By Alex C.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a student in a BYU Book of Mormon class. I am really loving our reading assignments in the Book of Mormon. The words of this book bring so much joy and peace into my heart as I ponder it’s passages and study them to understand their meaning. As I read this weekend, in the very beginning of the first chapter of the Book of Nephi, in the Book of Mormon, I found a passage I could instantly connect with. This passage is during a time in Jerusalem where Zedekiah had just been made king. The author, Nephi, writes that “there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city of Jerusalem must be destroyed.” How could that great city Jerusalem be destroyed? The people did not believe, and they did not repent, and in a short 13 years Babylon destroyed and took prisoner all that great city of Jerusalem.
Christ is waiting for us to open the door
How does this relate to me? I grew up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I grew up somewhat familiar in the teachings of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, with a basic understanding of the commandments of God. However, I lacked trust in God, and when the time came for me to make drastic changes in my life to begin living His commandments, I turned away from Him. I had neglected the commandments of God, and turned away from Him, and thought my way was the best way for so long that I had trapped myself. I could not believe and trust in God that He could and would even want to save me. Fortunately for everyone, myself and ancient Jerusalem included, God is full of mercy, grace and love. Our Heavenly Father is truly the Father of our spirits, and He is deeply concerned for me on a level that I could not begin to comprehend. Little did I know through my days of sadness and trials (which occurred because of my disobedience to God), that my Heavenly Father was reaching out to me. He continued, without ceasing to extend His loving arms, to invite me back to Him. He has never, never forsaken me, and I know without any reservation that my God will be beside me throughout my life, to bless and strengthen me; to pick my up when I fall; to encourage me and rejoice with me. He is my Heavenly Father and yours, and I know this beyond any doubt. God has shown me countless times that He has been with me, and I know that it is Him that brought me out of my dark place in my life, into His wonderful light. I know this would have been true for ancient Jerusalem if they had listened to the servants of God, his prophets. I know that these things are true for every person that is on the earth, or has been or ever will be, for Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind. All mankind can return to God through Jesus Christ.
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