Today I finished reading “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ”. This is not the first time I have read this book. However, this is the first time I have read it in 65 days – the time it took Joseph Smith to translate the gold plates.
I usually read the Book of Mormon every summer as part of my summer prep for seminary. However, this year I was released just as the summer began. For a brief moment the though crossed my mind, “You are so busy. This is you opportunity to take a break.” Leaving seminary behind was hard for me. It had been something I had leaned on to get me through some very hard challenges, but as I pondered what to do next, I knew. I knew I needed to read it Just like was my habit for the past 13 years – calling or not.
As I finished reading the final chapter of Moroni, my testimony was strengthened that this book is truly “the most correct of any book on earth, and the cornerstone of our religion and [that I can] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book…” (quote from Joseph Smith).
My heart is full of DEEP gratitude for the powerful way the Book of Mormon changes my heart and calms my soul; how it shapes my life and strengthens my testimony of Jesus Christ. Reading this time – not because I was assigned to for a lesson, has reaffirmed my faith and testimony of Christ.
I love this book!
I love the people who took the time to record their own experiences that helped them to grow their faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Nephi and Abinadi, Captain Moroni, Mormon and his son Moroni. I love Samuel the Lamanite and Alma and his son Alma. I love Enoch and the brother of Jared. I Love King Lamoni and Sam. I even love Laman and Lemuel, because they teach me that people are people and sometimes faith is hard to come by, but complaining and resisting doesn’t really get you anywhere. I love Zeezorom and his willingness to follow. I love the Anti-Nephi-Lehites who showed me that there is hope for anyone, no matter how hard their hearts were at a given moment. I love the stripling warriors- these young faithful teens – and their mothers who faithful taught them that God is good and would help them achieve the impossible. I love these scriptural heroes, their wives and their families.
I loved seeing the story lines more clearly, seeing the repetition of the pride-cycle, government corruption, the Atonement of Jesus Christ working in the lives of ordinary people, and especially seeing Christ work His power in the hearts of men throughout the whole book.
On this time through the Book of Mormon I took the opportunity to underline every time the name of the Savior appeared… all of his names – Christ, God, Lord, Son of God, Redeemer, Sheppard, Living Water, Life, Light of the Word, and so many more. Although it is something I may have always known, I realized that this book is not a book about the people who lived on this continent. This is a book about families working their way to Christ. This is a book about Christ… Christ being a God of the impossible, making the impossible things possible.
This speed read helped me to see the story… the time line of the Plan of Happiness. Now I am looking forward to starting over – scuba diving and feasting on the nourishing words of Christ. There is no room nor time for nibbling the scriptures. The attacks of the adversary are moving in. They are swift and they are strong.
I don’t ever remember doubting the Book of Mormon or the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s always been a part of me. I attended seminary in high school… sometimes all alone. My favorite seminary year, by far, was the Book of Mormon year. That was the first time I had ever read the Book of Mormon. My teacher, Brother Brown, brought his love for the scriptures and the Book of Mormon to class (along with a few additional classmates). Although I didn’t have a staggering, mind-blowing revelation during that year of seminary, I did learn some important lessons from Brother Brown that helped me to “hold to the iron rod” in the years that followed. I learned that studying and reading the Book of Mormon daily would bring me peace and direction in my life. I learned that though I did, and would, make mistakes, I had hope through repentance by the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and through the messages of salvation that are found on the pages of the Book of Mormon.
As my life has continued, the Book of Mormon continues to influence my life. Sometimes the influence is bright and obvious. sometimes it is more subtle. I have been directed and inspired by specific words or passages more often than I can count. I can see how the words of the Book of Mormon continue to shape me into a being of power and understanding. Most importantly, a daily study of the Book of Mormon has helped me to strengthen my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
I know that if you take the time to read the Book of Mormon, and pray about, with an open mind and heart, you will learn that it is true. Why should this matter? You will find that the Book of Mormon will open your heart and your eyes to all the love that God has for you.
If you want to know more about this book, the Book of Mormon, and it’s powerful testimony of Christ I’d invite you to consider reading it. You can get your own free copy here: Who are the Mormons? There are many answers about the book and the people who choose to follow Jesus Christ in this way. There are people available to answer questions too.
You may also like to know more about how it came to be. You can learn more here: The Book of Mormon Translation on lds.org
Resigning as the General Manager of the Universe 
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