Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased) wrote:
Because the restoration scriptures came forth in Bible Belt conditions early in this dispensation, we have been too slow to appreciate the special relevance of those scriptures to the conditions of this latter part of this dispensation. For instance, even some scholars have developed questions and doubts about the historicity of Jesus. Such doubting and questioning was not pervasive in the Americas in the 1820s and 1830s. Demographically speaking, therefore the greatest part of the impact of the Book of Mormon—with its convincing message that Jesus is the Christ—is occurring in our time, a time of deepening uncertainty and unrest. To answer affirmatively the great question is the very reason why the Book of Mormon and all restoration scriptures were brought forth.
And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood (Moses 7:62). ~Neal A. Maxwell, Not My Will, but Thine, (Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, 1988)17-18
