What is The Book of Mormon?

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-00-1010-what-is-the-book-of-mormon-a-60-second-overview?category=mormon-beliefs&lang=eng

A friend of mine asked, "If there is the Old Testament and the New Testament, where does the Book of Mormon fall into this group, or does it not?"

Yes, the Book of Mormon is one with the Old Testament and the New Testament. Throughout time, God has given revelation, light and knowledge, to those who would listen. His revelations and the history of the people He gave them to are recorded in books we call scripture. The Old Testament and New Testament record God's dealings with the Israelite people who lived in the Jerusalem area. 

Before Nebuchadnezzar took over the land of Israel, God sent many prophets to warn the people to repent, so He could protect them and save them from being conquered. The people killed many of these prophets, but one, Lehi, was told to take his family and flee. Eventually, Lehi, his family, and another family made it to the "Promised Land", the Americas around 600 BC. The Book of Mormon is the history of this branch of Israel. 

Should Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ask Questions?

Of course!  Questioning is how we learn. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in these latter days because a young man questioned the traditional Christian teachings. Joseph Smith prayed and asked God what church was right? Which church should I join?

But many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are very concerned that they are showing a lack of faith if they question their leaders. Though we are warned to follow our leaders to help us be safe in these perilous times, that does not mean that we are to blindly follow them like unthinking robots.  We each have a responsibility to carefully study the things our leaders say, then we must pray to know what they are saying is right.  It is only after own own effort that we can gain our own testimony, our own witness from God, of the truth of what our leaders are saying.  It is only when we act on what we have learned to be right,  that we will grow and progress.

Some members can feel OK about asking for a confirmation that what leaders are saying is right, but feel that they are doing something wrong if they question Church doctrine.  What confuses members and is causing their concern is that there are seeing two different things. One is the honest questioning of a person who is looking for answers. The other is people who are looking merely for a quick way to discount the Gospel teachings and live a less demanding life.

Spiritual Rattlesnakes

I wrote this in 2001 for a local newspaper of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Media is far worse now.

“Pornography, though billed by Satan as entertainment, is a deeply poisonous, deceptive snake that lies coiled up in magazines, the Internet, and the television.” warned Elder David E. Sorensen of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during last April’s General Conference. He further explained that it is more deadly to the spirit than a live rattlesnake since “pornography destroys self-esteem and weakens self-discipline.” Elder Sorensen urges us all to set up “fortifications” in the form of personal ground rules to protect our families.

We interviewed several families and found that they considered their major “fortification” against the evils in the world to be the Gospel. They felt that it was essential to begin teaching good values to your children at a very young age. Some use Family Home Evening as an opportunity to set family media rules, discuss things their child has seen and heard, and role play how to handle difficult situations their child may encounter such an inappropriate video at a friend’s home.

Are Polygamist groups part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

My friend was still wondering why a woman who was raised in a Polygamist group would not be welcomed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called the "Mormon" church, if she had given up polygamy. Here is my answer to her.

I think this is the problem with the young woman who wants to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You said, "She doesn't want to give up all her Mormon training and teachings to join a church that doesn't believe in the things she was brought up to believe in, which she would have to do if she went to any regular Protestant denomination. "  The truth is that there isn't some other The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which has the same beliefs, but also believes in polygamy. I was just looking at some of the beliefs of groups who splintered off from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their beliefs are really different!! 

See https://www.mormon.org/  "Beliefs" for beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.