“What is your favorite Book of Mormon story?”
The stake recently held our annual Youth Standards Night. It was a great event, and we are grateful for everyone that planned and attended. During the evening we held two breakout sessions in which the stake presidency, along with our wives, were asked questions about standards and other gospel-related topics. It was a blessing to share our testimonies with the youth, and it gave us a chance as a new stake presidency to show off our favorite people – our lovely wives!
One question we were asked that night: “What is your favorite Book of Mormon story?” That is a very, very hard question! Why? Because I’ve found that my favorite story changes all the time. One of the great blessings of daily, prayerful Book of Mormon study is that we develop relationships with the people and prophets in this great book. Our faith grows, as we see their faith in action (Nephi and the ship, for example). We learn that we can change and repent (Alma the Younger, to name one of several). We learn the importance of being good parents (mothers of the stripling warriors, and Jacob’s teachings to his son Enos). These examples only scratch the surface of lessons to be learned, and re-learned. Most importantly, we learn about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and what we individually need to know at any given time in our lives that we may be “led by the power of His arm,” as Amaleki teaches us in Omni 1:14.
The Book of Mormon is a miracle which will draw us closer to our Heavenly Father, and his Son. It should be a prayerful part of our daily lives as we strive to emulate Christ. As President Russell M. Nelson once taught: “When you read the Book of Mormon, concentrate on the principal figure in the book—from its first chapter to the last—the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.” (Liahona, January 2000)
We have been commanded by the Lord and His prophets to study the Book of Mormon. Doctrine and Covenants 84:54-57 makes it very clear that we have a duty to cherish this special book. Further, President Thomas S. Monson, in his last conference in which he presided as our prophet, simply said: “I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.” (April 2017 General Conference)
When I was 12, I set out to read the Book of Mormon every day for 30 minutes. I made great progress and loved the goal to read the book through from start to finish. For several weeks I kept my goal. One Saturday, after a full day of soccer games followed by helping in our large family garden, I was exhausted. As I headed to bed, I asked my father: “Dad, I’m really tired, do you think Heavenly Father will understand if I don’t read the Book of Mormon today?” I expected a sympathetic answer to my tired question. My very wise father simply said, “No, son, He wants and expects you to read every day, even if you are very, very tired.” That teaching moment had a large impact on the rest of my life.
I testify that the Book of Mormon will edify and strengthen all of us. It will safeguard our families. It will instill in us a true witness of Joseph Smith, Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness, and the redeeming love and atoning sacrifice of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Akron Ohio Stake News 