A GOOD BOOK

Hello, everyone! This is a warning that the blog presented below is a looooonnnnggggg one. That's because it is a talk the Lord pretty much wrote for me a couple of months ago. Lately, I have been feeling prompted to share the words He gave me, and I've learned not to ignore those little nudges. And, I've never written something so me. It's truly how I feel. So, here ya go!

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For this talk, I was presented with a couple of questions to guide me.

Why is a testimony of the Book of Mormon so important?

How has the Book of Mormon brought you closer to Christ?

I felt a little daunted with these prompts, because I wasn’t sure which direction to take, as there were so many options. You can do so much with the Book of Mormon, as I’m sure all of you know.

However, as I was praying for guidance, it came to me in the form of a phone call with my grandmother. After lamenting my worries to her, she suggested, among other things, “Why don’t you share what the Book of Mormon means to you?"

So, I’m going to heed my grandmother’s words of wisdom and share my testimony of the Book of Mormon, but in a way I wasn’t expecting to.

I am an avid reader. It is one of my all-time favorite hobbies, as evidenced by the fact that when my brother tried to call me last week for a chat, I replied through the most succinct text I could muster. “Reading. Ignoring you. Not sorry.”

There are a lot of hallmarks that make a good book. Specific things that characterize the ones that take room in your heart and choose to live there forever.

Joseph Smith has stated in the Introduction to the Book of Mormon that it is, “the most correct 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,”

With this statement, I think it is clear that this work of scripture fits into the “good book” category. As such, I have chosen several of the characteristics that make a good book, hoping through which to show my simple testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Number One. Well, ok, number one is technically a two-parter. A good book teaches truth. Both truth in general, and truth about yourself.

First off, truth in general. The greatest of epic tales almost always have a moral to the story, providing the reader a principle that they can internalize and, hopefully, live by.

One of the series that I have learned the most from is Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. What sweet Anne taught me is that first, a man like Gilbert Blythe is always worth waiting for. And two, as she states after getting herself into yet another scrape, “Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet.” (Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery 1908)

This same truth, the power of repentance, is taught in the Book of Mormon. While testifying to his son Helaman of his own conversion story, Alma states in Alma 36:17-21:

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

Just like Anne, Alma reminds us of several truths. One, that Christ sacrificed Himself, giving us the beautiful gift of repentance and the chance to try again and again. Second, the promises of God are sure. As we choose to accept the loving invitation to repent and come closer to Christ, our sins are washed away, forgotten by Him, and eventually, even ourselves.

1.2, good books teach us truths about ourselves. Literary works allow us to put ourselves in the characters’ shoes, giving us the chance to ride into battle, face off against a great foe, fall in love, solve a mystery, or find a family among strangers.

Though occasionally we connect most to the characters that are much like ourselves, (Elinor Dashwood, I’m looking at you) it is often the characters in which we cannot see a similarity, where we become more introspective and acquire more knowledge about ourselves.

For example, a book I adore is Falling For Your Best Friends Twin by Emma St. Clair. Yes, a rom-com, but one that truly has changed me. One of the main characters, Abby, after being bullied in school, decides that she will no longer care what others think of her. Rather, she will be confident in her fun, quirky self, and such is what she does. She inspired me to do the same, choosing to be proud of myself and the Child of God Heavenly Father created me to be.

The Book of Mormon provides us with insight on ourselves, as well. One of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon is in 1 Nephi 11:16-17. Here, Nephi converses with an angel, allowing him to witness his father’s vision of the Tree of Life for himself.

16. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

17. And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

What truth do we learn about ourselves in these verses? That we are children of God, and not only children of God, but beloved children of God. This knowledge changes everything. It gives us hope in the hard, perspective in the confusing, someone to share the joy with during the exciting, a foundation on which to rely, and a worth that cannot compare with anything the world might have to offer. President Nelson has told us the importance knowing our identity carries, and the Book of Mormon helps us to find it.

Next, change. A good book will not leave you the way it found you. Given the truths it proclaims, the gripping scenery, and the loveable characters, a good book is something one will carry with them for the rest of their days.

Even long after the last page has been turned, a good book will be brought along with the reader into future interactions, relationships, situations, and more.

For me, personally, that book is The Death Cure by James Dashner. I will never, ever get over page 250. I will never get over what occurred in that scene. I’m not going to spoil it for those who haven’t read it yet, but just know, my heart was broken and has never been repaired. The words are burned onto my very brain.

