40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.
The pattern of establishing testimony by two or three witnesses goes back at least to the Law of Moses. Deuteronomy 19:15 talks about establishing a matter of iniquity by the mouth of two or three witness, but the Lord has used this pattern consistently in establishing truth. The Book of Mormon is sub-titled, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” and for good reason. One of the main purposes of the book is to “establish the truth of the first (the Bible),” in testifying of Christ. With these two books or records combined with the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, the testimony is not only firmly established, as mandated in the Law of Witnesses, but is established in different dispensations, as well as by different cultures and traditions. This has the added benefit of making much of the Gospel plain and easier to understand the way the Lord intended. In practical teaching terms, if you can come at a concept from various angles, you stand a better chance of getting the point across to more people. All this is helpful and serves to establish the Bible as the word of God.
- Deuteronomy 19:15
- 2 Corinthians 13:1
- 1 Nephi 11:29
- 1 Nephi 12:9
- 2 Nephi 29:6–8, 12
- D&C 6:28
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