The Book of Mormon

No catchy title.  It speaks for itself.

This book is powerful in so many ways.  Not only is it a powerful witness of Christ, it was written specifically for our day.  Christianity would not be what it is today without the Bible, and I love that book dearly.  It has played a critical role for centuries and continues to be a special witness of Christ.

But the Book of Mormon...

Someone in Sunday School really put the lesson and our study of the Book of Mormon this year into perspective for me.  She commented that the Book of Mormon is evidence that Heavenly Father knows us, loves us and speaks to us individually...in a way that nothing else does.

The teacher shared her personal testimony of how she came to know that the book is true.  Until that point, it was a rather dull lesson.  She cautioned at the very beginning not to be complacent with this year's topic simply because we are all so familiar with the book.  And, while I agreed, I was concerned that our discussion was the "same old" discussion every introductory class has about the Book of Mormon.

But then...

She shared her personal testimony of her witness.  And the class participation could not have been stronger.  One by one, several members of the class shared their witness...their personal story of how they came to know the book to be true.  And the Spirit began instructing all of us.  

And that's the miracle of the book.  There is a promise given that if we read it and pray to know of its divinity, the Holy Spirit will testify to us.  Heavenly Father knows us better than any mortal on earth.  And He knows how to speak to us.  He answers our prayers through other holy writ, or through a friend, or through a close family member, or through an experience, or through a thought, or through a combination of any of the above.  The point being that He knows how to speak to us in a way that we can clearly and unmistakably recognize.  When those experiences happen...wow!  And the Book of Mormon is one way...sometimes the first way...that we open ourselves up to have a very personal experience with our Father.

The Book of Mormon was written for our day.  It is a powerful witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It emphasizes the importance of family and personal revelation.  And we will grow closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, as we prayerfully read and ponder its teachings.

I love this book.  I know it is true.  And I invite you to read it for the first time, dust it off from the shelf and read it again, or renew your dedication to read it daily.  It will change your life for the better.