Daily Book of Mormon Reading II

The following is a journal entry I recorded this morning (April 5, 2017). I share it in the hopes of encouraging us all to daily read and ponder the Book of Mormon. Doing so will certainly bless our lives and the lives of those around us.

This morning I read and pondered Mosiah 1:1 - 18. These few verses contain many messages. Here are some of them:

1. Verse 2: It is vital that parents exemplify and teach their children the truths of the gospel.
2. Verse 4: The scriptures are a vital element of that teaching, helping to ensure the faithfulness of their children and grandchildren and the following generations.
1. As President Ezra Taft Benson said: "Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion" (Ezra Taft Benson, Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990], 33.)
3. Verse 5: We must have the scriptures “always before our eyes.” I take this to mean that daily scripture study is vital.
4. Verse 6: Another key element of parents teaching children is to bear testimony to them of the truths of the gospel--for example, that Jesus is the Christ, the Book of Mormon is the word of God, Joseph Smith was called of God and the priesthood and priesthood keys have been restored to earth.
5. Verse 6: The most powerful witness of the truthfulness of the scriptures is contained in the words of the scriptures themselves. "Faith cometh by hearing [reading] . . . the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
6. Verse 7: Obedience to the commandments of God is critical.
7. Verse 12: Those who consistently obey the commandments are qualified to honorably bear the name of Jesus Christ throughout their lives.
8. Verse 17: If we are slothful in keeping God’s commandments and in following the promptings of the Spirit, we would be wrong to count on help from heaven. As President Gordon B. Hinckley put it: “We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance . . . We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “If Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall not Fear,” Ensign, Nov. 2005).

The Book of Mormon contains the word of God, it will draw us nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. Reading and pondering its message and applying it in our lives will bring priceless blessings.

The Book of Mormon is available without charge: https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon.

You can read the Book of Mormon online using the following hyperlink: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng.

In addition, there is a free app with which the book can be read on mobile devices: Gospel Library by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, available on the iTunes Store, Google Play Store, and the Microsoft Store.

Daily Book of Mormon Reading I

In his remarks on April 2, 2017, President Monson invited us to read and ponder the Book of Mormon daily. In doing so, he also made a promise: "I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives."

This picture shows a verse that I read today that deserves some thoughtful pondering. It also reinforces what President Monson said.

"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved" (Omni 1:26).

I know that what President Monson said is true. I read the Book of Mormon each day. However, I sometimes don't ponder it as well as I should. I am determined to do better. May we all "come unto Christ" daily through reading in and pondering that which we read in the Book of Mormon. As we do so, applying the impressions that come, we will draw ever nearer the Savior and obtain from Him the help that we need in our daily lives. That such may be our blessing is my sincere prayer for all of us.

Learning through General Conference

I want to share some thoughts on how to receive personal revelation through our experience in General Conference. We should approach General Conference seeking to learn the things the Lord would have us understand and do. We should ponder questions, the answers to which will bless us, our families, and those we seek to serve. The Lord may choose to give us impressions through His Spirit as we watch General Conference--especially as we participate in faith and with a desire to learn His will for us.

I invite us to all to prayerfully listen, carefully write down impressions that come and diligently take action on the impressions received. This is a pattern the Lord uses to bless our lives and through us the lives of those around us.

Below are steps our stake presidency has asked us to take in connection with General Conference. I will be following these steps. I commend them to you. As we follow them, we will be blessed.

• Prayerfully ponder questions you need to have answered and write them down prior to conference.
• Listen carefully during the conferences for the answers to your questions.
• Record the answers you receive.
• Write down what you . . . will do with the answers you received.

Quotes to Ponder and Apply

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom  he is like:

 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock (Luke 6:47 - 48).

These conferences are always under the direction of the Lord, guided by His Spirit (see D&C 46:2). We are not assigned specific topics. Over weeks and months, often through sleepless nights, we wait upon the Lord. Through fasting, praying, studying, and pondering, we learn the message that He wants us to give.

Some might ask, “Why doesn’t the inspiration come more easily and quickly?” The Lord taught Oliver Cowdery, “You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right” (D&C 9:8). Conference messages come to us after prayerful preparation, through the Holy Ghost.

This principle is true for all members of the Church as we prepare to participate in ward, stake, and general conferences. We study out in our minds what we need and desire from Heavenly Father, and we pray to understand and apply that which we are taught. As the time for conference arrives, we sacrifice other activities, “lay[ing] aside the things of this world, [to] seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10). Then we gather our families to hear the word of the Lord, as King Benjamin’s people did (see Mosiah 2:5)...

When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying. I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me. 

What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel. That is why we make an effort to experience conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood…

Oh, how we need general conference! Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened. And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days (see Luke 22:31-32). (Robert D. Hales, “General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony,” October 2013 General Conference.)

He that asketh in the Spirit shall receive in Spirit (D&C 46:28).

When the Spirit is invited into a meeting, truth is communicated beyond what is said aloud (Elder Henry B. Eyring, "A Life Founded in Light and Truth," Ensign, July 2001, 13).