The Book of Mormon provides doctrinal reasons and motivations to change ones life. Only divine doctrine can satisfy the soul. The Book of Mormon changes lives and heals the wounded soul. It is not a literary masterpiece of captivating stories created by a brilliant author, instead it is a testament and witness too the World that judgments are coming. The angel Moroni upon appearing too Joseph Smith tells him that great judgments are about to come on the earth.

The central message of the Book of Mormon is that “great judgments are coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments will come in our generation.

Helaman warns the people to repent and prepare for judgment, Helaman 12:1-3:

1.And thus we can behold how false and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.

2. Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One – yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3. And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

Peace leads too prosperity. Pride leads too the fall. Pride drive away love and causes class distinction. Those who become proud begin to harden their heart against the peaceful things of the kingdom. “And the midst of darkeness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.” (1 Nephi 12:17) The devils temptations blind the eyes of man through his craftiness and secret combinations. Once mans cannot see with his spiritual eyes than his heart becomes harden to spiritual things and rather than seeking the witness of the Holy Ghost, these souls seek evidences that validate their position.

The faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost are the fruits of the diligent study and prayer concerning the Book of Mormon. A witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon depends on a broken heart and contrite spirit from the person seeking the witness of the Holy Ghost. Moroni understood the drought of spirituality in the last days telling us “and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Moroni 10:4) The witness of the Holy Ghost provides a powerful and compelling reason too believe the Book of Mormon.

And of the tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost (D&C 19:31)

The first principles of the gospel are faith, repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, evey thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him is inspired of God (Moroni 7:13) Significant spiritual experiences lead men too change behavior. Free Agency is not destroyed in God’s plan. Therefore, the Lord will entice us to do good. Incentives for righteousness excite the soul and cause the miracle of repentance and nurture fellowship with the saints. “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” “32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world or the world to come.” Mathew 12:31-32

4. Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they shall be as stubble.

6. And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for the fire and anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day that cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts. (2 Nephi 26: 4,6)

The reward of pride and foolishness is destruction because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light. The reward of pride is hell. The natural man is a law unto himself and devoid of the spirit of the Lord. The spirit of the Lord will not dwell always with man and when the spirit departs then comes speedy destruction. Churches that are built up and cause envy, strife, and malice are a stumbling block too God’s kingdom. Men of learning, who preach their own wisdom to acquire profit and grind down the faces of the poor are a stumbling block. The Lord does not operate in darkness.

And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with temptest, and the flame of devouring fire. (2 Nephi 27:2)

And then, O ye Gentiles how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways. (Mormon 5:22)

Each of Us will be Judged by Christ. Wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also. (1 Nephi 15:34)

8.Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the worlds which have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been laid for your?

9.Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?

10.And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment. (Jacob 6:9-10)