The Book of Mormon (thoughts and testimony)

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we are assigned one of the books we consider scripture every year for our Sunday school curriculum. In 2020 it was The Book of Mormon. It is not the first time I have read it in my life and I assume it will not be the last. Every time I read it there is something new and important to me at that time. You cannot read it too many times or study its words or pray about it enough. However, I have never written down my thoughts, feelings, and testimony after finishing it. I feel prompted to do so now and share it with whoever will read these words. 

2020 was a year unlike any other for most people. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic our church stopped in-person meetings and we all gathered in our own homes. Because of this most of my studying was done on my own or with a few close friends (including a woman who would become my wife). The study guide is called “Come, Follow Me” and was instituted at the beginning of 2019. (Moroni 10:32) Because I do not believe in chance I know that this home-centered studying of the scriptures was implemented with enough time to prepare people to be more independent in their Gospel study without relying on weekly church classes. I also know that it was not an accident that The Book of Mormon was selected as our focus for 2020. So much of what occurred - especially in the United States - had parallels to our readings. 

With that said I will now share what I took away from studying The Book of Mormon last year and perhaps how it was instrumental in personal decisions I made. 

My first thoughts surround the many efforts that went into the creation of this book. Righteous men, women, and families had to make great sacrifices, putting their trust in God to leave homes behind as they traveled to a better land away from the imminent destruction Israel would be facing. (1 Nephi 2:4) All the while they kept a record of their trials and joys. (1 Nephi 6:6) On top of those who lived the scriptures there were prophets who accepted callings to preserve records for hundreds of years and abridge what they had into something of value for future generations they had seen in visions. (Words of Mormon 1:11) In our day Joseph Smith and the early Saints also had to make enormous sacrifices, enduring great persecution, for a book that was miraculously translated in order to provide our day with light and wisdom. 

My next thought is for those who had to watch as their civilizations were destroyed in front of them because a once righteous people chose wickedness. I wonder at their ability to endure this calamity as millions of people chose violent deaths over the peace of Christ’s Gospel. (Mormon 6:15, Ether 15:26, 29, 33) Both Ether and Moroni were left alone in the end yet neither of them lost the faith or gave up hope that they - and the righteous who would one day occupy this promised land - would be saved in God’s kingdom. (Ether 15:34, Moroni 10:34)

Which brings me to my next thought. Many of those who were written about inspire me on a daily basis as men who I would strive to emulate. Alma the Younger was seemingly hopeless. He was actively destroying the Church and undermining the work of his father. HIs sins must have seemed countless and unforgivable. Yet Christ showed mercy and gave Alma the opportunity to repent. (Mosiah 27:28-29) Not only did he repent, but he became of the strongest church leaders and missionaries in recorded history. He spoke one of my favorite verses when he declared that, “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.” (Alma 29:1-2) Like Alma we can all have great influence in our local communities without the voice of an angel. 

Captain Moroni was another person of whom I am in awe. He was a man who loved his country and liberty more than his life. (Alma 48:17) He was a bold defender of freedom that inspired a nation to shrug off apathy and security in order to fight those (internally and externally) who would destroy that most precious gift from God. He spent years away from home suffering with his men even when so many of his own countrymen seemed to take it for granted. His courage and reliance on God for wisdom ensured that the Nephite civilization would be preserved for years to come. As I reflect on the current state of the country that I love more than my life I wonder where we can find a Captain Moroni who will raise the title of liberty again over this land. (Alma 46:12)

We read about the importance of choosing good leaders. (Alma 53:19) Captain Moroni and Alma are two examples of this. The people were blessed and able to withstand anything they faced when they chose well. However, when they chose bad leaders terrible outcomes were common. These men were often large or strong with the ability to flatter and speak the words people wanted to hear. These might be kings, elected officials, false religious leaders, or philosophers. Regardless, they had the power to influence many - even righteous members of the church - to commit great atrocities. King Noah brought about burdensome taxes along with immorality. (Mosiah 11:2-3) Anti-Christs taught false doctrines such as not being able to know the future or everyone would be saved in their sins no matter what they did. (Alma 30:13, 17) The rich were lifted up above the poor. Corruption, theft, murder, destruction of the family; all of these trickled down from wicked leaders. (Helaman 2:8) 

