Predicting the Future

In addition to discussing our latter days, The Book of Mormon contains passages that predict its own reception.  This is an interesting prospect, considering that when it was being translated, Joseph Smith would have no inkling beforehand how it would be received.  As far as he could guess, the masses who were to read it might herald it as new scripture which is untainted in its purity and which compliments the Bible (it is just that). And while these predictive passages are not likely to result in a spiritual conversion of The Book of Mormon’s validity, I like to refer to them as “structural" testimony builders.  They include elements of fact, history or conjecture that would be impossible to guess as a writer and which have withstood the passage of time.  Antagonists of The Book of Mormon who claim the book was simply written by Joseph Smith or one of his surrogates might well ask themselves how this could have been possible. 

 2 Nephi 29:3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.

 2 Nephi 30:3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.

LESSON LEARNED:  There are structural elements contained within The Book of Mormon that, a sincere reader will find, support its validity.

FEEDBACK:  WHAT STRUCTURAL TESTIMONY PASSAGES IN THE BOOK OF MORMON HAVE YOU NOTICED?