In front of about two hundred young single adults gathered for worship service on a Sunday afternoon I suppressed the shyness I experience in front of crowds and shared the thought that “reading the Book of Mormon will bring a light and greater happiness into your life.” I was sharing some of the impressions I had distinctly felt after recently reading the book cover to cover in a short period of time.  The Book of Mormon is a volume of scripture and companion to the Bible for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called The Mormon Church).

About a year ago, I had read The Book of Mormon with greater urgency and focus than I ever had before, and I had noticed a number of significant changes while I read. I picked up the book and just dove in, reading as much as 30 pages a day, and as I read and turned from page to page, I noticed a change within myself. I had been feeling very stagnant in life, at work and in personal relationships things did not seem to be moving forward at all, and I felt very weighed down by this. The burdens I was carrying were being lifted layer by layer, almost as I turned the pages.

At 19, I served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in  Northeastern Brazil. I remember telling people often that the Book of Mormon was special and unique in how it “changes the lives of people.” I knew this was true, as I had read it prior to my mission and had experienced this change in my life from reading it. When I read it at 17 I felt more positive about what I could accomplish with my life and I felt more forgiving towards other people and people noticed this. But I had sort of assumed this was kind of a one-time event, during the first time you read it. Reading it with a renewed sense of urgency, at this very difficult time about 10 years after the first time I read it, opened my understanding to how the book can be useful at any period in life.

How does it change lives?

Some people may wonder why reading the book causes such significant changes. The full title of the book is “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe the Bible to be a Testament or witness of Jesus Christ and The Book of Mormon to accompany The Bible as an additional or another Testament of Jesus Christ. Through reading the Book of Mormon you come to a better understanding of who Jesus Christ is, why He is all-important and the purpose of His atoning sacrifice. It is through coming to a greater understanding and belief in Jesus Christ whose “burden is light” that problems dissipate and lives are changed.

The core of my belief

Shortly after the publication of Book of Mormon in 1830, early church members were often asked what distinguished them from other churches, and it always boiled down to the unique nature of the Book of Mormon. Similarly, as I think about my faith in God or try to explain my belief to friends and why I choose to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it always returns to The Book of Mormon. This understanding stems mostly from my own quiet study of the book accompanied with prayer, which gives me confidence that other sincere readers can have a similar experience.

Joseph Smith, who translated the Book of Mormon, stated that it is “The most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” I know that statement is true, from reading the book and feeling the improved understanding about God and his love for each person. I cannot understate what this book has meant to me as an individual and member of The Church of Jesus Christ. Reading it has lifted burdens and added valuable dimensions and insights to life, for which I am thankful.

Who is King Benjamin in the Mormon book?

Benjamin was the son of Mosiah and father to three sons named Mosiah, Helorum, and Helaman (Mosiah 1:2). Benjamin fought a serious war until peace was established again in the land of Zarahemla (Omni 1:24 & Words of Mormon 1:18).

And it came to pass also that the [enemy] armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people. But behold, king Benjamin gathered together his armies, and he did stand against them; and he did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban. And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance (Words of Mormon 1:13-14).

Benjamin was a righteous king (Words of Mormon 1:17) who served his people instead of using his power as king to obtain riches:

I… have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you; Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery;

…and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day (Mosiah 2:12-14).

His people considered him a great king, leader, and Christ-like example. His son Mosiah (who succeeded him as the next king, as recorded in Mosiah 1:9–18) wrote in the Mormon book:

Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you (Mosiah 29:13).

Who Was The Prophet-King in the Mormon Book?

Not only did King Benjamin rule, love, and protect his people, but he was also called of God. Benjamin was a prophet, who taught his people that God exists, that Christ would come to atone for the sins of men, and of the importance of serving others (Mosiah 1–6). Some of my favorite quotes include:

…when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17).

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; …

… Believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them (Mosiah 4:9-10).

What Can We Learn From King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon?

