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: Serving with the Spirit
Dear Mom,
This week in my Book of Mormon class we studied chapters 5 – 12 in Helaman. I learned quite a bit more from what I already learned. We learned how people change their surroundings to fit them and don’t change to fit their surroundings. The reasoning behind it is that people usually change their surroundings to make themselves feel comfortable. People don’t like to be told to repent or to change. Usually because of pride people harden their hearts so they are not receptive to the counsel. In Helaman chapter 5, verses 1 and 2 we see how this happened. In verse 1, Nephi gives up the judgment seat to Cezoram. In verse 2 we see that the people were being overcome with wickedness and that they changed the laws to what they desired and not what was good for the people. Also we see that this is why Nephi left the judgment seat. He left to change their hearts. He wouldn’t be doing any good if he stayed in the judgment seat and changed the law because no one would have done anything. This is because of the hardness of their hearts. By Nephi leaving as a missionary and doing good to change the people, he can change how they would want the laws.
It’s interesting to see how in the Church, instead of the prophet and First Presidency changing the laws or standards, they teach us what we need to do. I think this applies with families and each of us individually, that we are taught or as parents we teach and then let them govern themselves. On my mission that was huge part of leadership; that we taught and led by example, then let them govern themselves and correct where was needed. In the Doctrine and Covenants, it says that we need to correct with sharpness when moved upon by the spirit and then show an increase of love. I know that a huge part of my mission serving the people. The reason why I did the things that I did is that I loved them and cared about them. I love my Heavenly Father and I know that it was the right thing to do at that time. As we have the spirit, we have no need to worry that we are going to offend them but with the spirit it will be done out of love. I know that as we teach and love and serve it makes everyone around us happier, times are more enjoyable and there is more love at home and everywhere else we go. I love you mom and know that as you continue to have the spirit that you will increase in love and be able to help dad and become even better and you’re already are pretty great.
Love,
Mike
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