Your Book of Mormon Story

[Hemidakota]

Tom, wow....I am amazed at this point. When I read this quote, it stirs my spirit:

This has striking parallels to the Law of Consecration.

1) We ask for EVERYTHING we think we stand in need of.
2) We get back what God in His wisdom knows we need.
3) We are to thank Him for what He wisely chose to give us, even if it is not what we asked for.

I been telling members for the last three years, to change the way we live due to the impending global financial bomb and move to a limited Law of Consecration in providing help to those in need. Even the First Presidency this week will have an announcement concerning financial spending again.

We should, begin to practice a limited Law of Consecration in our daily lives. As we walk or drive the streets of our cities, if we see the poor in need, [the spirit will be your guide] let our pockets, our wallets be their helping hand for that moment. Even my own family, as I was leaving the parking lot with my youngest daughter, she noticed a man on the corner with a sign stating: “OUT OF GAS. NEED HELP”. She looked at me and then looked back at him. I know I could see it in her eyes as she wanted to do something for this person. She had been saving her money for quite sometime to purchase a gift for another person. It seems out of the mouths of babes, the spirit will speak. I felt it also and we pulled over after the light was green next to the man. She opened her wallet and pulled out the largest bill she had and handed to the man. The man eyes swelled and told her God bless. I didn’t know if I should cry or give her a hug.

Last, as a family, in our services providing goods for any events, the cost out of our pockets, no longer turn in any receipts and when asked, all we have is the Lords.

[lchri134]

my conversion to the book of mormon is pretty simple. i grew up in the church never doubted it, yet never read the book of mormon. after endless talks of how your should read your scriptures i decided i would. it didn't happen right when i read it it happened after i stopped reading it every day. i wasn't happy, i realized while i was reading the book of mormon i would feel happy i would feel the spirit, my days would go better. so for me i feel the truth of the book of mormon on every page and every chapter that i read. i know with all my heart it is the word of god!

[sixpacktr]

I was basically a life long member (my father joined when I was 7), and did all the things I was expected to do. My first experience, really, with the BoM was while working as a security guard at a pig iron foundry. I was just out of HS, 7 months from attending BYU (I graduated early, and worked to make the money needed), and worked 11 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.. Except for getting up and walking around for every 90 mins on my rounds, I had NOTHING to do. It was hard staying awake (obviously, sleeping was cause for immediate dismissal). So I took my BoM and read it. When I finished, I felt a warm spirit that it was true, but that isn't my real conversion story.

Fast forward thru my mission and marrying my wonderful wife. We are living in Japan, I am a father of 2 (or maybe 3, I don't remember exactly), and I am examining my life. I was active in church, did my callings, but felt I was not 'right' before the Lord. I spent some time in prayer on this, wondering what I needed to do. I was praying about my patriarchal blessing, as it promised me wisdom, and I will never forget this throughout the eternities: as I sat up, pondering how I could gain the wisdom raise my family and live on this earth, a voice as clear as I've ever heard said: 'Read the Book of Mormon'. Obviously, no one else was in the room (or else this wouldn't be much of a story!). So I did begin to really read, not skim, the BoM. It is my favorite book, bar none. Great lessons, great role models, testifies again and again of the mission and atonement of Jesus Christ.

That's my story...

[tomk]

Originally Posted by Hemidakota

Tom, wow....I am amazed at this point. When I read this quote, it stirs my spirit:



I been telling members for the last three years, to change the way we live due to the impending global financial bomb and move to a limited Law of Consecration in providing help to those in need. Even the First Presidency this week will have an announcement concerning financial spending again.

We should, begin to practice a limited Law of Consecration in our daily lives. As we walk or drive the streets of our cities, if we see the poor in need, [the spirit will be your guide] let our pockets, our wallets be their helping hand for that moment. Even my own family, as I was leaving the parking lot with my youngest daughter, she noticed a man on the corner with a sign stating: “OUT OF GAS. NEED HELP”. She looked at me and then looked back at him. I know I could see it in her eyes as she wanted to do something for this person. She had been saving her money for quite sometime to purchase a gift for another person. It seems out of the mouths of babes, the spirit will speak. I felt it also and we pulled over after the light was green next to the man. She opened her wallet and pulled out the largest bill she had and handed to the man. The man eyes swelled and told her God bless. I didn’t know if I should cry or give her a hug.

