“Not everything in life is . . . black and white, but it seems that the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and its keystone role in our belief is exactly that. Either Joseph Smith was the prophet he said he was, who, after seeing the Father and the Son, later beheld the angel Moroni, repeatedly heard counsel from his lips, eventually receiving at his hands a set of ancient gold plates which he then translated according to the gift and power of God or else he did not. And if he did not… he is not entitled to retain even the reputation of New England folk hero or well-meaning young man or writer of remarkable fiction. No, and he is not entitled to be considered a fine teacher or a quintessential American prophet or the center of great wisdom literature. If he lied about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, he is certainly none of these” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Standard unto My People," delivered at the CES Book of Mormon Symposium, 9 August 1994, BYU Marriott Center).

by Dieter F. Uchtdorf & Salvador Alvarez

Alma 23-29

“I have read a fair number of books in my day and hope to read a few more. I am not a scholar but once thought I was going to be. I had the beginnings of some reasonably good training at some pretty good schools. All of that has changed now, but I believe I still have an eye for a penetrating line of prose and I think I can recognize profundity in print when I see it. I say again, the Book of Mormon stands preeminent in my intellectual and spiritual life, the classic of classics, a reaffirmation of the Holy Bible, a voice from the dust, a witness for Christ, the word of the Lord unto salvation” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Standard unto My People," given at CES Annual Book of Mormon Symposium, 9 August 1994, BYU Marriott Center).

After its organization in 1830, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traveled across the United States. Whether they serve as the birthplaces for their leaders or the sites of wondrous miracles, each of the 50 states has a footprint left by Latter-day Saints.

In this excerpt from Precept upon Precept, Robert L. Millet explores the experience of the prophet Joseph Smith along with his scribe Sidney Rigdon as they received one of the most remarkable revelations from God—the vision of the degrees of glory.

Over the past 50 years, it has been a great joy for me to listen to the words of the Lord’s servants. I am particularly gratified to listen to the man we sustain as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. I felt his power.

Alma 17-22

2 Nephi 1, 2

Mormon politicians have long influenced the political landscape in the United States and abroad. But in their efforts to serve their countries, they are often faced with a number of challenges ranging from defending their religion to potential voters, to balancing their personal beliefs with the will of the people they represent, to defending their political views to fellow Church members. Here is what some past and present LDS elected officials are saying about their experience in public service and how their faith has shaped their political careers.