Bealach na Ba pass through Applecross is the most awesome, twisty, hairpin bendy road in the United Kingdom. The single track road’s gradient slopes of nearly 20% enable its quick ascent from sea level to 2,054 feet.  The views are spectacular.

Anthony and I quickly ascended this Scottish Highland mountain pass on our rented motorcycles, and after a short break in the wee village, began the return descent and two hour ride back to our B&B in Portree.

Having found my stride up the mountain, I planned to push my limits on the way down. However, we quickly caught up to a vehicle whose driver seemed deathly afraid of the road. It’s a single track road, meaning only one car will fit on the side of the mountain at a time, so drivers must carefully observe oncoming traffic. One driver must move into an accessible passing place, giving the oncoming driver the right of way to continue on the road, if two drivers meet head on, someone has to back up until a passing place is reached. After the road clears again, the stopped driver proceeds onward.

In front of me, the car’s driver constantly slammed on his brakes in spite of clear roads ahead. We inched down the mountain at 10 mph, and I was frustrated. Anthony, sensing my tension (and knowing me well), rode up beside me to soothe my frustration. We pulled over to look at the views and relax. However, within minutes of being back on the bikes, we caught up to the same car and slowed way down again.

Suddenly, we hit a straightaway and the car jolted forward.  Elated and hopeful, I followed suit.  Then, he slammed on the brakes, from 45mph to 0mph in an instant. I had maintained good distance and saw him stop, but while braking caught the gravel on the mountain side of the road. I knew I was going to crash. I kept slowing in the gravel, but then had no where else to go and abruptly hit the mountain.  The jarred bike and I careened at a 45 degree angle back onto the road and then slid across the asphalt to a stop. My helmet, which I hated wearing, saved my life. Anthony lifted the bike off me, but I couldn’t move right away.  I knew three things: I was alive. Somehow I didn’t go over the edge of the cliff. I was holding up traffic in both directions.

What I Believe

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church).  As a Latter-day Saint, I believe that we are all God’s spirit children who lived and grew in His presence before this earth life, and now have the opportunity to have a physical body and gain experience in this mortal world. The whole point of our existence is to become like our Father, who is a glorious resurrected being of flesh and bones. Because of the Savior Jesus Christ’s miraculous atoning sacrifice, after we die, we will be resurrected (our spirits and bodies unite again) with a perfected body.  Having that perfected body sounded amazing to me as I lay hurting on Scottish mountain pass asphalt.

That incident taught me several lessons about my mortal experience.

Don’t Do Stupid Things To My Body.

The Lord gave specific commandments for our safety and to enhance our journey through life. He knew what would cause emotional and physical pain to our souls and told us how to avoid it. We protect ourselves by wearing spiritual helmets and gear. “Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother” (Luke 18:20). “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 39).

Anger Wreaks Havoc.

Honestly, my intense frustration at the scaredy-cat driver in the car caused me to lose control. While I judged his lack of reason in coming to a complete stop again, I lost my opportunity to stabilize myself and wrecked.  My anger did not affect him at all. He didn’t even stop after I nearly sideswiped him. My emotions affected me and Anthony (and then everyone else who had to wait for the road to be cleared.)

Emotions provide the amusement-park experiences of life – up and down, back and forth, excitement and terror, elation and so dizzy that you …

Mastering my emotions is a constant struggle, but with Christ, all things are possible. In the Book of Mormon,a loving father counseled his son, “[S]ee that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love” (Alma 38:12). The Apostle Paul exhorted, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Everyone On The Road Is On The Same Journey-Even Scaredy-cat Drivers.

If I truly believe that all people are children of God, shouldn’t that change my perspective? Would I rush around adamant that everything has to be done my way and in my time frame? Can I celebrate the divinity in others and rejoice in our unique perspectives and talents? Should I take off my blinders and actually see?

Instead of seeing persons in “my way,” I could consider that we crossed paths for a reason. One of my favorite quotes is: “You lift me and I’ll lift Thee, and We’ll both ascend together.” God’s plan promotes unity of purpose—a Zion, or physical state of oneness with God and each other—rather than individual defensiveness.

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).

I love living in a time where I can see into outer space and then into tiny atoms, with speedy technology at my finger tips.  The talents and passions of great minds richly enhance life’s experiences. And yet each person I pass on the sidewalk has divine potential to similarly shape the world in his or her own way.

