There are many articles on the internet that counsel people not to pray to know whether the Book of Mormon is true. You should check them out and add your voice to the conversation of articles that allow them.
In this article, the author makes what I believe is a solid argument for why putative truth can't be evaluated by one's feelings about it. He uses scriptures to support the idea that one must use their minds and reason about putative truth.
Then he takes a huge turn into a less supported conclusion:
"In summary, then, we should never be tempted to accept the Mormon challenge to pray about the Book of Mormon. Rather, we should use our minds to investigate its origin, examine its teachings, and compare it with Scripture. In so doing, we remain consistent with Scripture and subject a book that claims to be the Word of God to a factual and realistic assessment."
I am writing this post because I think this is a great specific example of what I've referred to as "uneven application of reason." This is what the Lord told me when I asked how so many intelligent, accomplished people could be so right on so many things, but so obviously wrong on others. He said they apply their reasoning unevenly, and that if they exercised their full reason as honestly on all things, they would advance much closer to him than they are.
This author is obviously intelligent, and has obviously spent a lot of time studying the scriptures. However, he fails to apply his intelligence and scriptural familiarity to the most important part of his analysis: how does one test truth?
He says "we should use our minds to investigate its origin, examine its teachings, and compare it with Scripture."
Where does the Bible say that origin investigations are a test for truth?
Whenever we want to test the value of an idea about evaluating truth or value, we ought to backtest it against the mortal ministry of Christ. The test is: would this idea succeed in identifying the truth or value of Jesus?
Were there any people who used origin investigations to evaluate Jesus? There were.
The people from his hometown bitterly rejected him multiple times. The first time he tried preaching to them, they tried to throw him off a cliff. He came back after they had heard the stories of his teachings and miracles in other towns, and they had such strong unbelief that he couldn't do any mighty miracles there. It was this rejection that caused Jesus to lament that prophets are never accepted by those who knew them while they were growing up.
The high priests also investigated Jesus' origin. They dismissed him because the scriptures didn't predict any prophet coming from Galilee.
Where does the Bible say that comparison of new truth to what you currently believe is a test for truth?
Were there people who used comparison to current beliefs to evaluate Jesus? There were. The Pharisees and scribes constantly quoted scriptures that they thought proved that Jesus could not be the Messiah. Some would say, "but they obviously misinterpreted them." Did they know that? Are people today somehow free from the ability of misinterpreting scripture? Has something about human nature changed?
Jesus explicitly preached that new truth would frequently require letting go of what was previously considered to be true. For example, see his teaching about the problems of patching old garments with new cloth, or putting new wine into old bottles.
He said he came to make all things new. He explicitly replaced prior beliefs held by the people:
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5)
What is the test for truth that Jesus gave?
He said: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)
Do you think this author has read and attempted to live even one idea from the Book of Mormon? I promise you that he has not.
Conclusion
It is so sad to see someone equipped with all the tools to approach God, and yet use them to prevent his own progress towards him. How near someone can seem to God, and yet be so far away.