Monday

Proof

Hey everyone!

Its definitely feeling like fall here in Missoula! The leaves on the trees are turning vibrant colors and it makes everything seem so much brighter despite it getting darker earlier. TRANSFER NEWS. I will be staying in this great city and Sister Crosland will be coming here from Wyoming to be my companion! Sister Crosland also served in St. Ignatius for 6 months after I was there so I'm STOKED to serve with her. :)

This week has been pretty crazy. The theme of the week seems to be "Where is the proof for the Book of Mormon?" This is a subject that I already was pretty passionate about, but the further I've delved into it, the more sure I am that The Book of Mormon truly is divine. We are teaching a guy named Mark. Mark is a youth pastor for a local congregation and holy cow does he know the bible. We met Mark while teaching his friend Chris. (Chris is doing awesome. Super prepared) Anyway. Mark wants evidence for the Book of Mormon, and although we've tried to explain SO MANY TIMES that the Holy Ghost is what really testifies to us that it's true, he wants more of an explanation. So, we are teaching him today in hopes of explaining more how the Book of  Mormon came to be and the miracle it truly is. And most importantly that it a testament of Jesus Christ.

One thing really struck me as I have studied this week about the Book of Mormon was this quote by Tad R. Callister: "Years ago my great-great-grandfather picked up a copy of the Book of Mormon for the first time. He opened it to the center and read a few pages. He then declared, “That book was either written by God or the devil, and I am going to find out who wrote it.” He read it through twice in the next 10 days and then declared, “The devil could not have written it--it must be from God.” That is the genius of the Book of Mormon--there is no middle ground. It is either the word of God as professed, or it is a total fraud. This book does not merely claim to be a moral treatise or theological commentary or collection of insightful writings. It claims to be the word of God--every sentence, every verse, every page. Joseph Smith declared that an angel of God directed him to gold plates, which contained the writings of prophets in ancient America, and that he translated those plates by divine powers. If that story is true, then the Book of Mormon is holy scripture, just as it professes to be; if not, it is a sophisticated but, nonetheless, diabolical hoax."

That is the essence of the Book of Mormon. There is ABSOLUTELY NO MIDDLE GROUND. Zero. It is either from God or it's from the devil. We can know of its truthfulness by reading it and abiding by its precepts. By judging if it truly does help us to come unto Christ. And, I think it does. In fact, I know it does. Nephi sums it up pretty amazingly at the end of his writing in the Book of Mormon "And now my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all the ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if he believe not in these words believe in Christ . And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words for they are the words of Christ and He hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good."

So. If you are reading the Book of Mormon, read it more. Find out how it testifies of Christ and supports the Bible. Find how the bible supports the Book of Mormon. (Hint hint. Preach my gospel chapter 5) If you aren't reading the Book of Mormon EVERY SINGLE DAY...repent and do it. It will bless your life more than you can even imagine. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It truly testifies of Christ and contains the fullness of the gospel.

Well, I'm outa time! Love you all!
Love, Sissy Fletch

Laser tagging.  Guess who got second...

 Missoula Zone

 Sunrise 

 Updated sticky note wall by my study desk

1 comment: