This is not a book I found in Young Adult section of the library. It is a book that has been with me, by my bed side, in my backpack, and now on my phone for years and years.
This weekend is the semi-annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints and so I have felt impressed to express my deepest love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I can not do it without the Book of Mormon.
Many people do not understand what the Book of Mormon is. So many feel that it is an impostor to the Holy Bible. It is not. They compliment each other. They are both the Word of God. They both come from His prophets.
The best way I know how to explain is this.
God is truly and literally our Heavenly FATHER. We are His literal sons and daughters.
In times of old, His children were scattered across the earth. The Holy Bible tells us of His children in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions. It tells of the prophets of old and the trials they faced. It tells of Christ's redeeming love. It tells us to repent and turn to Christ. The Holy Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the only way to return to our Father's presence in Heaven.
The Book of Mormon tells us the same. Only the setting is different. It tells of God's children on the American Continent. You see, God, our Heavenly Father loves All of his children. He needed a way to teach and show all His children about His Son, Jesus Christ. To teach us all about His Atonement.
And so He called Prophets, and missionaries and disciples to bring forth the gospel on the American continents, just as He did in the Bible. And why wouldn't He? We are all his children, the Holy Bible teaches us that. Would He not want the same salvation for us all?
In the Holy Bible, in the book of John Chapter 10 verses 14-16 Jesus Christ's speaks saying,
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Other sheep? Not of this fold? Them also He must bring?
In the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi chapter 9 verses 1-20 (and I will summarize because of length)
1 And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land saying.
(The voice tells of many great destruction in the land, and then the voice says)
12 And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and abominations.
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
Jesus Christ came and visited His sheep on the Americas. He has offered His Atonement to all men. No matter their region or setting or background, because He loves us all. He has taken upon the sins of the world. The sins of entire world from the beginning of time to the very last person who will be born on the earth. He has felt and experienced your pain. Our Savior Jesus Christ has bled from every pore. He has experienced your grief, your depression, your inadequacies, your guilt. He has experienced your love and your joys and your wonder. He is the way. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are witnesses to that truth.
Nehpi 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.
Dear friends, I feel so strongly to tell you about the Book of Mormon. The words are true. The message is Truth. Never has a book done more for the Children of God. I promise you, if you desire the truth, the Book of Mormon will open your heart to a love so pure it will burn deep in your bones.
I know, somehow through the Holy Ghost, I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. The joy and peace it brings me is unmeasurable.
I welcome any questions you may have. I only ask you to respect my faith. It is in the very fiber of my being as I am sure your beliefs are.
