John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, was the walking embodiment, the personification of the Law of Moses: as the Law was sent to prepare a people for Christ, so a mortal messenger was sent to herald His advent; John’s role in life was to school and prepare the people for a greater revelation, even the coming of Him of which all things-above and below and upon the earth-bore witness. John ministered in the spirit of Elias and thus did not transcend his bounds-he deferred constantly to the Bridegroom and bore repeated testimony that redemption was in and through Him and Him alone.
“Language of My Father”
The matter is ambiguous. Joseph Smith told us very little about the process of translation and the nature of the language he translated. In one of the early conferences of the Church, Hyrum Smith called on his brother Joseph to tell about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
Joseph declined to do so saying:
“It was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon” and that “it was not expedient for him to relate these things.” (Far West Record, p. 23.)
The Lord had already told Joseph Smith that if people would not believe his word as found in the Book of Mormon, they would not believe any explanation that Joseph could give, even if he were able to show them everything the Lord had committed to them (D&C 5:7).
Ultimately the only valid evidence for the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon is in the doctrines it teaches and the effects of those doctrines on the lives of those who live up to their principles.