Did Joseph Smith Jr. teach from The Book of Mormon?

[_Fence Sitter]

In another thread a poster observed that Joseph Smith rarely, if ever, taught or preached from the Book of Mormon.

Does anyone one know of any references to any instances where Joseph Smith taught, expounded or used the Book of Mormon to teach the gospel?

If it is true that he did not use it or even if he infrequently used it I would be interested in opinions why that is so.

[_Willy Law]

I remember a thread about this a while ago, and I do not think anyone was ever able to find a reference of Joseph teaching from the Book of Mormon.

[_MCB]

I really don't think he was that familiar with the text. Parts of it certainly disagree with what he said and did.

[_honorentheos]

This is a good question, FS. I've been looking around in The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and so far the main mentions of the Book of Mormon are about the book or Joseph Smith's role in translating it.

What is interesting to me are the times I would have thought he might list a Book of Mormon prophet as an example of some teaching, but didn't. For example -

Section Three 1838-39, p.150

Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.

Interesting.

[_honorentheos]

Here's one that's interesting -

How to Escape Judgments

Section One 1830-34, p.16

And now what remains to be done, under circumstances like these? I will proceed to tell you what the Lord requires of all people, high and low, rich and poor, male and female, ministers and people, professors of religion and non-professors, in order that they may enjoy the Holy Spirit of God to a fullness, and escape the judgments of God, which are almost ready to burst upon the nations of the earth. Repent of all your sins, and be baptized in water for the remission of them, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and receive the ordinance of the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power, that ye may receive the Holy Spirit of God; and this is according to the Holy Scriptures, and the Book of Mormon; and the only way that man can enter into the celestial kingdom. These are the requirements of the new covenant, or first principles of the Gospel of Christ: then "Add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity [or love]; for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful, in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The scripture quoted is from 2 Peter 1. Why it's interesting is that there is a sister scripture in the Book of Mormon -

Moroni 8:25-26

25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

Why did he refer to a book of scripture that was already had (the Bible) rather than teach the doctrine from the Book of Mormon?

Again, Fence Sitter, this topic could be really interesting to delve into deeper.