I have a friend who is serving a mission right now. To protect her privacy and that of those she is teaching, I will simply refer to her as Sister C.
I loved this testimony of the importance of the testimony of Christ that is in the Book of Mormon. She is teaching someone who hasn’t yet read the Book of Mormon but is reading the Bible…but is unsure about the reality of Jesus Christ. Sister C writes:
For the first time, I see the relevance of the promise printed on the introductory page of the Book of Mormon:
We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.
I always thought, “If someone doesn’t believe that Jesus was the Savior of the world, and the Bible didn’t convince them, why would the Book of Mormon make any difference?”
I am overcome with excitement for our friend because I believe that once she begins reading the Book of Mormon, if she prays and listens with the Spirit, it will be a second witness of the reality of Jesus Christ and bring her to the knowledge of her personal Savior for the first time in her life.
BECAUSE: The Book of Mormon is a separate book from another part of the world, talking about the same Savior. That is not a coincidence. This was in a time where there was no internet. No cell phones. No way to communicate across continents and share prophecies back and forth.
It’s like one camera recording an event from one angle, with some visionary restrictions (which could produce doubt about what happened). And then a tape with a record of the same event from another angle confirms the evidence that was previously doubted!!!
In Jacob 4 of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Jacob explains that he and his people are making special records on metal plates so that they will be preserved for the future. This is on the ancient AMERICAN continent which is in another part of the world from the Bible about 544 years before Christ.
“For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we aknew of Christ, and we had a hope of his bglory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holycprophets which were before us.”
These people, in a separate record from the Bible, also knew of Christ hundreds of years before he was even born! Would that be the case if this were just a moral good man? Obviously this Jesus is a significant character if there are two separate ancient records of him before he was born. Not to mention people performing miracles in his name not just in Jerusalem, but in the Americas too!… and who knows what other records we don’t have yet.
Phew… I got a bit passionate there. I just really really really hope our friend can see and feel this.
Sometimes we as missionaries get impatient–not realize that being a witness is a blessing in itself.
I love my life. Hope you’re finding love for yours
Sister C
I’ve made a few edits to the letter for clarity and to protect privacy. ~Michelle
