain numerous interpolations as
comments and explanations of the transcriber; but in the first six
books, which, as already explained, are the verbatim record of the
smaller plates of Nephi, no such interpolations occur. The book
maintains strict consistency throughout all its parts; no
contradictions, no disagreements have been pointed out.
=14. A Marked Diversity of Style= characterizes the several
parts.[806] From what has been said regarding the classes of plates
which constitute the original records of the Book of Mormon, it is
evident that the volume contains the compiled writings of a long line
of inspired scribes extending through a thousand years, this
time-range being exclusive of the earlier years of Jaredite history.
Unity of style is not to be expected under such conditions; and,
indeed, did such occur, it would be fatal to the claims made for the
volume.
[806] See Note 1.
IV. THE BOOK OF MORMON SUSTAINED BY THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS CONTAINED
PROPHECIES.
=15. Book of Mormon Predictions= are numerous and important. Amongst
the most conclusive proofs of the authenticity of the book is that
furnished by the demonstrated truth of its contained prophecies.
Prophecy is best proved in the light of its own fulfillment. The
predictions contained within the Book of Mormon may be classed as
(_a_) Prophecies relating to the time covered by the book itself, the
fulfillment of which is recorded therein; and (_b_) Prophecies
relating to times beyond the limits of the history chronicled in the
book.
=16.= _Prophecies of the First Class_ named, the fulfillment of which
is attested by the Book of Mormon record, are of but minor value as
proof of the authenticity of the work; for, had the book been written
according to a plot devised by man, both prediction and fulfillment
would have been provided for with equal care and ingenuity.
Nevertheless, to the studious and conscientious reader, the
genuineness of the book will be apparent; and the account of the
literal realization of the numerous and varied predictions relating
to the fate then future of the people whose history is given in the
record, as also of those concerning the details of the birth and death
of the Savior, and of His appearing in a resurrected state, must, by
their accuracy and consistency, appeal with force as evidence of
inspiration and authority in the record.
=17.= _Prophecies of the Second Class_, relating to a time which to
the writers was far future, are numerous and explicit: many of them
have special reference to the last days,--the dispensation of the
fulness of times,--and of these, some have been already literally
accomplished, others are now in process of actual realization, while
yet others are awaiting fulfillment under specified conditions which
seem now to be rapidly approaching. Among the most remarkable of the
Book of Mormon predictions incident to the last dispensation are those
that relate to its own coming forth and the effect of its publication
amongst mankind. Ezekiel's biblical prophecy concerning the coming
together of the "sticks," or records, of Judah and of Ephraim has
received attention. Consider the promise made to Joseph who was sold
into Egypt, repeated by Lehi to his son Joseph--a prediction which
couples the prophecy concerning the book with that of the seer through
whose instrumentality the miracle was to be accomplished:--"But a seer
will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I
give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not
to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the
convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among
them. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of
the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the
fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit
of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of
false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing
peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge
of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my
covenants, saith the Lord. And out of weakness he shall be made
strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people,
unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord."[807] The
literal fulfillment of these utterances in the bringing forth of the
Book of Mormon through Joseph Smith is of itself apparent.
[807] II Nephi iii, 11-13.
=18.= Unto Nephi the Lord showed the effect of the new publication,
declaring that in the day of Israel's gathering,--plainly then the day
of the fulness of times, as attested by the Jewish scriptures,--the
words of the Nephites should be given to the world, and should "hiss
forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard" unto the house of
Israel; and that then the Gentiles, forgetting even their debt to the
Jews from whom they have received the Bible in which they profess such
faith, would revile and curse that branch of the covenant people, and
would reject the new scripture, exclaiming, "A Bible! a Bible! we have
got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible."[808] Is this not the
burden of the frenzied objections raised by the Gentile world against
the Book of Mormon,--that it is of necessity void because new
revelation is not to be expected?
[808] II Nephi xxix, 3; read the chapter.
=19.= Now, in olden times, two witnesses were required to establish
the truth of any allegation; and, says the Lord concerning the dual
records witnessing of Himself:--"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye
shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two
nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one
nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one
nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run
together, the testimony of the two nations shall run together
also."[809]
[809] Verse 8.
=20.= Associated with these predictions of the joint testimony of
Jewish and Nephite scriptures is another prophecy, the consummation of
which is now eagerly awaited by the faithful. Other scriptures are
promised; note this word of God:--"Wherefore, because that ye have a
Bible, ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need
ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written: ... For behold,
I shall speak unto the Jews, and they shall write it; and I shall also
speak unto the Nephites, and they shall write it; and I shall also
speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led
away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations
of the earth, and they shall write it. And it shall come to pass that
the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall
have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have
the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel
shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews."[810]
[810] Verses 10 and 12.