News stories on every channel cover politicians, and at an accelerated pace with presidential elections coming in the next year. Like many Americans, I have found myself disenchanted to some degree with the lot of them. It seems as if posturing is more important than planning, and popularity is better than principles.
I do not think anyone from any persuasion is looking for someone that is able to harness the power of political correctness and over-sensitivity to lead, but boldness is dangerous in public service.
Perhaps the political climate has contributed to my interest in Christianity. The Bible is filled with bold claims. Elijah promising no rain or dew until he declared otherwise (1 Kings 18), or Isaiah's bold prophecies about the fall of Sennacherib in the midst of a crushing siege (2 Kings 19) represented the fearlessness with which men accepted God.
In modern times, it seems that some preachers of religion are willing to make exception for many things to increase appeal among potential church-goers... but fortunately not all. Respect is to be given to several sects for holding to their principles in spite of pressure from the secular influences of society.
For those that appreciate boldness, there is perhaps no claim more bold than that of Joseph Smith Jr. concerning the Book of Mormon. He said "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of 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." (Book of Mormon Introduction, emphasis added)
For some, this claim is too bold. Consider the following passage: "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made." (Alma 34:9) This sentence would be covered in red ink were it turned in to an English teacher.
Also consider this passage, which seems to admit flaw to the Book of Mormon: "And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;" (Ether 12:23)
How can one possibly claim such a book to be the most correct of any book on earth? Is this reckless boldness, or outrageous rhetoric?
What many fail to realize about the Book of Mormon is that Joseph Smith did not write the book. He translated it. In order for a translation to be correct, it does not necessarily require the original author to have used correct grammar and punctuation. It does not require the printer to have set the type flawlessly. It does not require that the scribe use the standardized spellings of words. A translation is correct in its meaning.
Any work of translation requires some degree of interpreting the words to determine the intent of the author. As fluent as a translator may be in multiple languages, interpreting the intent of the author is almost impossible. Consider how many different interpretations there are of the wording of the Constitution in English by other English speakers in the world of politics today.
The Book of Mormon was not translated by a scholar, or a linguist. It was translated by a prophet. He received the interpretation from God himself... and God was there when it was first written. He knew what was in the hearts of those ancient prophets. He knew what they longed to say. There is nothing lost in translation because it was translated by the power of God. There is no other book like it.
Scholars have poured over the Bible, and men have given their lives so that its precious message could be spoken in every tongue... but try as they might, there is no one uniform translation of the Bible to rule them all. This is not the case with the Book of Mormon.
The need for a flawless interpreted witness of Jesus is not difficult to see. There are those who claim that the Bible represents the interpretations of some religious zealots who were close to Christ, and that the claim of his divinity is too bold. These secular views can be dismissed by the bold, clear, and repeated witnesses of Christ in the Book of Mormon. It proves that Peter, James, John, Paul, and all of the prophets and apostles were not exaggerating when they declared that Christ was the very son of God.
I stand by the bold claim made by Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth. It prophecies and testifies of Jesus Christ. As Nephi declared, "...if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20)