Another important takeaway was the reminder that no one is immune from the consequences of sin. Even the chosen people of God cannot get away with wickedness. Too often they took for grated their chosen status and thought they were protected because of their race or ancestors or religion. The minute we turn away from Him and stop keeping His commandments then we are subject to our enemies and the world. We become weak just like anyone else. (Mormon 2:26)

Which leads to a related point. There is a recurring theme of the people going through a hardship, leading to humility, peace and prosperity for a time, only to allow pride and forgetfulness to enter their hearts. This cycle often occurred within a few years. (3 Nephi 6:10) Some of the very people who were witness to the previous cycle and all of its consequences were involved with the next one. It makes you wonder why humans - individually and collectively - can be so forgetful and willing to repeatedly make the same mistakes over and over. It is so easy to turn away from Christ when everything is going well and we have what we want. (Helaman 12:2-3) We only seek Him when things start to go poorly for us. (Helaman 11:7) Perhaps this is one of the of the great struggles humanity faces, the never-ending pursuit to break this cycle. 

At the end of The Book of Mormon we are left with Moroni’s discourse on faith, hope, and charity. I believe he put this towards the end because he knew what was needed to keep a people free and what a people who had destroyed themselves was lacking. 

Faith is believing in things that we cannot see but are true. (Alma 32:21) Faith can start even with just a desire to have it. (Alma 32:27) Faith comes in small packages but can still have great power. Faith precedes miracles and is the basis for hope. (Moroni 7:37) Hope is the antithesis of despair. (Moroni 10:22) A world without hope is a world without God and is one that fights to survive for one more day. It is a world that cannot see anything better in the future. A world that sees so much violence and injustice and everything burning to the ground and wonders why we even bother. Hope is Christ’s response to this despair. Hope is His life and Atoning sacrifice that makes change in even the most hardened heart possible. (Moroni 7:41) Hope is a knowledge that there is a reason for doing good today and for being kind to our enemies (and even praying for them). Hope leads to positive action and eventually charity. 

Charity is the pure love of Christ. (Moroni 7:47) In a way charity is Christ and it is the goal each of us - as His disciples - has in becoming like Him. Charity is externally focused on serving our brothers and sisters wherever we come into contact with them. (3 Nephi 17:7) Charity is consecrating our lives to building His kingdom and submitting our will to His - just as He did for the Father. (3 Nephi 11:11) Charity is no longer having a desire to do evil but going about doing good always. (Mosiah 5:2) Charity is the greatest gift there is as it is what allowed a Father to send His Son to endure humiliation and pain for those who so often were not even grateful for this sacrifice. Charity is eternal. Man may fail. Those closest to us may fail. Our surest foundations may fail and bring down our entire world in ruin around us. But we can know now and forever that charity (Christ) will not fail. (Moroni 7:46) It endures forever even through the darkest days. This is our hope. This is our faith made sure and justified. This is the power of The Book of Mormon. 

The Book of Mormon brings us closer to Christ. It testifies of Him and what He did and why we need Him - now more than ever. The Book of Mormon is a key to hard hearts that drives change. The Book of Mormon is more than just some words on a page. It is the power to convert, to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, to bring angels down to minister and protect, it is the power to connect us with God as we pray and act on the feelings it brings about. 

I know The Book of Mormon was written by righteous men throughout the ages looking to teach us today how to be better than even they were. (Mormon 9:31) It is a truthful testimony of those who spoke with Christ and taught their families and people His Gospel. It is a companion to the Bible and opens the doors to pure wisdom. (Mormon 7:8-9) It is filled with promises for you and me if we will but act. 

I know that my words are not much especially for those who have turned away from spiritual ideas for various reasons. They are just the words of one man (and a very imperfect one at that). But perhaps my words are just enough to encourage a few of you to open the book and read about a people who even in the most difficult of circumstances were able to live after the manner of happiness. (2 Nephi 5:27) Because for each of us who are going through our own worst of times we can still have joy and hope in Christ. 

This is my testimony. This is what I believe.