At the April 1987 general conference, President Ezra Taft Benson said: "God uses the power of the word of the Book of Mormon as an instrument to change people's lives: `As the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them - therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.' (Alma 31:5.)
"Alma reminded his brethren of the Church of how God delivered their fathers' souls from hell: `Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word.' " (Alma 5:7.)President Benson said: "We need to use the everlasting word to awaken those in deep sleep so they will awake `unto God.'
"I am deeply concerned about what we are doing to teach the Saints at all levels the gospel of Jesus Christ as completely and authoritatively as do the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. By this I mean teaching the `great plan of the Eternal God,' to use the words of Amulek. (Alma 34:9.)
"Are we using the messages and the method of teaching found in the Book of Mormon and other scriptures of the Restoration to teach this great plan of the Eternal God?"