Hello! Sorry it's been a while. School can be pretty overwhelming :). Thankfully, one of my classes now encourages posting on my blog, so I can remember to do it more often.
Today I'd like to share my thoughts on something very sacred and very important to me.
In my darkest times, times when I've felt lonely, scared, stressed out, or just plain sad, the Book of Mormon has been a light that I have been able to turn to. It's helped to bring me closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
This book of scripture was written by ancient prophets in America who knew and testified of Jesus Christ. It was translated by Joseph Smith (a modern day prophet) through divine guidance. (If you haven't come into contact with this book before, here are links to the introduction and a place where you can request a physical copy).Another modern day prophet said this about the importance of the Book of Mormon to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: How important is the Book of Mormon? ... Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The enemies of the Church understand this clearly. This is why they go to such great lengths to try to disprove the Book of Mormon, for if it can be discredited, the Prophet Joseph Smith goes with it.
Like Pres. Ezra Taft Benson says, there have been many attempts to discredit the Book of Mormon and many articles by church members who have supported it with logical arguments and historical evidence*. While I love reading those articles and learning from their insights, I don't have the scholarly experience necessary to write something like that. Thankfully, I don't need to.
I have read and still read the Book of Mormon. I have come to know my Savior through the verses and have also come to better understand the Holy Bible.
One of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon is Alma 33. A missionary-- Amulek-- is using the example of Moses and the Brass Serpent to testify of Christ.
19 Behold, [the Son of God] was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly...?Christ really is the one to turn to for healing. He loves us and wants to help us with our daily challenges. One way to come to Him, to "behold (him) quickly," is by reading the Book of Mormon.
I know that the Book of Mormon was brought to me by the power of God. He inspired ancient prophets to write it, prepared Joseph Smith to receive it, gave him the tools to translate it, and guided missionaries who taught my ancestors about it. He also blessed me with a love for it, with a desire to read it, so that I already know that it's His word to me.
Earlier I mentioned that the Book of Mormon has helped me through some tough times. One of those times was when I was preparing to be a missionary myself. I left home, traveled to Argentina, and was with a group of other young adults who were preparing. I was homesick and trying to learn Spanish. One day, I zoned out the teacher and just opened up the Book of Mormon I was holding. I was praying to know that God still loved me and was there to help me through this. The scripture I read said, "Behold, I know my sheep, and they are numbered." As I read it, I felt like the person who had written it had reached through time and seen where I was at and had put those words on the page for me.
The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and I know that "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Joseph Smith, Introduction). Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ saw our difficult times and gave us an added help to get through them. If we read the Book of Mormon, we'll be able to feel Their presence in our lives through the Spirit and will be able to return to Them in the end.
*(For example: "Profile of a Prophet" Hugh B Brown (a lawyer)
"Book of Mormon and DNA Studies"
Hugh Nibley (a professor) also wrote books and articles about the Book of Mormon)