We all need to eat and sleep. We each seek love, security, and purpose. You are me and I am you. Let’s give each other permission to shine.

God’s Timing Enables Me To Enjoy The Ride.

I’ve thought a lot about how I gypped my Applecross experience by wanting, anticipating, and hoping for something else on my journey down the mountain. I focused on the brake lights ahead, which became my skewed reality, and ultimately left me battered and tattered and pretty unfulfilled.

Why didn’t I enjoy the respite Anthony provided, or use our 10mph ride as ample time to breathe in fresh air deeply and enjoy the exquisite vistas from our heavenly perch?  Why am I always in such a hurry to accomplish some crazy to do list?

Why do I compare my weaknesses with others’ strengths or bemoan barrenness when some moms bemoan my freedom? Is the grass really greener going 60 mph down mountainous curves? Why would I want to live someone else’s life?

“Be still and know that I am God” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16).

Only in the stillness of a relationship with Deity does life gain perspective and purpose. We are His children after all. He knows us and wants us to succeed. He provided the perfect path—His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. When I rejoice with gratitude, I feel God’s promise to “go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88). When I sin, through Christ’s grace, I can repent. When I sorrow, Jesus succors me. When I need direction or increased faith, hope, and charity, He “[leads me] by the hand and [gives me] answer to [my] prayers” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:10).

Each of us can find Him.  We are His.

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Thoughts: A Great and Marvelous Change

Letter to a Friend

Dear Cody,

I’m doing great man! It’s great to hear from you. I hope things have been going well for you lately. What’s new in your life down in Alabama? Are you still taking classes at JSU? Or are you working at all?

Anyway, my Book of Mormon class has been amazing, brother. I hope you get the chance to come to school out here in the future, because these religion classes change my life. Right now we are making our way through 3 Nephi, where Jesus comes to visit the people in the Americas. If I’m not mistaken, that chapter was one of the first ones we had you read when we met you two years ago.

Even though I’ve read that chapter (chapter 11 that is) hundreds of times, I am still learning new things about the coming of Christ to the Americas and His visitation of the Nephite people.

I’ll share something with you that especially impacted me the other day. In 3 Nephi chapters 9 and 10, the people are experiencing all kinds of storms and earthquakes and other destructive natural disasters and are witnessing the annihilation of many of their big cities. Then, immediately following all of this destruction, a thick darkness covers the whole land to the point where they couldn’t even light a fire to see clearly. That darkness lasted about the 3 days until finally the Lord spoke to them: “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they [those who were killed in the destruction], will ye not now return unto me, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13). I love how merciful the Lord is in that verse.

Christ visited the Nephites after His resurrection.

Later, in chapter 11 verse 1 it says, “And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which and taken place.” My whole life, I have always pictured this verse to happen immediately after the darkness is taken off of the land and all the people are sort of walking around the rubble of their old cities marveling at this change, but in my class, I learned that it is more likely that verse 1 of chapter 11 didn’t happen until possibly a whole year later! And if that’s the case, the people were most likely almost recovered from the destruction that had happened in chapter 9-10.

In that context, verse one takes on a whole new meaning for me. Now, the people are gathering to the temple to worship God and they notice “a great a marvelous change which has taken place.” In my eyes, this change is no longer referring to the landscape in the aftermath of so many terrible disasters; the people are referring to a great and marvelous change that had taken place in their hearts. The people had become converted to the doctrine of Christ, and once they reached that level of spirituality, the Savior Himself appeared to them at the temple. Isn’t that amazing? I love these beautiful little messages that the Book of Mormon has. It’s awesome.

I hope all is well for you and that you are happy. Love you brother!

Jeff

Additional Resources:

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Mormon Thoughts: Finding Power

Email to my sister

Hey, so I know you were really excited to go through the Mormon temple! I also know that you haven’t been back for awhile. I don’t really know why you haven’t gone back. It’s probably just because you haven’t had time or it has just slipped your mind, but you know that I just went through like two weeks ago and I just wanted to share some stuff with you.

