Without Disclosing My True Identity
many valuable possessions behind, having left in a hurry, they also lacked a Bible (Old
Testament) or record of any kind that gave them the same rule of law (Law of Moses), which
he and his family had grown up under while living in the corrupt city of Jerusalem.
What Lehi had failed to understand in sending his sons back to get the brass plates,
is that this corrupted record and the people’s resulting traditions, were at the very root of the
problem requiring a couple of true messengers to come to Jerusalem in the first place. The
corrupting influence of the Bible was at the heart of the people’s problem; it was not the
solution. The Book of Mormon builds on this beginning scenario and Lehi’s subsequent
journey across the ocean to the new world, where the story plays out to its final end in the
destruction of the lighter-skinned descendants of this group known as the Nephites.
Countering the Bible While Protecting the Free Will of Mortals
So, why the Book of Mormon? Why would advanced human monitors think it
necessary to wait until the establishment of the United States and a, generally, free society
before introducing another “Bible” to the world? Did these advanced humans believe in the
Bible? Did they condone the murder of others and setting up one people above another?
The simple answer is: ABSOLUTELY NOT!
The “advanced” writers and editors responsible for the Book of Mormon text needed a
way to give mortals a chance—through the exercise of their free will alone—to alienate
themselves away from the inhumanity and deception of the Bible that they accepted as
truth. How could these advanced monitors help the human race find an alternative
philosophy to the one that was causing them all of their misery, without revealing
themselves or in any way interfering with mortal free will and choice? What could they do
to counter the influence of the Bible? What could possibly counter what believers had
accepted by their own free will and choice as the infallible truth? Most importantly, what
could they introduce into the lessons designed for mortality that would allow the
inhabitants of the earth an unfettered and equal opportunity to act freely in all things?
Before Joseph Smith’s mission began, people didn’t act freely. Where traditions
didn’t otherwise rule their minds, the people were under the very real threat of force and
punishment from leaders within diverse societies as well as perceived emotional threats
coming from the wrath of an unseen God. Therefore, the people needed an environment
from which they could learn what they would do, if—when given the opportunity to be
truly left to themselves, both politically and socially—they were completely responsible for
their own actions and the consequences of these actions.
Taking Away the Excuse
Before Joseph Smith and the invocation of the United States as a nation, the people
had an excuse for their behavior. Before then, all they had was the Bible from which a large
majority of world leaders and spiritual sages gave the people their understanding of “God’s
word.” It was from this understanding and learning that the people were told that it was
okay to be prejudiced towards others and punish those who didn’t believe in “God” and
keep “his commandments.” Again, most people couldn’t even read the Bible, so they
depended upon their leaders to instruct them as to its precepts. As long as the people
remained under their leaders’ threats and authority, they could justify blaming their leaders
for making them prejudiced and “evil.” And inasmuch as the Bible was the only guidance