Last, as a family, in our services providing goods for any events, the cost out of our pockets, no longer turn in any receipts and when asked, all we have is the Lords.

Hemidakota:

Thank you for these thoughts, and your example.

I will never forget the time that I was leaving a restaurant with my grandparents (this had to be about 25 years ago) and we saw this homeless man sitting on a bench. All of a sudden my grandpa pulls $20 out of his wallet and walks over to the guy saying, "Here ya go, fella". I don't know to what purposes that money went. At that moment, that was the furthest thing from my mind. That spontaneous act of giving is embedded in my memory.

I have tried to practice this in my own life as well.

This topic of "giving to others" is one of great interest to me. I read a book a few years ago which illustrated the concept of "true charity" in a manner that I had never considered before. Basically what the book did in one chapter was ask a question. It asked:

If you saw a homelss man on the street would you:

a) Give him some money
b) Go buy him some food
c) Give him your business card and promise him employment if he stops by your office.

Which of these acts is a demonstration of pure charity?

The answer stunned me.

The answer was -- none of those answers was true charity.

The book went on to explain that the reason answer A was not true charity was because the man needed urgent medical care, not money. B was not a good choice because the what if the man needed money or something other than food? Maybe he needed a ride to a friend's house. C was not helpful because the man does not have 2 weeks to wait for a paycheck, but he needs help NOW. Maybe he's on the verge of collapse due to starvation. A job will help him very little in the short run.

Now, this question, and the answers, was a total set-up. There is no RIGHT answer.


Then the book went on to explain that TRUE Charity is impossible without personal revelation from God. At first glance that might seem a bit odd, but think about it. For any given person -- who really knows best how to meet that person's needs? Only God knows that person's needs! It may be that the person him or herself does not even REALLY know what their needs are or how they might best be helped. And it does not have to be someone in dire straights to whom this might apply. You could be Bill Gates and still have unmet needs that only God knows about.

Here is the secret to having REAL, ACTUAL Charity. God can reveal to you what the needs of other people are!

That is the ideal. That is what we are to be striving for. That is the reason why personal revelation is so important to Latter-day Saints. It is not given so that we can understand what Figure 5 on Facsimile no. 2 means (although God will certainly reveal that if it is relevant to your salvation). Personal revelation is given to us first and foremost so that we can effectively serve our family and friends and those around us.

What this does not mean is that we are to sit at home and pray for revelation and not make a move until we get some. We are to go out there and do the best we can. It is always better to serve, even if it is not clear that we are helping that person in the way they need most. As we demonstrate our willingness, God will begin to bless us with actual knowledge about those whom we serve. It won't happen in a day or a week or a month, but it will happen, and when it does, THAT is when we are to get on our knees and THANK HIM for revealing to us how to serve our brothers and sisters BEST.

Alma 7: 23
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.


always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

or if I liken this verse unto myself:

always returning thanks unto God for [the personal revelation] ye do receive [that blesses your life or someone else's].


Matt. 10: 42
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.





Thanks for letting me share these thoughts.


Tom

[skalenfehl]

Thank you, Tom, and thanks to those who have shared their experiences. I look forward to reading more.

[Dale]

My step-mother had been a Nazarene before joining the LDS Church. so i found her old copy of Mormon Claims Answered by Marvin Cowan. And i read the Salt Lake City Messenger from UTLM somebody had her sent. This utterly devestated the testimony i had of the Book of Mormon. I was reading stuff i had never heard. LDS apologetics seemed fairly crummy to me back then. These days its much more responsible. But i found enough answers that i retained my belief in the book. I developed a great mistrust of Evangelical anti-Mormon ministries.

My chief complaint about Anti-Mormon writers is they develop a great skill for repeating, or developing questions. But they don't develop the more important skill of learning how to resolve the questions they raise. I did develop some of that skill. So frequently when i read their stuff, or watch Anti-Restoration films i see them raising many answerable issues. Many things do not have a perfect answer, but you can find enough to sustain you.

[TK409]

Thanks a lot for sharing your testimonies.

I was raised as a staunch Baptist with heavy anti-Mormon "training." I was 18 when I began reading the Book of Mormon in order to prove it wrong to my LDS friend. I had thought it was a history of Mormons. I visited the church and met with the missionaries all in an attempt to discredit the religion and "witness" to my friend about how they were being misled.

