Topical Guide: B
Babylonian Captivity
Many prophets at the time of Lehi and Nephi prophesied of the Babylonian captivity.
Baptism
Tad R. Callister, "The Inevitable Apostasy", pp. 160-168, 221-242
How the true doctrine of baptism has been lost. (pp. 160-168)
Infant Baptism (pp. 221-231)
Baptism by Immersion (pp. 231-236)
Baptism for the Dead (pp. 236-242)
"Baptism by immersion for the remision of sins" is the third principle of the Gospel.
Oliver Cowdery in Dean C. Jessee, ed., "The Papers of Joseph Smith", Vol. 1, p. 30
Thoughts on his and Joseph's eagerness for baptism while translating.
Baptism for the Dead
"Now that seal is the water of baptism into which men go down under the obligation to death, but come up appointed to life. For that reason, to those also was this seal preached, and they made use of it so they might enter the kingdom of God."
Tad R. Callister, "The Inevitable Apostasy", pp. 236-242
Discussion of the existence of this ordinance in the early church and it's loss via the apostasy.
Discusses why baptism for the dead is needed and how it solves an important problem for Christianity. In doing so, it is also a sign of the true church.
Bearing Testimony
Elder Jay E. Jensen, "Bearing Testimony", Ensign, Oct. 2005
What a testimony is.
What a testimony is not.
Nephi testifies to his brothers of his father's mission.
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Inspirational Thoughts", Ensign, September 2007, Subheading: "I Know the Gospel Is True"
Gordon B. Hinckley bears his testimony. This is an excelent example.
Becoming Like God
Tad R. Callister, "The Inevitable Apostasy", pp. 146-160
How early Christian writers, the scriptures, and reason taught and teach that a man can become a God.
Benjamin (Son of Jacob)
Blessing from Jacob.
The Bible
"the word of God as far as it is translated correctly"
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", pp. 59-60
It is clear that the ancients must have had more knowledge of the Gospel than the Bible directly intimates. Consequently, not all revelation is contained in the Bible.
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 69
Referring to the desolation of abominations, Joseph Smith stated:
"Then, if this is the case, and if we are not sanctified and gathered to the places God has appointed, with all our former professions and our great love of the Bible, we must fall."
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", pp. 119-120
"'Do you believe the Bible?'
If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there are none of the religious sects of the day that do.
'Wherein do you differ from other sects?'
In that we believe the Bible, and all other sects profess to believe their interpretation of the Bible, and their creeds."
Birth Control
"Those things that endanger a happy marriage are ... unwarranted birth control ..."
"They are telling you that you are manacled to your homes, to your husbands, to your children, to your housework." ..."Eve ... seemed to understand the way of life, for she was happy—happy!—that they had eaten the forbidden fruit."
Bishops
Joseph Staples, "Supporting your Bishop", Ensign, June 2007
Do not always run to the bishop with every problem. There are some things only a Bishop can do, but for other things it is good to seek for help from family, our home teachers, or elsewhere.
Lighten the bishop's load. (Similar idea.)
Respect his office. Refer to him as "Bishop".
Be supportive and nonjudgemental. Pray for him.
Boyd K. Packer, "What Every Elder Should Know - and Every Sister As Well: A Primer on Principles of Priesthood Government", Ensign, Feb. 1993, p. 7, subheading "Temple Recommends", "Sustaining in an Office"
Makes some remarks relevant to understanding the office of Bishop.
The office of Bishop is an Aaronic Priesthood office and as such, the Bishop does not have auhority over issues that are managed by the Melchizedek Priesthood. (ie. It is not an office of Melchizedek Priesthood authority.)
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 21
Bishops to look after the poor, according to the laws of the church.
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 21-22
When Zion is properly regulated, there will be a Bishop to each square (block?) in a pattern set down by Joseph Smith.

There should be the greatest familiarity and freedom amongst the rulers (leaders) in Zion. (ie. Communication between leaders should be uninhibited and information should not be kept back from a Bishop.)

Bishop to know all things pertaining to Zion as he is called as a judge and must have a knowledge of the affairs of Zion to do so.
