Morman Church Archives - Why Mormonism

Mormons Celebrate Easter

ashley — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:46:25 +0000

Do Mormons celebrate Easter?

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”) are Christian, and as such most emphatically celebrate the Easter holiday. Yes we “Mormons” do enjoy the fun commercialized aspect of Easter with the egg hunts, Easter bunny baskets, candy, etc. But more importantly we celebrate it for what it truly is—the day that our Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from His tomb.

What Exactly is the Resurrection?

The Resurrection is “the reuniting of the spirit with the body in an immortal state, no longer subject to disease or death” (see Gospel Topics). We know that the Savior’s spirit was reunited with his body because of scriptural accounts in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. An example of this is found in the record of Luke where Jesus Christ said, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).

Will I Be Resurrected?

Because of our Savior’s resurrection, we also will be resurrected! Isn’t that glorious? Again, this truth has scriptural backing. We read in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, that through the Atonement (Christ’s selfless acts made it possible for man to be reconciled with God) “he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory” (Alma 22:14). And then in the Bible it states, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15: 20-22).

How did the Savior make the Resurrection possible?

To be perfectly honest, my brain can’t even comprehend the true greatness of this miracle to adequately answer this question. I do know, however, that He did make it possible. While in the Garden of Gethsemene, and again on the cross of Calvary, Christ felt all of the pains, sicknesses, and sorrows that have ever been felt or that will ever be felt (see Alma 7:11-12). In essence, His Atonement was truly infinite. Because He stuck with the plan, without giving up, even during the moment when He was completely alone, even uttering the solitary words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). And again, His “never quit” attitude kept persevering when the Adversary himself tempted in the climax of it all, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:40). He still pressed on, carrying out His divinely appointed mission, perfectly and with exactness. Because He did this, the resurrection was made possible! And He rose triumphantly. Allowing Easter to be truly a day of celebration.

What Does the Mormon Prophet Say about the Resurrection and Easter?

President Thomas S. Monson said this in a General Conference address in April 2010, titled, “He is Risen:”

No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when, on the first day of the week, they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord. Spoke the angel:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5-6).

Our Savior lived again. The most glorious, comforting, and reassuring of all events of human history had taken place—the victory over death. The pain and agony of Gethsemane and Calvary had been wiped away. The salvation of mankind had been secured. The Fall of Adam had been reclaimed.

The empty tomb that first Easter morning was the answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” To all within the sound of my voice, I declare, If a man die, he shall live again. We know, for we have the light of revealed truth.

My Testimony of Easter

Yes, I do enjoy the Easter Bunny. But my whole life is different because of my knowledge of this—that Jesus Christ was resurrected with a “body of flesh and bone.” I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of world. I know that the physical ailments that we have in this life will be made whole when we are resurrected, and that we will be resurrected because of the selfless One, even Jesus Christ. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and He has made it possible for all of us to return to live with our Heavenly Father as eternal families—what glorious truths.

I invite you to meet with Mormon missionaries, to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. Learn about Jesus Christ’s Atonement and all that it means for you and all those whom you associate with. It is truth that “if a man die, he shall live again” and what a reassuring truth that is. Read also, the Book of Mormon (a companion to the Bible) and feast upon the account of the Resurrected Lord’s ministry on the American continent.

This article was written by Ashley Bell, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Easter in Mormonism

Gale — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:41:58 +0000

Mormons, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often mistakenly called the Mormon Church), celebrate Christmas and Easter with enthusiasm and spirit. Mormons live in many lands and cultures, some of which have a Christian majority, making Easter a holiday observed by all. In other countries without a Christian majority, Mormons join with other Christians in observing the most important holiday of the year, the observance of the atonement and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The atonement of Jesus Christ is the center of Mormon belief. Everything we are and do hinges on that. Mormons believe that the entire work of God is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39). Immortality is guaranteed through the universal resurrection of all living things, brought about by the atonement of Christ. In the resurrection, we will all enjoy perfect, immortal, and whole bodies that cannot age, become diseased, or die. Therefore, Christ has overcome physical death; He has overcome the grave.

Eternal life is to dwell forever in God’s very presence. This is not the same as salvation, which is to be saved into one of the myriad mansions in heaven. This is exaltation into God’s presence, and it is conditional upon our righteousness, thoughts, deeds, intents, and in fulfilling requirements of eternal covenants and ordinances. Through doing work for the dead in holy Mormon temples, Latter-day Saints provide those ordinances, that the dead may choose to accept them or reject them. Thus, they can move from salvation to exaltation, should they choose and qualify to do so.

