The Holy Bible and Book of Mormon Support Each Other

As I was studying my scriptures this morning, I came across 1 Nephi 13 in the Book of Mormon. Early on in the chapter, Nephi talks about how he is seeing the history of the whole world, and as part of that he sees Jesus Christ as well as the Apostles. After that he sees a book, and an angel tells him that the book he sees is the Bible, and that it's purpose is to teach us about Christ and the covenants he wants us to make with him. Then in verses 38 to 40, he tells us how other scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will come to "establish the truth of [the Bible]...and shall make known unto all kindred's, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the World; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved."

I wanted to share this because of the simple fact that I LOVE the scriptures!! Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon mean so much to me! Right before my mission, my parents gave me a little metal tag for my keychain with one of my favorite verses from the Bible on it, Romans 8:28. Another one of my favorite verses comes in 1 Nephi 3:7. Both of these scriptures teach us that Christ gives us the power we need to overcome any obstacle, and are just one example of how the Bible and Book of Mormon support each other.

I feel sad that there is sometimes this "barrier" between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and other Christian churches. By barrier, I mean the lack of understanding that both the Bible AND the Book of Mormon testify of Christ, not just one or the other. They BOTH contain the word of God, and both can build our testimonies. I don't think I could count the number of times on my mission that I have heard the term "Mormon Bible." As our mission President says, "Our Bible is your Bible. We love and revere the Bible, and appreciate the wonderful witness it is of the Savior's mortal ministry. The Book of Mormon is simply another testament of Jesus Christ, one that contains a promise that if we read it with a sincere heart and real intent, that we can come to know of it's truth for ourselves."

I have taken that promise, and have had spiritual experiences confirming the truth of the Book of Mormon to me personally. Along with those experiences, I would like to share one more element of my own testimony in the form of an assignment to you. Oh, first a note about this assignment. You can only participate if you are under the age of 24, and if you have only had 3-4 years of formal schooling. Now with that, here is the assignment:

You must write a book about ancient Tibet. You are allowed no further research than what you already know about ancient Tibet at this current time. This book must be 3,000+ words, and to write it you are allowed the use of only 1 unpaid scribe. You must describe 2 main groups of people, and cover their religion, their politics and government, their geography, their economy, their monetary system, and everything else that you would need to know about their society. It must include 50 chapters about their wars, 20 historical chapters, 70 doctrinal, 50 chapters that contain visions, and 20 chapters about Jesus Christ and his personal ministry among the people. You must make up 280 names. It should include allegories, parables, poetry, and it has to sound like it has been translated from another language. You have to use about 24 different writing styles spread logically throughout the book, as if multiple people wrote over a thousand year period. Archeological research for the next 180 years must support this book. You must have 3 witnesses who are respectable people in the community claim that they saw an angel who showed them the record which the book was translated from, and these 3 can never deny what they have said, even if they leave you and your followers. The book must include a promise that if anyone reads it and asks God in faith, they will receive a witness that it is true, and it will change their lives for the better. Millions will have to try this promise and receive said spiritual answer. You must watch your followers be persecuted and even killed, and you yourself will receive many of these same persecutions. At age 38 you must give your life to protect your testimony of this book. Oh, and you only have 65 days to write.

Sounds like a pretty intimidating task doesn't it? All of these are similar to what Joseph Smith faced when he translated the Book of Mormon. Like I mentioned before, this isn't what proves to me that the Book is indeed a true translation of ancient scripture and not some made up novel, but it is something that has helped to strengthen my faith, and it can be a starting place for all. I testify that the Book of Mormon is God's word. I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ is restored on the earth, the same church we read about in the Bible. I testify of the Bible, and the truth and knowledge we can gain from studying it. I know Jesus is the Christ, and he is my Savior.

How Great Thou Art!

One of my favorite parts of serving in North Carolina is all the beautiful scenery here! Between the busy things we are doing every day, I love the moments when we are riding in the car or walking around the city and we have the chance to pause and take in the beauty around us.

I love the beauty of the Carolina's

Back home my family loved to go on little "rambles out yonder." Whenever we had a free weekend or a break from school, we would often load up in the car for a brand new adventure! I loved all the fun and beautiful places we would go.

