Meridian Magazine :: Answers to Critics: Does the Book of Mormon Contain “the Fulness of the Gospel”?

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Does the Book of Mormon Contain “the Fulness of the Gospel”?
From FAIR, the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research

Criticism : Critics claim that the Book of Mormon cannot contain "the fulness of the gospel" because we need additional scripture.

Response

What is the gospel?

In the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ gave a specific definition of "the gospel":

Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you —that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.

And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.

And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

( 3_Ne. 27:13-19 , italics added.)

In this passage, Jesus defines "the gospel" as:

Christ came into the world to do the Father's will.
The Father sent Christ to be crucified.
Because of Christ's atonement, all men will be judged by him according to their works (as opposed to not receiving a judgment at all and being cast out of God's presence by default; 2_Ne. 9:8-9).
Those who repent and are baptized shall be filled (with the Holy Ghost, see 3_Ne. 12:6), and
if they continue in faith by enduring to the end they will be justified (declared "not guilty") by Christ before the Father, but
if they don't endure they will be subject to the justice of God and cast out of his presence.
The Father's words will all be fulfilled.
Because no unclean thing can enter the Father's heavenly kingdom, only those who rely in faith on the atonement of Christ, repent, and are faithful to the end can be saved.

This is "the gospel." The Book of Mormon teaches these concepts with a plainness and clarity unequaled by any other book. It has therefore been declared by the Lord to contain "the fulness of the gospel."

Critics fail to acknowledge is that Latter-day Saints also believe that the Bible contains a fulness of the gospel. This gives further credence to the fact that the gospel—while used in this context—does not refer to every teaching of the LDS Church , but its message that the atonement comes through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

What does the Book of Mormon not contain?

For the most part, the Book of Mormon does not concern itself with the deeper mysteries of God. The book itself admits that it does not contain all the doctrines the Lord wants us to know. The prophet Mormon explained that he only recorded "the lesser part of the things which [Jesus] taught the people," for the intent that "when [the Book of Mormon reader] shall have received this...if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them" (3_Ne. 26:8-9; compare Alma 26:22).

Critics often ask specifically why the Book of Mormon does not discuss the ordinance of baptism for the dead. For more information, please see "Why is baptism for the dead not taught in the Book of Mormon?"

Conclusion

The primary message of the gospel, the "good news" of Jesus Christ, is that he has atoned for our sins and prepared a way for us to come back into the presence of the Father. This is the message of the Book of Mormon, and it contains it in its fulness.

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If you would like to comment on these articles, or request additional topics, you can contact Carolyn here: Just check the box for the Meridian Article Editor.

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