"Ask, And Ye Shall Find"

So, my little brother has this thing about Calvin and Hobbes. It's pretty adorable...I found this a few weeks ago, and I could not resist putting it up here! Love you, little man!

 

How many of you, both members of the church and not yet members, have ever passed a set of young men in suits, sweating it out on bikes? Or seen two girls in skirts walking down your street? How many of you have either run back inside your homes, or gone out to speak with us?

 

I love questions. I love asking them, and I love being asked them. As a missionary, I spend all of my time, talents, and interests on helping others find answers to their questions through the teachings of Jesus Christ, namely through the Book of Mormon. That book is something that I have mentioned here before, and I want to take a minute to explain a little more about what it is.

 

Many claim that we, as "Mormon's", use the Book of Mormon as our own Bible. However, by taking a peek at the introduction, we read that-

 

"The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel."

- Book of Mormon Introduction, paragraph 1

 

The Book of Mormon is another volume of scripture, preserved by the hand of God to be a second witness to the Bible. It is not meant to replace the Bible in any way. If we didn't have the Bible, we wouldn't have all of those incredible stories of Jesus Christ. Those accounts of the Savior are so precious, and are taken from eye witnesses of His earthly ministry. The job of the Book of Mormon is not to replace the Bible, but to testify of Christ right along side it. Again from the introduction, we read,

 

"The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the [American people] soon after His resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come."
- Book of Mormon Introduction, paragraph 3

 

In my current study, I am boxing how many times the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are mentioned. I've included a picture of some of those pages here. See all those boxes? Those are all the times it talks about our Redeemer, or God. How can I say now that this Book does not testify of Christ? How can I read it and not rejoice in he who is mighty to save? Reading the Book of Mormon, and then cross-referencing to the Bible, has increased my testimony of the divinity of Christ, and the reality of His ministry. It truly is a book that explains in plainness the teaching of Christ!

While I could tell you all day long (or in this case, you would have to read several pages...) how amazing the Book of Mormon is, you have to know for yourself. And you can. At the end of the Book of Mormon, we read a promise given by the last prophet, named Moroni. He implores that-

"...when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them...ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
- Moroni 10: 3-5 (Book of Mormon, page 529)
(http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng)

This book is a book with a promise. Moroni is saying that if we read this, and honestly desire to know of its truthfullness, we will recieve an answer. There is no if, ands, or buts about it. We are guarenteed the promise of an answer from God, and that immense promise was made from the lips and a true prophet. Moroni's promise will never fail us, but we may fail it if we do not earnestly ask for a witness of the Book of Mormon from our Heavenly Father. I know that this is true, because I have done it, and I cannot deny the feelings that I have as I read and as I talk to the father of my spirit. I promise you that if you have never asked, you can get an answer now. If you once knew and have forgotten, you can get an answer now. If you have strong faith and haven't thought to ask in a while, then ask for reassurance. It will be given to you, and it will become an anchor for your soul when hard times come. It has been a source of strength to me, and as I read, I feel the love of God in my heart. I plead with you to gain that witness for yourself! It will only bless and strengthen your life and testimony of the Savior of the world, the Son of the true and living God, even Jesus Christ.