Book of Mormon - Keystone to Our Religion

D&C 130
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

D&C 82:10
I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

Our commitment and devotion to Him will determine the commitment and devotion with which we are willing to obey His commandments.

The story of the Jaredites - building a barge
Ether 2:16,18

Do we do exactly according to the Lord's specifications?

President Ezra Taft Benson Nov 1986

"I want to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times.
This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years
By His own mouth, the mouth of the Savior, He has borne witness "

that it is true (D&C 17:6)
that it contains the truth and His words (D&C 19:26)
that it was translated by power from on high (D&C 20:8
that it contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:9, 42:12)
that it was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angles (D&C 20:10)

He gives us solemn warnings about how we receive it. After indication that those who receive the Book of Mormon with faith, working righteousness, will receive a crown of eternal glory (D&C 20:14)

There is a law irrevocably decreed..........

verse 15 "But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation"

1832 - early missionaries returned from their fields of labor, the Lord reproved them for treating the Book of Mormon lightly. As a result of that attitude, he said, their minds had been darkened. It had also brought the whole church under condemnation, The Lord said, "And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon" (D&C 84:54-57).

" It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. When you begin to hinger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance."

President Marion G. Romney testified of the blessings that can come into the lives of those who will read and study the Book of Mormon.
"The Spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the coulsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity - the pure love of Christ - will abound in our homes and lives bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness

I have a firm belief that reading the Book of Mormon will help us understand who we are why we are here and what we must do to bring peace an joy into our own lives.

Another word that is important to me is

BECOME

I want to know what I must do to BECOME a daughter of God worthy to return home to His presence.
As I look up the word BECOME in the scriptures I find we must

BECOME

As little children
Truly humble
Mighty
Obedient unto death
Sweet
Great
Strong
New
Sanctified

As we BECOME as a little child - putting our complete trust in the Lord
We will BECOME truly humble - willing to listen and respond to the Spirit
We will BECOME mighty - as we are taught and guided toward the Lord
We will BECOME obedient - in all things receiving strength and courage unto death
We will BECOME sweet – our hearts softened and willing to love unconditionally
We will BECOME great – our example worthy to be followed
We will BECOME strong – receiving power from on high
We will BECOME new – wanting to be like our Savior always doing the will of our Father in Heaven
We will BECOME sanctified- clean and pure before God

Then our greatest desire will be to share what we know and have with others and we will

BECOME

A righteous people
A blessed people
People of the Lord thy God
Servants to God
Daughters of God
Sisters in Zion
Heirs of the kingdom

Accountable before me

REMEMBER Is one of my favorite words. It became important to me when I taught seminary a few years ago. I decided that when the word REMEMBER was in a scripture it must be important.
And when it says REMEMBER, REMEMBER together we should really pay attention. Here are a few scriptures that are important to me.

Helaman 5:12
….. REMEMBER, REMEMBER that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10
REMEMBER the worth of souls is great in the sight of God

"We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen. " click here to read more
Dieter F. Uchtdorf


Doctrine and Covenants 3:3
REMEMBER, REMEMBER that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men

How many times do we get upset because of something someone said or did and blame it on the church. Remember, the Gospel is perfect, not the people. We are trying but we have a long way to go to reach perfection

Home IS Where the Heart Is

The house that we live in does not make a home. We can live in the mansion on the hill or in the little mud hut in the valley, it makes no difference what the structure of our home is, what really counts is the love that is felt.

Home IS Where the Heart Is

What kind of heart do you have in your home?
Is it a soft pliable heart one that expresses love? Is your home a place where you feel safe – secure – Where the Spirit can dwell? Is your heart a humble heart willing to listen and obey the promptings of the Spirit?
Or do you feel a hard heart, is it unmovable, is it a place where things are dealt with harshness – firmness – where agency is taken away?

Is there joy felt in your home how about peace and happiness?

Joseph Smith said
“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it;
And this path is VIRTUE, UPRIGHTNESS, FAITHFULNESSs, HOLINESS, and KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

As we learn to live these principles we will have happiness in our lives and in our homes.

Are we among the wise and prepared

In Mathew Chapter 25 we find the story of The Ten Virgins.

Five were wise
Five were foolish
Each had received an invitation to the wedding and had accepted that invitation.
Each was patiently waiting, anxious for the wedding feast, thinking they were prepared.

We know the Savior is coming again, we don’t know when but we do know we are living in the last days. We have been warned to watch, to prepare and to be ready for this wonderful event.

“And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins, For they that are wise and have received the truth,… and have not been deceived – verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day” . (D&C 45:56-57)

Like the ten virgins some are wise and will be ready but others will not know Him when He comes. Are we among the five that are wise, are we prepared to face Him? Do we have His image in our countenance? He will know us when He comes again, will we know Him, and will our oil lamp be full?

The oil in the parable represents our faith and testimony, our purity and dedication, our good works, and our keeping of covenants – all of the ways in which we have “taken the Holy Spirit for our guide” (D&C 45:57)

The wise virgins could not share their oil with the foolish virgins because “the oil of spiritual preparedness, cannot be shared” (Marvin J. Ashton, “A Time of Urgency,” Ensign, May 1974,36)

Our oil is collected drop by drop.

•As we accept the Holy Ghost as our constant companion.

•As we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior and follow His example of obedience to the Father, in all things, in all places and at all times.

•As we attend Sacrament meeting each week and renew our Baptismal Covenants.

•As we humble ourselves each day in prayer for guidance knowing we cannot do it ourselves.

•As we read and ponder the sacred words of Prophets both old and new, gaining the knowledge and understanding we need, to become, through the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ worthy of exaltation.

•As we learn to cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another, understand one another and accept one another as the Savior does.