King Benjamin is known in the Mormon book for holding a conference with church members. In Mosiah 2:1-8, the people gathered to the temple:

…they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.

And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.

The modern prophet (Thomas S. Monson) and his apostles follow King Benjamin’s example and hold a free General Conference semiannually in Utah, which is broadcast worldwide and available both online and in the Liahona and Ensign church magazines. During the conference in October, 2010, Thomas S. Monson (the living prophet today) taught that we should take time to review conference talks:

We could echo the words, found in the Book of Mormon, of those who heard the sermon of the great King Benjamin and “cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent.”

I hope that we will take the time to read the conference talks, which will be reprinted in the November issue of the Ensign and Liahona magazines, for they are deserving of our careful study.

What a blessing it is that we have been able to meet here, in this magnificent Conference Center, in peace and comfort and safety. We have had unprecedented coverage of the conference, reaching across the continents and the oceans to people everywhere (“Till We Meet Again”, Ensign).

Additional Resources:

Read about the Mormon book on the LDS website

Order your free copy of King Benjamin’s words written in The Book of Mormon

Read an article about the Mormon Prohet Abinadi

Written by Ashley Bell, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon”), graduate of BYU in Recreation Management, wife and expectant mother residing in Taylorsville, Utah.

Tyler and I are 22 and 23 years old, and we found out this past month that we will be the parents of a future stripling warrior this coming June! Those ultrasound pictures are now treasures for us. On the last still image he was even giving a total thumbs up, as if to say “I’m excited to come, and we’re going to have fun!”

So what is a young couple like us supposed to do with the realization that we are actually going to be parents? We are so excited for it, and it seems like all fun and games, but in reality, the responsibility to parent is great. Luckily, both Tyler and I have had great examples of goodly parents and so we can learn from their good doings; but at the same time our son’s grandparents aren’t going to be raising him… we are!
We Are Never Alone

The beautiful thing about parentage is that we don’t have to do it alone. God gave men and women specific attributes to help in the raising process. Not every family gets the chance to have a mother and father in the home, but in these situations I really do believe that the Lord makes up the rest if the parent rearing the child asks in faith with a believing heart.

Since we don’t have to do it alone, how can we do it together? Well, Tyler and I found comfort from the scriptures by the example of the parents to the young Stripling Warriors; whose story can be found in the Book of Mormon.Their dad’s had repented of their old ways and had covenanted that they would not take up arms again to fight; so what happened was that when a war broke out, they sent their sons to go in the stead!  Their father’s ability keep their covenants shows they put God first and that they diligently presided in their homes. They were fulfilling their role as a good husband and father by keeping their covenants. Now is this all that they did? No. In Alma 56:27 we read that while their sons were off to fight for the liberty of their families, “there was brought unto [them] many provisions from [their] fathers!” This sounds an awful lot like providing and protecting if you ask me. If you are familiar with this story then you know that these young sons also “did not fear death” and they attributed this faith to their mothers by saying, “we do not doubt our mothers knew it” (see Alma 56:47-48). It is obvious here that their mothers were faith-filled women who knew how to nurture, something that these young sons desperately needed throughout their lives in order for them to stand ready when the call arose.

Now what stood out to me here was the fact that the mothers and fathers played different roles in this situation—and yet both were vital! The fathers did preside, provide and protect. And the mothers did indeed nurture. These roles can also be found in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, which was given to us by modern day prophets. Yet again Tyler and I were comforted by the Holy Ghost that even though we are young and inexperienced we can still raise a valiant stripling warrior of the latter days if we but hearken to the scriptures and to the voice of modern day prophets.

Just last night Tyler shared with me a quote from a modern day prophet, Elder Robert D. Hales, that can be applied to parents everywhere throughout the world. The words hold power, “Parents are never failures when they do their best to love, teach, pray, and care for their children” (CR, April 2004). I know we will make mistakes, but the bottom line is, if we do our best to fill our divine roles as parents, we cannot fail.

