The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.
It is important to remember that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ! This week we are reading from the Title Page to 1 Nephi 13.
Don’t skip out on the Title Page, Introduction to the Book of mormon and the Testimony of the Witnesses. They’re so valuable. I believe they help us better understand why we need the Book of Mormon. I also want to point out that there are 12 witnesses of the Book of mormon. Which, I LOVE. There are 3 witnesses, then 8 witnesses and Joseph Smith. That makes 12. I think it’s amazing and not a coincidence.
My top points of discussion:
1 Nephi 4:6
I love that Nephi goes and does without knowing what will happen. I also love that we get to see how it plays out. Nephi is told THREE times from the Spirit to kill Laban. He doesn’t actually WANT to do this. He is taught that in order to get the plates this is literally the only option.
1 Nephi 7: 17-18 Go and get Ishmael and his family.
On the way back from getting Ishmael’s family, his brothers and others rebel and tie Nephi up and leave him to die. In verse 17 we read about Nephi’s faith in asking the Lord to give him strength to burst the bands that he’s tied up with. In verse 18 we read about how the Lord allows the bands to be loosed so Nephi can escape. The Lord shows His power by answering Nephi’s faithful prayer – but in a way that doesn’t show off Nephi’s strength, but the Lords abilities.
1 Nephi 7: 21
Nephi talks to his brothers and they understand (again) what they did was wrong. I love that Nephi “frankly forgives” them. It’s a beautiful example of moving forward and teaching others to turn to God to be forgiven.
1 Nephi 9: 5-6
Nephi needs to write these plates and the purpose he knows not. However, we know that later – much, much later – the writings of Lehi would be gone forever. Because Nephi was willing to preserve his own records we now have so many teachings, even from Lehi.
1 Nephi 13:37
“The Gathering of Israel is the most important thing happening on the earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. If you choose to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, You can be a big part of something grand, something majestic.” President Nelson Hope of Israel
The Gathering of Israel is doing our part to make sure that everyone gets to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they decide if they want to hear more. They deserve that opportunity. We don’t get to decide if we withhold the Gospel from other people.
We must allow people the opportunity to recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior and the desire to want to be with Him, and know of Him and want to make covenants with Him.
Please remember that the time we are taking to read the Book of Mormon shouldn’t be a burden. Listen to the scriptures as you wash dishes or fold laundry. You do not have to feel like you have to read a physical copy of it. Do what you can and be gracious with yourself! Just trying is such a huge step some days.
