”And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them. Therefore, he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory. And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore, God conversed with men and made known unto them the plan of redemption which had been prepared from the foundation of the world. And this he made known unto them according to their faith, and repentance, and their holy works.” (NC Alma 9:7)
In order for anyone to have true faith in God, requires that they be taught by one who has come from the presence of God with a message from God. Such a being is an angel, whether they are spirit, resurrected or even a mortal. But they must come from God to deliver a message from Him. While other messengers, teachers, leaders and people may have good intentions and be doing their very best with what they think is good and right, … it is not the same as hearing a message from one sent by God. People have their own ideas about what it takes to make it to heaven, or to return to the presence of God, or to be saved and can teach and justify why they think like they do. But that is not the same as hearing a message from one sent by God to deliver a message from Him.
The best that anyone else can do, is refer to the teachings of those who have come from the presence of God. This is why those sho are mortal and have authorized others to teach, also instruct that they teach none other things that what the messenger of God has taught. They are not to give their own interpretations or best conjecture. They are to teach what has clearly been taught by the messenger from God and refer further inquiries to be resolved with God, for God has said, “ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you”.
True faith requires that men and women hear and receive the message that God has sent for them to hear and for them to believe what God has told them.
When someone hears this, they may think, “Well, that excludes me because I have not been visited by an angel! God has not given His message to me!”
Such a person should read the book of Mormon. There, they will find the words of those whom God has sent to deliver a message to the people of our day… to you. There you will find that God commanded these servants to write the words and teachings that He declared are necessary for our day.
That is why some of these messengers warn you that, “And I exhort you to remember these things, for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God. And the Lord God will say unto you, Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man like as one crying from the dead? Yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies. And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God, and his word shall hiss forth from generation to generation. And God shall shew unto you that that which I have written is true.” (Moroni 10:5)
And from another messenger from God with a message for you, whose words are also recorded in the book of Mormon:\
”And now my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words, believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ, ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ; and he hath given them unto me, and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye, for Christ will show unto you with power and great glory that they are his words at the last day. And you and I shall stand face to face before his bar, and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.
And now my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust. Farewell until that great day shall come. And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day. For what I seal on earth shall be brought against you at the judgment bar, for thus hath the Lord commanded me and I must obey. Amen.”
These are the words of those who have come from the presence of God with a message from God to you. Take heed how you treat these words because they are the words which God has given them. If you think that they are not or that God has not given you His words, that you may know His will enough for you to have faith in Him, the words contained in this record will stand as a witness against you at the last day. They will prove that God has indeed given you His words.
Now, if you believe that God has given you His words, what should you do with them? Should wthey not be studied diligently to understand and follow them?
The book of Mormon has the word of God. His words are enough to bring true faith again upon the earth. We are accountable for what we do with His words, which He has caused to be delivered to us. Now that we have His words to us, it is up to us, to do them.