Elder Ruben V Alliaud, in his 2019 General Conference Talk, “Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon”, spoke of how the Book of Mormon changed him.

Just before going to visit his uncle in the United States, Elder Alliaud’s mother warned her brother not to try to convert her son to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His uncle agreed, but could not stop the powers at be when Elder Alliaud read the Book of Mormon on his own.

“It is difficult to explain the impact that these scriptures had on my mind and heart. To be honest, I was not looking for 'the truth'. I was just a teenager, happy with his life, enjoying this new culture.

Nevertheless...I secretly began reading the book. As I read more, I understood that if I really wanted to get anything from this, I had better start to pray. And we all know what happens when you decide not only to read but also to pray about the Book of Mormon.

Well, that is just what happened to me. It was something so special and so unique—yes, just the same as what has happened to millions of others around the world. I came to know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon was true.

I then went to my uncle to explain to him what had happened and that I was ready to be baptized. My uncle could not contain his astonishment. He got into his car, drove to the airport, and returned back with my plane ticket to fly back home, with a note addressed to my mother that simply stated, 'I had nothing to do with this!'." (Alliaud 2019)

Elder Alliaud goes on to explain that his whole life altered after this interaction with the Book of Mormon, as it spurred him to get baptized and go on a mission. However, he feels that the ordinary day moments are where he feels the best changes from this wonderful book. His testimony states:

“My invitation this afternoon to each of us, regardless of how long we’ve been a member of the Church, is to allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us once again and day after day as we diligently seek for personal revelation. It will do so if we allow it.” (Alliaud 2019)

Fourth, good books feel like coming home. Somewhere along the journey of folding ourselves in between the pages, little pieces of us are left scattered, and we can only find them as we return there.

Some authors are just so, so good at creating worlds that we long to visit, to reside in, to obtain. I have called many books home before, but the one that sticks out to me the most is JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Hogwarts is a place I believe all of us wish could be our school, and not just because of the adventures, the magic, or the delicious foods described. Rather, it is because of what Rowling stated herself at the premiere of the movie, The Deathly Hallows Pt 2, “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” (Rowling 2011)

In a twist of fate, it was when I was off at the school I thought I would call home that I felt the most homesick. My one year served at BYU was incredibly, incredibly difficult, mostly because I missed the warmth of my friends and family in New Mexico so, so much. And because they scared me right out of the Nursing Program, and I had no idea what to do with my life, but, I digress.

One of my only solaces during those rough months spent in my dorm room and on campus was my Book of Mormon class. It was, by far, one of my favorite classes to go to, and not just because it was a place where I could truly feel the Spirit and be reminded of the truths contained in the beautiful book. No, it was because the book felt like home. It was a connection to my family. It was a comfort. It was a tie to memories of forced family study and Young Womens classes. It was a strength. It was a beacon of light. It was something that definitely helped me to make it through.

Lastly, a good book is one you want to share with those around you. There is just something about a story that grabs you by the hand, drags you through it all, and rips your heart out right by the heartstrings that makes make you want to force everyone you love to read it alongside of you. Having just endured the journey of all journeys, one that altered you, spoke to you, entertained and enlightened you, the reader is often desperate to share that gift with others.

I have a lengtttthhhhyyyyy list of recommendations if anyone is looking for some, linked at the bottom or this blog. So, we will not delve into that here. However, we will discuss how the Book of Mormon ignites the fire in me to share what I know with those I love.

The Book of Mormon’s title contains what it is, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”. That is exactly what the Book of Mormon does. It teaches us who Christ is, what He has done for us, what He wants us to know, and how we can get back to Him.

There are so many powerful verses that speak of the Savior in the Book of Mormon, but as I’m sure I share with many of you, a lot of the ones that touch me the most are contained in the chapters of Christ’s visit to the Nephites. For instance, here in chapter 17 of 3 Nephi, as Christ is preparing to leave the people, He states,

5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.

7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

These verses encompass who Christ is, to me. Jesus Christ is mercy. He is service. He is understanding. He is compassion. He is hope. He is joy. He is forgiveness. He is our foundation. He is our advocate. He is love. And when we taste of that love, we want nothing more than to share it with those we care for.

And, I hope that is what I have done for you today. In my odd, nerdy way, I hope that you have felt the power of the Book of Mormon. I hope you have understood the way it changes people, the way it teaches them truth, the way it brings them back to Christ. I know it to be true. I am so thankful for all it has done for me, and I know it will do the same for you as you open its pages.