I was so nervous to speak. It's gotten worse over the years to get up infront of people. I hate the attention on me, YIKES! So I worked for almost 2 weeks on my talk. Matt worked a day on his. He is layed back, and doesn't get as stressed as I do about things.
Here is my talk it was on habits for increased spitituality.
I want to start my talk out by talking about yeast. Think to yourselves about what happens when you put yeast in warm water. When yeast is put in warm water it begins to grow or increase. Now think about what will happen when you put sugar with it. Yeast grows when it is put in a warm moist environment, but it will grow even more rapidly if it has sugar to feed on. So with that in mind I have been asked to speak on Habits for increased spirituality. Consider Ourselves the yeast. The warm water is the type of environment that we want to be living in. If we are living in Cold water that means we are not living the way we should. We want to be living in the warm water because that means we are doing the things we are supposed to be doing. The Sugar is the extra things we should be doing in our everyday lives to increase our spirituality.
My Talk will follow Elder Joe J. Christensens talk In the December 1994 Ensign entitled Resolutions. In his talk he had an infromal survey taken among 150 young adults. They were asked to list three resolutions they felt would help them become happier and more successful during the new year. Almost everyone in the survey (98 %) included resolutions to increase their spirituality. Two out of three (68%) indicated they would like to improve their social skills. Half (49%) indicated a desire to improve their physical fitness, and half (48%) wanted to grow intellectually. Everyone indicated a desire to improve.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior is recorded as saying, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). In the Joseph Smith Translation, the first part of that sentence is rendered, “Ye are therefore commanded to be perfect:” (JST, Matthew 5:50). The translation of the Greek word for perfect means “complete, finished, fully developed.” Some biblical analysts indicate that the suggestion to become perfect is exaggerated idealism or scriptural overstatement. We as Latter-day Saints believe that the Savior meant what he said and that becoming like our Father in Heaven and the Savior is a commandment, not just a suggestion. We should strive continually to be more like them. After his resurrection, the Savior asked his disciples, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” and then answered, “Even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).
In Luke 2:52 we read: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” In other words, the Savior developed in the same areas indicted on the poll: intellectually (in wisdom and knowledge), physically (in stature), socially (in favor with man) and spiritually (in favor with God). If we concentrate on these four areas in which Jesus grew we will be happier and can develop habits that will increase our spirituality. I want to focus and talk about these 4 areas.
#1.Intellectually (in wisdom and knowledge):
Learn. Get out of the house and go on learning outings. Read good books throughout your life. Reading statistics for last year were pretty disturbing. Only 1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. Only 42 % of college graduates never read another book after college. That is pretty sad. We must ask ourselves, are we reading? Are we growing in wisdom? Growing up their was one summer where my parents told us they would pay us a penny for each page that we read. I hated to read, but with a little insentive I learned to love it and turned into an avid reader.
D&C 88:118 gives us Scripural commandment to “seek out of the best books words of wisdom” and “become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people” What we choose to read will make a huge difference in the development of our minds and character. We cannot just sit back and do nothing. We were put on this earth to learn, so the challenge is the same for all of us, to continue learning throughout our lives, and especially learning more about the gospel. If you were to read an entire book each week for the next seventy years, you would read 3,640 books. That sounds like a crazy amount, but in the Library of Congress there are more than 33 million books. On a site that I googled blurt it.com it says Roughly 190,000 books are printed yearly. This means that even if we read continually, we could not read more than the smallest fraction of the books in print. So we should not waste time reading anything that is not uplifting and instructive.
Along with reading good books we should only watch good things. If we would resolve not to watch even one movie, video, or television show of R-rated quality or worse. Even be careful of PG-13 movies from now on. Our future happiness and success depends on that choice. President Hinkley said “We do not have to view salacious magazines. We do not have to read books laden with smut. We do not have to watch television that is beneath wholesome standards. We do not have to rent movies that depict that which is filthy. We do not have to sit at the computer and play with pornographic material found on the Internet.” Despite the rampant inappropriate material, there are still many books, films, and music selections that are wholesome and can “add fire to our spirits and improve our minds.” You will become informed and more well-rounded by surrounding yourself with material that is both uplifting and inspiring.
