The Power of the Book of Mormon

In the most recent general conference Elder Rasband spoke about the Book of Mormon and our commitment to it. He gave us this invitation after telling stories about how he and President Nelson have shared the Book of Mormon with many dignitaries from other countries: “My dear friends, as an Apostle of the Lord, I invite you to follow our beloved prophet, President Nelson, in flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon. The need is so great; we need to act now. I promise that you will be participating in ‘the greatest work on earth,’ the gathering of Israel, as you are inspired to reach out to those who have been ‘kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.’ They need your testimony and witness of how this book has changed your life and drawn you closer to God, His peace, and His ‘tidings of great joy.’” His reference to flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon is similar to what the Lord said to Enoch: “And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth” (Moses 7:62). As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we bear testimony that truth did come literally out of the earth, given to the Prophet Joseph Smith by the angel Moroni and translated by the gift and power of God. Because they happened we have a responsibility to “sweep the earth as with a flood” by sharing the words and testimonies of the Book of Mormon with those whom we know.

                I love these words of President Nelson as Elder Rasband related: “The truths of the Book of Mormon, have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.” As we consider the ways that a serious study of the Book of Mormon bring us the blessings of God, this verse from Alma comes to mind: “And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5). There is indeed great power in the word of God, especially in the words of the Book of Mormon. It was brought forth for our day, and as we ponder its words daily it will be more powerful to us than any outer force that compels us to act. I love this testimony of Mormon: “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out” (Helaman 3:29-30). As we hold fast to the word of God found in the Book of Mormon, we will be led to overcome the world and its influences and be led back to the Savior. And so every day we must hold on, knowing that our time in the Book of Mormon will give us healing, comfort, succor, strength and much more. I love what Parley P. Pratt said after discovering the Book of Mormon in 1830: “My eyes beheld the ‘BOOK OF MORMON’—that book of books … which was the principal means, in the hands of God, of directing the entire course of my future life.” It is indeed the book more than any other that has directed the course of my life and given me power to face all the challenges of mortality.