BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” BYU students take nearly a semester of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.
In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)
Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.
Mormonism: Letting the Holy Ghost In
I sent this in an email to my brother. He’s at a point in his life where he doesn’t really want much to do with the church, but isn’t finding happiness anywhere else either. I thought this scripture might help him. I wrote this January 10.
Hey Jaron, I hope you’re having a good day. Last night I was reading in Alma 34. When I came to verse 38, I immediately thought of you, and felt like I should share my thoughts with you. In the verse it talks about not contending against the Holy Ghost anymore, and learning to worship God in “whatsoever place ye may be in.” I took that to mean not only what physical or geographical place you’re in, but also emotionally and spiritually where you are. No matter how low we feel, no matter what mess we get ourselves into, we can learn to worship our Heavenly Father so that we can live in “thanksgiving daily.” If I’m being honest, from what I’ve seen, you don’t seem truly happy or thankful for the life you live very often. Maybe I just haven’t seen you at the right times, and am misjudging the situation, but I know if you’re seeking to find greater happiness and a more fulfilling lifestyle, now is the time to stop resisting the Holy Ghost, to stop fighting against the good in your life, and to turn again to your Father in Heaven, who will always love you. You know I love you for who you are. I know you don’t want much to do with the church. I’m not sending this to pressure you, but I can see how this scripture could change your life for the better, and I’d be a lousy sister if I resisted sending this to you just because I’m scared of what you’ll think. I just want to see you happy. Love ya bro.
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