On normal Sundays, Mormons attend church for three hours. Sacrament meeting, during which the sacramental emblems (Eucharist) are passed, is different on Easter. Mormons sing hymns about the resurrection of Christ, (some of which are old Christian standards) and the congregation’s choir may sing special hymns. Sermons (presented by lay members, who call them “talks”) deal with the resurrection and atonement of the Savior.

Mormons do not have a Lenten season leading up to Easter. They fast one Sunday each month throughout the year and donate the funds they would have spent on food to the poor. They repent constantly of their sins and strive to do better. There is no carnival season, either, just normal, diligence and humility. The Mormon laws of health guarantee that Mormons live circumspectly and in moderation all their days, and not just during Lent.

The peripheral trappings of Easter observed by Latter-day Saints vary from family to family and culture to culture. In the United States, Latter-day Saints may join their neighbors for Easter egg rolls, or coloring eggs. In Greece Latter-day Saint families will dye Easter eggs blood red, as their neighbors do, and bake festive breads. Gathering the family together for a feast is common everywhere.

Mormons perceive the atonement of Christ as the central event in all of history and the one that is most powerful and meaningful in the lives of all who have ever dwelt on earth. Therefore, they try to minimize the peripheral and more worldly trappings of Easter to focus on the Savior and His sacrifice for us.

http://youtu.be/JVxhp2HATB0

Not All Roads Lead to the Summit

dwhite — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:32:03 +0000

God’s plan for His children is that they be happy. However, there are different levels of happiness, and God’s plan is for each of us to have the same level of joy that He has. In order to receive this joy, He has given us very specific commandments that we must follow. That does not mean that we will all be miserable for eternity if we do not follow His plan, but only His plan will bring us a fulness of joy.

In the scriptures, we are told by Jesus Christ Himself that He is “the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Him]” (John 14:6). The same thought is reiterated several times throughout scripture. There is no way back to God but through Jesus Christ.

In our lives, there are many different paths we can go down. Ultimately, however, there are really only two choices: God’s plan or Satan’s plan. If we do not choose God’s plan—which, remember, is laid out so specifically that there is no room for error—then we are choosing Satan’s plan. So, not all roads lead to the summit; there is only one road that leads to God.

Paul Warnick, a wise ecclesiastical leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which church is often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”) said in a stake conference of the Orem Stake in 2012, that there is only one ship that will get us to the shore. God’s plan, His “ship,” is the only ship that is not going to sink. At times it may seem like all the other ships are firing on it (which, in effect, they are), and that there is no way it can remain afloat amidst so much opposition. However, we have been told time and again that God has already won the battle; we simply have to decide which side we are going to be on in the end.

I draw a great deal of comfort from the fact that God’s plan is the only way that works. I know the specifics of the plan, at least what is expected of me, so there is no doubt in my mind about what I need to do in order to remain on that path. There are a lot of other options which seem to be not bad choices. Indeed, there are many options which are not inherently evil, but they are also not what God has in mind for me. Thus, those are not the right paths for me to go down. I can know through study, faith, prayer, and even trial and error, what God’s plan for me is.

Knowing God’s plan does not make following that one road easy, quite the contrary. The whole point of God’s plan is that we are stretched to our limits. Many times we even fail, but through our failures and experience, we grow and can repent and become more like God.

The atonement of Jesus Christ, the living Son of God, is what enables us to repent and ultimately have the opportunity to return to God. The atonement was part of God’s plan from the very beginning. God knew that we would not be able to follow His path in one try. We would need multiple tries. The only way we could be given multiple tries was if someone else took the fall for us, because justice is an eternal principle and must be met. When we sin, there is a consequence that must be met. When we turn to Jesus Christ, the only road which leads to the summit, we can use the power of His atonement to be cleansed and get ourselves back on the path headed in the right direction.

I am grateful for the knowledge I have of God’s plan for His children. I am grateful that I know from the scriptures that there is only one road which leads to God: Jesus Christ. I know that by following His commandments and by applying His atonement in my life I can be cleansed and eventually perfected through Him. This will not happen in this life, but if I do the best I can in this life, His grace will be sufficient to help me continue in my eternal progress, on that one road to the summit.

