Unsure of what to do now, he began to tell only those who were willing to listen and receive his words with an open mind and heart, truly desiring to know the truth. For the next three years nothing spectacular had happened. Life went on as normal--working for a living (which, throughout his life, would be meager at best). On the night of September 21, 1823, as he was praying to God, an angel named Moroni appeared to him and told him that he had been sent by God and that "God had a work for me to do; And that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people." He went on to tell Joseph of a book that was "deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the savior to the ancient inhabitants." He then quoted some prophecies from the Old Testament, including Malachi 3 and 4, Isaiah 11--saying that it was about to be fulfilled, Acts 3:22, 23 saying that "that prophet was Christ; but that the day had not come when 'they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people,' but soon would come." Joel 2:28-32, and others. The angel appeared two more times during the course of the night and once again the following morning offering the same message and each time giving more instruction to Joseph with regard to his calling.
Over the next four years, at the same time each year he was taught more to prepare him for the task that lay ahead. On September 22, 1827, the angel Moroni delivered the plates into the hands of the Prophet Joseph. Although most of the Prophet's life was filled with persecution, it was only a taste of what was to come. Joseph said, "I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to keep [the plates] safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible."
Working with various scribes, Joseph translated the plates, and delivered them up to the angel Moroni who "has them in his charge until this day." The translation was published and the first copies of The Book of Mormon were made available to the public in 1830.
This book contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting Gospel. They are meant to be used together. The Book of Mormon is not a "new version of the Bible," nor a replacement for it. It is its companion in testifying of the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, of his mission on this earth, of his atoning sacrifice, death, and resurrection for all mankind.
If you would like a copy of this marvelous book, visit www.mormon.org, or talk to your Mormon neighbor. This book will change your life. It has a power that touches the heart in a way that no other book can. It is true. It is the Word of God.
