Do Mormons Believe in the Bible?

Brief Answer: yes. The Latter-day Saints not only believe in the Bible, they love the Bible. They study it and apply it in their daily lives. In fact, it was Joseph Smith’s study of the Bible—specifically James 1:5— that prompted the young farm boy to “ask of God” in faith and humility. The answer that God gave to Joseph’s humble prayer was momentous. (God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to the boy and restored the original Church of Jesus Christ to the earth).

Detailed Answer: It is fair to say that, generally speaking, the Latter-day Saints believe in the Bible more fully and literally than their mainstream Christian neighbors do. While such a bold statement is in no way meant to criticize mainstream Christians in their love or study of the Bible, the statement is nevertheless based squarely on Peter’s sobering words to the ancient Saints. Knowing that he would soon be martyred (2 Peter 1:14–15), Peter warned the early Saints that “there shall be false teachers among you, who shall bring in damnable heresies. . . . And many shall follow their pernicious ways” (2 Peter 2:1–2). Peter clearly foresaw, among these “damnable heresies” and “pernicious ways” that would creep into the Church, that men would attempt to twist or alter the meaning of the scriptures according to their own ways of thinking or for their own selfish ends. Thus Peter declared in no uncertain terms, “Knowing this first, than no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20–21, emphasis added).

These “holy men” of whom Peter spoke were none other than those chosen and ordained like himself—the Lord’s ordained apostles and prophets. In other words, the Lord chose to reveal his doctrine first to his prophets and apostles, and then by means of apostles and prophets, to the rest of his children. In like manner, because scripture came from God to man by means of his chosen and ordained apostles, no man has the right to interpret the scriptures except he be an ordained prophet or apostle of the Lord. Hence, the LDS belief in the Bible is not just based on the individual Saint’s acceptance of biblical teachings; it is based on the testimonies of all of the Lord’s prophets and apostles, whether they were the Lord’s ancient apostles or his living apostles today.

Additional Resources:

Mormons believe in the Bible. Learn more at the official site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”).

The Book of Mormon is a companion to the Bible. Request your free copy today.

Visit a local meetinghouse.

Source:

D. Lauritsen, Mormons Under a Microscope, (Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, Inc., 2010), 12-13.

Do Mormons Have Scriptures Besides the Book of Mormon?

Brief Answer: yes, three other volumes: the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

Detailed Answer:

Doctrine and Covenants
Several years after the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to compile and publish many of the revelations that Joseph had thus far received from the Lord, revelations that Joseph himself had written down or had dictated. In 1835 these revelations were published as the Book of Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of the Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths, the “Mormon Church”). Each revelation, referred to as a section, is prefaced with a brief description of the date, place, and circumstance in which the revelation was received, as well as the revelation’s general contents. often within a single section are numerous revelatory concepts (for example, sections 76 and 84). other sections are replete with instructions and procedures (Sections 102 and 136). Some sections brim with prophecy (sections 45 and 89), while others are brief answers to specific doctrinal questions (section 77). Several are highly personal (sections 25 and 121). Most of the revelations appear in the order they were received.

Of the 138 sections, sections 1 through 134 and 137 were revealed through Joseph Smith; section 135 through President John Taylor; 136 through Brigham young; and 138 through President Joseph F. Smith. The Doctrine and Covenants also contains two official Declarations: the first, a reaffirmation of the Church’s discontinuance of the practice of plural marriage and the Church’s strict disapproval of any further contracting of marriages that are forbidden by law. Official Declaration 2 announces that all worthy males in the Church are permitted to receive the full blessings of the priesthood and the temple.