This article was written by Doris White, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Additional Resources:

www.mormonchurch.com

Basic Mormon Beliefs and Real Mormons

The Meaning of Life

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Mormonism: BYU Student Reflects on Remembering Jesus Christ‏

jonathan — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:16:02 +0000

As a college student at BYU, I have noticed that the power and confidence that I need to make every day decisions comes through trying to live a life centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ. This message is everywhere—in every volume of scripture. When hardships or trials come, the source of power that is needed to cope with them comes through remembering the Savior Jesus Christ. These lessons are described throughout the Book of Mormon (a text revered as sacred by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”). The lives of the prophets and people illustrate what blessings come from remembering their Savior. Nephi, one of those prophets describes his purpose for writing the scriptures, “And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer” (1 Nephi 19:18).
Nephi has written scripture for the entire purpose of persuading people to remember their Redeemer. This concept of remembering Jesus Christ guides actions and behaviors, which is the reason that Nephi desires to give the greatest piece of advice by exhorting others to always remember the Son of God. It is only when one forgets their Savior that they fall into temptations, and make wrong decisions. Why is it so hard to remember though? This is what makes life a challenge with opportunity to grow. Despite the times I forget, I know personally that life in every aspect becomes easier and better when I remember the Savior and make a decision that reflects the teachings and life of Christ.
Two of the main sources I have looked to in order to better remember the sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ are the scriptures, and my attendance to church each week.

The scriptures are a great source of comfort and guidance because they describe in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon the actual life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Also in the Bible are the prophesies and testimonies of prophets from before the life of Christ, especially the words found in Isaiah. One of the very first scriptures that inspired me and I memorized it at age 8, was Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.” In my young mind I was comforted, although I hadn’t made big mistakes yet, I knew that I could repent and be washed clean through Jesus Christ.

The other source of remembrance is by attending church each Sunday. At church we participate in the ordinance of the Sacrament, where we partake of bread and water in remembrance of the atonement of Jesus Christ. This partaking and remembering Jesus Christ, is a source of renewing a covenant each week to be better than I have been and to more align my desires with the desires my Heavenly Father has for me. As life becomes busy and hard it is easy to forget, but if we remember the Lord Jesus Christ we will have the power we need to do what is right and be confident in what ever decisions lie ahead.

Jakob G.

Additional Resources:

Request a free copy of the Book of Mormon

Find a local meeting house.

What do Mormons believe about Jesus Christ?

Mormonism: BYU Student Reflects On Struggles

jonathan — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:04:41 +0000

While I am very blessed to even be alive, or here at a Brigham Young University, life can still be hard. Although most of the time the worst struggles I face are simply a few bad grades here and there, life for me can still be over encumbering at times. For the past few weeks I’ve found it difficult to balance out my life, not knowing exactly what to do, or where to start. As I have learned from my Book of Mormon (a religious text for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”) class, however, I know that I should simply be thankful for the opportunities given to me. To solve my problems I should complain less, work more, and rely on the power of the Lord, who will never abandon us as long as we are there to accept Him.
This week in class we continued reading the accounts of a prophet named Nephi and his family. In chapter 4 of the second book of Nephi we find a particularly moving psalm. Nephi writes about the last words and death of his father. As he writes, however, Nephi is moved to cursing himself. While previously Nephi is thought of in the highest regard, having obeyed every commandment of the Lord prior to this chapter, here Nephi begins to open up. We observe Nephi exclaiming in 2 Nephi 4:17 “O wretched man that I am!” condemning himself and his “iniquities”. The part that I find most interesting, however, is that throughout all that I’ve read, the worst sin Nephi has ever committed is loathing himself. Out of all the many sins that he could have committed, his only one so far has been to speak badly about himself. While we shouldn’t speak badly about ourselves, I think the fact that Nephi called himself a “wretched man” is actually very humbling. Nephi was a prophet whose life revolved entirely around serving God, and yet he still cannot think of himself as the divine student we see him as. This poses a striking contrast to the world we see today. There are people everywhere committing sin left and right, the most common of which is pride. This same verse about Nephi, is also very endearing to me because it reveals Nephi to be more than who we’ve seen before. Nephi reveals another dimension of his character, showing himself as a true human being who has just as many emotions as any of us. Nephi illustrates himself here as shattered man, heartbroken over the loss of his father as he states “Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of my iniquities.” Nephi faced a real struggle, something that people face every day even now. Loss is not something that is easy to cope with. What’s even better about this same chapter, however, is that within a few verses Nephi has already recovered. Although Nephi laments, he later notes that “[his] God hath been [his] support” (2 Nephi 4:20) turning to the Lord Jesus Christ in the face of adversity. What started out in this chapter as a bearing of grief soon transforms to a wonderful testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.

