Tuesday, December 2, 2008

My Testimony in Reading the BOOK of MORMON

My, my how far I’ve come! Literally and figuratively speaking. The Gospel Represents so much in my life, but in finally finishing reading the Book of Mormon I feel that it has come full circle.


I am reminded of the first time that I actually read, (cause the missionaries told me to) I began in 1 Nephi ( I was told to read something else but I’m a rebel so I read from the beginning) ch 4:18 “therefore I did obey the voice of the spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head and I smote off his head with his sword!! I was shocked, and I slammed shut the book of MORMON!!! And I thought “that’s, that. On to my quest for finding the true faith.

When the missionaries came back, I was a spitfire, I could not grasp my previous teachings long enough to understand heavenly fathers concept that there are times that he is going to command us to do things that we are going to question.

Full circle means that spiritually I am in a place that I have not traveled, it’s amazing to be able to reflect back on the growth, it’s pretty spectacular, to look @ where I was, and to be able to look @ the here & now.

It took me 3 years and 4 months! The best part is that I still have the very piece of paper that a missionary wrote a schedule of my reading. As I look back I am able to clearly see that the times that I was consistent and CLUNG on to the BOOK of MORMON as my lifeline, were the times I was the least uncertain, the times that I faithfully read in the morning and the evening are the times that I felt my Saviors love, and the sad but honest truth is that when I closed off everything and everyone and built walls around me, and even kept heavenly father @ arms lenght were the times I was the most uncertain, the times I felt the most lost. There are times that I read alone in the silence in my room, and there were times that I read with a friend, times I read in the bathroom as I was giving chance a bath, or waiting for an appointment, times that I read under a tree swinging in a hammock, and times that I read in a closet to find some quiet. the point is it doesn't matter when you read, it just matters that you do............

Not only has my testimony strengthened but my desire to be a better mother, sister, friend, and follower of our savior Jesus Christ. I think of all the sacrifices that went into being able to hold the Book of Mormon in my hands, and I am filled with a gladness that one can only receive from the truthfulness of the words that were written to encourage, motivate, and uplift not only ourselves but one another.

Moroni 10:4 If ye ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you……………

The book of mormon’s promise
You will find greater power to resist temptation
You will find the power to avoid deception
You will find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path

As I contemplate this I find these promises EMPOWERING!