Note–this is a transcript based on this video. If you would like to use a PowerPoint that has the scripture quotes already embedded, it’s here:
Do you enjoy identifying patterns? Look at this series of numbers:
8 5 4 9 1 7 6 3 2 0
What’s the pattern?
I can see some of you in your mind working complex mathematical calculations, but the pattern in these numbers is quite simple—they are in alphabetical order!
I like finding patterns—especially scriptural patterns. Several years ago, I watched Dennis Largey illustrate a scriptural pattern with his class that I had never noticed before. I want to share it with you today.
Let’s start out in 1 Nephi 6:4. Up front, in the beginning of his record, Nephi tells us why he is writing the Book of Mormon. He wrote, “the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” So Nephi’s main point, the fulness of his intent is that we will come unto Christ.
We see this throughout Nephi’s writings. Why does he quote so much Isaiah? So that he “might more fully persuade [us] to believe in the Lord [our] Redeemer” (1 Nephi 19:23).
In his final chapter, as Nephi reflects back on his record, he says that “it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth [people] to believe in him” (2 Nephi 33:4).
Are you noticing the pattern?
In Jacob 1, Nephi hands the plates off to his little brother. Do you think Jacob is going to take things in a different direction? Nope! In fact, Jacob says that his efforts were to “persuade [people] to come unto Christ” (Jacob 1:7). Jacob eventually gave the plates to his son Enos, who tells of us his personal experience of coming unto Christ.
Enos’s son Jarom was the next record keeper. The prophets in his day focused on “persuading [the people] to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was” (Jarom 1:11).
The small plates of Nephi passed quickly through the next generations ending with Amaleki who closed the small plates by saying, “Come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption” (Omni 1:26).
Thus we see a clear pattern in the Book of Mormon of prophets inviting us to come unto Jesus Christ. And the pattern doesn’t stop. Consider just a few more examples:
King Benjamin taught: “There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17).
Abinadi declared, “Christ…is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death” (Mosiah 16:8-9).
Alma the Younger proclaimed, “All nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters” (Mosiah 27:25).
Nephi the son of Helaman told his sons, “Remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:12) and Samuel the Lamanite taught, “The resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord” (Helaman 14:17).
When Jesus Christ himself personally appeared to those in the western hemisphere he invited, “Come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel” (3 Nephi 11:14).
From the earliest record keepers in the Book of Mormon down to Jesus Christ’s personal invitation, the message is the same: Come and find salvation through Jesus Christ. Do you think Mormon and Moroni decide to put in a plot twist as they conclude their record? Not a chance.
Just like Nephi shared his purpose in writing, so did Mormon. Mormon tells us, “I write unto you…that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ…And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ” (Mormon 3:20–22).
Moroni inherited the records from his father and concluded the Book of Mormon by saying, “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).
From the beginning to the end, the Book of Mormon is about coming closer to the Savior. This is a clear pattern. And it’s a reminder to us that whether we are just starting the Book of Mormon, nearly to the end of Moroni, or somewhere in between, the purpose of reading the Book of Mormon isn’t to just check a box off our list of important things to do. It’s about connecting with Jesus Christ. And I testify that as we follow Moroni’s counsel to come unto Christ, our faith in him, hope in him and love we feel for him will increase. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the prophets testimonies throughout the book of Mormon of Jesus Christ’s reality and atoning sacrifice and their invitation to believe in Christ.