In our lives, we should follow the same path as Nephi–choosing faith in God.. When we face struggles and find obstacles, which we invariably will, we should be quick to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. While we may not be able to completely solve all our temporal problems by turning to the Lord, we can calm ourselves and strengthen ourselves spiritually. If we are in the same boat with the Lord, He can soothe the storms that threaten us daily.

Article by Mark M.

Additional Resources:

Request a free copy of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Meet with Mormon missionaries

Basic beliefs of Mormons

Mormonism: BYU Student Reflects on Being Humble

jonathan — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:53:59 +0000

Believe it or not, the idea of being humble is just as applicable now as it was in the times that the Book of Mormon (a religious text for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”) was written. The Book of Mormon is a compilation of records from Prophets that lived in the Americas about two-thousand years ago. This record was not revealed to mankind until the time of Joseph Smith in the early 1800’s. He translated the work by the hand of God for the benefit of the individuals who would read. In the first book of the Book of Mormon, 1^st Nephi, a family is commanded by God to enter the “wilderness” outside of Jerusalem. Nephi’s family had to become very humble very quickly due to the large change of circumstances. It says that they were blessed due to their humility. Everyone on earth can learn from a lesson of humility.

Everything in life can be seen as a positive or a negative occurrence. Some events like an unfortunate death are inherently possibly a negative occurrence; however, to be happy, one must keep a positive attitude or else the winds and storms of life will always overcome you. One the most paramount lessons in the Book of Mormon is that you get what you make out of life. The Book of Mormon promotes hard work, integrity, and humility. All of these qualities will necessarily make one’s life better due to the perspective that the individual uses to view one’s life.

As a student at a university such as BYU, it is sometimes hard to remain humble. I am among wonderful people and in a great location. However, whenever I get a whiff of this realization, I immediately feel worse about myself. It is not until I humble myself that I begin to feel good about myself again.

All over the Holy Bible, and the Book of Mormon, there have been similar stories like this where a group of individuals were “proud” and then they had to humble themselves. This cycle can be applied to many things. It can be applied to even a broader scale than “pride” and humility. As humans, we recognize that there are cycles for everything. There are times in my life in which I feel happier than other times. Then, undoubtedly, I feel not as good a little later. It is how we deal with these cycles and these differences in life that define ourselves. I strive every day to be a person that I would want to associate myself with. I am nowhere near perfect, however, I feel as if this is one of the best goals to have. One of my favorite thoughts is the idea that character is what you do when no one is looking. When I was 10, I found a $100 bill on the ground at my school. Instead of using it to buy many baseball cards (which I was tempted to do), I turned it into the school office. Looking back, that was one of the biggest defining moments of my life. It was then that I had acted on the teachings of my parents to live a life that I wanted to live.

By Alex W.

Additional Resources:

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Request your free copy today.

What Do Mormons Believe about Life, Happiness, and Jesus Christ?

Learn about Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of the LDS Church.

Mormonism: BYU Student Reflects on Being Made Strong Through God

jonathan — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:23:01 +0000

In my Book of Mormon class here at Brigham Young University my professor often reiterates this plea to make it our story. He wants us to read these sacred scriptures and then find ourselves in them. I felt the power of this request in my life this week as I read 2 Nephi, Chapter 3, verse 7. Here the patriarch of the main family being portrayed in Book of Mormon named Lehi, is dying and giving last words of wisdom to his children. He says to his youngest song Joseph, “And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”

This scripture is actually a prophecy about Joseph Smith Jr. who would restore Jesus Christ’s church in modern times. Lehi is explaining how the Lord will take an uneducated farm boy and make him the prophet of the restoration. However I focused in on that first phrase specifically, “And out of weakness he shall be made strong.” This is describing a beautiful and simple doctrine that it is in our moment of greatest need when Heavenly Father will lift us up and make us successful.