 

"The Wave" located near the Utah-Arizona border

 

A beach along the Washington state coastline

 

Antelope Island, located in the Great Salt Lake in Utah

 

Being in nature has always allowed me time to rest, to feel calm, and to talk with my Heavenly Father. I love the serenity and peace I am able to feel. I believe that it is for these same reasons that Joseph Smith went out to the sacred grove to pray for answers to his question on which church was true. Or like in the Book of Mormon, when Enos prayed for close to a full day for forgiveness and knowledge. In the Bible, Jesus Christ retired multiple times to the sea, the wilderness, or even the Garden of Gethsemane, where he paid the ultimate price for our sins. As we spend quiet time alone with our Heavenly Father, whether it be when we are in a ramble out yonder, or even the privacy of , we can feel the great significance of the world, and how very small we are. In those moments however, we are also able to feel how very important we are individually to our Father in Heaven. He knows us personally and he loves more deeply than we can understand. I love the words of the popular hymn "How Great Thou Art," and the beautiful testimony they share of our God and his love for us. I'm so grateful for our God, and I love him too!

My Duty to God

 

I remember once when I was probably 7 years old something that still makes our family smile to this day. My mom was at the time involved in Scouting for our church sponsored Scout troop, and I was out with her at an event they were having. I remember I was looking at some small pictures of badges that were a part of cub scouts, and to me I was certain they were a bobcat, a wolf, and a yak! My mom later informed me with a laugh that it was in fact a bear I had been looking at, but I can still remember how excited I was to get the chance to start my scouting 'career' when I was 8 years old. Since that time, I have been blessed with wonderful leaders and mentors to help me along my personal path through Scouting. Throughout my journey of Scouting, I have learned and developed a number of new skills and hobbies. But even more important than the things I have learned to do are the values I have learned to cherish and the morals I have learned to follow.

 One of Scouting's main desires is "to find the good in every boy and develop it" (Baden Powell, the founder of Scouting). Essential to the scouting movement is a duty and desire to follow God. In fact, Baden Powell said "Their is no religious side to the movement, the whole of it is based on religion. That means on the realization and service of God." In the end, my gratitude is not for Scouting itself, but for the window Scouting provides to allow us to see the true source of light, which is Jesus Christ. As Thomas S. Monson has said "I am pleased to stand firm with an organization that teaches duty to God and country... whose motto is be prepared, and whose slogan is do a good turn daily."

I echo that the most important thing we can do in this life is to learn to know and follow God and his son Jesus Christ. God is our father, and Jesus Christ our savior. We learn about them as we study the Bible and Book of Mormon, as we pray, and as we seek the good in this life. One of my favorite scriptures says "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." (Moroni 7:16) I know as we all do our duty to God, we will find lasting peace and joy. After all, God isn't just important for young boys, he is important for all of us as well.

Check our this video all about our duty to God: http://bcove.me/ijl4ntdt


 

All Day, Every Day

I come from a family of 5 back in Utah. My dad is from Denver, Colorado and my mom grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho. My parents were married in the Idaho Falls temple and started raising a family. They ended up totaling at a family of 5, myself, my brother Hunter, and my sister Emily. I will be the first to tell you that my parents did an absolutely fantastic job at raising all of us! I have now been on a mission in North Carolina for 1 year (we serve 2 years total), and since leaving them I have come to realize the great examples they were to me even more.

My Family the Christmas before I left for the Carolina's
From left to right: my Dad, my sister Emily, me, my Mom, and my brother Hunter

Many of the lessons I learned while under their care consisted of normal life lessons, such as getting to places early, holding open doors for people, getting work done before play, or why we shouldn't touch hot stoves (but did I listen at 4 years old? of course not!) But I think the best lessons I learned from them were the ones that taught me how to be a true "example of the believers" (1 Timothy 4:12).

One of the things my mom always taught me over and over was to "make sure that you feel the Spirit at least once a day." It seemed to be her own sort of spiritual "apple a day" prescription. The Savior teaches the same principle in the sermon on the mount found in Matthew 6. As he prays to Heavenly Father, he includes the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread." (vs. 11). I realized my mom was teaching me the importance of what the Savior really meant here. So I decided to start doing my best to find my "daily bread." The Lord ask us to "pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." (2 Nephi 32:9)

Because I was striving to make sure my performance was for the Lord, I started looking for ways to make sure he would consecrate my labors. Some of the best ways I personally found was reading the scriptures daily (especially the Book of Mormon) and praying. As I did so, it was impossible for me not to notice the blessings that flowed into my life. I felt more love for my family. I felt a clearer mind when dealing with school or projects. I was better able to recognize the blessings God gave me in my own life. And most of all, my testimony of the gospel was consistently strengthened. I know that these same blessings are available for all of us as we make sure to "feel the spirit at least once a day." I testify that by doing so, we can become like the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob, who had such marvelous experiences that he "could not be shaken", even when faced with those who actively wished to destroy him and his faith. (Jacob 7:5) I thank my parents for teaching me the blessings of living the gospel daily, and I hope we all remember the wise council of our Savior to search for our daily bread all day, every day!

E'ry Day!!