My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.
(“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?" Russell M. Nelson, GC Oct 2017)From the Introduction of The Book of Mormon
Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
(Footnote #9 from '“Chapter 4: The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2011), 57–68', History of the Church, 4:461; from instructions given by Joseph Smith on Nov. 28, 1841, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff.)From "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion", Ezra Taft Benson, Oct 1986
If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?”-
It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.-
There is a power in the Book of Mormon which will begin to flow into your lives the minute that you begin a serious study of the book. You will find the power to avoid deception. You find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path.-
"Social, ethical, cultural, or educational converts will not survive under the heat of the day unless their taproots go down to the fulness of the gospel which the Book of Mormon contains." ("The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God". Ezra Taft Benson. General Conference Apr 1974. Also in the First Presidency message of the Jan 1988 Ensign. )
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From "Blessings Resulting from Reading the Book of Mormon", L. Tom Perry Oct 2005
“Why did these writers choose these particular stories or events to include in the record? What value are they for us today?”
Gordon B Hinckley, in 2005, challenged the world to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year.
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 ("A Testimony Vibrant and True", Gordon B. Hinckley, Liahona and Ensign, Aug. 2005, 6).What are the three promises from Gordon B Hinckley?
- an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord
- a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments
- a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God
From Thomas S. Monson, "The Power of the Book of Mormon", Apr 2017
This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as members of this Church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated.President Monson spoke for 3 minutes and 27 seconds. In print it is 6 paragraphs. He used one paragraph to announce new temples. He then used 5 paragraphs to tell us of the importance to read the Book of Mormon each day. In his short talk he mentioned that twice in addition to asking us to pray and read the scriptures daily. He did not speak to us in Oct 2017.
What am I doing to keep my testimony vibrant?
Elder Monson asked, "What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today?" His answer is:
I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
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My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.What are the four promises Thomas S. Monson gave if we would read the Book of Mormon daily?
be in a position
- to hear the voice of the Spirit
- to resist temptation
- to overcome doubt and fear
- to receive heaven's help in our lives
"We should not look upon reading and studying the scriptures as an inconvenience and something to be endured. In the word of God is power and nourishment and life." (“Give Heed unto the Word of the Lord”, Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign Jun 2000)
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When I go to the table to eat, I don’t take physical nourishment without asking the Lord to bless that food to nourish and strengthen my body. Similarly, I think when we study the scriptures, we should bow our head and pray—often it would be silently because of the surroundings—but we would pray that the Lord would bless us that we’d be able to understand what we’re reading and that the act of reading the scriptures would summon the Spirit of the Lord to guide us on things other than simply the meaning of what we’re reading. In this way the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to help us receive revelation. But it begins with prayer; it doesn’t begin with reading, like a newspaper or a magazine. ("A Panel Discussion with Elder Dallin H. Oaks", Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Satellite Broadcast • August 7, 2012, See also https://youtu.be/lpzzU62mKhg)-
There are few things that a teacher can do that would have a more powerful, long-range effect upon their students’ lives than teaching them the importance of studying the scriptures, giving them that experience, letting them taste the fruit of daily scripture study. In my judgment, that would go beyond any subject that might be taught from the scriptures, except the fundamentals in the first few articles of faith. Beyond that, I think the most important thing we could do as teachers of seminary and institute students would be to connect them with the scriptures and the results of daily scripture study. ("A Panel Discussion with Elder Dallin H. Oaks", Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Satellite Broadcast • August 7, 2012-
When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls. (“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?”, President Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, Oct 2017)-
My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.
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Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” I want to exclaim, “That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in “the inmost part” of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, “I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people” to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.
(“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?”, President Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, Oct 2017)-
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 (emphasis added)
18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
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