Dallin Kimble is a devoted Mormon husband and father of two, a freelance writer, a leader is his local town and a graduate student of Public Administration at Arizona State University. More of his writing can be found on his blog at principlesofthegospel.blogspot.com.

Book of Mormon: Refuge from Spiritual Storms

Last winter my family took a vacation to Salt Lake City. We had a wonderful time visiting friends and family, seeing the sights downtown and trying the wide variety of local restaurants. As always happens with the best vacations, time eventually came to return to our home in Phoenix. We didn’t make it far before we found ourselves in a terrible blizzard. The heavy winds seemed to blow our high spirits away with the driving snow.

After an hour of driving at parking lot speeds down the freeway, darkened skies and heavy snow made it impossible to see the road signs and markings any longer. We were forced to stop at a rural exit in central Utah and wait for the storm to pass.

Hours that felt like days went by until the storm finally did pass. As the dark clouds moved on, I could see the sun peeking through several places in the still-cloudy sky. A pair of snowplows drove by to clear the road. In these moments of clearing, the uncertainty that had filled the car as the storm blew outside was replaced with great relief. Able to see clearly now, our high spirits returned and we continued to progress toward our hometown destination.

Like watching the clearing storm, I feel a burst of hope when I read passages and hear the Savior’s voice in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Nothing I have ever read provides such clear direction for my life. Consider a few excerpts from this scriptural record that keep the signs and markings along the road of life in view:

  • “Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy” (Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 2:25).
  • “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you” (Book of Mormon: Jacob 2:17).
  • “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true” (Book of Mormon: Alma 32:21).
  • “Remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your [spiritual] foundation” (Book of Mormon: Helaman 5:12).
  • “Everything which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Book of Mormon: Moroni 7:16).

The clear direction—the perspective—I gain from the Book of Mormon is priceless. It teaches me about the purpose of my life, how to prioritize, what ‘having faith’ means, and how to treat those around me. The direction given in the Book of Mormon always turns my mind and my actions toward my Savior, Jesus Christ. It has brought me through many difficult times and enriched the good times with greater peace and joy.

One particular passage from the Book of Mormon has guided my life perhaps more than any other. It was written by an ancient American prophet named Moroni in about 421 A.D. In a single sentence, he teaches how to discern what is true with this promise:

“If ye shall ask God with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4).

I know the Book of Mormon is true because I prayed to know it is true. It was summertime and I had just turned 17. In response to a challenge from an adult friend at my church, I was reading four chapters from the Book of Mormon each night. I noticed after a while that I felt good while I read and would often think about what I had learned as I delivered pizzas during the day.

After I had read several hundred pages of the book, I decided to pray. Nothing came at first. I wanted to know if the Book of Mormon was true, so I prayed again. And again the next day. And again the day after. Finally, after three days of praying to know if the Book of Mormon was true, I felt a powerful feeling come over me. It was a strong, confirming, joyous feeling. I knew it was the Holy Ghost confirming the truth of the Book of Mormon to my mind and heart.

The Book of Mormon, like the signs and markings along the road, has guided my life toward my heavenly goal. When my path has been stormy or uncertain, I have found additional clarity by reading the principles in the Book of Mormon and prayerfully applying what I learn.

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