President Nelson Do You Want Read the Book of Mormon

In 1986, I was invited to give a special lecture at a university in Accra, Republic of ghana. There I met a number of dignitaries, including an African tribal king. As we visited prior to the lecture, the rex spoke to me only through his linguist, who and so translated for me. I responded to the linguist, and the linguist and so translated my responses to the king.

Subsequently my lecture, the king made his way directly to me, merely this time without his linguist. To my surprise, he spoke in perfect English—the Queen's English language, I might add!

The male monarch seemed puzzled. "Just who are you?" he asked.

I replied, "I am an ordained Campaigner of Jesus Christ."

The king asked, "What can you teach me most Jesus Christ?"

I responded with a question: "May I inquire what you already know about Him?"

The king'due south response revealed he was a serious student of the Bible and i who loved the Lord.

I and then asked if he knew about the ministry of Jesus Christ to the people of ancient America.

As I expected, he did non.

I explained that after the Savior'due south Crucifixion and Resurrection, He came to the people of aboriginal America, where He taught His gospel. He organized His Church and asked His disciples to proceed a tape of His ministry amidst them.

"That record," I continued, "is what we know as the Book of Mormon. Information technology is another testament of Jesus Christ. Information technology is a companion scripture to the Holy Bible."

At this betoken, the male monarch became very interested. I turned to the mission president accompanying me and asked if he had an extra copy of the Book of Mormon with him. He pulled one from his briefcase.

I opened it to iii Nephi chapter 11, and together the male monarch and I read the Savior'south sermon to the Nephites. I then presented the copy of the Volume of Mormon to him. His response lodged in my mind and heart forever: "You could have given me diamonds or rubies, but nothing is more than precious to me than this additional noesis about the Lord Jesus Christ."

After experiencing the ability of the Savior's words in 3 Nephi, the king proclaimed, "If I am converted and join the Church, I will bring my whole tribe with me."

"Oh, King," I said, "it doesn't work that style. Conversion is an private matter. The Savior ministered to the Nephites one by one. Each individual receives a witness and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ."¹

My brothers and sisters, how precious is the Book of Mormon to you? If you lot were offered diamonds or rubies or the Book of Mormon, which would y'all choose? Honestly, which is of greater worth to yous?

Remember in the Sunday morning session of the April 2017 general conference, President Thomas S. Monson pleaded with "each of u.s. to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each mean solar day."² Many take responded to our prophet'south plea.

Let me say that neither I nor eight-year-one-time Riley knew anyone was taking our pictures. Notice that Riley is reading his Book of Mormon with the assist of an "I Am a Kid of God" bookmark.

Something powerful happens when a child of God seeks to know more than virtually Him and His Beloved Son. Nowhere are those truths taught more clearly and powerfully than in the Book of Mormon.

Since President Monson's challenge half-dozen months ago, I have tried to follow his counsel. Amidst other things, I've made lists of what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals. Looking at the Volume of Mormon through these lenses has been an insightful and inspiring practise! I recommend it to each of y'all.

During these six months, I accept invited various groups—including my Brethren in the Quorum of the Twelve, missionaries in Republic of chile, and mission presidents and their wives gathered in Argentina—to consider three related questions that I urge you to think almost today:

First, what would your life exist like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?

Enthusiastic answers from these groups came directly from their hearts. Here are only a few of their comments:

"Without the Book of Mormon, I would exist confused about the alien teachings and opinions most so many things. I would exist just like I was before I found the Church, when I was searching for knowledge, faith, and hope."

Another said: "I would not know about the role the Holy Ghost can play in my life."

Another: "I would not clearly understand my purpose hither on earth!"

Another respondent said: "I would non know that at that place is continuing progress subsequently this life. Because of the Volume of Mormon, I know that there really is life after death. That is the ultimate goal for which we are working."

This last annotate made me reflect on my life decades agone as a immature surgical resident. One of the sobering responsibilities a surgeon bears, on occasion, is to inform the family when a loved one passes abroad. In one hospital where I worked, a special room was built with padded walls where family members could receive such news. In that location, some people manifested their grief by banging their heads against those padded walls. How I longed to teach those individuals that expiry, though hard for surviving loved ones, is a necessary part of our immortal existence. Death allows us to progress to the next world.^three

Another respondent to my question said: "I did not accept a life until I read the Book of Mormon. Fifty-fifty though I had prayed and gone to my church all my life, the Book of Mormon helped me to really communicate with Heavenly Father for the showtime time."

Another said: "Without the Book of Mormon, I wouldn't understand that the Savior not only suffered for my sins, but He can heal my pains and sorrows."⁴

And yet another: "I would non know that we have prophets to lead united states."