Pearl of Great Price

In 1835, Joseph Smith purchased a number of ancient Egyptian artifacts on behalf of the Church, given that Egypt was a key factor in the history of the Hebrews and the Jews (and hence a key factor in the Bible and the Book of Mormon). Among the artifacts Joseph found a papyrus scroll with writings. Because God had granted him the gift of translation (as demonstrated in the translation of the Book of Mormon), Joseph learned that the writings contained previously unknown explanations and elaborations of God’s dealings with the prophets Adam, Enoch, Abraham, and Moses. These elaborations shed greater light and understanding on the biblical accounts of these influential predecessors of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith began publishing these translations in 1842. The title, Pearl of Great Price (referring to Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:45–46) was coined by Elder Franklin D. richards of the Quorum of the Twelve in 1851. In 1880, the membership of the Church voted to add the Pearl of Great Price to the existing canon of the Church—the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. In subsequent years, the Pearl of Great Price eventually expanded to include Joseph Smith— Matthew (an extract of the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith in 1831); Joseph Smith—History, (extracts from the history of Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 1, chapters 1–5); and the Articles of Faith (a statement by Joseph Smith published in the Times and Seasons, March 1, 1842, in company with a short history of the Church that was popularly known as the Wentworth Letter).1

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon at the official site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”).

Request a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

Visit a local meetinghouse.

Note:

1. See History of the Church, vol. 4, 535–41.

Source:

D. Lauritsen, Mormons Under a Microscope, (Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, Inc., 2010), 139-140.

In the book of 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, an ancient prophet Nephi talks all about the coming of Jesus Christ and the great plan of salvation and happiness

Why do we need a Savior?

Before we can understand what Jesus Christ expects of us, it’s important to first understand why we need a Savior. God sent us to this earth to learn, grow, gain a body, and learn to become like Him. But God knew that because of our imperfect state, all of us would sin and make mistakes which prevent us from coming back into the presence of God. In the Holy Bible it says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” To enable us to return to live with Him, Heavenly Father prepared a Savior to come to this earth to pay the penalty of our sins and redeem us. He suffered for our sins in the garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Jesus Christ was chosen as our Savior before the earth was created. Without Jesus Christ, there would be no hope for us to return to live with our Heavenly Father and the law of justice would require us to pay the full penalty of our sins and we would lose our salvation. In the Book of Mormon it says this about Christ:

And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam (2 Nephi 9:21).

What does Jesus Christ Expect of Me?

Because of the gift of the Atonement that Jesus Christ gave to us, He wants us to follow Him, and take Him to be our creditor, Redeemer, and Savior. He expects us to do our best to follow Him and keep the commandments. He desires us to accept His grace and redeeming power. He loves us and wants us to accept Him so that we can be healed and find true peace. In the Book of Mormon it says:

And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

Through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ we can receive of His grace and mercy and be cleansed from our sins. These words in the Book of Mormon help us see that we must seek out Jesus Christ in order to find true satisfaction and happiness in our lives. It says:

Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice (2 Nephi 9:51-52).

I testify that Jesus Christ lives and is the Lord and redeemer over the whole earth. I know that it is only through Him that we can be saved and find true joy. I’ve felt His wonderful and powerful love many times in my life. I’ve felt my spirit touched and warmed with sweet feelings of love, peace and truth that have come to me through the Holy Spirit of God, testifying to me that Jesus Christ is truly real. God’s plan, which is centered on Jesus Christ, is truly the plan of happiness for all of us. I’ve felt joy and happiness in my home, and personally, with my family as we have strived to live the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources:

Get a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

Learn more about how we can be born again through Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Learn more about what Jesus Christ expects of us at the official website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths, the “Mormon Church”).

Keith L. Brown is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serves as the Ward Mission Leader in the Annapolis, Maryland Ward.

 It was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons,”),  Franklin D. Richards, who once said, “Life is God’s greatest gift to man, and what we do with our life is our gift to God.” (LDS Conference Report, April 1971, p. 38.) Stephen L. Richards, another prominent LDS leader taught, “Life is a mission and not a career.” (Quoted by Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 1988, p. 54.) And it was President Boyd K. Packer, apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, who taught, “No matter what citizenship or race, whether male or female, no matter what occupation, no matter your education, regardless of the generation in which one lives, life is a homeward journey for all of us, back to the presence of God in his celestial kingdom.” (Ensign, May 1987, p. 24.)

