The Book of Mormon, why we read it

As I start to write this message, I am reminded of a thought that was once shared with me by a friend and colleague, and someone that many of us know, President Greg Bishop.  He once told me something like this: Sometimes when we go to church, we are taught by the Spirit something that we didn’t know.  Other times, the Spirit reminds of us something that we already knew.  As you read this, I hope one of those two things happen: You learn something new by the Spirit or you are reminded of something by the Spirit.

            Whenever we talk about the restoration of the Gospel, I always find it worthwhile to consider the “Order of events” of the restoration.  After the First Vision, the next thing that takes place is the introduction of the Book of Mormon.  It is several years before the Book of Mormon is published, but it its place in the restoration is obvious by the fact that it is brought forth so quickly.  President Ezra Taft Benson said “A … powerful testimony to the importance of the Book of Mormon is to note where the Lord placed its coming forth in the timetable of the unfolding Restoration. The only thing that preceded it was the First Vision. In that marvelous manifestation, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned the true nature of God and that God had a work for him to do. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the next thing to follow.”  It is clear how important the Book of Mormon is to not only the restoration, but to our understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have all heard the following quote from Joseph Smith, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, then by any other book.”

This is a statement of Doctrine, given to us by a prophet.  Every time I talk about doctrine, I am reminded of another quote that we have all heard before from President Boyd K. Packer:

True doctrine, changes attitudes and behavior.  The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.

This is a quote that gets shared frequently, but I have a little confession to make.  I did alter, slightly, the quote from President Packer.  Here is what he really said:

True doctrine, UNDERSTOOD, changes attitudes and behavior.  The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.

It would seem like there are two parts to this quote: 1) knowing the doctrine and 2) understanding the doctrine.  I have often thought that the “understand” portion is more important, but I think they both play equal parts.  We must put forth the effort to first know the doctrine.  We cannot understand what we do not know.  Once we know the doctrine, then we must understand it.

            With that thought in mind, let’s talk about why we should read the scriptures and more in particular, why we should read the Book of Mormon.  I have some scriptures that teach us the doctrine as to “why” we read the scriptures and the Book of Mormon.  As you read the following scriptures consider this question, “what is the doctrine this scripture is teaching me about why I read the scriptures.”

·      2 Nephi 32:3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

·      1 Nephi 19:23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

·      D&C 1:37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.

·      2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

·      John 5:39 ¶Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

We should remember that along with ancient scripture, we also have modern scripture.  Here is some modern scripture that teaches us doctrine.

·      President Boyd K. Packer: If you are acquainted with the scriptures there is no question-personal or social or political or occupational - that need go unanswered.  Therein is contained the fullness of the everlasting gospel.  Therein we find principles of truth that will resolve every confusion and every problem and every dilemma that will face the human family or any individual in it.

If we were to make a list from those scriptures of the doctrines taught and what the reading the scriptures does, it would be a powerful list:

·      have the Holy Ghost

·      tell us all things we should do

·      Answers all questions

·      Profitable for reproof, correction

·      Teach us of Christ
And the list could go on and on.

Now that we know the doctrine, we must understand it.  I believe that one of the easiest ways to really understand the doctrine is to live it, to apply it, and let it influence your life.  For a blog post it may be hard to live it, so I thought I would share some stories of others who had lived the doctrine, who have read the scriptures and experienced some of the promises listed above.

The Story of Parley P. Pratt

            In 1830, then 23, Parley felt a call to abandon his farm and preach the gospel, believing that God would provide financially for him and his wife Thankful. After selling their property at “great sacrifice,” the young couple, with $10 in their pockets, took a boat from Cleveland, Ohio, to Buffalo, New York.   At Buffalo they took passage on the Erie Canal, headed for Albany. But Parley followed a prompting to disembark prematurely at Newark. 

As a result, Parley was introduced to the Book of Mormon. He later recalled: “I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep.” Feeling the confirmation of the Holy Ghost, Parley wrote: “I knew and comprehended that the book was true. … My joy was now full.” 