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 112
"A Bishop is a High Priest, and necessarily so, because he is to preside over that particularbranch of Church affairs, that is denominated the Lesser Priesthood, and because we have no direct lineal descendant of Aaron, to whom it would of right belong."
Blacks and the Priesthood
Body Piercings
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God ... If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy."
The Book of Abraham
H. Donl Peterson, "The Story of the Book of Abaraham: Mummies, Manuscripts, and Mormonism"
p. 5 - citation of Elder Pratt describing a beautiful scroll (from Journal of Discourses 20:64-65)
p. 25 - Records obtained by Joseph with mummies said to comprise a record that, when translated, would be larger than the Bible.
pp. 111-113, 116, 118 - Descriptions of manuscripts which would appear to indicate that there was originally much more papyrus than is now extant. Particularly that with red ink and that "more neatly written".
p. 119 - Both a record of Abraham and another of Joseph were said to have been in the papyrus.
pp. 128-130 - Description of contents of Book of Abraham (by Oliver Cowdery) which mentions much we don't have.
pp. 152-155 - Times and Seasons published a statement saying that more of the Book of Abraham was to be published.
pp. 193-194, 196 - Mention of representation of serpent tempting Eve in the Book of Abraham.
The Book of Enoch
Hugh Nibley, "A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch", Ensign 1975-1977
Part 1: 1975, Oct.
Part 2: 1975, Dec.
Part 3: 1976, Feb.
Part 4: 1976, Mar.
Part 5: 1976, Apr.
Part 6: 1976, Jul.
Part 7: 1976, Oct.
Part 8: 1976, Dec.
Part 9: 1977, Feb
Part 10: 1977, Mar.
Part 11: 1977, Apr.
Part 12: 1977, Jun.
Part 13: 1977, Aug.
Corruption of the book predicted.
Enoch vouches for the veracity of his book.
The Book of Jasher
"The Book of Jasher includes details about antediluvian patriarchs which are confirmed by modern revelation. The question arises of how the author of Jasher could have known specific facts from before the Great Flood, such as Cainan becoming very wise when he was forty years old. These correlations attest that it was composed from exceedingly ancient reliable sources."
The Book of Joseph (in Egypt)
H. Donl Peterson, "The Story of the Book of Abaraham: Mummies, Manuscripts, and Mormonism", p. 119
Book of Joseph said to have been with the Book of Abraham
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is, "the word of God."
Prophecy/promise given to Joseph in Egypt concerning the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
"Read this, I pray thee ... I canot; for it is sealed."
The same (roughly) as Isaiah 29.
Language used for Nephi's record described. (Small plates specifically, though it is presumed the same language was used for the other records, including the abridgement that became the Book of Mormon)
Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 120
"'How and where did you obtain the Book of Mormon?'
Moroni, who deposited the plates in a hill in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, being dead and raised again therefrom, appeared unto me, and told me where they were, and gave me directions how to obtain them. I obtained them, and the Urim and Thummim with them, by means of which I translated the plates; and thus came the Book of Mormon."
Boundaries of Wards and Stakes
Note 1
Apparently only Stake leadership is allowed to receive the boundary information from Salt Lake. Wards, then, get the information from the Stake.
Branch President
The Brass Plates
Described.
Brigham Young
Gives an overview of Brigham Young's conversion and work.
Some interesting visions mentioned.
Burning at the Second Coming
"Destruction of the transgressors and the sinners shall be together."
"the string shall be as tow and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together"
"He that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming."
"And also that of element shall melt with fervent heat;"
Enoch 48:8-10
Enoch 52
Describes the inescapable melting heat.
Enoch 45:6
"I shall destroy them from the face of the Earth."
Enoch 102:1
Grievous fire in the last days.
Josephus 1.2.3
"... upon Adams prediction that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the force of fire, and at another time by the violence and quantity of water ..."
Pres. John Taylor, "The Government of God", p. 114
Pres. Taylor describes that there is to be "a general destruction poured out upon man, which will entirely cleanse the earth and sweep all wickedness from its face. This will be done by the rod of his mouth, and by the breath of his lips ; or, in other words, by fire as universal as the flood."