Throughout time this pattern has been shown through various prophets and faithful individuals. For example Moses was not a strong speaker or leader and couldn’t understand why the Lord had chosen him to lead the Children of Israel out of captivity. But the Lord knew that because of Moses’ faith in Him the weaknesses would be turned into strength. Indeed Moses was successful in helping the Hebrews escape the Egyptians. There is another powerful example in the New Testament when the woman with an issue of blood seeks out the Savior. Her physical weakness was turned into a strength when, in faith, she touched the hem of Jesus Christ’s robe and she was healed.
Though I am no Moses and struggle to have the same amount of faith as that woman, I too can utilize this principle of the Lord turning weaknesses into strengths. I think one of the greatest weaknesses in my life right now is my distance from my family who live in Virginia. For almost nineteen years my family was my greatest strength and support. Now all of a sudden to be living almost 3000 miles away from them and knowing I won’t see them until December is overwhelming. There are moments every day when I want to cry out because of loneliness and when I would give anything to have them here with me in Utah. But I have spent the last month really praying to Heavenly Father to help me cope with these feelings. He has answered my prayers and helped to turn my weakness into strength. He has helped me understand that this distance is actually forcing me to become independent in various aspects of my life from cooking to laundry to editing my papers to finding transportation. More importantly, the distance has allowed me to come closer to my Heavenly Father and rely on his guidance and wisdom. Had I stayed comfortably at home I would not have had the opportunity to find the truth in Lehi’s powerful statement, “And out of weakness he shall be made strong”. I know this principle will continue to bless me throughout my life. I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints (inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”), a church that believes in such hopeful doctrine and teaches its members to rely on the strengthening power of the Savior.

By Katie S.

Additional Resources:

Meet with Mormon missionaries.

Learn about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Mormonism: A BYU Student Reflects on the Tree of Life

jonathan — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:10:40 +0000

Lehi and his family

A prophet named Lehi from the Book of Mormon (a book revered as scripture by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the “Mormon Church by friends of other faiths) had a vision of the Tree of Life (see 1 Nephi 8). In this vision Lehi sees a tree that holds the most sweet and desirable fruit, which could make anyone happy if they were to partake of it. To get to the tree you have to go on a journey, similar to a hike, that has its ups and downs and it is not always easy to stay on the right course. This is like a representation of life and how we are all on our own journey; but where does our journey lead? Although I was born and raised in the LDS Church and have grown up reading about this vision many times; it seems every time I read it I learn something new from it and if I don’t learn something new, I am reminded of what kind of life I want to live and where I want to go. The fruit of the tree represents having eternal life and this is a goal I hope to gain some day.

In Lehi’s vision, on the path to the tree, there was an iron rod that was there to help you stay on the path to get to the tree. Besides the iron rod there were obstacles and distractions and other paths you could take which would lead you away from the tree. This is exactly how life is; it isn’t easy. We may know what the right choice but because of temptations it is not always easy. We can be blinded or get lost. Making right choices can take sacrifice and hard work, perseverance, and focus. One of the distractions Lehi saw in his vision was a large and spacious building. This building was filled with people who seemed to be having a good time and they were pointing fingers and mocking those that were holding on to the rod of iron, trying to get to the tree. For some reason this always reminds me of high school and peer pressure. Everyone wants to be in the cool crowd and be accepted. But reflecting back now, I realize that still goes on today. Now that I am older and married sometimes I wonder how I can “keep up with the Jones’?” Through the media and entertainment we can get caught up with all these material things and lose perspective of what really matters most in life.
I think it really comes down to each of us wanting to feel or be accepted, and instead of us trying to get our peers approval, we should first understand that we are and always will be accepted of God. We are his children and he is always there for us. Because he created us, our desire should want to be like our Savior and not like “The Jones’.” We should strive to be like Him for He is the only way to salvation. I know that if I can hold onto the rod of iron, by keeping the commandments, and having faith in God, I will be able to partake in the fruit of the Tree of Life.By Maliana T.

Additional Resources:

Read “Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” written by a Mormon apostle.

Mormonism: BYU Student Reflects on Trials

jonathan — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:22:10 +0000

I am a freshman at Brigham Young University and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon Church). Last week in my religion class we studied about a story in the Book of Mormon. In this story an ancient prophet named Lehi, and his family are commanded to leave their home in Jerusalem and move into the wilderness. Eventually, God leads Lehi and his family through the wilderness and across the ocean to a Promised Land on the American continent. In many ways the journey this family experiences on their way to this Promised Land is similar to our experience in mortality on our way to Heaven.

