Vicky, a friend of Chuck Manuels, was able to visit with us today as was my friend, Alisha Hadley Ferrell. We were also able to welcome Maddie Trimble from young womens! We learned that Maddie is passionate about ceramics and loves to mold little sculptures. Welcome sisters!!
1. What would my life be like without the Book of Mormon? 2. What would I not know? 3. What would I not have? President Nelson's three questions are the three questions Sister Rebecca Lund Olmedo had us consider at the start of our Relief Society lesson today. We had the chance to write down our answers and then share together. Answers were varied. Sister Chrystalyn Jones Trimble shared how the Book of Mormon helps give her direction and a focus in her life. Sister Sarah Noah-Shobe said that without the Book of Mormon she wouldn't understand covenants or the purpose of our life here. Sister Leslie Winward Wright shared an experience of her niece who had an assignment from her Catholic school to answer questions from the Bible. Sister Wright's inactive brother knew the answers could be found in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon fills in the Old Testament gaps. Sister Rebecca Lund Olmedo and Sister Cassie Garcia were grateful for the role the Book of Mormon played in bringing their eternal companions into the gospel.
President Nelson shared "Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” I want to exclaim, “That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in “the inmost part” of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, “I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people” to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon."
Sister Kristen Winter and Sister Diane Doyle Broderick both testified of the importance of feeling a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Sister Winter was raised in close proximity to her cousin. She and her cousin did everything together but her cousin was not raised by parents active in the gospel. She said there is a difference between being raised in proximity to the gospel and being raised in the gospel. She and her cousin have had very different lives as a result. Likewise, Sister Broderick's brother knows the Book of Mormon is true but he does not feel it or live it and it has also influenced how he has raised his children.
Personally, I am thankful for the the three promises President Nelson identified for faithfully studying the Book of Mormon every day: 1. "I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. 2. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. 3. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of THE day [each day we may face a different evil!], even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions." I want those promises for myself and for my children!
Sister Jany Matson shared how when her son was a senior in high school he struggled with addictions. She had the thought to make him a hot breakfast every morning and take it to him and as he ate, she read to him from the Book of Mormon and then left him with a prayer. She did this with him for two years. He later confided that the Book of Mormon literally saved his life. He knew as long as he could continue to feel the power of the Book of Mormon, he knew he could come back.
President Nelson reminds us that conversion is an individual matter. So is how we study the Book of Mormon. There is no right way or wrong way. The key is to find a way that works for you and to do it! That may look different as we move through different ages and stages of our lives. Maddie Trimble was taught yesterday in Women's Conference that for a working mom, sometimes that meant reading one verse and talking about it and discussing how to apply it. During a former women's conference a presenter shared how she would study the Book of Mormon each morning until she got what she needed to for that day. Study journals are helpful for some. Getting a new missionary style Book of Mormon each year and studying a new topic and recording notes on that topic in that Book of Mormon works for others.
President Holmes was quoted to have shared yesterday "Don't let your learning lead to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action."
"How precious is the Book of Mormon to you?" May we each strive a little harder to put learning about the Book of Mormon into the action of studying daily from it's pages.
Comments
Post a Comment