Additional References: 

Learn more about divine parental roles in The Family: A Proclamation to the World

How the Book of Mormon can help answer life’s questions

Request a free Book of Mormon

The Sermon on the Mount was concluded with a call to action: Respond to the Savior’s invitation and be like a wise man who built a house upon a rock. Fail to give heed to His counsel and be as the foolish man who built his house upon the sand.

Prophets have long counseled their flocks on the importance of preparing for emergencies. Abraham gained personal experience when he traveled to Egypt in an attempt to escape famine. Only a few generations later, Joseph made his dramatic ascent up the Egyptian political ladder and instituted a large scale food storage program. Jesus warned of famines and pestilences and earthquakes. In our own day, latter-day prophets continue the clarion call. From Joseph Smith to Thomas S. Monson–modern Mormon prophets, prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ–a common theme can be heard: Lay up in store for potential famines.

Famines come in many forms, as evidenced by the current economic crisis. As anticipated by Mormons in some ways, and  in our collective recent memory, we have witnessed dramatic declines in the stock market, surges in unemployment rates, and numerous bank failures reminiscent of the Great Depression. Despite the best efforts of the government, surveys show that Americans are left feeling increasingly fearful and uncertain. The Old Testament famines of wheat, corn, and other crops are paralleled by contemporary famines of accessible credit, secure employment, and burgeoning 401k’s.

Certainly in times like these, it is not difficult to see the prophetic and divine wisdom in preparing for emergencies. (And Mormons have been about this preparation for decades.) However, suppose that circumstances were different. If stocks were at all-time highs and unemployment at all-time lows, would we be so concerned with preparing for famines of the financial variety? Would the Lord Jesus Christ’s words have fuller impact?

Circumstance and counsel are often at odds with each other. In the days of Noah, the circumstances were sunny while the counsel was gloomy. The line at the reservation desk for Noah’s Ark was remarkably short. Might the situation have been different if Noah warned of future floods while storm clouds hovered consistently up above?

In our day, modern prophets have warned us of future dangers (Yes, Mormons believe that God continues to speak to His children today, and there are living apostles and a prophet on earth today). We, as members of the Savior’s Church–Mormons– have been counseled to obtain a year’s supply of food, to seek out educational opportunities, and to avoid unnecessary debt. The circumstance of today seems to vindicate the counsel of yesterday. And yet if we have not given heed to prophetic counsel before now, the question must be asked: Are we responding to circumstance—or counsel?

A diligent effort to prepare for future catastrophes is most effective when spurred on by prophetic counsel—not by portending circumstances. While stock markets are blown to and fro with most light breezes, the counsel of the prophets (“Mormon prophets”) remains steadfast amidst heavy rains, floods, and winds: “lay up in store.” The circumstance of the current economic crisis has awakened us all to a greater awareness of the need for financial security. Perhaps the Savior’s counsel from the Sermon on the Mount can encourage us to prepare for emergencies yet unknown—and thus build our houses upon a rock.

Mormons believe in saving up for emergencies: storing food and supplies for at least 3 months, and a year where possible; saving funds; having emergency supplies on hand (72-hour kits); and being temporally, spiritually, and financially solvent and self-reliant where possible.  This is not a man-made doctrine; this guidance, as mentioned above, is divine, and comes from the Savior Jesus Christ, whose House or Church is actually The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). We invite you to learn more of His counsel regarding self-reliance and provident living, and to learn more of the teachings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources:

Mormons & Food Storage

Order a free copy of The Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith: Witness of Jesus Christ and God the Father

We invite you to consider prayerfully this account of a young boy inspired to ask a question many of us have asked: “Which of all these Churches, is thine, Lord?” Here is his first person account. Read it yourself and ask God in sincere prayer if it is not true. I promise He will answer you. The pure gospel has been restored to the earth. Joseph lived and died in sharing and living that, martyred at the hands of those who sought to erase his testimony by erasing his life. It didn’t work. Millions have independently received a witness of the truthfulness of the doctrines of Jesus Christ as taught in The Church of Jesus Christ (Mormon Church is a name ascribed inadvertently by some of other faiths).

