Despite its miraculous origins and exquisite teachings, we sometimes forget how important the Book of Mormon is in our lives. What is it worth to you?
One way to realize how much we value something is to remove it from our lives. President Russell M. Nelson encourages us to engage in a thought experiment following this principle in his general conference talk “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It?” In his talk, he poses piercing questions, including whether diamonds and rubies or the Book of Mormon is of greater worth to each of us. Although I’ve always appreciated the scriptures, it wasn’t until my mission that I began to fully understand their value.
During my first transfer, my trainer gave me a printed handout in my mission language with a photo of President Nelson and a quote about the power of the Book of Mormon from this talk. I kept it in my scriptures and used it throughout my mission when teaching friends about the Book of Mormon. Because I repeated and testified of the truth of this quote so often, the prophet’s promises engraved themselves in my heart: “The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.… I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day.” He also promises that this daily study will help us receive individual answers and guidance that we need.
As a missionary, the power of studying the scriptures daily—especially the Book of Mormon—was palpable. I felt it every morning during my personal study time, and that hour became a sacred, precious part of my day as I was strengthened and restored spiritually for the hours of work ahead.
In the chaos of returning home from my mission, I lost the precious handout from my trainer, but not the message it contained. These truths remain treasured up in my heart even three years after the end of my mission. Now my scripture study looks a little different, but the promises and the power of reading the Book of Mormon remain the same, for me and for each one of us.
Read or watch President Russell M. Nelson’s general conference talk, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” to learn more about the power of the Book of Mormon as a testament of Jesus Christ.
Source: General Conference
—Alyssa Knutti, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
Check out Elder Ozani Farias’s general conference talk, “The Book of Mormon—an Immeasurable Treasure on Our Journey,” to learn about the Book of Mormon’s converting power.
Take a look at President Thomas S. Monson’s general conference talk “The Power of the Book of Mormon” for another prophet’s testimony of the Book of Mormon.