At an early age, I had my life changed as millions of other people have had through reading the Book of Mormon and feeling the power of Jesus Christ enter into my life.
I was in a dark place at a very young age following my parents’ divorce and was heading down a very wrong path. When I was around 12 years old, I came across a copy of the Book of Mormon and started reading it. Although I was very young and didn’t understand all of the concepts and words, I felt a peace I desparately needed at that time.
After a few months of reading the Book of Mormon, I read what is commonly called “Moroni’s Promise” at the end of the Book of Mormon, which basically states that if you pray to God about what you’ve read in the Book of Mormon and ask if it is true, He will manifest it to you that it is true through the power of the Holy Spirit. I prayed, and for the first time in my life I felt the love of God sweep through my soul and any desire to continue to sin be removed from me. I committed to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and gospel I had read in the Book of Mormon (which is the same as in the Bible) at that time.
Shortly thereafter, my Grandmother became very ill. On what was her last Christmas before she passed away, in 1989, she gave me a gift I hold very dear to me. She knew how impactful the Book of Mormon had been for me so she gave me her only copy of a replica of the original Book of Mormon along with her last written words to me, as seen in the pictures below:
Words can’t really describe the impact the teachings found in the Book of Mormon have had on me, but I’ll attempt to share my feelings. Through the teachings of Jesus Christ found within the Book of Mormon, I was able to lay a foundation for my life at a young age that has helped me overcome the negative affects in my life that came as a result of my parents’ divorce. Although the path hasn’t been easy, I have studied and grown closer to Heavenly Father through reading the Book of Mormon.
Not only has the Book of Mormon helped me, but it has helped millions of other people. Most recently, my younger brother was able to overcome some of his obstacles he has faced in his life through an experience with reading and studying the Book of Mormon. I asked him to share some of his thoughts for the readers of this blog, and he was kind enough to do so. Below are some of his thoughts:
It’s easier to express myself in person about this topic, because words can’t get the feeling across that I would like to portray in my message. As I get choked up right now speaking of this and as tears begin in my eyes, I want you all to know that I firmly believe in the Book of Mormon and its message. I believe that it is a testament of Christ and it can shape our lives in a way that is principal oriented and emotionally edifying if we abide by its teachings and mold our desires to those of the Prophets therein.
I have never been more focused in my entire life than I was when I was engulfed and excited for each new verse. I have ADHD and have always had an issue with focusing and not being impulsive, but when I actually pondered the meanings of this book and “desired” to read it, my mind was pacified and my concerns and worries seemed very small. My being was elevated to another level. I did pray frequently when I was pondering the Book of Mormon as well, but they seemed to go hand in hand for me. The difficult things in life that were in the forefront of my mind grew smaller and smaller with each day that I consumed each page. I can’t begin to even express the miracles this Book did for me and my belief in who I could become. Lord thank you so much, for all the effort in how this book was pieced together. Its just so hard for me to depict my feelings on this Book through words alone.
I truly believe that without the Book of Mormon I would not be who I am today. My friends I want you to please try to understand the meaning and passion behind what I am writing. I have not always wanted to be a part of religion, regardless of what denomination and questioned at times if there was even a God. The Book of Mormon forced my mind and utterly all of me to either believe the teachings of a God and a Christ or not to. I could not deny the way it made me feel and the peacefulness it brought to my mind. I cannot deny the way my soul understood the principals it is trying to reach out and explain to all individuals and nations! …I truly believe in this book and I believe in a Christ and in God the Father as well. Once again I apologize sincerely if my closeness to the spirit right now hasn’t been felt through these small writings, but even if nothing has been felt at all through my words alone, please know that I truly believe in the Book of Mormons‘ message and I would honestly choose this book over literally any other book in the world to read. That is not a lie. I would choose this book over any.
Sincerely
Seth Morgan Anderson
President Benson, a former LDS, or Mormon prophet, stated:
There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. … When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.
Personally, I have seen his words not only be good advice, but be prophetic in my life and those close to me. I encourage those who haven’t seriously studied the Book of Mormon to do so in conjunction with their Bible study this year. Also, I encourage those who have had a personal experience with the Book of Mormon that has helped them to share their testimony in the comment section below.
12 comments
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January 2, 2012 at 7:21 am
ezra
Your brother gave a very moving and powerful witness. I am glad for his settled peace of mind and confidence of his relationship to his heavenly father.
At the same time, he reveals the dilemma of his belief when he says that he would choose the BOM over any other book. That, of course, would include the Bible, wherein we have the Gospel of Christ, which attests that there is no other Savior Christ except for Jesus Christ and that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, whose blood still atones for our sins.
Thank you for sharing and for allowing my concern.
Blessings in Christ & a happy new year to you and yours.
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January 2, 2012 at 2:33 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Ezra,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. First read the Book of Mormon and then see if there is a dilemma in belief. From my experience, the Book of Mormon confirms the Bible and it makes the Gospel much more certain and less up for interpretation as one commonly sees amoungst Christian denominations.
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January 2, 2012 at 7:41 am
ezra
P.S., Ama, I resolve to read the BoM this year, to better understand where Mormons are coming from. Thank you for the invitation.