Joseph Smith, Prophet:

6For, notwithstanding the great ^alove which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more ^bpretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions.

7I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father’s family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.

8During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.

9My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.

10In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them beright, which is it, and how shall I know it?

11While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

12Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible.

13At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

14So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

15After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I wasseized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

16But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of ^cight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

17It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me Isaw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

18My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

 

Men are, that they might have joy.

 

Because we have a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that we are spirit children of God, we, Mormon Christians, and all Christians, should be the most positive-thinking people in the world. We know that our loving Father in Heaven has put us on earth to succeed, not to fail, and ultimately, through the whirlwind of life, to find joy. Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known by some as the Mormon Church), are among those whose additional light of the restoration provides an eye that sees greater possibilities, greater potential in humankind, greater hope in outcomes as a result of the knowledge the restored gospel brings. For each of us, Mormon Christians and friends of other faiths, living the gospel of Jesus Christ can help us develop a positive attitude and create happiness, peace, and contentment in our own and others’ lives. It doesn’t mean we’re polyannish or naive; we navigate and swim in the most difficult waters and are often in the very front lines of the battle for truth, but our hope in the victory and in Who enables the victory, is sure and clear and firm. A modern prophet encourages the outlook of hope, and affirms the Book of Mormon scripture above:

I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort (Gordon B. Hinckley, Stand a Little Taller, 65).

23For this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse should come upon the land, and also upon your riches, and this because of your iniquities.

24Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.

This photo is of a living prophet on earth today, God’s spokesman, just like Moses, Elijah, Abraham, and others.  His name is President Thomas S. Monson, and we invite you to hear his words, and listen to the Savior’s instructions for you and for each of us in our day. Regardless of the persecution, mocking of prophetic voices, they exist and we’re here to bear witness of them, as does one eloquent  LDS (“Mormon”) apostle in our day, as follows:

When the Church was first organized, in fact, the day on which it was organized, the Lord was speaking to the Church. He didn’t mean just the six members that were then the constituted number of the Church: he was speaking about the President of the Church, who was the Prophet Joseph Smith at that time. And this is what he said: [Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–6.]

We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation, which is the last dispensation, which shall usher in the coming of the Lord. The gospel was restored to prepare a people ready to receive him. The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. There will be inroads within the Church. There will be, as President Tanner has said, ‘Hypocrites, those professing, but secretly are full of dead men’s bones.’ We will see those who profess membership but secretly are plotting and trying to lead people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in this church.

Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; . . . as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 21:6.)” (Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, Oct. 1970, p. 152).

Click on the hyperlink, How to Find Truth and Find God, if you desire to learn more or know how to test out this message for yourself. You can also visit an official site, lds.org or mormon.org or visit another of our websites.

Enos 1:5-6

5And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

6And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

God is consistent, perfect in the attributes of faithfulness, truth, knowledge. Were it not so, we couldn’t trust Him fully or lay hold of His promises for us personally. Enos knew He was forgiven. He received a witness from God. Each of us can similarly repent and know we’ve been forgiven, just as this ancient Book of Mormon prophet, as indicated below:

And lastly, but not less important to the exercise of faith in God, is the idea of the existence of the attribute of truth in him; for without the idea of the existence of this attribute the mind of man could have nothing upon which it could rest with certainty—all would be confusion and doubt.

But with the idea of the existence of this attribute in the Deity in the mind, all the teachings, instructions, promises, and blessings, become realities, and the mind is enabled to lay hold of them with certainty and confidence, believing that these things, and all that the Lord has said, shall be fulfilled in their time; and that all the cursings, denunciations, and judgments, pronounced upon the heads of the unrighteous, will also be executed in the due time of the Lord: and, by reason of the truth and veracity of him, the mind beholds its deliverance and salvation as being certain (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith 4:16).