I am re-publishing this post from a couple year’s back, and wanted to update it with a little story about something that took place a couple weeks ago!
My favorite book of all time is The Book of Mormon!
This book is an anchor for me. No matter where I am or what the circumstances of my life may be, the Book of Mormon is a constant source of wisdom and peace.
A couple of weeks ago while we were in San Francisco, my husband and I were robbed. Our rental car was broken into and almost everything we’d brought with us on our trip was stolen.
Although we felt violated, we knew that God was watching over us! We were safe and could replace almost everything really easily, and found that we still had so many reasons to be thankful and could find the humor in our situation.
Our thieves had left our bag of souvenirs alone, so we traveled home with nothing but a Christmas ornament and 3 bottles of specialty balsamic vinegar! You better believe we’re going to enjoy every last drop!
And RIP to the clothes I’m wearing in the above photo. Ha!
I had read the Book of Mormon and prayed that morning before we’d left our hotel, and was able to put the theft into perspective as I remembered that “the Lord God will help me” and that “the Lord God is near” (2 Nephi 7:7-8).
I’m so grateful for the scriptures that help me gain wisdom, especially when things go wrong or feel hard. I’m also thankful that I can pray at any time, anywhere, and that God hears and answers me!
If you’re interested, you can request a free copy of The Book of Mormon here.
I’d like to thank my brother Tim for the above photo. He was very proud of it and I want to give credit where credit is due!
As y’all know, I LOVE TO READ!!
There is one book that still feels new every time I read it, yet so familiar that it’s become a part of who I am. I have read it multiple times a year for as long as I can remember. As soon as I finish it, I turn back to the first page and start again.
It’s the first thing I pick up in the morning to start my day, and the last thing my husband and I read together before we sleep at night. This book has provided me with more knowledge, inspiration, and comfort than any other book I’ve read.
A companion to the Bible, The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. It documents the rise and fall of several civilizations that lived in Ancient America, Jesus Christ’s appearance to the people after his resurrection in Jerusalem, and is full of some of the most beautiful stories about family, faith, and miracles I have ever read.
Since I was about ten years old, I have tried to spend time reading the scriptures every single day. I’ve found that spending even just a few minutes reading and pondering about the truths of the gospel always fills my heart with peace.
Ideas come to me about things that I’m struggling with, or I find answers to questions that have been on my mind.
Most often, the challenges I’m facing in my life are somehow relatable to those experienced by the ancient prophets and followers of Christ, and I feel comforted knowing I’m not alone on my path of discipleship.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened my scriptures to find a verse that speaks directly about what I need to hear, or something I’ve been yearning to know more about.
The scriptures are how God most often speaks to me in my life.
We can learn about Jesus Christ, His life, His ministry, His atoning sacrifice, death and resurrection through the Book of Mormon, just as we do as we study the Bible.
I can more easily see the tender mercies that my Heavenly Father blesses me with in my daily life when I’m consistently reading the scriptures.
My love for our Savior has also deepened and grown, and I feel that love most when I read His word and pray to my Father in Heaven for help to understand and put His word into action in my life.
One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is Ether 12:4, which gives me hope and a renewed desire to anchor my soul to God:
“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”
I also love the words of Ammon, a great missionary who found success when working alongside his brethren to bring people to Christ. There have been times when his words felt like my own, and his praise my praise:
“My joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things” (Alma 26:11-12).
Another of my favorite accounts of Jesus Christ was recorded during his short time on the American continent when He ministered to a crowd of thousands, taking time to heal and bless them one by one.
Every time I read this story about His compassion, as well as all of the miracles He performed for so many, I’m always brought to tears!
“And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
“And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
“And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought. So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him.
“And he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had done this he wept again;
And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones” (3 Nephi 17:9-12, 21-23).
Because of this account in the Book of Mormon, I know that Jesus Christ knows us individually, and can minister to our specific needs. Through His atonement, He offers us the emotional, physical, and spiritual healing that only He can provide.
The Book of Mormon makes every day of my life better.
If you would like to read this amazing book that has added great meaning to my life and the lives of everyone in our family, you can learn more by visiting the Come Unto Christ website.
I’d like to invite you to dedicate time every single day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, to draw closer to the Lord by studying His scriptures.
I know that a daily study of the scriptures can help us with our school work and relationships, and can also help us make good decisions and improve our character, little by little!
I would love to hear from you about how the word of God has helped you in your life, too. Leave me a comment or send me an email!