Book of Mormon
Give Me Light
As a 19-year-old young man I was given this book. (The light-blue Book of Mormon with a golden Moroni on the front cover). Because of a voice which I had previously heard in answer to my very anguished, first-ever prayer—a voice which simply said, “Everything is going to be all right”—I knew that something was going to happen when I opened it. I took it home and stood it upright in the center of the desk in my room.
Read MoreMoroni
I finished reading the Book of Mormon a few minutes ago for the 83rd time. I could have read the final chapter last night, but I saved it for this morning so that I’d finish on Joseph Smith’s birthday. (23 December 2020). I note that this is the 4th time that I’ve finished on his birthday.
Read MoreWas Lehi the Only One?
As I began another reading of the Book of Mormon last night, I only got six verses read before I got bogged down in thought. Lehi was obviously touched by the warnings of the many prophets who came into the land “prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.” (1 Nephi 1:4).
Read MoreFamily Letter, October 2020
At 2:20 I sat bolt upright in bed when a bull elk bugled right above the house. I wasn’t able to see him in the dark, but he bugled eight times before resting for a while. Periodically he’d tune up again. After 4:00 I put my sweat suit on, wrapped my blanket around me, and went out into the back yard and stood under the aspen tree. By the light of the three-quarter moon I imagined that I could see two cow elk eating potatoes about 50 yards away, and two more above them. The bull was over by where the old barn stood. He bugled about once every minute for the 15 minutes that I stood there. In the morning light, the cow elk turned out to be the wheels to Adam’s pivot.
Read MoreLittle Nash-Rambler
Driving to church today I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw a shiny, red, refurbished classic car coming up fast behind me. I have no idea what it was, but it was obvious that it was considerably older than I was. It was also obvious that the owner was very proud of it. It was spotless.
Read MoreWatchers of a Beacon
The fourth verse of one of our popular hymns says that “We are watchers of a beacon whose light must never die.” (“For the Strength of the Hills,” Hymns, pg. 95).
Read MoreA Long Shot
Elder Carl B. Cook, of the Presidency of the Seventy, came from a broken home. When he was six, his father left his mother with five young children. She had to go to work, get a second job, and obtain an education. There was little time for nurturing, but with the help of grandparents, uncles, aunts, bishops, home teachers, and Carl’s priesthood quorums, she managed to raise a future general authority.
Read MoreDates in the Book of Mormon
WHERE DID THE NEPHITES LIVE?
Third Nephi, chapter eight, verse five tells us that the great storm which began at the death of Jesus, happened on the fourth day of the first month. This is according to the Nephite calendar. That pinpoints the date as being April 4th according to our calendar since we know from other sources that Jesus was both born and resurrected on April 6th. He was killed on the 4th, laid in the tomb, and rose on the third day.
World’s Most Valuable Documents
Each member of the Church who is 12 or over is potentially in possession of what are arguably the two most valuable documents in the world. An infinitesimally small number of people have ever even been eligible to possess these two documents, and he or she who does not possess them is in a lamentable and dangerous position.
Read MoreThe Light Which Shineth in Darkness
As I have been rereading the Doctrine and Covenants I have been struck by a sentence which the Lord uses repeatedly to describe Himself. He says, “I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” (D&C 6:21, 11:11, 34:2, 39:2, 45:7).
Read MoreLiving Life in Crescendo
I began life as a shy child. As a teenager I was nervous, and scared of crowds and the future. I wasn’t happy. I wanted to be, but everything looked dark. I wanted to be a good person. People thought I was good, and thought that I was happy, but I really didn’t like who I was. I had no idea how to change things.
Read MoreInactive Member Finds Conversion
One inactive member was jolted into the realization that she was not converted to the Church when her son went on a mission. Comparing herself to others whose impressive conversion stories she had heard, she asked herself, “Why are these people converted so powerfully, and I, with my pioneer heritage, remain unconverted?” She began to read the Book of Mormon even though she doubted its worth and found it boring. Then a friend challenged her. She said, “You say you believe in prayer. Well, why don’t you pray about it?”
Read MoreWhy Me?
Several years ago I interviewed a young woman for a temple recommend to receive her own endowment and to be married and sealed for time and all eternity. As I completed the interview and signed the recommend, tears were streaming down her cheeks. I said, “Please share with me your feelings.” Then she told me the following story.
Read MoreNearly Every Page Dog-Eared
One of the great families to join the Church in Canada was that of Archibald Gardner. From his journal, we learn of the family’s experience in Canada during the year 1843.
Read MoreBusinessman Cries Reading Book of Mormon
(The Book of Mormon) has touched for good the lives of millions who have prayerfully read it and pondered its language. May I tell you of one such I recently met in Europe.
Read MoreHis Hour of Conversion
May I tell you of the hour of my true conversion to the restored gospel. Perhaps my experience will strengthen those who desire a closer relationship with our Father in Heaven and a more profound testimony of the truthfulness of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read MoreMother Superior Convert
In Portugal, in the city of Funchal, on the Madeira Island, lived a lady named Asencao Frango who had been a nun for twenty years. As a matter of fact, she was a Mother Superior at a home for poor children and orphans.
Read MoreMinister Becomes General Authority
For forty-five years I have had close association with the land of Brazil. Many tens of thousands have joined the Church in that country. I had great joy yesterday in hearing of the call of Elder Helio da Rocha Camargo, our companion and fellow member of the Church.
Read MoreHome Teachers Made Converts
[The Lord’s] charge to us is to be with and strengthen our brethren. To those who diligently pursue such a course, miracles come to pass, evidenced by testimonies that declare “He was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
Read MoreSeven Years to Read Book of Mormon
Sister Knell is a covenant woman who makes a difference. She is a widow in her 80s with a 47-year-old son, mentally and physically disabled from birth.
