This year the curriculum for our individual and family study is the Book of Mormon. During his closing remarks in last October’s general conference and again at the beginning of January, President Russell M. Nelson invited us to contemplate the importance of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon in our lives. He asked us to ponder these two questions: “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?” He also said, “Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration.”1
Do we truly understand the value of the Book of Mormon? President Ezra Taft Benson once said the Book of Mormon is “one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. [It] is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel.”2
When I was in seminary, we were given the challenge to read the scriptures every day. I did that for a few years. However, once I got married, I let that habit slip. Life changed a lot. Kids came along and my life was really busy. (Not a valid excuse, I admit!) Whenever the prophet or the stake president or a teacher issued a challenge to read the Book of Mormon, I would gladly accept it. But reading every day, on a regular and consistent basis, was not happening. It wasn’t until I was called into the stake young women’s presidency and the president challenged us to not only read but to feast from the Book of Mormon every day. I happily accepted her challenge. That was a little more than eleven years ago. It would be impossible for me to tell you how incredibly blessed my life has been because of that. I had been seriously studying for only about three months when our oldest daughter was killed in a car accident. I know without a doubt that because of my daily studying the Book of Mormon my faith was sufficiently strong, enabling me to bear my burdens and have the strength to endure. That was just the beginning of some incredibly difficult challenges our family has faced. Today I have an unshakable testimony of Jesus Christ because every day I cherish the gift of the Book of Mormon.
In his final conference talk President Thomas S. Monson said, “I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”3
I know that has happened and continues to happen in my life and I promise it can happen in yours.
President Benson declared, “The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity. Unlike the Bible, which passed through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who tampered with the text, the Book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just one inspired step of translation. Therefore, its testimony of the Master is clear, undiluted, and full of power. But it does even more. Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly, this divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon).”2
Tad R. Callister said, “The Book of Mormon is not only the keystone of our religion, but it can also become the keystone of our testimonies so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold our testimonies securely in place.”4
Oh, how we need our testimonies securely in place!
A few months ago while I was reading Alma 30, the story of Korihor sounded all too familiar. We all know someone who has lost their testimony and left the Church, often trying to take others with them. Remember Korihor was going about “leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them that there is no God.” Alma bore his testimony of God and Jesus Christ saying, “I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? … I know thou believest, but … ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you.” Korihor tells Alma that if he will show him a sign, then he will believe. Alma tells him that the sign he will give is that he will be stuck dumb.
In Alma Chapter 30, beginning in verse 51, we read:
“And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying: Art thou convinced of the power of God? … Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now will ye dispute more?
“And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.
“But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that the were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.”5
As I read this I realized that especially now one of the greatest blessings that comes from the Book of Mormon is safety from apostacy.
In last October’s general conference, Rubén V. Alliaud of the Seventy taught, “Nephi explained the central purpose of the Book of Mormon in this way: ‘For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God. … And [so] we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ, … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.’ The entire Book of Mormon is imbued with that same sacred purpose. For this reason, any reader who commits to a sincere study of it, with the spirit of prayer, will not only learn about Christ but will learn from Christ—especially if they make the decision to ‘try the virtue of the word’ and not reject it prematurely due to prejudiced unbelief by what others have said. … My invitation … to each of us, regardless of how long we’ve been a member of the Church, is to allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us once again and day after day as we diligently seek for personal revelation. It will do so if we allow it.”6 I love that! Allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us. There is great power in the Book of Mormon!
A couple of years ago, President Nelson asked us to consider these three questions: “First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?”7
For each of us, the answers to these questions may be different. I cannot begin to imagine what my life would be without the Book of Mormon. Gratefully I don’t have to! So I would like to share what I do have and what I do know. Because of the Book of Mormon I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I know about His infinite and eternal Atonement, that He has the power to heal my sicknesses, pains and sorrows. I know our Heavenly Father’s beautiful plan of salvation. These truths have brought a peace which passes all understanding. Because of the Book of Mormon I also know that Satan is real and that there will always be those who will try to turn the righteous from the truth. I know that the world will mock us for our sacred beliefs. But I know how to guard against such evil. And I also know that truth will always prevail. I know that reading the Book of Mormon every day brings safety to my soul. I know, as President Nelson taught, “the truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.”7
Last week my dear father-in-law passed away. A couple of weeks before he died, we had asked him what the most important thing to him was. His reply, “The gospel and my family.” We then asked what he wanted his grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know. His response, “Read the Book of Mormon.” Because of the Book of Mormon, he knew and understood the plan of salvation and found great peace in it. He wanted the same for his posterity.
I love the Book of Mormon. I am eternally grateful for its truths. It is a precious gift in my life. It has strengthened my testimony of the Savior, who is the ultimate gift from our Father in Heaven. May we all strive to more fully embrace both of these precious gifts.
References:
- Closing Remarks– Russell M. Nelson
- The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion– Ezra Taft Benson
- The Power of the Book of Mormon– Thomas S. Monson
- God’s Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon– Tad R. Callister
- Alma 30:51-53
- Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon– Rubén V. Alliaud
- The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It? – Russell M. Nelson