I’ll be honest, when I first went there, I was very confused but I really did feel the spirit so much. I think it is hard for some people, because they don’t understand everything they experience there, and so they maybe don’t have a huge desire to go back all of the time, or they go and still don’t understand and so they get frustrated. I just wanted to share something that I learned though, because I think it gives us insight into what God is trying to teach us in this life.

We learn more about God’s plan for us at the temple.

In my New Testament class we were talking about Ephesians. We talked about a ton of great stuff that I’d like to share with you sometime, but for now I wanted to tell you first about chapter six. In verse 11 it tells us that we need to put on the whole armor of God. In my class we learned that the Greek translation of the phrase “put on” is enduo, which translates back to, “endow yourself.” So we are to endow ourselves with the armor of God. And the armor of God is described after that verse. The one that was especially powerful to me was the shield of faith. We talked about how it is a shield and therefore it is portable. The shield can protect any part of us. So we see how important faith in the Lord is. It will protect us from all of the negative outside forces. When we have strong faith then we don’t let the doubts of the world penetrate, causing us to waver in our testimony of Christ.

Every time I go to the temple, I understand more about the amazing things God has in store for us.  But we have to stay on the path that leads to Him and try to grab onto the gifts He offers us.  A lot of those gifts come through the temple.

Your BFF,

Cassidy

Additional Resources:

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Mormon Thoughts: Moving Forward

Letter to a friend

Last week you were telling me that you don’t know what you are doing with your life. You said that you feel like everyone is figuring their lives out, and you are just going through the motions without progressing toward anything. We had a lesson in New Testament this week that I found really helpful in my life and I thought maybe could help you, too. We are in Romans right now, and there are a few verses I want to point out. First in chapter 5 verses 3-5, I’ll just summarize for you.

These verses give us insight on how we can obtain hope even through our tribulations. Through tribulation we gain patience, through patience we gain experience, and finally through experience we gain hope. I know you may feel like things aren’t going your way lately, and like there are things holding you back, while everyone else is moving forward. I’ve been there; it can be so discouraging! I challenge you to keep your head up and find hope for the future in the experiences you are having. You always have a clean future with endless potential.

The next set of verses I want to highlight are in chapter 6, verses 19-23. These outline the effects sin and righteousness have on our lives and on our futures. You’ve been quite an example to me over the months I’ve known you, little things you do to try to bring the spirit into your life and make your Heavenly Father proud have really impressed me. These few verses show us that if we choose to sin, our reward will be death and misery, but if we choose to be righteous and live our lives like I see you live on a daily basis, then our reward will be eternal life and a kingdom in heaven. You’re well on your way to gaining that great reward. When life gets hard, and it feels like you’re going nowhere, remember that our Heavenly Father loves you, and that He’s preparing a mansion for you in heaven. I know it can feel like we aren’t progressing in this life like everyone else is, but know that you always have the ability, no matter your circumstances, to progress in your spiritual life and THAT is what really matters.

The Lord knows our hearts even if we can’t express how we feel.

Finally, I want to touch on something that I struggle with in times of feeling inadequate, and that is knowing what to pray for. Often times I’ll be feeling distraught and get down on my knees, but not know how to express what I’m feeling to our Father in Heaven. Chapter 8 verse 26 shows us that in times like this, we don’t always need to find a way to express what we’re feeling. The Lord knows, He can feel our prayers just like He can hear and answer them.

I hope this has helped you a little bit as it has helped me, know that I’m here for you just like you’ve been there for me before, be sure to let me know if you need anything.

Your friend,

Darrell

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Thoughts: Enduring through the Trial

Letter to a friend

Before I took a class on the Book of Mormon I always assumed that Christ came down to visit the Nephites only three days after His crucifixion and resurrection. Now I know better—the Nephites actually had to wait nearly a year before they had the chance to see Christ. However, during this time they didn’t wait passively; they were working hard to change both their outward circumstances and inwardly they worked to change their hearts. In fact, on the day that Christ descended, the people were conversing about him. In other words, even though time had passed, they were still using the terrible trials that had befallen them to make themselves better, more worthy people.

Like the Nephites, we must prepare for our meeting with Christ by enduring our trials with patience.

