"And When Ye Shall Receive These Things..."

At the end of November, our ward's Young Women President challenged all the girls to read the entire Book of Mormon, from cover to cover, by the 31st of December. Well, I'm not (such a) young woman, nor am I a Ward leader, but I am a Stake YW's leader, and I felt it was appropriate to join my own 12-year-old daughter in the challenge, and, at the same time, support the Ward leaders. So, I took a temporary leave of absence from my cover-to-cover re-reading of the New Testament, and jumped in. In order to complete the Book of Mormon in one month's time, I'd need to read for at least an hour each day.

At first, I began the endeavor with the hazy idea that reading the scriptures at a quicker pace would certainly invite the Spirit of the Lord, but might make getting insights on details and doctrine more of a challenge; frankly, I didn't expect a whole lot more than a square-filling experience (a good square, mind you).

Boy, was I wrong. No square filling experience could match this for richness and outpouring of the Spirit. Mind you, I've read the Book of Mormon at least a dozen times over my life, but this time, as I made extra time to immerse myself in the Book of Mormon, patterns in gospel doctrine and parallels with the Old Testament (which I had just finished reading) which I had never before noticed, leapt out at me. Minute details caught my attention all over the place. Highlighter and ball-point pen in hand, I marked and read and marked and read, scribbling notes in margins and cross-referencing to the other standard works. I found powerful testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ, on every page. My testimony of the truthfulness of Christ's Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) was truly strengthened. Waves of Spirit would wash over me, and witness to mind and heart of the power of the words of the prophets who kept the ancient record I am privileged to hold in my hands. I think that making reading the Book of Mormon a priority over the busy holiday season was really THE gift of the season. It's too easy to get caught up in holiday business that has nothing to do with Jesus.

By the end of the book, I found myself feeling weepy. I felt such gratitude to the Savior for the knowledge I have of this great book, and I felt a strong desire to strive for greater personal obedience to the Savior, to show my gratitude to Him. I felt His love, and I felt like sharing that love with others, as I am able. One can't help read this book, without coming away with a desire to be a good person. Truly, it is like no other book, and it is the keystone of our religion. As Elder Holland said, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.” ¹⁰

Read this book. Read it with real intent. Pray with all the energy of your soul, to know if its truthfulness. Be prepared to act on the truth which will be revealed to you. Know that Heavenly Father loves you, and that Christ, the Anointed One, your personal Savior, is waiting to embrace you. Know that this Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ, that it fully corroborates the record of the Jews (The Holy Bible), and that one day we will all stand before God, to be judged of our works. The Spirit beareth record.