Along their way God prepares this family for this Promised Land just as God is preparing us to return to live with Him. He prepares this family by giving them trials to help them learn and grow. For example, Lehi’s wife, Sariah experienced a great trial. After they had been traveling in the wilderness for many days, God commanded Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain and bring back a scriptural record. This required them to travel through miles and miles of wilderness over several days. Sariah experienced a lot of difficulty with this commandment.

One can imagine how hard it would have been for a mother to allow her sons to travel miles and miles through the wilderness. I believe Sariah was an amazing woman, but she really struggled with this commandment. This struggle caused her to doubt Lehi and the commandment he had received from God. Eventually, however, her sons returned safely and she regained her faith, in fact, I believe this trial ultimately strengthened her faith and made her a better person, more prepared for the Promised Land. I found it so interesting that God individualized this trial for Sariah. He knew that, as a mother, this would be a very difficult thing for her, and so, out of love, and out of a desire to help her grow, God let her experience this trial. In a similarly individual way God tested the obedience and endurance of the other members of her family to prepare them for their arrival in the Promised Land. For example, one of Sariah’s sons, Nephi, would become a great prophet, who was largely responsible for the initiation of the records that would eventually be put together to form the Book of Mormon. It was through these individualized trials that God prepared Nephi for this pivotal role.

In our lives we are often tempted to ask, “Why me? Why do I have to go through this challenge?” I know that since coming here to BYU I have, with all the changes involved with going off to college, asked myself this many times. I think often God gives us trials that are particularly hard for us because He loves us and wants us to be able to return to Him. He knows that these types of trials are the ones that offer the greatest potential for growth. It is similar to a coach of an athletic team. A coach knows the weaknesses of each athlete on his team and he knows what the athletes need to do to reach their potential. Often that means doing the things that are the hardest for them. Just as these characters in the Book of Mormon were prepared for the Promised Land through individualized trials, so also does God give us trials to prepare us for heaven. As we go through life and experience these trials, we should view these trials in a more positive way, recognizing that they are opportunities for growth and that they help to fit us for Heaven.

This article was written by Zachary S., a student at Brigham Young University and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Additional Resources:

Basic Mormon Beliefs and Real Mormons

Mormon Scriptures

The Meaning of Life

Video: http://youtu.be/Rr8xvw0cgw0

Mormonism: BYU Student Reflects on Book of Mormon’s Purpose

jonathan — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:55:09 +0000

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ but rather than taking place in the Middle East like the Bible, it takes place on the American Continent. The Book of Mormon testifies of the divinity of Christ and emphasizes his ministry here on earth. In the first verse of 1 Nephi, the first book of the Book of Mormon, Nephi, an ancient prophet, writes a brief summary of the purpose of the book. He emphasizes the who, the what, and the how of the Book of Mormon. The who being himself, Nephi, who was “born of goodly parents.” The what is “a record of the proceedings in [his] day.” The how is through having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God.” In this book, Nephi fulfills his purpose of testifying, or bearing witness, of the truthfulness of the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise nicknamed the “Mormon Church”). The Church today is the same church that Christ established on this earth in His day. By reading the Book of Mormon, the Spirit of the Holy Ghost has born witness to me that the words Nephi has written are true.

That which was relevant in his day is just as or even more relevant to us in our day. We can learn so much from the Book of Mormon, such as why we are here, where we are going, and how we can accomplish the greatest goal of attaining eternal life, living in the presence of God, once more. I know that we dwelt with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in a life previous to this earth life. We each individually chose to come to this earth, be born into families, and we chose to be tested and tried to allow us to live with Him again. We will someday have the opportunity to return to the glory of living with our Father in heaven through obedience to the commandments He has set forth for us. The commandments are not there to hinder our progression and make our lives difficult, but they are there to uplift us spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Nephi was a great example of obedience. When asked to do drastic unexplainable things by the Lord, he set any doubts he could have had and aligned his will with the Lord’s will. He chose to be as perfectly obedient as he was able to be. I am grateful for the example of strict obedience that Nephi was. He was a great prophet and leader of his people, and his example is as important today as it was then. I bear witness that if you read the Book of Mormon and seek the answers to unanswered questions, you will find them within those pages. I am grateful to be part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invite those seeking truth to study this gospel, as it will bring greater light into anyone’s life.

This artcle was written by Yuki L., a student at Brigham Young University and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.