What do you think?
Rate this book
A Witness and a Warning: A Modern-Day Prophet Testifies of the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is meant for our day for us here and now. In A Witness and a Warning you will find President Benson's counsel, insight, testimony and teachings pertaining to the Book of Mormon. As you study this book along with the Book of Mormon you will find blessings and fulfillment of the promises made by a modern day prophet of God.
86 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
12 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Ezra Taft Benson
120 books71 followersThe thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both of the administrations of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. Because Kimball was the older of the two, he was given seniority over Benson in the Quorum. Succession to the presidency of the church is by chronological order of ordination to apostleship, allowing Spencer W. Kimball to become president of the church years earlier than Benson. Upon Spencer W. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson became the president of the church.
Benson suffered poor health in the last years of his life from the effects of blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks, and was rarely seen publicly. He was hospitalized in 1992 and 1993 with pneumonia.
Benson died of congestive heart failure in his Salt Lake City apartment at the age of 94. Funeral services were held June 4, 1994 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley. He was buried near his birthplace in Whitney, Idaho, at the Whitney City Cemetery.
On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. Because Kimball was the older of the two, he was given seniority over Benson in the Quorum. Succession to the presidency of the church is by chronological order of ordination to apostleship, allowing Spencer W. Kimball to become president of the church years earlier than Benson. Upon Spencer W. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson became the president of the church.
Benson suffered poor health in the last years of his life from the effects of blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks, and was rarely seen publicly. He was hospitalized in 1992 and 1993 with pneumonia.
Benson died of congestive heart failure in his Salt Lake City apartment at the age of 94. Funeral services were held June 4, 1994 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley. He was buried near his birthplace in Whitney, Idaho, at the Whitney City Cemetery.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 6, 2016
What a powerful book written by a prophet of God! I will definitely refer to it again and again.
Our bishop gave each member of the ward council a copy of this book and asked us to read it. Our Stake President has asked us to "flood the earth with the Book of Mormon." There has been much emphasis on the importance of the Book of Mormon and how we need to be familiar with it, especially in these latter days.
More recently Elder Kevin W. Pearson said: "Search the Book of Mormon and the words of living prophets everyday, everyday, everyday! It's the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost."
I want to share a passage from the book. There's so much power and wisdom packed into the book that it is difficult for me to choose just one, but I don't want to make this review long. I just want to give you just enough information to encourage you to read it on your own.
"There is power in the book [the Book of Mormon] which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called "the words of life", and nowhere is that more true than it is in the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance." Ezra Taft Benson
I testify that this is true. I love the Book of Mormon! It has changed my life. I can't imagine what my life would be without it. Reading the Book of Mormon everyday makes receiving personal revelation possible. I know that when I start my day right I am much more receptive to the Spirit and when I miss a day, I miss out on much more then just scriptural knowledge.
I highly recommend this book because when you read it you will be inspired to read and gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon.
Our bishop gave each member of the ward council a copy of this book and asked us to read it. Our Stake President has asked us to "flood the earth with the Book of Mormon." There has been much emphasis on the importance of the Book of Mormon and how we need to be familiar with it, especially in these latter days.
More recently Elder Kevin W. Pearson said: "Search the Book of Mormon and the words of living prophets everyday, everyday, everyday! It's the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost."
I want to share a passage from the book. There's so much power and wisdom packed into the book that it is difficult for me to choose just one, but I don't want to make this review long. I just want to give you just enough information to encourage you to read it on your own.
"There is power in the book [the Book of Mormon] which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called "the words of life", and nowhere is that more true than it is in the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance." Ezra Taft Benson
I testify that this is true. I love the Book of Mormon! It has changed my life. I can't imagine what my life would be without it. Reading the Book of Mormon everyday makes receiving personal revelation possible. I know that when I start my day right I am much more receptive to the Spirit and when I miss a day, I miss out on much more then just scriptural knowledge.
I highly recommend this book because when you read it you will be inspired to read and gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon.
