The questions that came up in our lesson were all about the Book of Mormon. How it came about, why we need it if we have a bible, how there were people in the Americas if we didn't discover America that early on, etc. For all those who may be questioning points of the Book of Mormon, I invite you to learn more. I invite you to not take my word for it, but to study it out for yourself. The prophets have said;
We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith WILL gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
My invitation echos that of God's chosen and beloved prophet. I have tried it. I have come to know for myself the truthfulness of this book. Experiment upon the words of Christ. He will testify of truth and the path we need to take to follow Him. He loves us enough that He will not leave us without the path to follow. The only way to know is to experiment. And that is all we are asking as missionaries. All we want is for others to experience this change of heart that we have experienced. I know that this message is true. I know that the Holy Ghost will testify of truth to the hearts of any who take upon themselves the decision to experiment upon the words of Christ.
Some cool findings from our study this morning...
1. Why do we need the Book of Mormon if we already have the Bible?
I invite you to read 2 Nephi 29. It is an amazing chapter all about the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
I would just put the whole chapter on, because it is SOOO good, but I am restraining myself. Read the rest of it! To cross reference, we were reading in the Bible and in Ezekiel 37:17;
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions (aka the Bible): then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions (aka the Book of Mormon):
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
We were also reading in Matthew 18:16 and in 2 Corinthians 13:1;
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
We are so blessed to have the knowledge of this second witness of Jesus Christ and His true gospel. Every word has been established by the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Together with the Bible, these two books contain the fulness of Christ's word. "It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of
salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life
and eternal salvation in the life to come."
2. How can you say that people were here before America was even discovered?
Well... have you ever wondered how the Native Americans got here when the pilgrims discovered America? They don't really teach that in History class.
"The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy
and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and
abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an
account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C.
and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the
Lamanites. (If you will read from the Book of Mormon you will find that the Lamanites received a "skin of blackness" for their wickedness...) The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the
tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites.
After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and
they are among the ancestors of the American Indians."
The more we learn about Christ, the closer we can come to Him and His path. I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's true church that has been restored on the earth today by God's chosen prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, brought forth in the time that the world needed it the most. I know that through following the words of Christ, all men may be saved by the grace of God. I love being a missionary. I love this gospel!
No comments:
Post a Comment