BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.”  BYU students take nearly a semester of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.
In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America.  (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names.  We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)
Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

This letter was written by Andrew W., a student at Brigham Young University.

Hey Dad!

FaithFormulaIn my Book of Mormon class this week, we were reading in Alma 62. In verse 41, it talks about how the great length of the war between the Nephites and Lamanites causes some people to become very hardened in their hearts but also caused other people to become very softened because of their trials and caused them to be humble before God. Brother Griffin, my Book of Mormon teacher, made a point that it was their choice to choose if they became hardened by their afflictions or softened by their afflictions. I can see now how much relevance this has in our world today. When we are put in a situation, we can choose to look on the bright side or the miserable side of it. If we are given a trial, we can choose to say woe is me and be bitter, or choose to learn from it and become better. Heavenly Father put us on this Earth to be tested. I think it’s important that we always keep that in mind when we are having a hard time. I know especially need to in my life because I sometimes get in a slump. It is of the utmost importance that I keep a positive perspective and realize that the reason I have these trials is because my Heavenly Father loves me. When I really dive into them, it is amazing to see how much I learn instead of just skimming the surface. Dad, this university is truly amazing and I am so grateful for the Gospel that is present here. Thanks for everything you have done for me, I’ll call you when my mission call is here!

Additional Resources:

Mormons and Christ

I Believe: Expressions of Faith

Meet with Mormon missionaries