Book of Mormon Parallels for Our Modern Times- Video 1/3
Because Mormon saw the latter day gentiles day in details, he was able to warn us and prepare a massage specifically for us. He wrote “Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Mormon 8:35). Mormon and Moroni abridged the gold plate records with the purpose of warning us of these Book of Mormon parallels. They showed us how to come unto Christ, even in the midst of destruction, war, wickedness and bondage.
Video 1 of 3 in this series. See Part 2 and part 3.
Book of Mormon Parallels Between Ancient & Modern America
Isaiah used historical types to also prophecy of future events, outlining how history repeats itself, especially for modern Americans.
The table below shows 8 major historical events that took place within the Book of Mormon. These parallel modern events we see in the world today or in recent history.
| Book of Mormon Events | Modern Parallel Events |
|---|---|
| Lehi’s family flee their lands and cross waters to a “promised land” due to religious persecution. | Similarly, many pilgrims cross the ocean while fleeing from religious persecution. They were seeking a “promised land.” |
| After hundreds of years being ruled by kings, the Nephites set up a system of representative government (Reign of the Judges). | In America, after freeing ourselves from the rule of the British king, we formed a constitutional representative government. |
| Korihor, an anti-Christ, teaches that to believe in God is foolish, and that “every man conquered according to his strength” and many believed him and followed him. | A philosopher named Carl Marx teaches that “religion is the opiate of the masses” and many believe him and follow his teachings. His teachings become mainstream in all major universities. |
| After the reign of the judges begins a band of elite members of the Nephite society led by a man named Amlici (who wants to be king) causes a civil war. | Elite citizens of the southern states (mainly rich slave owners) decide they no longer want to live by the constitution and a civil war is fought to keep the country together. |
| Alma forms a church in the wilderness and he and Helam are baptized in a unique way (Alma baptized with him) as the first members of this church. | Joseph Smith forms a church in frontier wilderness. He and Oliver Cowdry are baptized in a unique way (they baptize each other) as first members. |
| A tyrant, named Amalickiah rises up among the Lamanites. He leads them into a major war that includes all of the Nephite lands, but he is not a Lamanite. | A tyrant named Adolf Hitler rises up among the Germans. He leads them into a war to conquer other people’s lands and possessions, but he is not a German |
| After the war there is a great prosperity. This then brings about the infiltration of the government by a secret combination called “Gadianton robbers.” | After World War 2, there is great prosperity. This then brings about the rise of government corruption and secret combinations gain great power. |
| The Nephites become so wicked that there is great destruction prophesied and fulfilled at the time of the first coming of Jesus Christ. | Much wickedness in modern society causes great destruction and tribulations. These are predicted to proceed the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. |
8 major Book of Mormon parallels
What Are the Odds?
What is the mathematical probability of these 8 events in the history of the Book of Mormon matching our day? They are like rolling 8 dice and all of them coming up the same number: 1 in 1,679,616 or 0.00006%.
The Book of Mormon parallels to today in dozens (perhaps hundreds) of ways. The book was specifically abridged to contain information to show us how to come unto Christ in this day. The message and warnings of the Book of Mormon are invaluable, especially amidst bondage, war, political intrigue and wickedness.
