I heard Neal A. Maxwell say that the most important
scripture ever penned was James 1:5: “If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” He went on to explain that this
scripture, when read by Joseph Smith, led to the First Vision, wherein he saw
the Father and the Son. The restoration
of the gospel in the latter-days had commenced.
If James 1:5 is number one, and I would agree with Elder Maxwell that it
is, then I would have as my number two, Moroni 10:4: “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.” I
have answered Moroni’s challenge with study and prayer regarding the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The
Holy Ghost has revealed to my heart and mind that it is true! This knowledge has changed everything for
me. The course of life outlined in its
pages chart a safe journey back to God and Jesus; back to family and eternal
life. Moroni follows up this challenge
with a charge to seek out the “…gifts of God….For if there be on among you that
doeth good, he shall work by the power of the gifts of God.” The Lord has given me the spiritual gift of
teaching by the Spirit the truths of the gospel. My career as a seminary teacher has been
given to by my loving Father as a precious gift. I was foreordained before I came to this life
to become a teacher. I am still
becoming. There is a beautiful road
ahead. I exhort my family to “…come unto
Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness…and
love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient
for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ….” I know that my Father lives and loves me and
my family. I have felt his influence
every day of my life. I love him and
want to follow him. My witness of the
Book of Mormon is strong. I know it is
true! I love that Christ came to America
and showed himself to the Children of Lehi after his resurrection. Through sacred and precious words, prayers,
blessings, and gestures of love, like letting them touch his hands and feet to
witness the marks left by the nails and the cross, he let them know (and us
too) how much he loved them. Beloved and
precious Stones, I love you. Stay strong
and valiant in your testimonies. The joy
of eternity lies before us. This I
testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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