I remember a time in high school where I was presented my first opportunity to watch an R-rated movie. There was a group of us at my neighbors house around halloween time. We wanted to watch a scary movie. One of the kids in the group who’s family didn’t have rules about what kind of movies they watched went and got one and brought it back to the house. I was feeling uncomfortable with the whole idea. My younger brother was there and he said he didn’t want any part of it. Because of his example I was able to leave. It should have been the other way around. Anyways It felt great to be able to walk away from that, and you know what the next day in church the lesson was on not watching R-rated movies. I felt even better because I didn’t have that guilt on my shoulders! I have seen R-rated movies, and feel aweful that I have. Because I have felt so aweful about it, I have made a rule to not have them in my home or see them.
#2: Physically (In stature)
Our bodies are temples and we have a responsibility to care for them. The Lord has commanded us to take good care of our bodies. The Lord revealed a health code, the Word of Wisdom, that can help make all the difference in how we feel and perform. With good health, we can be happier and more successful. Without it we will be cut short, in almost every way.
We need to get an adequately balanced diet. Follow the do’s in the Word of Wisdom. Eat nutritious food, plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Meals don’t need to feature the meat dish every time in order to be enjoyable. Avoid the don’ts—tobacco products, alcohol, cofee, tea, drugs or other addictive stimulants. We will be blessed in a multitude of ways by avoiding these don’ts.
Get adequate physical exercise. Choose a sport or other vigorous physical exercise consistent with your situation and physical condition, and be regular in pursuing it. Get the blood circulating, and give those muscles a workout. Even just walking can get you far and you will benefit from it. An appropriate amount of time and effort spent in exercising will help you to be more effective in all other areas of your life.
I have been blessed by the good example of my parents. My Mom and Dad were always exercising, and eating right. In my youth and growing up I have always struggled with my weight and eating right. Now I can honestly say that I have really found out for myself this past year and a half what a good balanced diet is and what a good physical exercise program can do for you. I did it and I feel wonderful! Everything I did followed the word of wisdom. Do this and you will feel good.
Get adequate rest. The Lord gave us more counsel in D&C 88:124, that we really need to follow. “Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated”.
Are you getting the rest you need, or are you going to bed late and sleeping much longer than your body really needs thus missing out on some of the personal inspiration you could be receiving? Great value can come to you as an early riser. Years ago, President Marion G. Romney, told Elder Joe J. Christensen that after receiving his call to be a General Authourity in 1941, he went to Elder harold B. Lee for advice on how to be successful as a General Authority.
Harold B. Lee said, “I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early. If you do, your body and mind will become rested, and then, in the quiet of those early morning hours, you will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time of the day.” President Romney said “From that day on, I put that counsel into practice, and I know it works. Whenever I have a serious problem, or some assignment of a creative nature with which I hope to receive the influence of the Spirit, I always receive more assistance in the early morning hours than at any other time of the day. Following that counsel has helped me a great deal through the years.”
We all can have a similar experience in our own lives. You can change, even if you are more of a night person. I’ve heard that you can set a new habit in twenty-one days. When you get right down to it, it really is a matter of strong willpower and “mind over mattress.” Remember Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise. D&C 89:18-20 states: “All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings…shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.”
#3: Socially (in favor with man)
Learn to be the kind of person with whom others of high standards enjoy associating. We all would like to have more friends. There is a book written by Dale Carnegie; How to Win Friends and Influence People. Here are some principles he wrote for making friends:
- Become genuinely interested in other people.
- Smile. (Remember, the Lord commands us to “be of good cheer.”)
- Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
- Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
- Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
- Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely.
Occasionally, look in a full-length mirror. We shouldn’t become obsessed with how we look, but we should work to maintain a pleasant phsical appearance. President Spencer W. Kimball said: “How nice and easy would it be if we had a magic wand! But we haven’t. You might take a careful inventory of your habits, your speech, your appearance, your weight, and your eccentricities….Take each item and analyze it…What personality traits please you in others? Are your clothes too short, too long, too revealing, too old-fashioned? Does your weight drive off others? Do you laugh raucously?…Are you interested only in your own intrests?(The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, pp 295-96.)