I had always been taught to prove my point by the scriptures. While meeting with the missionaries, I was surprised when they said I could pray to find out of the BoM was true. I thought, "What a leap of faith they're taking because of course God will tell me it's false!" I was guardedly intrigued when I found out that it as actually another testimony of another people that were visited by Christ. Still, my mind was closed so I prayed like this...

"Dear Lord, it probably isn't true, but just in case, why don't you let me know."

I received no answer.

Then, the more I met with the missionaries, I found some of my personal questions being answered. Things I hadn't even been looking for. Answers about God, Jesus and the Holy ghost being three individuals, no paid ministry, and living in heaven before we came to earth. When they explained that Jesus Christ had restored his church to the earth with all the truth that was contained in his original church, and with NO paid ministry, it became important to me to find out if the book was true - because if the book is true, then Joseph is a true prophet of God, and the Church has been restored. So I read the story about Nephi building the ship and receiving direction from the Lord, then I prayed:

"Heavenly Father, I want to know if the story I just read, about Nephi building the ship actually happened. I'll change whatever I need to in my life if you'll tell me if it's true."

I remember feeling that I could not doubt it. I could not say that it didn't happen. The more I pondered it, I felt that I had literally no doubt that it was true. I wasn't sure it was an answer because I misunderstood the "burning in the bosom" - I thought I was supposed to feel a literal physical burning feeling, like something that was slightly painful. I've since learned, and experienced many times a burning feeling that is more like warm tingles and a quiet feeling that everything is going to be ok, or rather a general feeling of peace.

I went back to the missionaries and said I didn't feel the "burning" feeling but I knew the BoM was true.
They said, "what did you pray for?"
I said, "to know if it was true".
They asked, and what do you know now?"
"Well, that it's true... ohhhhh, that's my answer!"

There are several other things that were distinct confirmations for me about the truthfulness of the Church, but this was the moment I gained a testimony specifically of the Book of Mormon. Now I love it. The prophets in the BoM come so alive to me and I have no reservation that the book is a true history of the ancient people of the American continent. I know Christ visited these people shortly after his resurrection - the highlight for me in the Book of Mormon. After I joined the church, I had an overwhelming feeling to serve a mission. So I did!
A reformed anti-Mormon Baptist turned Mormon missionary! I've been a member now for 19 years and have been active ever since.
- Chris


.

[mormoncutter]

My story hapend about a year ago, when my bishop was first called, I had been inactive for most of my life, and I was doing things that wernt really good, I don't know why but one Sunday I decided to go to church, sitting there in sacrament I relized that the girls basketball coach was the new bishop and I didn't even know we were in the same word. after church the bishop stoped me and asked if I would come talk to him. He said he new that I needed help. It was so hard to try to talk to him that day cuz I have a really hard time trusting people becuse of what Ive been through, but he pulled out his Book Of Mormon and started reading somthin In Alma, and It said that god doesnt give you more then you can handle, then he prayed with me, and I knew the Book Of Mormon was true and that the Church was true, and sence that I have gone to church every sunday and I meet with my bishop once a week. I have even givin up some of my adictions.

[tomk]

Originally Posted by mormoncutter

My story hapend about a year ago, when my bishop was first called, I had been inactive for most of my life, and I was doing things that wernt really good, I don't know why but one Sunday I decided to go to church, sitting there in sacrament I relized that the girls basketball coach was the new bishop and I didn't even know we were in the same word. after church the bishop stoped me and asked if I would come talk to him. He said he new that I needed help. It was so hard to try to talk to him that day cuz I have a really hard time trusting people becuse of what Ive been through, but he pulled out his Book Of Mormon and started reading somthin In Alma, and It said that god doesnt give you more then you can handle, then he prayed with me, and I knew the Book Of Mormon was true and that the Church was true, and sence that I have gone to church every sunday and I meet with my bishop once a week. I have even givin up some of my adictions.

MormonCutter:

I think it is fantastic that you are taking steps to get some things out of your life that you don't want to remain.

Tom

[tree]

i was out for five years, the most miserable 5 yrs of my life. its so awesome to have you back in church, when one member of the body hurts we all hurt as a whole. since every thing we do as the body of Christ effects us as a whole whether it be a righteous act or an evil one. your on the right track , there was enormous addictions that i had to overcome but by the grace of God he pulled me through. praise Heavenly Father for his love , understanding , paitents and forgiveness and for most of all the gift of his son Jesus Christ for with out we would have no hope!! welcome home, in his love, tree