Read MoreTrue or False Test
A 15-year-old son of a mission president attended high school with very few members of the Church.
Read MoreEuropean Refugees and the Book of Mormon
For generations it (the Book of Mormon) has inspired those who read it. Herbert Schreiter had read his German translation of the Book of Mormon.
Read MoreA Danish Boy and the Book of Mormon
At the age of 17, my grandfather left Denmark to find a new life in America. He worked his way to Mendon, Utah, where his uncle lived. He was employed by his uncle to help him with his farming.
Read MoreStolen Book of Mormon Converts
At the age of 17, my grandfather left Denmark to find a new life in America. He worked his way to Mendon, Utah, where his uncle lived. He was employed by his uncle to help him with his farming.
Read MoreConversion of Homosexual Man
I know another good man who was reared in a family without the blessings of the gospel. Through a series of unfortunate events in his early youth, he was introduced to homosexuality, and gradually he became a prisoner of this addictive behavior.
Read MoreTraded Food for a Book
A new convert to the Church recently shared this story. “I was in and out of enforced confinement most of my teen years. It wasn’t so bad being there because the food was pretty good, and we were treated all right.
Read MoreParley P. Pratt and the Book of Mormon
We often sing in our congregations a favorite hymn—the words were written well over a century ago by Parley P. Pratt (see Hymns, no. 224). They represent his declaration of the miraculous coming forth of a remarkable book.
Read MoreBooks on the Shelf
In the hands of nonmembers (the Book of Mormon) works while one sleeps. Let me give you two personal experiences regarding this.
Read MoreRead Book of Mormon Daily
Over a quarter of a century ago I listened in this Tabernacle to these words: “A few years ago as I began to practice law, members of my family were a little uneasy.
Read MoreThe Life of Martin Harris
Having a special interest in Martin Harris, I have been saddened at how he is remembered by most Church members.
Read MoreLife Got Good at 20
I did not enjoy high school. I was miserable. For this reason I have never attended a class reunion. I used to say that I’d attend our 50th reunion
Read MoreThe Great People I Have Known
I had the privilege of serving as counselor to Howard Perry in the presidency of this stake. That was over 20 years ago.
Read MoreWrought Upon
Some people get “wrought up” about things. As I started another reading of the Book of Mormon several days ago, I noticed a related phrase I’d never tuned into before,
Read MorePresident Nelson
We were privileged on 16 September 2018 to attend a special gathering of Latter-day Saints in the Safeco Stadium in Seattle where President Henry B. Eyring
Read MoreA Single-engine Prop, or a Jet?
While serving our mission in Vanuatu we lived on the largest of the nation’s 83 islands. We had supervisory responsibilities for it and for several outlying islands, including Ambae.
Read MoreMy Articles of Faith
My missionary grandson, Caden, sent a picture of a sign on the front of a church in Texas which was a statement of their beliefs.
Read MoreThe Treasure That Is the Book of Mormon
Last April President Thomas S. Monson gave his last talk to the Church. It was a plea to the members to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day.
Read MoreErratics
I have finished reading a book on geology, and have some thoughts on “erratics.” Erratics are “wandering rocks,” or rocks out of place.
Read MoreThe Law of Witnesses
The law of witnesses states: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (D&C 6:28).
Read MorePlainness
Joseph Smith made the statement that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, …
Read MoreSpiritual Stamina
While teaching the Young Single Adults in institute this week I was marveling over how quickly the Nephites could turn from righteousness to rebellion…
Read MoreThe Book of Mormon—The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
I had made the 8-hour drive from Oregon, U.S.A. to Provo, Utah to see my girlfriend at Brigham Young University. She took me to the fast and testimony meeting…
Read MoreThe Trial That Is the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a trial. It’s not a trial to read it—quite the contrary. It is a joy.
Read MoreCattle Drives
The subject on my mind this morning is cattle drives—inspired, believe it or not, by my reading last night in the Book of Mormon.
Read MoreTroubled Young Men
When I think of Enos’ account of his hunting expedition, I read between the lines. I don’t think of him going into the forest to look for animals, but rather of what was really happening on that occasion.
Read MoreSuperlative Books
The Christmas and New Year’s holidays forced a 2-week vacation from Institute. I taught my first Institute lesson of the year last night. I’m now really excited about the new course of study.
Read MoreLost Knowledge
Mankind’s knowledge ebbs and flows. Galileo got into trouble with the “learned” men of his day for saying that the earth moved. When he was called before the Inquisition in 1633 for saying that the earth moved around the sun, instead of vice versa, he was caused to recant his statements.
Read MoreThe Burned Book
In 1991 Adam Rosflender was an 11-year-old boy in Vanuatu. He had a job working in the fisheries. Being the youngest employee, one of his duties was to take out the rubbish.
Read MoreIs That in Africa?
Last June Marjorie and I were expecting some important mail. We were checking the mailbox at the bottom of our hill on a daily basis. One afternoon as we were on our way to our friends’ graduation celebration, we stopped at the mailbox once again.
Read MoreHagoth and the Polynesians
I watched a documentary video last week that set my imagination working. The documentary concerned the possible route that Lehi and his family took to get to the Promised Land. The record states that they left Jerusalem and went southeast along the border of the Red Sea. They went as far as a place called Nahom where Ishmael died. From that point on they traveled nearly eastward until they came to a place they named Bountiful because of its much honey and fruit. There they were instructed by the Lord to build a ship. The record states that they found ore with which to make tools so that they could work the timbers of the ship. The trip from Jerusalem to Bountiful took them 8 years.
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