On Friday evening, 17 October 1958, at approximately 10:17 PM, a baby boy was born to John Wallace Brown and Frances Mae Harmon. He would become the second child born to the proud young parents, as John was only 23 years of age, and Frances had just barely turned 21 years of age on 24 September 1958.

Having already begun raising a now one year old son, these young, but still rather new parents, welcomed their newborn into the world with both joy and with the realization of the challenges in being the best parents that they could possibly be to him and his older sibling. Throughout his early childhood, and well into his early adult years, these loving parents would nurture and instruct their son in the way that he should go. They had their own hopes and aspirations of what he would one day become, but at the same time, like his brother before him, they had dedicated his life into the hands of the Lord, and they were confident that as long as he never let go of God’s unchanging hand and was obedient to God’s will for his life, everything was going to be alright.

Hugh Nibley, Mormon scholar, once said, “No matter where we begin if we pursue knowledge diligently and honestly, our quest will inevitably lead us from the things of earth to the things of heaven.” And it was President David O. McKay, late prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ (inadvertently called The Mormon Church by friends of other faiths) who taught, “Knowledge comes through personal effort. Its acquisition involves labor. Exact and definitive knowledge comes to us in exact ratio with the amount of diligence, moral courage, and perseverance we put into the active search for it.”

At a very early age this son became a seeker of knowledge and truth. He developed a love for books and learning, and even during his elementary school years was fascinated by the treasures of knowledge that were found within the pages of not only his school textbooks, but other volumes that were available to him as well. Whereas most young boys tend to have a desire to get actively involved in some type of sports activity, he was more of an academic and preferred spending time in a library or looking through the encyclopedias and books at home to glean any morsel of knowledge from them that he could. However, even with his new found discoveries, he never seemed to be fully satisfied. There was still a hunger and a thirst to know even more.

In school, he devoted many hours to his studies, always wanting to do his best to achieve academic excellence. As he moved from elementary school into Junior High and High School, he became an even greater seeker of knowledge. Oftentimes he would be found studying different subjects on his own, outside of the subjects that he was taught in the classroom. He soon learned that he had a special passion for learning anything to do with mathematics and foreign languages. By the time that he graduated High School he had successfully passed one year of Latin and five years of Spanish. In fact, he had participated in a national Spanish exam in his senior year of High School and tied for fifth place. He was not a straight ‘A’ student, but he always managed to keep most of his grades in the ‘A’ and ‘B’ range and his name was very often found amongst the list of names of students who were on the honor roll. It was also in High School when he discovered a love for the English language and thoroughly enjoyed writing essays, short stories, and research papers. Oddly enough, some of his least favorite subjects were history and the sciences, although he enjoyed chemistry class mainly because of the mathematics involved in solving and balancing formulas and equations.

His quest for knowledge did not end with his graduation from Wicomico Senior High School in Salisbury Maryland in June 1976. At the young age of 18 years, having a love for learning new things in mathematics, he became interested in computers and how they functioned, and so he enrolled in a local community college and began his studies in Data Processing Technology. While working full time as a dishwasher in a local family restaurant, he pursued his studies at Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown Delaware, completing all of his requirements for graduation two weeks ahead of schedule, and graduating with an A.A.S. degree in Data Processing Technology in June 1979.

LDS (“Mormon”) leader and scholar, Hugh B. Brown once said, “Every landing field is also a runway for a new take-off. We must resist the temptation to abide upon arriving at an intermediate goal. There can be no loitering on life’s airfield. One must get on the plane or be left behind.” (Address, Brigham Young University, May 24, 1962, p. 3.) After graduating from Delaware Technical and Community College he decided to put further traditional classroom training and learning on temporary hold and continued working full time in the local restaurant. This; however, did not put an end to his quest for knowledge. He continuously pondered what he would eventually do with his life and began setting goals for some of the things that he hoped to accomplish. Perhaps he would become a teacher or even a preacher of the Gospel, as he also loved reading and studying the scriptures, and at the young age of 21 years had already read the Bible several times in its entirety.

