I finished The Book of Mormon again a few weeks ago, and I KNOW that Book is true. I have no doubt in my mind. I love it, and I am cherishing it now more than I have ever cherished it before. If you are reading this, and you have not read The Book of Mormon, I encourage/invite you to do so. I promise you that it will change your life. And I am not saying that just to be cliche or just to say it. This Book will change you if you will let it. I've seen it change my own life and the life of many others. I also testify that God will confirm the truthfulness of this powerful Book through the power of the Holy Ghost. If you pray to God with faith and real intent--asking if this Book is true--you may feel something different. It might feel peaceful, warm, or comforting. But no matter how He makes you feel, the Holy Ghost will testify of the truthfulness of this Book.
One reason I truly love The Book of Mormon is because of the way it helps us during each phase of our lives. It may be different for each and every one of us, but tonight I would like to share some examples from my own life. These examples are personal, but very simple, special, and powerful to me.
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#1: When my family first moved to Mississippi a few years back (I was about nine-years-old), I remember my older brother Matt and I got in a huge argument/fight on a Sunday. I remember feeling really bad about it, and so I went up to my room and pulled out my personal copy of The Book of Mormon and I began reading in 1 Nephi 1. I read maybe two or three chapters that day, and I remember thinking, "Nephi was a good brother. I need to be more like him." I obviously wasn't the perfect brother after reading those chapters, but--yes--those chapters did point me in the right direction.
#2: As I struggled with my parents' divorce as a young teenager, I was strengthened and comforted greatly from the words of King Benjamin in Mosiah 2:41, which states:
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven,
that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending
happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord
God hath spoken it."
Every time I read this scripture I knew that I just needed to trust in God and keep His commandments and all would work out for me--no matter what trial or challenge came my way.
#3. As I struggled as a full-time missionary, I found great teachings and insights on how to be a powerful missionary by reading the words of Mormon as he recounted many stories of remarkable missionaries such as Abinadi, Alma The Younger, the sons of Mosiah, Captain Moroni, and Samuel The Lamanite in the Books of Mosiah, Alma, and Helaman.
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Those are only a few examples, of course. But I hope you all understand/see where I am going with this. I just love how each time we read that powerful Book, it can help us with whichever phase we are facing in our lives. I saw that again as I finished The Book of Mormon a few weeks ago. I was so moved by every single thing I learned, and I know that by reading that inspired Book once again, I have been blessed. And I am an even better person than I was six months ago.
I look forward to the day when I have my own family, and I will be able to pick up The Book of Mormon and learn how to be a better husband and father from people such as Lehi, Mormon, and Christ Himself. I have no doubt in my mind that The Book of Mormon will continue to help me as I continue to progress and go about the rest of my life.
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