Immersing ourselves regularly in the truths of the Book of Mormon can exist a life-irresolute experience. One of our missionary granddaughters, Sister Olivia Nelson, promised an investigator that if he would read the Book of Mormon daily, his test scores on his academy exams would improve. He did, and they did.

My dear brothers and sisters, I testify that the Volume of Mormon is truly the give-and-take of God. It contains the answers to life's most compelling questions. It teaches the doctrine of Christ.^five It expands and clarifies many of the "plain and precious"⁶ truths that were lost through centuries of fourth dimension and numerous translations of the Bible.

The Volume of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to exist constitute anywhere. It teaches what it actually means to be built-in again. From the Volume of Mormon nosotros learn nearly the gathering of scattered Israel. We know why we are here on world. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is independent in the Book of Mormon. Flow.

The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary.^seven The Book of Mormon teaches truthful doctrine to dispel false religious traditions—such as the erroneous practice of performing babe baptisms.^eight The Volume of Mormon gives purpose to life by urging us to ponder the potential of eternal life and "never-ending happiness."⁹ The Book of Mormon shatters the simulated beliefs that happiness can be found in wickedness^ten and that individual goodness is all that is required to return to the presence of God.^eleven It abolishes forever the fake concepts that revelation concluded with the Bible and that the heavens are sealed today.

When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that equally y'all prayerfully report the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every twenty-four hours. I promise that as yous ponder what you study, the windows of sky volition open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as y'all daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you tin be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.

Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, "I know the Book of Mormon is true," I want to exclaim, "That'due south nice, only it is not enough!" We need to feel, deep in "the inmost office" of our hearts,¹² that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. Nosotros must experience it so deeply that we would never desire to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in proverb, "I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people"¹³ to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.

Nosotros need to be similar this immature missionary serving in Europe who felt so securely about the truth of the Book of Mormon that he literally ran with a copy of this sacred record to the man in a park he and his companion had simply found.

I testify that Joseph Smith was and is the prophet of this last dispensation. Information technology was he who, through the gift and ability of God, translated this holy volume. This is the volume that will aid to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal and living Son of our living God. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our great Exemplar, and our Advocate with the Father. He was the promised Messiah, the mortal Messiah, and will be the millennial Messiah. I testify with my whole soul that in a most miraculous and singular way, the Book of Mormon teaches united states of america of Jesus Christ and His gospel.

I know that President Thomas Southward. Monson is the prophet of God on the earth today. I love him and sustain him with all of my centre. I so bear witness in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

President Nelson'southward Book of Mormon Lists

The Volume of Mormon is:

• Another testament of Jesus Christ. Its major writers—Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, Moroni—and its translator, Joseph Smith, were all eyewitnesses of the Lord.

• A tape of His ministry building to people who lived in aboriginal America.

• Truthful, as attested by the Lord Himself.

The Book of Mormon affirms:

• The individual identity of Heavenly Father and His Dear Son, Jesus Christ.

• The necessity of the Fall of Adam and the wisdom of Eve, that men might have joy.

The Book of Mormon refutes notions that:

• Revelation ended with the Bible.

• Infants demand to be baptized.

• Happiness can be constitute in wickedness.

• Individual goodness is adequate for exaltation (ordinances and covenants are needed).

• The Fall of Adam tainted flesh with "original sin."

The Book of Mormon fulfills biblical prophecies that:

• "Other sheep" shall hear His vocalism.

• God will do "a marvelous work and a wonder," speaking "out of the dust."

• The "stick of Judah" and the "stick of Joseph" will become one.

• Scattered Israel will be gathered "in the latter days" and how that will exist done.

• The land of inheritance for the lineage of Joseph is the Western Hemisphere.

The Book of Mormon clarifies understanding about:

• Our premortal existence.

• Death. It is a necessary component of God's swell plan of happiness.

• Postmortal existence, which begins in paradise.

• How the resurrection of the body, reunited with its spirit, becomes an immortal soul.

• How our judgment by the Lord will be according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts.

• How ordinances are properly performed: for example, baptism, sacrament, conferring the Holy Ghost.

• The Atonement of Jesus Christ.

• The Resurrection.

• The important function of angels.

• The eternal nature of priesthood.

• How homo behavior is influenced more by the ability of the word than the ability of the sword.

The Volume of Mormon reveals information previously unknown:

• Baptisms were performed before Jesus Christ was born.

• Temples were congenital and used by people in ancient America.

• Joseph, 11th son of Israel, foresaw the prophetic role of Joseph Smith.

• Nephi (in 600–592 BC) foresaw the discovery and colonizing of America.

• Patently and precious parts of the Bible have been lost.

• The Light of Christ is given to each person.

• The importance of individual agency and the need for opposition in all things.

• Warnings about "hole-and-corner combinations."

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/10/the-book-of-mormon-what-would-your-life-be-like-without-it?lang=eng

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