In true Old Testament style, the prophet gives a tangible symbol as part of the prophecy: a rent coat. We learn another interesting part of the Joseph story that didn’t make it into the Old Testament version: that when Jacob, before his death, saw that part of the coat of many colors had not decayed, he prophesied that even though most of his son’s descendants would perish, some small part would be preserved. The rend also involves the covenant imagery of cutting, so those who follow Moroni make the covenant and rend their clothes as a token of the covenant.
The Book of Mormon itself is tangible evidence of prophecy. I have had two dreams in my life that were vision-like. In one, I was among men who were seeking a leader; there was an impending danger, and we were all worried. A man called our attention, and asked, “Are you willing to follow this man to war?” At this, Mormon or Captain Moroni stood up and we were all overjoyed that he had returned to lead us. We shouted our assent, at which he responded, “Then why won’t you do your home teaching?”
