“The Old Testament stories are some of the most well known in history. ... But we must do more than just know the stories. We must learn true doctrine from them and apply that doctrine in our lives”(Old Testament Student Study Guide [2002], 7).
Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon).
“The entire message of the New Testament breathes a spirit of awakening to the human soul. Shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy, and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us”(Thomas S. Monson, “The Spirit Giveth Life,”Ensign, June 1997, 2).
“These sacred revelations were received in answer to prayer, in times of need, and came out of real-life situations involving real people. ... In the revelations the doctrines of the gospel are set forth ... [and] the testimony that is given of Jesus Christ””his divinity, his majesty, his perfection, his love, and his redeeming power“”makes this book of great value to the human family and of more worth than the riches of the whole earth”(introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants).