All we can do is the best we can with what we were given. After we have done what we can do to improve our appearance, we should forget about ourselves and think of others and their needs. Serve others. I have had many examples throughout my life of people who have served me and made me feel good. Because of them I want to be able to serve other people and make them feel good too. I think It feels even better to be the one serving and helping others with their needs and seeing them be so happy in the end.
#4: Spiritually (In favor with God)
If we are to increase in favor with God, we must resolve to overcome as much as possible the sin of pride.President Benson maintained that pride is the uniersal sin. That means that every one of us, to one degree or another, suffers from the problem and must do all in our power to overcome its influence. As human beings, we have a remarkable capcity to fall under the influence of pride—even when we think we are in the safest of religious settings.
In our Church callings there can be danger of pride. We may fall into the trap of aspiring to positon, praying, “Father, I want to serve, Use me in an executive position! We have got to remember that the greatest example to us all Our Savior and Redeemer, set the example of humble service by kneeling and washing his disciples feet. (see John 13:4-16) Where we serve does not matter. How we serve matters a great deal.
The scriptures have many indications that pride has risen to destroy individuals, nations, and in some cases even the Church itself. No less than thirty times in the Book of Mormon the cycles of prosperity and peace were destroyed principally by the effects of human pride ( see, for example, 3 Nephi 6:4-14).
Jacob’s warning: “O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailities, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
In 2 Nephi 9:28-29 it states “But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counself of God”. Robert J. McCracken, wrote: “If we make a listing of our sins,…Pride is not only the worst of the seven deadly sins; it is the parent sin, the one that leads to every other, the sin from which no one is free” (Shat is Sin? Pp.11-12).
Read from the sciptures daily. Do you feast on the sciptures, or do you nibble? Study of the scirptures is as much nourishment to the spirit as food is to the body. Our prophets have repeatedly emphasized that we should read from the Book of Mormon daily. It really is another testament that Jesus is the Christ. Scholars have counted within the Book of Mormons pages 3,925 references to the Savior. On average, one reads in this book something about Jesus every 1.7 verses. Read 10 min a day until you have finished the Book of Mormon, and then start over again and continue feasting on Christ’s words. Every decision of our lives could be more inspired if we would do this. I have read the Book of Mormon several times. I don’t always understand what I read, but I feel good after I have read.
Really pray and not just say prayers. There is a big difference here. Learn to pour out your feelings to your Heavenly Father, rather than repeating the same words or phrases that we have become accustomed to using. President Brigham Young counseled that if we don’t feel like praying, that is the time to pray until we do feel like it (see Discoursed of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, p.44). We should be greatful to pray. That is our opportunity to talk to our Heavenly Father. He wants to hear from us, and help us. I know that I don’t always feel like praying, but I still do. Afterwards I always feel better.
Is our fasting meaningful? I try very hard to make mine meaningful. It’s an opportunity to put your faith and trust in the Lord. Do we share our testimonies regularly? I know I need to share mine more regularly. I get scared and resist doing it. We should never be shy when the opportunity presents itself.
If you are really serious about growing spiritually, then “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex.20:8).
Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work. Organize your work, study, shopping time, recreation time for these 6 days. Save the 7th day for rest. Sundays provide the time to turn to things more spiritual. After attending our meetings and fulfilling other Church duties, we don’t have to sit and fold our arms the whole Sunday. President Kimball suggested many things we can do to make the Sabbath special: meditate; serve others; read the scriptures, study the scriptures, read the church magazines, read uplifting literature; study the prophets, lives and teachings; prepare church lessons, and family home evenings; visit family and friends; write in our journals, write to the missionaries, enjoy uplifting music and sing church hymns; read with a child; do family history research; friendship nonmembers; visit the sick, the aged, and the lonely. (see Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.217).
I love Sundays! It is a day of relaxing with my family after church meetings. I like to spend time with them, playing games, watching good wholesome movies, eating good food, having good conversation! All of this in my very own home!