 Mormon Missionaries and The Book of Mormon

Even with his vast knowledge and study of the Bible, he felt that there was still much more that he needed to know. There were many questions in his young mind that seemed to be left unanswered. And so, one day while watching television he saw a commercial for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and at the end of the commercial they offered a free Book of Mormon. Having no knowledge of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and having a curiosity as to what The Book of Mormon might be about, he sent and asked for a copy.

About a week later two young men dressed in suits and riding bicycles arrived at the door of his parents’ home where he was living at the time. They introduced themselves as missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and said that they had The Book of Mormon that he had requested. Wanting to learn more about the Church and The Book of Mormon, he invited them in. This was in October 1980, and shortly after he had joined the Navy under the delayed entry program. Leaving home and traveling the world while serving his country was one of the goals that he had set for himself. As President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “Goals are good. Laboring with a distant aim sets the mind in a higher key and puts us at our best.” (Regional Representatives’ Seminar, April 3, 1974.) And as Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “To reach a goal you have never attained, you must do things you have never before done.” (Ensign, May 1990, p. 76.)

He met with the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ (nicknamed, “Mormon missionaries” but truly ambassadors of the Savior) on numerous occasions over the next 6 months, and even began reading The Book of Mormon. Finally, in March 1981, he thanked the missionaries for the things that they had taught him and promised that he would continue investigating the Church and reading The Book of Mormon at a later date. For now his mission in life was to be in the Navy serving his country. He did not realize that his mission would actually become his career.

During his military service he was blessed with the opportunity to travel to many foreign lands that he had only read about in books. He also continued his quest for knowledge by continuing to take courses in different subjects. He even enrolled in Bible College in the Tabernacle Baptist Church Theological Seminary while stationed in Norfolk Virginia with hopes of someday becoming a Baptist minister. He only had a chance to study in the Seminary for a little over a year, and during that time again realized that there was so much more that he wanted answers to. It would not be until 1997, some 17 years after his initial investigation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons is a nickname for its members, but this is the full name of the Church), while stationed in Keflavik Iceland, that he would finally find the answers that he had been seeking when he again began reading the Book of Mormon and meeting with the missionaries. On Tuesday evening, 10 March 1998, in the little LDS (Mormon) Chapel in Reykjavik Iceland he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the rest as they say is history.

My name is Keith Lionel Brown. I am that son of whom this narrative refers. The first 52 years of this journey called life have been truly amazing. There have been many mountain top experiences, as well as, many valley experiences. Nevertheless, all of the experiences have helped to mold me into the person that I am today. Truly I stand all amazed at the love that the Savior Jesus Christ offers me.

In a  short 52 years I have been blessed to travel all over the world, meet influential and interesting people from all walks of life – entertainers, authors, movie directors, actors,  and producers, a former President of the United States, and General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”). I have also been blessed with many wonderful opportunities – things that as a young boy I could have only imagined.

My two goodly parents were indeed right in their humble estimation that as long as I hold on to God’s unchanging hand and do what His will is for my life, everything is going to be alright.

I do not know what tomorrow may bring, but I do know the Lord Jesus Christ–the One who holds all of my tomorrows in the palms of His hands. He never sleeps and He never slumbers. He is always right there beside me and has promised never to leave me alone. I don’t have to worry or be afraid. I know that I can make it. In Him I know I can stand. For no matter what may come my way, my life is in His hands, even the hands of Jesus Christ

Additional Resources:

Get a free copy of The Book of Mormon

Trust in the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Learn about Jesus Christ from an official site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as “The Mormon Church”).

