December 26, 2014
I accepted a challenge from my Relief Society president (who
was challenged in stake conference) to read the Book of Mormon by
Christmas. This was the weekend of
October 25 and 26. I wondered if I would be able to accomplish my goal, because
I also had a goal to write 50,000 words of a novel in the month of November. I’m
happy to say, I achieved both goals.
When I started reading the Book of Mormon, I had two things
in mind. I wanted a stronger testimony of
the truthfulness of that book, and of God and the Gospel. I have experienced this. I gained new insights about the nature of
God, and his love for me and all his children.
I also asked Heavenly Father to bless me with a stronger
testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet.
Joseph Smith is still not a passionate part of my testimony of the
Gospel, but I’ve come to accept him as the prophet of the restoration. I whole heartedly believe that the Book of
Mormon is scripture handed down from God to his servants anciently. I believe Joseph Smith’s account of receiving
the plates and translating them. I guess
there are still things about Joseph Smith the man that I find rocky, but I have
a testimony in Joseph Smith the Prophet.
I also had an unexpected blessing from reading for half an
hour a day. In November, the only
writing time I had consistently was nap time.
That was about two hours every day, which I had learned from the
previous year’s NaNoWriMo experience is how long it takes to write my daily
quota. But I was determined to read,
too. I asked God to bless me for making
the sacrifice of my time. He truly
did. I was faster in writing, more
creative than I’m sure I would have been. It was amazing that I met my writing
goal without so much as a frenzied cram time at the end of the month. With a toddler and a new baby, that is
nothing short of miraculous. I chalk it
up to reading the scriptures every day before I wrote, and trusting God.
I learned so much from reading the Book of Mormon so
quickly. The storyline flowed so well,
and I was able to understand how the Jaredites fit into everything. The numerous times the Nephites went through
the pride cycle blew my mind. Couldn’t
they see the pattern, historically, and change their ways? But I saw so much of
what they did in my own life, as well as the world around me. It was scary.
I also saw how contentions within the Church can be such a detriment to
the spiritual wellbeing of its members.
I learned that I must repent more often, more fervently. I need to be more accepting of those around
me, and learn to be more willing to serve.
I have decided to repent and ask God’s forgiveness like I’m
teaching Theo how to ask for mine. When
I pray, I will say,
I’m sorry for…
It was wrong because…
In the future I will…
Do you forgive me?
This is maybe the biggest lesson I came away with. I desperately want Christ to accept me on the
judgment day, and I want to do everything I can to be in good standing with
him. I know I’m not perfect, but he
doesn’t expect that of me in this stage of my eternal life. But he does want me to give him my heart and
trust in him.
It was cool seeing more similarities between the Book of
Mormon and the Bible than I’ve ever seen.
They are very different, but I can better see now how one culture grew
from the other.
The way I studied the scriptures as I read was underlining
the names and titles of the Godhead as I went along. It was wonderful seeing all the references
they make to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
There are so many powerful stories from the Book of
Mormon. So many people who’s faith was
so strong, and who worked amazing miracles in their own and other’s lives. But my favorite part was when Christ appeared
to them. I loved trying to imagine
myself in his presence. How incredible
it must have been. And his teachings are
so simple, but powerful. I know that if
I follow those teachings, I will be happy.
I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, and his Atonement. I have a testimony of his role in my life,
and that if I repent and come to him, he will save me. It is only through his mercy that I will be
able to stand in front of God the Eternal Father with confidence, and not be
ashamed. I want that so badly, and I
hope that I can do the things that will keep me in good standing with Christ.
I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Reading it helped me feel closer to my
Heavenly Father. I hope that I can pass
down this love of the scriptures to my children, and teach them how to be faithful
to the Lord.
