The Book of Mormon is For US

Ezra Taft Benson was relentless in teaching the importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives. He taught that they were specifically written and saved for us by the hand of of the Lord.

“The Book of Mormon was meant for us. It was written for our day” -Ezra Taft Benson

Nephi teaches us to liken the scriptures to our lives. This is because they are for our benefit, specifically written and preserved for us. The lessons in their apply to us right now.

1 Nephi 19:23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

I have always enjoyed casually applying what I learn to what I am experiencing. Then Thomas S Monson gave a talk on the critical importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives.

“I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.” -Thomas S. Monson

“Critical” felt a little more serious, so I decided that I was being way too casual in my scripture study. That year I decided to do a study journal with my reading. I read one chapter at least twice…but as many times as I needed, and then journaled about it. I found out that each chapter spoke to me individually, and that my journal entries were long. I was amazed at what I learned. Then my girls’ seminary teacher gave the kids a blue paperback Book of Mormon and told them to mark them up, write notes, doodle, whatever it takes to make the scriptures speak to you. I loved it! So I bought myself a new blue paperback Book of Mormon and and did the same thing. These study styles really bring the Book of Mormon alive for each individual person. I enjoy looking back at the doodles and highlights or reading through my journal, to briefly reviewing what stood out to me in my previous studies.

I can testify to you that the Book of Mormon is written for our day. It is written for you. It is written for me. It is the manual to life. With the help of the Holy Ghost, all answers and concerns of life can be found through the study of the Book of Mormon. Some answers and concerns take years to find or resolve, but answers do come, line upon line, here a little there a little.

When you apply the scripture to your life, you can apply them in a large spectrum or you can apply them to your daily life that you live right now. The scriptures will speak to you about what your dealing with this very minute. It feels magical, but in reality it’s miraculous!!!

Let’s use for example the Gadianton Robbers. Do we see these secret combinations in our government? Absolutely. They are lying, killing, robbing, deceiving, and all other forms of corruption, all for power. What do we do? We vote! We speak up! We call our senators and let them know we aren’t going to put up with these shenanigans.

But what about the Gadianton Robbers that are in the schools, in your home, at work, on the tv screens, computers, social media? Gadianton Robbers are all through out the Book of Mormon. We know their tricks, we know their leader, and we know they are conniving. Let us not be foolish enough to think that it’s not something we need to deal with and recognize in our immediate daily lives and that of our children.

We used to have a texting family bible study; one of my sisters sent a single scripture verse from Isaiah, and asked us what we got out of that verse that day. Several of us responded, all with completely different answers, but all relevant to our lives. Then she posted how she and her husband had read that one verse. Both of them had received different interpretation from the same verse, both which were completely different than any of ours. One verse can speak differently to everyone.

I recently wrote a post on Alma 60, explaining how it is an epistle to parents to get their act together and fortify their homes for the protection of their children. My mother read it, and shared her feelings about the same chapter the last time she read it. She felt like it was a political cry for all of us to get involved in saving our freedoms. Both interpretations are correct, both are good. That’s the power of the scriptures and applying them to our lives. They will guide us over and over again.

Even here on our blog, we can write on the same subject but approach it in so many different directions. I learn from each of my fellow crusaders, and am thankful for the opportunity to be apart of such a great tool for learning and growing spiritually.

The bottom line is, the scriptures are letter from our Heavenly Father, addressed directly to us. We can’t read them enough…they are critically important in our lives.

“If you are not reading the Book of Mormon everyday…Please do!” -Thomas S. Monson

Imagine what you would write if you had to leave your kids for this life–what instruction would you give them? This is our instruction, combined with personal revelation through prayer and pondering, and the directing, comforting guidance of the Holy Ghost. If you read the Book of Mormon with Russell M. Nelson’s challenge this past year : DO IT AGAIN!!! How many times? 70 x’s 7, that’s always a good Biblical figure!

“I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions–every day. 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. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.” -Russell M. Nelson