What does this prophecy of Isaiah indicate about the spiritual readiness of people when the Book of Mormon comes forth?

“Lip service, without the heart, is hypocritical and insulting to the Lord (Isaiah 1:11–13). He wants righteous works as well as words … .

“Our scripture study, fasting, praying, partaking of the sacrament, home and visiting teaching, tithe-paying, and other spiritual duties all need to be done with full purpose of heart and not as ‘vain oblations’—the heart is what God wants. Inner motives are more important than outer motions. Hands that help are holier than lips that only pray” (Ogden and Skinner, Book of Mormon, 1:238–39).

Witnesses of the Plates

Eight Witnesses

Christian Whitmer

Jacob Whitmer

Peter Whitmer, Jr.

John Whitmer

Hiram Page

Joseph Smith, Sr.

Hyrum Smith

Samuel H. Smith

The Lord revealed anciently that he would provide witnesses of the “sealed book” or gold plates from which the Book of Mormon would be translated—this so that Joseph Smith “may not be destroyed” and “that [He] might bring about [His] righteous purposes” (D&C 17:4, 9).