BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters 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: What Would You Say?
I have always loved reading 3 Nephi 11. I love the story of Jesus coming to the Americas, because it testifies to me that Heavenly Father loves all of his children. Consequently, it makes so much sense that Jesus would visit the Father’s children in the Americas. This chapter serves as another testament of the divinity of the Book of Mormon in my life. My favorite scriptures come as Jesus testifies of himself and has the multitude of people come unto him and learn for themselves that he died and was resurrected. 3 Nephi 11:14-15 reads:
Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.
I love the fact that the people had the opportunity to one by one, see and communicate with the Savior. To me, this testifies of the Savior’s love for all of God’s children. I know that He died for me. If I were in that multitude He would have let me take as much time as I needed to feel the marks in His body and cast any doubt that I had aside.
Pondering these scriptures left me thinking: what would I say to the Savior if I were face to face with Him? I’m sure people would say different things, but I don’t know if I would even say anything. I sincerely hope that the Spirit would convey the love and gratitude that I have for Him as I fell to my knees and worshiped Him. My question for you is: what would you say to the Savior?
I know that Jesus Christ can be anything that we want Him to be in our life. Some people might need Him as a comforter, some to mourn with them, some as a peacemaker, etc. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ. I know that He is my Savior. I know that He loves all of his children, and subsequently visited all of them. I know that the Savior can be whatever we need Him to be in our lives. I urge each and every one of you to accept Christ as your Savior, and take His hand in yours as you traverse this mortal life. He is always there for you. Of these things I know to be true and testify of in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
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