The Final Chapters

What a hard thing it is to pick my favorite verse from the final chapters of The Book of Mormon and expound on it for the blog. Should I quote the last few verses of chapter 7 about faith, hope and charity and how "charity is the pure love of Christ and who is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." There could hardly be better advice than that.

Or should I talk about one of my favorite scriptures of all time in verse 48. For those who feel they should have more charity but don't, how do they achieve it? "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.." The answer is right there.

But then there's the advice in chapter 9 about not giving up on others, even if it seems hopeless.

"And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease labor, we should be brought under condemnation." You never stop trying with loved ones - even if they don't change, at least you can take comfort in the fact you'd tried our hardest.

Of course, chapter 10, the final chapter is filled with pearls of wisdom. There's the promise of Moroni in verse 4 that if we read and then ask the Lord if this scripture is true, "if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost." It's a simple promise, easy to understand, and yet entire talks could be given about each phrase of that verse. It's a promise I've put to the test and received an answer.

As powerful as verse 4 is, there's so much to learn from the remainder of the chapter. There are the inspiring verses that tell us that the Lord give each of us special gifts. We should consider what our special gifts are and use them to build the kingdom.

Verse 23 really stuck me. "If ye have faith ye can to all things which are expedient unto me."

Now, that's a promise that gives me hope I can accomplish whatever of the Lord wants of me.

However, I think verse 32 really hits the nail on the head with the primary message of the Book of Mormon. "Yea, come unto Christ and be perfected in him and deny yourselves of all ungodliness." That's what all the other verses are leading us to do - to come unto Christ. After all, the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ.

But finally, the thought hits me that I don't have to choose just one verse to talk about in my blog post. There's nothing that says I can't mention all of them that I like, so I did.

What a blessing it has been to read the Book of Mormon with the youth of our ward. I'm so gratified at the testimonies our young people have of this great scripture. I, along with so many of you, bear testimony of its truthfulness and leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Moroni 9:25

"...may Christ lift thee up..."
Isn't that just great? The power of God, and of the priesthood, and of the whisperings of the Holy Ghost- through them, Christ can lift you up! It made me so happy watching the Bishop's video of Book of Mormon interviews, and how many people said, when they were sad, they turned to the scriptures. It's a very smart thing to do, because as Moroni said, Christ can lift us up. The Book of Mormon is called Another Testament of Jesus Christ, which would lead me to believe it can lift me up, if Christ can! I have now read the Book of Mormon all the way through 4 times, and I know the positive impact it can have in my life, and that it is the word of God. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Moroni's Challenge

What a great experience this has been, reading the Book of Mormon on my own for the first time. It has been a great blessing and I have felt the spirit stronger in my life. Anyway, the final scripture I wanted to share is found in the last chapter of the book of Moroni, in verse 4.

Moroni says: I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I would like to challenge all of you, if you have not already, to pray to Heavenly Father and ask if the Book of Mormon is true. I know and bear my testimony that he will answer your prayers. I have a testimony of the truthfullness of the scriptures and I know they are the word of God. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the time is soon at hand that he will come again. I know that he knows us and loves us each individually, and that he knows and understands our hopes and problems. I am so thankful for the example of all the prophets and heroes of the Book of Mormon. I am especially thankful to have the gospel and to be a member in this Latter-Day church. I know that through Jesus Christ and the Atonement we are able to live with our Father in Heaven again. And this I leave you with in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Until We Meet

I am very touched by Moroni's final comments in Ether chapter 12. I think he presumed this would be the last message from him in the Book of Mormon - mostly because he himself writes in Moroni chapter 1 that "I had supposed not to have written more." But he goes on to say that he had not yet perished so he would write a bit more.

So Moroni's message in at the end of Ether 12 is very powerful. It's as if he is talking right to us He bids farewell "until we shall meet before the judgement seat of Christ. And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face."

If anyone has any doubts about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and Moroni's testimony he tells we will all find out at that time that he was telling the truth. I look forward to that day when I can meet Moroni and hear his testimony from his own lips and perhaps express to him my eternal gratitude for the role he played in compiling that great book of scripture that has blessed my life so much. I KNOW it's true, and I add my witness and invitation to his: "And, now I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written." in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Moroni 7:19 & 22

(Verse 19) "Search dilligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil." I think that's pretty good, straightforward advice. It gets even better when, in verse 22, it says, "In Christ there should come every good thing." So, when you look for answers or guidance in Christ's light, you'll know good from evil. And that good will be extra good, because every good thing comes from Christ. And you just chose Christ's good. So, you're pretty much set. Obviously, you have some trials, but Heavenly Father knows you can handle them, and eventually, good things will come. I would like to bear my testimony of these things, and of the entire Book of Mormon. I know that it is true, and I'm so grateful that the bishop was inspired to have us do this blog. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Charity Never Faileth

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is greatest of all, for all things must fail- But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

-Moroni 46-47

I have often heard the phrase 'Charity never faileth' in conference talks and Sunday School lessons, but I never knew where it came from. Well, now I know. Anyway, these two verses are pretty powerful and contain a lot of good doctrine. The very first thing Moroni tells us (before he even shares what charity is) is that if we don't strive to have charity, we are nothing. He then goes on to say that charity is the pure love of Christ and that charity never faileth. And whoso possesses it at the last day, it shall be well with him. So how do we know when we have obtained charity? Well, I think we'll know we possess charity when we are as close to Christ's example as we can be. When we are able to love others for who they are and not judge them by their past transgressions. When we are willing to do anything to help others when they are in need. And if we have been and still are obedient and loyal to our Heavenly Father. That is when we'll know.

I have a testimony in these things and I know that they are the truth. I know that Moroni was inspired to write these words about charity for a reason. I know that President Monson is a true prophet and that he is called of God. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he atoned for our sins. I believe that The Book of Mormon is true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

It Shall Come in a Day When ...

I was amazed this week reading how the prophecies of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon are happening. Mormon 8 has a lot of them. First there are the natural disasters:

"Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands. And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places. Yea, and it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions up the face of the earth."

I think of the news we've reported just recently - the tsunami and earthquake in Japan that killed so many people. The recent tornados - 1,032 of them reported in April alone. The worst April on record before that the worst was 267 back in 1974. Normally a handful of people die per month in tornados. 875 lost their lives in April.

Another part of the chapter says the Book of Mormon will come in a day when some will say it's okay to do anything you want and Lord will uphold you at the last day. It also says there will be murders and lying and whoredoms and all manner of abominations. We are certainly seeing plenty of that too.

The fulfilling of these Book of Mormon prophecies is just one more indication of its truthfulness.