Book of Mormon Preamble

By preamble, I mean the things in the beginning of the book:  The Testimonies of the three and eight witnesses; the Title page, the Brief explanation and the portion of  Joseph Smith History that is included in the copy I am reading.

My thoughts: 

• 11 men signed their names to affidavits that stated they had seen and handled the artifacts that the Book of Mormon springs from.  They stated (and do state) to the world that the plates were real.  They mortgaged their good names to assure the world that the things we read in the Book of Mormon came from these artifacts.  
• Joseph Smith put his blood, sweat, tears and his life into producing the translation of the record that was on the golden plates.
• There was hostility and opposition to publishing the Book of Mormon - more than anyone could logically explain or defend.  It was published and made available to the world in spite of the difficulties that abounded.
• People are challenged to read and pray about the published Book of Mormon.  They are promised that God will respond to their honest prayers about what they read.

When I think about these points, taken together or separately, I hear a ring of truth to them.  I see efforts of devoted labor.  I see the indications of maleficent attempts to thwart this work and indications of the hand of Providence in the production of the Book of Mormon. 

The thing that stands out most is this invitation:   Prove the Book of Mormon for yourself.  Read, ponder, and then pray.

Don