The Book of Mormon

As I finished up my freshman year, there was one accomplishment that I am definitely most proud of.  Along with realizing that I had done it, I had made it through the year without any broken bones or empty bank accounts (almost), I had done something much more significant.
I read the Book of Mormon.
I’ve read it before and gained a testimony of it, but never quite like this.  I read the Book of Mormon in my religion classes.  Yes, I was tested on it.  I wrote papers about it.  I looked at it as if it were literature.  And you know what?  It was quite amazing.  Heck, I didn’t even get an A in Book of Mormon the second semester.  But I really don’t care, because I learned quite a lot.  And that’s all that really matters in the end, is how much you learned.
I want to tell you why I know the Book of Mormon is true.  Why I believe with all of my heart that it is the Word of God.
The Book of Mormon comes with a promise.
The prophet Moroni, at the end of the Book of Mormon, gives this promise to its readers:

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Moroni knew what was coming.  Moroni knew that there would be a lot of skepticism toward the Book of Mormon.  And that’s completely understandable.
Let me admit something — I’ve doubted the truth of the Book of Mormon.  I continue to pray to know of its truthfulness each time I read it and ponder it.  But that’s the beauty of this promise.  I don’t remember when exactly, but there would be days at church where I’d leave and be questioning what I had learned that day.  The questions investigators ask missionaries all of the time were coming to my mind, How do you know it’s true?  Did Joseph Smith just make this up?  Friends of mine would ask me these questions, and I’d give the cookie cutter answer, but inside, I knew I had to find out for myself.
Everyone receives answers to their prayers differently.  But prayer – prayer is beautiful.  It does everything  you’d ever need it to.  When I need comfort, I pray.  When I can’t sleep, I pray.  When I don’t know what to do, I pray.  When I need to make a choice, I pray.  When there’s someone I know who’s struggling, I pray.  When I’m happy, I pray.  When something super exciting happens to me, I pray.  When I’m scared, I pray.  Basically, I pray. A lot.  It’s that knowledge that I am never alone.  He’s always listening.
How do I get answers to my prayers?  Lots of different ways.
When I pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, I am filled with love.  I read it, and I love God more.  I love my family more, roommates more, my friends more, and even people I might be holding a grudge against that day.  When I read the Book of Mormon, I am filled with this overwhelming sense, feeling, and knowledge that this is true.
When I read the Book of Mormon this time around, that’s kind of the focus I had in mind.  How can I get answers to my prayers?  How can I recognize the Spirit guiding me or comforting me?
And every time I read – something in there inspired me.  In some way, I received inspiration.  But I didn’t really realize that till after, when I reflected on what I read or journaled about how I could apply the scriptures in my life.
To me, that’s another beautiful part of the promise.  I strive for a sincere heart, really intent, and faith in Christ.  Applying the Book of Mormon to my life helps me develop my faith in Christ, and when I saw the changes I could make, or I followed promptings while I read – I was happy.
When I read the words of the Book of Mormon, I know they are true.  I don’t hear a voice, and I certainly don’t see any visions.  I just, know.  I read it, and everything inside me screams that it’s right, it’s true.  And when I strive to apply the principles in my life, I know they are true.  When I read the Book of Mormon, I experience the fruits of the spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians.
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.  That’s why I believe it.  That is what witnesses the truth of it to me.  The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ’s divine sacrifice.  Of His forgiving grace.  Of His atonement.  Here are two of my favorite verses from the Book of Mormon that touch me and remind me of Christ’s infinite love for me:
Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
See, this verse is saying that only through Christ’s grace may we become perfect in Him.  Christ does it all, when we let him.  Once we accept Him into our hearts, and show that belief through our love toward him, (If ye love me, keep my commandments), then we can be “perfect in Christ”.  Only through His grace.

2 Nephi 25:26
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
This verse really describes the purpose of the Book of Mormon.  To talk, rejoice, preach, and prophesy of Christ!

And these verses don’t even skim the surface of the testimony of Christ’s love and atonement testified of in the Book of Mormon.   When I read the Book of Mormon, I feel close to God.  I feel His love, through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ.

There’s so much more to it than I can put into words.  But I believe in the Book of Mormon with all of my heart.  And I want to share this with the world.
I’ve heard a lot.  I’ve heard a lot of reasons of why it can’t be true from people.  I won’t deny my testimony of it.  And please. Please. Don’t say it’s not true if you haven’t read it.  That’s not fair.  Take Moroni’s promise before you tell the world it isn’t. (Click here for a free copy of the Book of Mormon.)

 

I believe in the Book of Mormon; I know it’s true.  It is something I am absolutely sure of.
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