The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessing today. Those people never had the book—it was meant for us.
Mormon, the ancient prophet after whom the book is named, abridged centuries of records. God, who knows the end from the beginning, told him what to include in his abridgment that we would need for our day. Mormon turned the records over to his son Moroni, the last recorder; and Moroni, writing over 1, 500 years ago but speaking to us today, states: ‘Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.’ (Morm. 8:35.) …
As we read and teach, we are to liken the Book of Mormon scriptures unto us ‘that it might be for our profit and learning.’ (1 Ne. 19:23.)
(Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1975, pp. 63–64)