April 4, 2014
The guilt trip you deserve, in less than 80 pages.
May 1, 2023
I enjoyed rereading the talks of President Benson. He was the prophet who signed my missionary papers. This book took me back to my teenage and young adult years. I love reading the Book of Mormon daily and finding inspiration and gospel principles in these scriptures that help strive to be more Christ-like.
September 5, 2016
Great thoughts from a modern-day prophet on the importance of a lifetime study of the Book of Mormon, including this one, “Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, and so forth. … Converts will not survive under the heat of the day unless their taproots go down to the fullness of the gospel which the Book of Mormon contains. Our Church classes are not as spirit-filled unless we hold it up as a standard. And our nation will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of the God of this land, Jesus Christ. …” ~Ezra Taft Benson
Read
August 5, 2016This is a collection of President Ezra Taft Benson's teachings about the Book of Mormon. I really loved revisiting his inspiring words about this inspiring book. I read it because a religious educator at BYU says he reads this slim volume at the beginning of each Book of Mormon year. Not a bad idea. But, you can't beat the "bang for the buck" of Joseph Smith's quote: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by biding by its precepts, than by any other book." That's a thought we should always remember as we study the Book of Mormon.
January 31, 2016
The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.
June 19, 2017
My second time reading this and it is just so good. I know a lot, if not all, are just portions of talks Pres. Benson gave, but it is still a great overview of the power and importance found in studying the Book of Mormon. So many fabulous quotes and lessons to remember as I study.
July 11, 2019
A short, yet powerful book. This book was written in 1988, but still the message rings true today. Read, live and follow the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Thus, it will greatly bless, guide and assist in a person’s daily life.
January 27, 2008
I read this for my Book of Mormon class as a Freshman and loved it. I definitely recommend it. Ask Amy. :)
July 20, 2016
A more detailed version of the Book of Mormon talk. Are we listening?
February 23, 2008
I learned more about how the Book of Mormon can assist me in my quest for eternal life and exaltation. It was very uplifting!
February 28, 2008
Makes you proud of the knowledge we have and holds you accountable for it.
July 7, 2008
A book I own that is inspiring faith building. :)
September 24, 2008
Just startd today...
September 28, 2008
A very powerful book. I really enjoyed this one. I already had an unbreakable testimony of the Book of Mormon, and it was a joy to read the testimony of it's truthfulness from a Prophet.
February 16, 2009
I would read this before reading the Book of Mormon. This man's testimony of the BOM is amazing and inspiring.
January 26, 2009
So true, the whole thing. A fast, powerful read. Best read before you begin the Book of Mormon again.
April 16, 2009
Fantastic book with real application for today.
October 21, 2009
Read this during my freshman year at BYU.
August 23, 2010
Short but very sweet. President Benson has often been remembered for his testimony of the Book of Mormon and this is a good summary of his counsel regarding it.
January 4, 2011
I don't remember much about it but I do remember it was a great book! I read it for a Book of Mormon class at BYU my freshman year in 2004.
August 27, 2011
Took me about an hour and a half this morning to read the whole book. Good book. Very interested about how many times he repeats that the whole church is still under condemnation.
April 24, 2011
this book was pretty good. It made me want to read the book of Mormon.
January 16, 2024
I like to read this short book once a year or so to make sure I stay motivated to read the Book of Mormon. It does a good job of lighting that fire within.
January 15, 2012
I loved this book! It gave me great new insight as to the power of the Book of Mormon. I quick and enlightening read. Best read before you start reading the Book of Mormon again.
August 5, 2012
I LOVE ALL of Ezra Taft Benson books!
January 10, 2013
This book is filled with great insight, advice and promised blessings.
March 15, 2014
A qick read that serves as a great reminder of the importance of the Book of Mormon.
March 8, 2015
still so relevant and uplifting
February 8, 2016
A good review of General Conference talks with the theme of the Book of Mormon. I am sure I got more out of them, this time, than 20 some odd years ago when they were originally given.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews