“47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

Such valiant mothers! But we are left to wonder about their fathers.

The Fathers of the Stripling Warriors Provided for Their Sons

When we read in the same chapter verse 27, however, we see the big role the fathers of the stripling warriors played.

“27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.”

We can see that the stripling warriors received great support from their Dads. I can’t  imagine how it must have felt for these fathers to see their teenage sons go into battle. The parents of these young men had made a covenant with God never again to take up weapons of war. So seeing their sons going to war to do their duties in defending their families and their liberty must have been scary, but at the same time something they must have been very proud of. Sending provisions is the next best thing they could have done to support their sons. The fathers of the stripling warriors provided for their sons not just to feed them or give them what material things they needed, but they brought provisions to give their sons moral support and to boost their morale. It must have been their way of saying, “I am here for you, my son. I am rooting for you! Hurrah!”

The Effect of Their Fathers’ Support

Because these young men were provided for, they must have been well fed and in good spirits. However, this was not the only outcome of their fathers’ support.

“29 And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.”

Their enemies, upon seeing that they were getting support, felt rattled. They saw their strength, not just in numbers or physical force, but they also saw their backing and they were shaken. It created a psychological threat that made the Lamanites think they were facing an even more formidable opponent. This may or may not have been a part of Helaman’s strategy, with some sort of a psychological warfare, but it is natural to think that if someone is well provided for, he will not be easily destroyed.

The Essence of the Father’s Role to Provide for His Family

The fathers of the stripling warriors, through their efforts to provide for their boys, proved that the role of fathers as providers goes beyond just taking care of the physical needs of the family. It creates a protective shield. It paints an image of strength for their wife and children. The family is more secure. Children have increased self-confidence because they have a sense of identity belonging to a good family. This, in turn, radiates to the people around them. People more easily see the family as a strong unit because the father is a good provider. Such a family is less susceptible to insecurity, bullying, shaming, etc. People respect them when they see a father who is able to provide, not just physical support, but emotional and moral support as well.

As we celebrate fathers, may we learn from the fathers of the stripling warriors. They may not be a popular lesson from the epic story of the mighty 2000, but their influence and their effort can’t be overlooked. They were a crucial part of the victory of Helaman’s “little sons” and a paragon for all fathers to emulate.

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Make an appointment with God every day. With many responsibilities at home, work, church, community, and other areas of our lives, we may sometimes feel as though we do not have enough time to fulfill them all. In fact this is true. If we listed down all the things that we need and want to do every day, 24 hours would never be enough. But there is one secret to making the best of the time that is given to us daily—make an appointment with God every day and make it the highest priority.

This appointment can include daily prayer, scripture study, recording spiritual impressions, performing an act of service, rereading General Conference talks, and other worthwhile activities where we could commune with God. When we commit to this daily appointment with God, we will find that we might still not have enough time to do everything we need and want to do, but we will be able to choose and prioritize the responsibilities that are the most important.

Read the Book of Mormon every day. Prophets have implored us to get to know Jesus Christ more. One of the best ways to know the Savior is to follow His perfect example and teachings, and the most correct book where we can read these is the Book of Mormon. It contains the fullness of His gospel and answers to life’s most compelling questions such as, ‘why are we here?’ and ‘where did we come from?’

Prophets have promised that as we read the Book of Mormon every day, we will be blessed beyond measure. The late prophet Thomas S. Monson promised that “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” as we prayerfully study and ponder the words in the book.

Another promise was pronounced by President Russel M. Nelson saying, “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.”

Attend the temple regularly. One of the goals of the Church is to make temples accessible to all members so that we have the opportunity to perform the sacred saving ordinances of the gospel. To date, there are 150 operating temples around the world, with others being renovated, under construction, and announced for construction in the near future. These temples are a marvelous blessing to all of us, since they provide, not only a sacred place to perform ordinances for ourselves and our dead, but also a place of refuge and peace. With all the cares of the world that we carry on our shoulders, the temple is a place where we can find solace.

The late prophet Thomas S. Monson promised, “as we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart.”

Each of these goals, when paired with a commitment to fulfill them, will open the windows of heaven and bring gifts that will not only help us have a fruitful year but will also draw us nearer to God. May this year be a year of fulfilling goals with outcomes that will stretch through eternity.

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Receiving a testimony of the Book of Mormon is one of the most important personal revelations we need to receive in these latter days. But, what if you don’t feel the “burning [in your] bosom” after praying about the book?

What is a burning bosom?

If a burning bosom is an essential part of personal revelation, how can we truly recognize it? Though some people feel a burning in their bosom — a warm feeling that comes when we hear an impactful talk or listen to inspiring hymns — it is more than just a physical feeling. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said that a burning bosom “signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity.” A confirmation of the Book of Mormon does not just come with a fuzzy feeling – it also comes with truly knowing.

The Small Manifestations of Truth

Often, confirmation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon does not just come in one big manifestation — it sometimes comes as a series of small impressions we feel as we read the book. If we are always looking for phenomenal revelations of truth, we may miss the small, often simple, confirmations of the Holy Ghost. Elder Bednar gave fair warning that if we, “emphasize marvelous and dramatic spiritual manifestations,” we may not recognize the, “small and incremental spiritual impressions,” that come to us frequently.

These small and simple spiritual impressions usually come through sincerely reading and pondering the Book of Mormon. It’s found in the quiet moments, when a certain verse just stands out and enlightens something. These small and simple spiritual impressions about the book’s truthfulness come from the daily impressions that continually bring us peace.

The Holy Ghost Communicates Differently

Personal revelation comes in different forms, from immediate and intense, to subtle and simple. So if your prayers about the Book of Mormon are not accompanied by a burning bosom, there’s no need to worry. Impressions can come to us in various ways. The confirmation of the Book of Mormon’s truthfulness may come as we recognize the positive feelings we have when we read it: love, joy, patience, faith, and meekness (see Galatians 5: 22-23).

Alma the Younger asked a series of powerful questions that can help you know if the Book of Mormon is true.  Does it “enlarge your soul?” Does it enlighten your understanding? Has it become “delicious to you,” so that you just want to read the book again and discover more truths? If you can say yes to these questions, that could be your confirmation.

No Burning Bosom but Does It Encourage You To Do Good?

When we ask to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we want to receive a confirmation that it is true and it is indeed from God. How do we know if something is from God? Mormon gave a powerful answer in Moroni 7:16:

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.”

As you study the Book of Mormon, what kind of feelings come? Do these feelings help you be kinder, more charitable, more service oriented, more eager to come closer to the Lord? Do these impressions help you see the good in all things? The burning bosom may not be there but if the book helps you feel and do better, that could also be your answer, your own personal revelation.

The Holy Ghost speaks in various ways — not just with a burning bosom. As we become more acquainted with His promptings, when we become more aware of the small impressions we receive from the Book of Mormon, and when we begin to realize that reading the book everyday helps us do better, we can have a testimony of the Book of Mormon even without that warm, fuzzy feeling on our chest.

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One of the most significant dreams in the Book of Mormon was that of Lehi’s and his vision about the Tree of Life. In his dream, he saw himself partaking of the fruit from a tree. After tasting of the said fruit, he felt great joy and he was eager for his family to taste it. The way towards the fruit was covered in the mist of darkness. For people to reach the tree, they needed to hold on to a rod of iron. However, some have lost their way in the darkness.

The Personal Lesson Of Lehi’s Dream

As I read the account of Lehi’s dream, I began to wonder what happened to those who got lost in the mist of darkness. I am sure that they feel afraid, unsure, and clueless where to go next. Without a familiar voice guiding them back to the rod of iron, they could wander endlessly. I also think about the families of those who were lost in the darkness. Yes, they could be persevering towards the Tree, but part of their heart longs for the return of their family members and their friends. I imagine that those who are lost await for a familiar voice to help show them  the way. And those family members holding to the iron rod eagerly calling for the return of their loved one.

In our life, we have friends and family members who, like those in the mist of darkness, have lost their way. Some of them may be eager to return but because they have become so lost, they don’t know how to come back again. Some just wait for a someone to call out to them again. How comforting it would be that after being in the mist of darkness for so long, you hear a familiar voice calling out for your name. Once again, you can have that familiar voice to help you find your way back to the rod and to the Tree of Life.
 

Invitation To Those Holding The Iron Rod

For those who are now holding to the iron rod, don’t forget to call out for those who are in the mist of darkness. Let them hear your voice once again. Let them know that someone cares. Your eagerness to come to their rescue can spark a ray of hope. Help them find their way back. You can do this even by doing simple things like becoming their friend, inviting them to Church, or just be there to listen. Embark in Visiting and Home Teaching, befriend those who have returned. These simple gestures can make a difference.

In President Thomas S. Monson’s talk “Our Responsibility to Rescue,” he shared a letter from one who has left the Church.

“I had so much and now have so little. I am unhappy and feel as though I am failing in everything. The gospel has never left my heart, even though it has left my life. I ask for your prayers.

“Please don’t forget those of us who are out here—the lost Latter-day Saints. I know where the Church is, but sometimes I think I need someone else to show me the way, encourage me, take away my fear, and bear testimony to me.”

While we persevere in life, let us think about those who have lost their way. Let us take our time to search for them, know them, and reach out to them. May our voice be their guide back to happiness and light. It is my prayer that when we reach the Tree of Life, we can see that we have helped our loved backs to the rod of iron. Indeed, when that happens, we can truly say that our joy is full.

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The Influence of Women In The Book of Mormon

Saraiah

There is a reason why Nephi, of all the adjectives he could have used, described his parents as “goodly.” They were a powerful example of obedience for the young boy. Lehi commanded young Nephi to depart Jerusalem and go to the wilderness. This included leaving their riches and comfortable life to travel to the wild. To a woman who does not have a testimony of her husband’s calling, the decision would have been different. But Sariah willingly obeyed her husband, packed up, and left for the unknown. It was an evidence of her testimony of her belief in the calling of her husband and the commandment of the Lord.

Sariah also showed us that sometimes, we can murmur out of worry and fear. However, she also provided an example of repentance and relying again to the Lord.There are Priesthood holders all around us. They could be our father, husband, brothers, or a dear friend. Sariah showed us an important lesson. We must learn to trust in the revelation received by a worthy Priesthood holder.

Wives Who Showed Great Faith

Nephi’s Wife

Ishmael, Nephi’s father-in-law, was a dear friend of the family. It’s safe to assume that this man led an affluent family in Jerusalem. Included in this family was the wife of Nephi. Surely, she must have had a comfortable, luxurious lifestyle. But she bravely went with Nephi’s family to the wilderness. She experienced fatigue, hunger, exhaustion and loss. When Laman and Lemuel tied up Nephi, she pleaded with them and prayed for his release. Nephi’s wife, to me, is an example of bravery and faith. She was willing to give up the comforts of life just to obey the Lord.

Whenever I think of her, I remember the young brides of this generation. Them who bravely accepted the role of becoming a wife and a mother despite the uncertainties. I am impressed with the way they accept the Lord’s commandment.

King Lamoni’s Queen

Although she was in mourning, the Queen called for Ammon. In there, Ammon told her that the King was not dead and he will wake up the next day. After speaking these words, Ammon asked her if she believed. She showed great faith when she said ” I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said.” (Alma 19:9). Even though she was not yet a convert, she showed great faith
In these days, the revelations by the Prophet contradicts to what the world dictates. We can follow the example of Lamoni’s Queen by following and believing in the Prophet called of God.

Women Who Showed Bravery

Abish

I’d like to call Abish a home-called missionary. She was a Lamanite who was converted because of the vision of her father. For years, she kept her beliefs because it was from their enemy, the Nephites. However, when Ammon started to show the power of God, Abish couldn’t contain her testimony. anymore and she ran and told everyone. Her fearless expression of her testimony helped convert many. (See Alma 19)
Like Abish, women can be powerful instruments in sharing the gospel. It is possible even without a missionary nametag. A woman with a strong testimony can bring about great blessings to those around her.

Morianton’s Maid Servant (Alma 50: 30-33)

Morianton and his people had a plan to hold captive the northern lands. However, his maidservant ran and told Moroni about this plan. Thus, their evil desires did not push through.As women of the Lord, we must not be afraid to stand up for what is right and to defend those who are bullied.

Women Who Taught

Mothers of the Stripling Warriors

Despite the young age of his army, they impressed Helaman with their obedience and faith. When asked why they never doubt that God will deliver them, they answered ” We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

The mothers of these warriors instilled the importance of putting their trust in the Lord. As mothers and future mothers, may we take example from these women. When our children face their modern battles, they will know what to do because “their mothers knew it.”
These Book of Mormon women and their stories may have just occupied a small part of the book but their influence is profound. May we look to them in our quest to become better daughters of God.

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At church, we can say that some of the most challenging students are the ones who belong to younger age groups. The attention span of some children are short, they easily get bored, and the tactics used to get their attentions don’t work anymore. However, the most insightful answers can come from young learners. These pure, innocent children do share amusing but thought provoking answers. For instance, they taught me about overcoming pride.

After discussing the pride cycle, a story of how Book of Mormon characters go through a cycle of pride, destruction, humility, and prosperity, I decided to ask the little kids what are ways that make a person prideful. One of my primary kids said “Pride is when you get the biggest pizza slice, and keep two more slices because you don’t want others to have a taste of it.” Of course, the other kids giggled because of this answer. But the thought lingered to me for a long time.

When we speak of pride, there are many things that come with it. Pride can be manifested in our desire to always get ahead of another because it feels good to be better than another. At times, pride can be seen when we detest the successes of other people. Pride takes many forms and the ancient and modern prophets have seen it happen especially in our day when technology, knowledge, opportunities are available to almost everyone. A research from the University of California – San Diego shows that among millennials “envy was a common experience. More than three fourths of all study participants reported experiencing envy in the last year, with slightly more women (79.4 percent) than men (74.1 percent).”

This form of pride can hit us in one way or another. In this time when getting ahead of the pack is crucial to survival, it is inevitable that we feel threatened when someone gets more blessings than us. These feelings bring dissatisfaction, and sometimes, depression.  How do we get over this? Is there truly a way towards overcoming pride?

An ancient Prophet from the Book of Mormon, Jacob, illustrates so succinctly one of the best ways to overcoming pride. In Jacob 2:17, he says

“Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.”

How can we practice this?

1.) “Think of your brethren like unto yourselves.”

I love this quote from Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley. He said:

“Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others…By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves.”

This is hard to deny. In this world where self-promotion is so popular, it is inevitable not to think of ourselves so frequently. But the first step to overcoming pride (and all the negative feelings and actions that come with it) is to think of our brethren like the way we think of ourselves.

2.) “Be familiar with all.”

One of the best results that come from thinking about other people is that we become more sensitive to their needs. When we become familiar with them, we begin to feel the need to “mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.” Pride brings in more negative emotions, while service helps us see how blessed we are. Service is a great anti-depressant, a total opposite to pride and envy.

3.) “Free with your substance.”

In the song “Because I have been Given Much,” a particular line rings true:

“Because I have been given much, I too must give. Because of Thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live. I shall divide my gifts from Thee with every brother that I see who has the need of help from me.”

Unbeknownst to us, pride can sometimes make us not appreciate the blessings that come with us. It may sound counterintuitive but there is always a sense of happiness and satisfaction that comes to us when we free ourselves with our substance. When we feel love towards another the way we feel about ourselves, knowing their circumstances, we get the inspiration to share our blessings. Like my primary student’s example, pride is taking everything for ourselves. The way to overcome pride is to free ourselves with our substance in order to help another.

4.) “They may be rich like unto you.”

The cut throat competition in today’s world tells us in glaring words “How to get ahead of the crowd,” “How to be the Best Above All,” “How to Win in the Competitive World.” Competition is everywhere; we see them even in the simplest scenes of life like people pushing and shoving each other just to get the best seat inside the train. Pride makes it so hard for us to be happy when other people succeed. But overcoming pride is about helping each other gain success. Indeed, seeing another succeed because of your selflessness is a great way to overcome the tendency to be prideful.

Pride is an enemy, and it’s not one of the easiest enemies to beat. I agree with my student, it’s tempting to keep the slices of pizzas to ourselves. However, if we follow the admonition of Jacob, we can find ways in overcoming pride and all the negative feelings that come with it. President Henry B. Eyring once said: ““As you have kept the commandment to serve others, you have felt a change in your feelings of pride.”

I’m grateful for a Book of Mormon Prophet who offered this advice in such a simple and meaningful manner. May we be consistent in our desire to overcome pride in this mortal journey of ours. Let’s share our pizza slices and make many people happy.

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2 Nephi 5

In this chapter we read that Nephi and those who followed him fled into the wilderness because Laman and Lemuel wanted to take his life. They became a people who observed the laws and statutes of the Lord. Nephi wrote, “It came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.” We can follow the pattern of happiness that he sets in this chapter.

• Maintaining Uplifting Associations

In verse 6 we learn that those who followed Nephi were those who “believed in the warning and revelations of God.” The influence of the people we associate with has a significant impact on our happiness. Let us surround ourselves with people who have uplifting spirits and whose actions will lead us to do good and follow Christ.

• Aligning Actions with Beliefs

Nephi writes, “And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses.” Obedience to the commandments of the Lord brings happiness. Believing is not enough. We have to live a life according to the laws of the Lord. Because of obedience, the people of Nephi lived in a state of happiness and prosperity.

• Accomplishing Hard Work

Verses 11 and 15 recount the toil of the Nephites. Prosperity was not showered on them without effort. They had to sow hard so they could reap their blessings. They were given fertile lands to till, strong timbers to build, and seeds to sow. They were industrious people. Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged and the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation.” Accomplishing things through hard work brings happiness.

• Focusing On The Temple

Among the buildings that the Nephites built is a temple (verse 16). Happiness and temple blessings are tightly intertwined. The temple teaches us where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. Knowing these truths gives more meaning to the choices we make. The temple gives a glimpse of eternal happiness.

4 Nephi 1

Verse 16 describes the people of Nephi, “There could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.” Let us find out what made it so.

• Sharing What We Have

One father said to his child, “You should not look at your neighbor’s bowl to see if they have more. The only moment you need to look is to make sure they have enough.” We learn in verse 3 that the Nephites were happy because they had “all things common among them” and “there were not rich and poor.” The need for temporal and spiritual assistance is ever present among us but when we share what we have, we will be blessed with increased happiness and we will not envy what our neighbors have.

• Belonging To A Family

Family relationships bring happiness. This happiness can be found in marriage, parenthood and being part of a family (verse 10). Feelings of security and love from family members can contribute immensely to our happiness.

• Being A Peacemaker

Peace and contention cannot exist in one’s heart at the same time. The people of Nephi were happy because they had “no contention” among them (verse 2, 13, 15, 18). We must be aware of our intentions, words and actions in order to maintain peace in our hearts. Gordon B. Hinckley counseled, “Cultivate the art of the soft answer. It will bless your homes, it will bless your lives.” Peace brings happiness.

The Book of Mormon is full of gospel principles that we can use to help us in our quest for happiness. This has been given to us by the Lord as a compass so we can become happy like the Nephites while we are in this mortal probation.

Read the full article here.

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Are you a single person who is always on the lookout for good relationship advice whether from the internet or from great relationship books? Do you always wonder the answer to the question “How do I develop my relationship with someone?” Are you always on the hunt for great dating advice that could score you a date or two with someone you like? Have you ever tried finding answers straight from the Book of Mormon?

Yes, you heard it right. There is some great relationship and dating advice to be found in the Book of Mormon. People don’t tend to think that the Book of Mormon includes any insights about dating, but in fact, the very opposite is true. There are hidden nuggets on dating, with tips treasured by many couples both dating and married. Every hidden gem just has to be searched with an understanding of the context of those scriptures and locations and with a heart full of hope.

As you venture into the dating scene, pray sincerely about it and you will be led by the Holy Ghost to the snippets of wisdom that will help you nurture a relationship with the guy or girl of your dreams. As Sister Nelson, wife of a latter-day Apostle, once said, “the Holy Ghost tailor fits to us what we need to know.” So, if you are still feeling confused or baffled about how to develop a long-lasting relationship with someone you like, get a copy of the Book of Mormon and start studying.

Examples of some answered questions that might be of great help in looking for a relationship are:

1. How do I know if I’m dating the right person?

“Now we will compare the [relationship] unto a seed. Now if ye give place, that a [relationship] may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true [relationship], or a good [relationship], if ye do not cast it out by your [pickiness, laziness, busyness, fear of commitment, etc.]…it will begin to swell within your breasts…”

We must try things out! We can’t close off our heart to the possibility of love! And though you might experience fireworks, you also might just have a long peaceful feeling that it is right—a feeling that grows with effort.

2. Once I’ve found a good relationship, then what?

“As the [relationship] beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us.”

I know that, at least in part, the reason I didn’t get engaged until I was 29 was because I neglected good sprouts, replacing them with fun, other girls, and fear. How many of us have seen terrible outcomes from fantastic relationships that are left unattended? Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985), previous president of the LDS Church, said, “…successful marriage depends in large measure upon the preparation made in approaching it…One cannot pick the ripe, rich, luscious fruit from a tree that was never planted, nurtured, nor pruned” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, p. 242).

In the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, there’s one amusing but definitely profound piece of relationship advice for single adults.

Full Read: LDSLiving.com

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Well wonder no more! That book is called ‘The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.’ It is one of those many pre-judged books before knowing the real teachings inside. It is one of those you-have-to-know-about-it-more-so-go-ahead-and-read-it kind of reading.

To understand the content of these ancient records, first things first. Mormons are Christians, and if you would like to know more about that, you can read the article Are Mormons Christians?

Contrary to popular belief, the Book of Mormon is not about Joseph Smith or anything related cult or evil doings but is a handbook of instructions on how to live true Christians living. These ancient records have events that happened even before Jesus Christ was born. The focus of the book is not Mormon, nor is it about anybody else. The book’s subtitle reads, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ,” meaning it is all about Christ and His teachings on how we can follow Him more closely. However, Mormons still believe in the Bible that it also leads us to believe in Christ. The Book of Mormon is another set of ancient records with testimonies about our Savior.

In the introduction of the Book of Mormon, it is described as “[containing]…the fullness of the everlasting gospel.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is what can help us to become the best persons we can be and for our own eternal gain. Nephi, one of the writers and prophets in the Book of Mormon, clearly stated:

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a [forgiveness] of their sins.

The Book of Mormon also teaches us the purpose of life. Most of us know that we gain experience from our decisions, but not everyone understand the reason why we have to gain experiences and until when can we use these experiences. God prepared a plan for us to be with Him again. His love exists and can be understood through this book.

The only way to know the truthfulness of this book is to follow an invitation as shared in the introduction page:

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, The Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost.

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://faith.ph/files/2016/03/Sam-Abraham.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]I’m a part-time student, part-time worker and I love writing. I love blue and I adore sunflowers, they’re a work of art just as everything is around us. – Sam Abraham [/author_info] [/author]

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The Book of Mormon is a record of prophets who lived on the ancient American continents. These prophets kept records of their people’s history and spiritual experiences between the years of 600 BC, when they emigrated from the city of Jerusalem, and 421 AD.

The Book of Mormon contains prophecies and testimonies about Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. It contains experiences the people had, that show how mindful the Lord is of all His people and that His mercy is sufficient for all that believe in Him. It is a book of scripture that teaches about the power of repentance, forgiveness, and charity. It teaches how people can come unto Christ and learn his ways. The book also contains an account of Christ’s visit to this people, his teachings, and his prayers to the Father on their behalf.

The name of the book was derived from the name of the prophet historian who abridged all the ancient prophetic records into one volume. His name was Mormon. After Mormon’s death, the abridged record was passed to his son Moroni, who wrote the last portion of the book. Moroni then hid the book from the world, trusting that it would come forth in God’s own due time.

Then, in the year 1820, this same Moroni appeared as an angel to Joseph Smith, a 14-year old farm boy in New York. Moroni introduced the book to Joseph and told him what he should do. The boy’s mission was to translate the Book of Mormon into the English language. He was guided and equipped by the Lord to accomplish the translation. He used special stones called the “Urim, Thummim, and a seer stone” to help with the translation—instruments that were similar to what prophets used in the Old Testament.

The first edition of the Book of Mormon was published in English on March 26, 1830. Since then, the Book of Mormon has been translated into 82 languages, and more than 150 million copies have been printed.

Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, they do not discount the role of the Bible. Mormons believe that both books of scripture are testaments of Jesus Christ. They both contain the teachings of Jesus Christ, that show people how to live with greater happiness and fulfillment. Mormons believe that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are complementary books of scripture, both testifying of the mission and Messiahship of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for mankind.

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