Taking on a Name & Taking on the Name of Jesus Christ

William Shakespeare’s renowned play “Romeo and Juliet” is a timeless theatrical classic masterpiece. In the play Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet meet and fall in love despite the fact that they are doomed from the start as members of two warring families. In an effort to prove her unfaltering love for Romeo, Juliet comments, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The point that Juliet was endeavoring to make was that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention. She loved the person who is called “Montague”, not the Montague name and not the Montague family. In turn, Romeo, out of his passion for Juliet, rejects his family name and vows, as Juliet asks, to “deny (his) father” and instead be “new baptized” as Juliet’s lover.

There is a Japanese proverb that states, “Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names”. At the end of the play both Romeo and Juliet are dead, but the names Montague and Capulet live on. It was Logan Pearsall Smith, an American-born essayist and critic, who once said, “Our names are labels, plainly printed on the bottled essence of our past behavior”. And so, perhaps after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, whenever the names Montague and Capulet were mentioned, it was with a sense of melancholy, as the names of these two young lovers were brought to remembrance. Therefore, the question still begs to be asked, “Is a name merely an artificial and meaningless convention as Juliet described, or does the name which we hold have some significant relevance?”

What Jesus Christ Reveals about the Power of a Good Name

In the public mind, name “is also associated with the character or reputation of an individual who holds it, and by extension, with the family of that name and all of the members thereof.” We are taught by Jesus Christ’s inspired record, the Holy Bible, in Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

As a young boy growing up those who knew me well always called me by my given name which is Keith. Even though they knew my name, they still associated me with being the son of John and Frances Brown. My parents were not rich or famous by the world’s definitions, but they maintained a good name throughout the community by the lives that they lived and the examples that they set before people. People who were total strangers to me would often say hello in passing while noting that they did not know my name, but they knew that I was “John and Frances’ boy.” Because of that knowledge which they possessed, I was expected to live up to a certain standard and to protect my family’s name. Even while I was in school, having an older brother who proceeded me, most of my teachers referred to me as his younger brother, and thus expected me to live up to a certain level of academic excellence which had already been established. As a result I always strived to do the very best that I could to ensure that the Brown family name remained in good standing as far as academic achievements and excellence was concerned.  This is not to say that people did not respect me for the person that I am, but they knew the name “Brown” and they knew the people who represented that name.

Our Name is a Reflection of Our Devotion to Jesus Christ; our Christian Discipleship

Having a good name, a good reputation, is a great thing, and it is something we should strive for. In Judges 6:25-32 Gideon who was known for his fight against the false god Baal becomes known as Jerubbaal (“let Baal contend”). In 3 John 12 we learn that Demetrius had a “good report of all men, and of the truth itself” and the people in the church bore record of this fact. In like manner, as Christians we should strive to have a good reputation and a good name among the church, as well as, among the people in the world, and be known for our convictions.

Striving to Speaking & Act As Representatives of Jesus Christ

As representatives of Christ to the world, our reputation reflects on Him. Therefore, we should follow the admonition of Paul as given in Titus 2:1-5: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed”.

Paul goes on to exhort us that we should always use “sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of [us]” (Titus 2:8). In Galatians 2:20 Paul reminds us that Christ lives in each of us as he exclaims, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. He further teaches us that if we do not live up to our name and reputation as Christians, we blaspheme the name of God. In Romans 2: 21-24 we read: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written”.

Just as our own good name is important, it is also important to not damage the good names of others. In James 4:11-12 we are taught, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” And in Titus 3:2 we are reminded to “speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men”.

If we as Christians do not maintain a good name and our reputation is negative, that is how people will see the church. And if that is how people see the church, what are the chances of them converting?

Additional Resources:

Request a free copy of The Book of Mormon

Learn more about Jesus Christ in The Book of Mormon.

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.

Additional Resources:

Request a free copy of The Book of Mormon.

Learn more about The Book of Mormon.