Book of Mormon Study: Introduction

The Book of Mormon was written and prepared for future generations of Gentiles and Jews and Lamanites and all other Israelites. It was created by command of God, through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. A means of protection was prepared for this record–to be sealed up and buried in the Hill Cumorah by an ancient prophet. It would come forth at some future time through the Gentiles, by means of interpreters that had also been prepared for the work of translation. We can see throughout history that the Gentiles had been prepared since the Great Apostasy, through the Reformation, until Joseph Smith’s first prayer, he having been raised in a very religious home, that reopened the windows of heaven and bringing continuing revelation back to the world in an unbroken line to today.

The Book of Mormon shows “the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever-” (introduction to the Book of Mormon, emphasis added)

That is such a beautiful promise. When we accept and make covenants with God, and we keep those covenants, surely we are led to a joy that can be everlasting. And to know that we have a Savior, that we don’t have to be cast off forever! That we can live with God again! What a treasure.

The Book of Mormon tells us what to do to have peace in this life and eternal salvation to come. Both of those promised blessings can bring joy into our lives, if we are willing to accept them and do what needs to be done to gain peace and eternal life. The Book of Mormon helps us to prepare for eternal life and helps us find peace.

The crowning event, the visit of the resurrected Savior to the people on the American continent, is one full of joy following great sorrow and suffering.

The introduction to the Book of Mormon closes with an invitation, with three steps. We are invited to:

1. Read the Book of Mormon
2. Ponder its message in our hearts
3. Ask God in the name of Christ if this book is true

With the proper preparation, by following these three steps, we–you–can gain a testimony of its truthfulness by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

To request your own copy of the Book of Mormon, you can visit here. Or you could find an electronic copy online or in your device’s app store.

1 Nephi 1:1 – Recognize the Good

I love how every time I read the Book of Mormon, there’s always something else to learn, or rediscover. This time, I’m looking for things on joy and being prepared. And right off, what do we have?

“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.” ~ 1 Nephi 1:1

Despite every trial he faced—and there were a lot—Nephi chose to keep his focus on the Lord, and on the blessings his family had been given. His life was not easy. Just look at what he had to go through:

• He and his family had to flee from Jerusalem because the Jews were angry with his father for preaching against their wickedness and prophesying about the Messiah (1 Ne. 1:18-2:5).
• Five separate murder attempts on his own life (four by his brothers, one by Laban) (1 Ne. 3:25; 7:16; 16:37-39; 17:48; 2 Ne. 5:3).
• eight years wandering in the wilderness on a near-starvation diet and other hardships (1 Ne. 16-17)
• the death of his father-in-law, Ishmael (1 Ne. 16:34)
• nearly perishing on the boat ride toward the Promised Land (1 Ne. 18)
• and other things that are likely not recorded

With all of that, what does he choose to do? He could have chosen to become as hard-hearted and bitter as Laman and Lemuel. But he didn’t. He recognized the good in his life, and he made a record of it. After they leave Jerusalem, Nephi seeks his own testimony of the things his father has been teaching, “having great desires to know of the mysteries of God” (1 Ne. 2:16).

I’m reminded of something that President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared in General Conference several years ago:

“When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day. Let me tell you how that got started. I came home late from a Church assignment. It was after dark. My father-in-law, who lived near us, surprised me as I walked toward the front door of my house. He was carrying a load of pipes over his shoulder, walking very fast and dressed in his work clothes. I knew that he had been building a system to pump water from a stream below us up to our property.

“He smiled, spoke softly, and then rushed past me into the darkness to go on with his work. I took a few steps toward the house, thinking of what he was doing for us, and just as I got to the door, I heard in my mind—not in my own voice—these words: ‘I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.’

“I went inside. I didn’t go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. Grandpa didn’t have to do what he was doing for us. He could have had someone else do it or not have done it at all. But he was serving us, his family, in the way covenant disciples of Jesus Christ always do. I knew that was true. And so I wrote it down, so that my children could have the memory someday when they would need it.

“I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’ As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.”

What a wonderful reminder of where to keep our focus. It can be so easy to get discouraged and see only the bad in life. But President Eyring encourages us to do the same, to look back through our days and search for God’s hand in our lives. To find joy.

“More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.”

What a wonderful blessing: a stronger testimony, more gratitude, a greater knowledge of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and so much more!

What good have you seen in your life today? How has God shown His hand today? Write it down.

Happy New Year

We awoke to 2015 ahead of us. It will be a year of discoveries for my family and me.

Very early yesterday morning, we sent my youngest brother off on his mission. He’s the first missionary in our family, and already, we miss him. It was so hard, not being able to text him to see how his flights went, if he made it safely to the Mexico Missionary Training Center, if he met up with other missionaries at the Atlanta airport heading to Mexico. Thankfully, we were able to e-mail him those questions and got an answer a few hours later. He did get everywhere safely, met other missionaries, and let us know when his MTC P-days (the one day of the week missionaries have to do laundry, write home, etc.) would be. We also learned that his companion in the MTC is also going to the Carlsbad California Mission like he is.

It will be a year of fasting and prayer for him and the other missionaries of our ward.

With the new year comes a new resolution to improve on my scripture study. Among many things, I intend to:

• Read the entire Standard Works this year, using Motivational Momma’s reading chart

• Study the women of the scriptures

• Study about the Second Coming. We studied a little about it in my youth Sunday School class for a couple of weeks in December. Unfortunately, some of the questions my students had could only be answered with “I don’t know.” I intend to study more so I can give a different answer next December.

• Continue to work through the Personal Progress program so I can earn the new medallion.

My overall spiritual goal of 2015: to draw closer to our Savior Jesus Christ

Learn on! ~ Mary