It will take energy and effort to form these habits for increased spirituality, and I pray that we can as Jesus did, increase in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. Doing this we will become happier, more successful, and more like the Savior every day for the rest our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
Matt's talk was on Habits for improving scripture study:
Habits to improve Scripture Study
President Gordon B. Hinckley once encouraged us to read the scriptures by saying, “If I were a bishop or stake president today, what would I do? … I would encourage my people to read the scriptures, to read the Book of Mormon, to read the New Testament. I would urge them with all the capacity I have to read quietly and thoughtfully and introspectively.” Hoping that we would gain a love of the scriptures, he also said, “I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God.
The Savior and His servants have encouraged us to read, seek, search, ponder, study, feast upon, and treasure up His words
in Isaiah 34:16 it says; Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read:
in John 5:39 it says; Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
2 Nephi 31:20 it says; wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
And in D&C 11:22 But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto.
The number and variety of invitations suggest that there are different ways to study the scriptures. Sometimes I like to read from cover to cover. At other times I search for answers to personal questions or challenges. Often I study topics listed in the Topical Guide. I also enjoy researching how the Lord uses a specific word throughout the scriptures. When I am really serious, I mark phrases, underline words, or write notes in the margins of my scriptures.
While there is no one right way to study the scriptures, there are certain skills that can help us get the most out of our scripture study. Like a cook who uses specific skills to prepare delicious meals, so an able student of the scriptures uses specific study skills to prepare delicious scriptural feasts to feed the soul. The more we master these skills, the more satisfying our scripture study will become.
Reading the scriptures fosters faith and a more personal relationship with God, but it requires specific study skills.
Answers to prayers, nourishment of faith and increased closeness with God can be found in the scriptures, but a person must know how to study them.
Studying the word of God is always better than simply reading it and anyone can start getting more out of their scripture study.
Make a Regular Commitment to Scripture Study
People are not likely to get very much out of sporadically reading the scriptures here and there when their schedules allow. They need to set a time every day for scripture reading, and that commitment needs to become a priority. Depending on your schedule, some of the best times to read the scriptures may be first thing in the morning or before bed at night. Our family does our scripture reading at night before we go to bed.
Pray Before Beginning to Read
Begin each scripture study period by asking God to help you focus, to receive inspiration, and to find answers to questions about life. Doing so will intensify gospel study time and invite the Holy Spirit to be your guide as you read.
Personalize Your Scriptures
If a person hasn't got their own copy of the scriptures, they need to obtain one. Paper volumes as well as electronic versions of the scriptures are easily available in various translations. Feel free to highlight significant verses and make notes in the margins as you read.
Look for Answers to Prayer in the Scriptures
A person may read over the Bible's account of the Good Samaritan and think, "That's a nice story." But a true student of the gospel will be asking themselves, "What is God trying to tell me through this scripture? Who is my neighbor? Who can I help today and how?" Scriptures are often God's way of answering personal prayers, and people will miss the answers if they are careless.
Study Topically as Well as Chronologically
There's a lot to be said for reading the scriptures straight through from beginning to end, but sometimes to get immersed in the scriptures it helps to study a gospel topic. Pick an area of interest and use a scripture study devotional or cross-reference index to learn more about it. Good topics to study could include:
•Faith
•Charity
•Forgiveness
•Prayer
•Adversity and trials
•Resurrection
•Free will
•Atonement
With commitment to regular scripture reading and a willingness to accept the Lord's help, anyone can enhance the quality of their scripture study.
Why is the reading of the Book of Mormon so important to us today? It is because the major writers of the Book of Mormon fully understood that their writings were primarily for the people of a future generation rather than for the people of their own generation.
The prophet Nephi stated:
“Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand” (2 Ne. 25:21).
The Book of Mormon is a voice of warning to this generation. See how vividly it describes conditions on the earth today:
“And no one need say [these records] shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the dead.
“And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.
“Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.
“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, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity” ([Morm. 8:26–31]).
President Ezra Taft Benson reaffirmed the fact that the Book of Mormon is of particular value to our time when he said:
“The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessing today. Those people never had the book—it was meant for us. Mormon, the ancient prophet after whom the book is named, abridged centuries of records. God, who knows the end from the beginning, told him what to include in his abridgment that we would need for our day” (“The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, May 1975, 63).