The Story of Laura Swenson (Taken from “Finding Answers in the Book of Mormon” Ensign, Jan 2012)

Laura Swenson from Idaho, USA, came home one day frustrated and in tears. She was not married, and her plans for college and the career she had dreamed of were falling apart. “I wondered if I was even going anywhere,” she wrote.

“I was prompted to turn to the Book of Mormon. In the first four verses of 1 Nephi 18, I found an answer to my concerns. These verses describe the ship that Nephi built to carry his family to the promised land. It was ‘of curious workmanship’ and not built ‘after the manner of men’; rather, it was built ‘after the manner which the Lord had shown’ (verses 1–2). Nephi consulted with the Lord often while building the ship. When the ship was finished, ‘it was good, and … the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine’ (verse 4).

“I realized that my own journey was of ‘curious workmanship.’ It didn’t fit the patterns of men but would get me where I needed to go if I sought the Lord’s guidance. These verses were a beacon of light in a dark moment. My problems didn’t end overnight, but I found the perspective that I needed. I am now in a rewarding career for which I had never planned.”

The Story of Scott Kneeland

Yes, my own personal story.  When I was 17 years old I had a girlfriend who, although a member of the church, wasn’t a huge fan of me going on a mission.  Neither was her family (the mother was also a member, but the father wasn’t at the time).  I also began to question whether or not I wanted to spend two years teaching the gospel, when I could further my education and get into a career quicker.  This would make it a lot easier for my girlfriend and I to get married.  At the time, this was one thing I really wanted to happen.  As I wondered about going on a mission, I thought I would give reading the Book of Mormon a try and see if that would help.  Of course it did!  It didn’t take me long to get to 1 Nephi 7:12 which reads: Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.”  I felt as if this verse perfectly fit me.  I had forgotten a lot of things, but mostly that the Lord is able to do all things.  It was my job to be faithful and submit myself to His will.  This scripture helped me understand what I needed to do: I knew I needed to serve a mission.  I am eternally grateful that I was able to know and understand “His will” for me and my future family.

I am sure that several of us can share similar stories of how reading the scriptures and the Book of Mormon has changed our lives.  I am even more sure that several of us have a similar testimony of the Book of Mormon.  So, the real question now is, why do we struggle to read as often as we should?

To wrap this up, I want to share one quick thought with you and one last story that have helped me when I think about reading the scriptures.  Here is my first thought: Imagine that I gave you $1,440.00 just because I wanted to.  Here’s the catch, you have to give me $10.00 back.  That’s it!  How many of you would do that?  We all would!  Here where this helps with reading the scriptures.  There are 1,440 minutes in a day.  Is it really that hard to find 10 to read the scriptures.  The answer to the question is “it depends on where reading the scriptures is on your list of priorities.”  If it is first, then it is super easy, but if it’s last, then it is a lot harder.  In what turned out to be Elder Richard G. Scott’s last conference address he said the following:

Scott_Oct 2014_Read the scriptures from Scott Kneeland on Vimeo.

I chose to use the video because I wanted us to all see how animated he is when he talks about the scriptures. If we read Elder Scott’s quote carefully, it seems like there is nothing more important we can do, so basically the idea is “wherever scripture reading is on your list of priorities, move it up!” 

            One last story.  When I was teaching seminary I, like most seminary teachers, struggled to get my students to read the scriptures.  So one day I decided to start “The One Wimpy Verse Club.”  The Diary of a wimpy kid books were big at the time and so that is where the word Wimpy came from.  I am not calling the scriptures wimpy, I only wanted something catchy to get the students excited.  The whole idea was for each student to commit to reading one verse a day.  That’s it, nothing more, just one verse.  They all agreed to read one verse each day.  A couple weeks later, a young man came into class and said “I’m onto you Bro Kneeland.  I know what you’re trying to do.”  I then asked, “What are you talking about?”  He then said “The one wimpy verse club.  I was only going to read one verse every day, but after a couple days, I got interested in the story, so I read more.  Last night I read for about half an hour.” 

            If we can commit to read the scriptures and stick with that commitment, even if it is only one verse, the Spirit will touch us and we will be strengthened, blessed, or any of the things we talked about earlier, we just need to make the commitment.