At the same time, I encourage readers to examine Martin Luther’s writings. While he knew he was a sinner, he found the most profound comfort in God’s grace. Of his many writings, many say his best writing was the expositions to the Letter to the Galatians and Romans. Reading Romans, he discovered the greatness of God and the freedom we have in Christ. Though he wrote the Large Catechism for instruction, he read from it daily as part of his devotional life. Another classic is “Bondage of the Will,” which he wrote to refute Erasmus’ tract, “Freedom of the Will.” Basically, Luther states that the sinner is unable to choose God: it is as free to do this as a corpse is able to get up and go to work. The sinner who has been informed of God’s gracious work of redemption has the freedom to reject this salvation. God will not force his gift upon us nor make us slaves to his kindness.
Blessings, again, in Christ,
ezra
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January 2, 2012 at 2:36 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Ezra,
Thank you for the suggestions. I have appreciated those of you such as yourself and others who frequent this blog and share your perspective on grace. I have learned from you in this regard. I’ve seen many times, but not always, a tendencey in Mormonism to feel that one has do to everything on one’s own merits. That is a recipe for disaster and through the grace of God we can only make it.
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January 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Doc
Ezra. This is Seth. I want you to understand that I have no subjecivity to religion. My testimony is not of Mormonism, it is of The Book of Mormon itself. I don’t feel one has to belong to a certain denomination to beleive in something. Regardless of what denomination accepts or does not accept it. I am reading the Bible right now, but I am still in the Old Testament and it is confusing at times. I have been told to by others to read the New Testament along with it, so I can also see the Gospels which will bring me closer to Christ. A possible reason for the peace that I found in the Book of Mormon, is that it teaches of Chirst the entire time and is unfaultering in its’ effort in what the Prophets are writing about. It is to bring souls unto Jesus Christ. I in no way am trying to offend anyone by my words. I am only being honest with how I feel and I have never felt closer to Christ and a beleif that there is a God than when I was pondering and studying the words therein. Please when you read the Book of Mormon, don’t get caught up in religion and Mormonism. Once again, the beleif and possibility of truthfulness in it is not predicated on whether or not you belong to a certain denomination.
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January 2, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Cal
I can testify also to the power of the BOM. In fact, I think the gospel in the BOM is closer to evangelical beliefs than to Mormonism! This is very ironic, since Mormons read it, and we don’t!
Ezra, I’m glad you contribute to this forum. Though your view of the LDS is somewhat different than mine, you bring up questions that need to be discussed.
I also appreciate your humble resolution to read the BOM during this new year.
I am confused about one thing, however. How does your last sentence relate to your 3rd-to-last sentence? Was Martin Luther a Calvinist? Did he believe that when a sinner comes to God, he comes by an act of his freewill (free agency), or not?
I don’t believe anyone can ever repent unless someone first brings him the gospel (Romans 10:14-15). And, as far as I know, most people, if not all, come to God under the influence of the Spirit. But I don’t think we’re robots.
———
Thanks, graceforgrace and Seth for your testimonies.
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January 2, 2012 at 4:06 pm
graceforgrace
Hey Cal,
I always love hearing from you. Happy New Year to you and everyone else, by the way.
You’re right. If we just look at the Book of Mormon (not all the other sayings or writings from LDS prophets) it is in line with Christianity. I am not sure why people get so up in arms over the Book of Mormon and try and interject things LDS prophets may have said that are not related to the Book of Mormon.
I feel that everyone who wants to strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ should read the Book of Mormon. I feel the same way as the LDS prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, who said we should flood the earth with the Book of Mormon. Together with the Bible, it would clear up a lot of confusion, help societies, and bring Gods children closer to Him.
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January 2, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Doc
Well, Religion is human regulated and when you look at almost every religion, I don’t think it ended up being exactly how the founders of the religion itself, who were probably the closest to God, intended for it to be. I don’t think any of the last Disciples of Christ’s time figured on people using their words and testimonies to start up crusades across all the land and target Muslims. No religion, or it’s leaders are perfect by any means at all. This of course includes the LDS denomination. My point is, I don’t think it’s the Book of Mormon people are against necessrily, they don’t agree with all of Mormonism and LDS folks are the main one’s that accept it’s validity in regards to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t get read a lot because of what it is tied too I think. In my humble opinion, I feel that the Book of Mormon and the Bible only strengthen the Christian cause as to why we beleive there is a Christ. We are fortunate to now have TWO testaments of the Savior and not just one from the middle eastern region.
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January 3, 2012 at 5:56 am
Cal
Hey, graceforgrace, you’re my buddy. You said, “I feel the same way as the LDS prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, who said we should flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.”
Go for it!
Doc, it’s good to hear from you. I agree that the Book of Mormon doesn’t get read a lot by non-Mormons because of what it is tied too. I wonder what would happen if the LDS released it in disguise as a non-LDS book? All the scholars would go on red alert, the Christian news agencies would knock each other down trying to get news about the biggest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls—bigger!
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January 3, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Doc
LOL… Yeah. That’s pretty good.
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January 14, 2012 at 9:00 am
A Gift for Those Who Seem to Have Everything | Elevate Christian Network
[…] Grace for Grace […]
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February 9, 2012 at 12:04 am
Amy
I have ADD and am LDS and was really moved by your statement. Thank you.
I am determined to get through the Book of Mormon and the Bible without getting “distracted” as we ADD-ers do. When I read about Christ in both scriptures I don’t want to stop, for my spirit hungers for more. Many of the things that have happened in the BOM are happening today and ever more so strengthens my testimony. I tear up at Christ visiting the Americas and blessing the little children……I KNOW he was there! He didn’t just show himself to the Jews, he had other sheep.
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