How often we read the record primarily as a history of a fallen people, failing to remember that it was compiled by inspired prophets for the purpose of helping us come unto Christ. The major writers of the Book of Mormon did not intend it to be a history book at all. In fact, Jacob said that his brother Nephi commanded him that he “should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people” (Jacob 1:2).
Each time we read the book we should probably ask ourselves: “Why did these writers choose these particular stories or events to include in the record? What value are they for us today?”
Among the lessons we learn from the Book of Mormon are the cause and effect of war and under what conditions it is justified. It tells of evils and dangers of secret combinations, which are built up to get power and gain over the people. It tells of the reality of Satan and gives an indication of some of the methods he uses. It advises us on the proper use of wealth. It tells us of the plain and precious truths of the gospel and the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for all mankind. It informs us of the gathering of the house of Israel in the last days. It tells us of the purpose and principles of missionary work. It warns us against pride, indifference, procrastination, the dangers of false traditions, hypocrisy, and unchastity.
Now it is up to us to study the Book of Mormon and learn of its principles and apply them in our lives.
The Book of Mormon begins with a great story on the importance of families having and using the scriptures. Lehi, a prophet-father, was warned that there were people who were seeking to take away his life because of his declarations concerning their wickedness. He was instructed to take his family and flee.
“And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness” (1 Ne. 2:4).
After journeying some distance, Lehi had a dream in which the Lord said that they should not journey farther without returning to Jerusalem and obtaining the record of their fathers which was engraven on plates of brass. These plates also contained the words of the prophets and commandments of the Lord. The assignment was given to Lehi’s four sons to make the journey back to obtain the record.
Upon arriving at Jerusalem, they cast lots to decide who would go to the house of Laban and ask for the brass plates. The lot fell to Laman. He approached Laban, “and behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and thrust him out from his presence; and he would not that he should have the records. Wherefore, he said unto him: Behold thou art a robber, and I will slay thee” (1 Ne. 3:13). Laman escaped with his life but without the brass plates.
When the first attempt to get the brass plates failed, Nephi’s brothers wanted to give up and return to their family in the wilderness. But Nephi encouraged them to keep trying and proposed another approach to obtain the record: “Let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches. And all this he hath done because of the commandments of the Lord. …
“And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records … , for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things” (1 Ne. 3:16, 24).
Nephi’s example teaches us that the blessings of the scriptures are far more valuable than property and other worldly things. Pursuing the things of the world can sometimes give us momentary pleasures but not lasting joy and happiness. When we seek after the things of the Spirit, the rewards are eternal and will bring us the satisfaction we seek through this mortal experience.
President Hinckley has encouraged us to read the Book of Mormon to lift us above the things of the world, to enjoy the things of the Lord. He said, “Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God” (Liahona and Ensign, Aug. 2005, 6). These blessings are far more valuable than material possessions.
When Nephi and his brothers offered to exchange their wealth for the brass plates, Laban stole their property and tried to take their lives. Thoroughly discouraged after yet another failed attempt, Laman and Lemuel again wanted to give up on what they felt was an impossible task. Nephi, however, was unwavering in his commitment to obey the Lord’s commandments. He reasoned with his brothers this way: “Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?” (1 Ne. 4:1).
Approaching the assignment with faith in the Lord brought the desired result. As Nephi went forward to obtain the record, being led by the Spirit, Laban was delivered into his hands. Through his faith and obedience, Nephi secured for himself and his family the blessings of having the scriptures. Now, with the brass plates in their possession, Nephi and his brothers could return to their father in the wilderness and continue their journey.
If we will approach President Hinckley’s challenge with faith, we have the sure promise of our prophet of the blessings we will receive resulting from our study of the Book of Mormon. We will find, as Nephi and his family did, that the scriptures are “desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us” (1 Ne. 5:21). We can also receive the blessing Moroni promised as he closed his writings of the Book of Mormon:
“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God”
One thing that all missionaries do when investigators are reading the Book of Mormon is to ask them to apply Moroni’s promise (Moroni 10:3-5)
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, 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.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Regular scripture study should become a habit in your life.
I want to end by reading again the promise Gordon B Hinckley has given us…
“Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program [of scripture study], regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I'm so glad this is done and over with. Hopefully we won't have to speak again for another 3 years or so. That would be nice!