I believe this can apply to people today. Sometimes a trial will happen in our lives and though we survive it, we are neither made better people nor blessed because of it. We will be better prepared for these circumstances if we look to the example of the Nephites during this time period. Just like the Nephites, we can’t be passive while waiting for our trials and afflictions to pass; we need to work in order for them to change us. We can also see that trials will take some patience. Christ didn’t visit the Nephites immediately after His death and the destruction that followed it; He made them wait. Likewise, we might wonder why a trial is lasting so long, or why our lives haven’t been especially blessed for making it through the trials, but just like the Nephites, we need to learn to be patient and work hard in the meantime.

Life can be extremely hard. It was for the Nephites and it still is for people everywhere today. The trick to getting through is trying a little harder to be a little better and having the knowledge that eventually we will all meet Christ personally, whether in this life or the next.

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know.  In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us.  We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

Mormon Thoughts: An Epiphany

A letter to my sister

I had an epiphany this week in New Testament class. It is about the purpose of righteousness. We have been talking a lot the last few weeks in the letters of Paul to new converts about the differences between grace and why we need to do good works, such as what we read this week in Philippians 2:12. Because the original expectation was that we need to be perfect, and that was not attainable, that is the reason for the Atonement, right? So why can we not just take advantage of the Atonement and do whatever we want? It is because in performing the Atonement, Christ set a new standard for us to attain, you know, the laws of sacrifice, the gospel, etc. He transferred the debt we needed to pay from Heavenly Father to himself. He still wants us to become perfect, so He does not leave us without any rules, we are still expected to become something more. So my epiphany this week was about the purpose of righteous actions.

The Atonement sets a new standard for all who desire to be followers of Christ.

My professor said something about connecting to God, and I am not sure why that resonated so much inside me, just because it seems like such a simple concept. But I was thinking about it, and in my experience, I find that when I do something “good,” it is as if I am trying to achieve something; I am reaching for some abstract ideal. For example, God did all this stuff (Creation, Atonement, and everything needed for us to get back to Him) for us, and gave us the law of chastity, so I will be chaste for the sake of being chaste. I realized this was not the reason we do it. It is to connect with Christ. Let’s say we were building a bridge. Christ already has His part built, in just the right place with just the right materials, etc. It is now our object to attach ourselves to Him. Or in another analogy, to attach our branches to Him, the Vine.

It is through Him that we attain sustenance and that all blessings flow. In surrendering the only thing we have to give, our wills, we achieve the ultimate victory. When we seek to connect to Him, we are no longer focused on just our actions, but also our thoughts and attitudes. Ironically, we still need His help to do our part of the bargain as well. But if I had to trust my will, my life, and my whole soul to anyone, I am glad it is the most loving, all knowing, and perfect being in existence.

With warm thoughts,

Ashley

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Thoughts: Intimate Atonement
Letter to Author’s Sister

I am writing you early this week because I don’t want to forget the feelings I just had in class. I was incredibly tired, and prayed at the beginning of class to pay attention and feel the spirit. Oh boy, did I feel the tender spirit as we read through only half the chapter together as a class and discuss this unique passage of scripture. My hand didn’t stop writing until we watched a short video at the end of class.

There are three witnesses that occur in chapter 11 of 3 Nephi of the divinity of the Savior Jesus Christ. The first and most powerful in all scripture is the testimony of the Father, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Nephi 11:7). Second, Christ testifies of himself. Finally, and most importantly, the Savior invited the multitude to, “Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know (3 Nephi 11:14, emphasis added).

Interesting that after the testimony of the Father and the Son, the personal confirmation of the Spirit is the most lasting testimony we can receive. Christ understands our mortal state and the effect of our senses to increase our knowledge and understanding of principles. But I truly believe that what the people needed most of all was to feel his love for each of them personally as it was conveyed by the spirit.

This is my favorite scripture among all latter-day revelation:

And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come (3 Nephi 11:15, emphasis added).

This scripture demonstrates the infinite and intimate nature of the Atonement. I know that Christ suffered for the sins of the world, but he also suffered for our infirmities, pains, afflictions, temptations, sicknesses, etc., as stated in Alma 7:11-12.

My teacher made the statement, “When you come to Jesus he will be exactly what you need him to be.” If you need someone to cry with, he’ll weep with you, or smile with you, or comfort you. He knows what we need when we need it.

I know that you and I are daughters of God. I know that through sincere, consistent prayer I feel that the Savior is exactly the kind of friend, father, or brother that I need him to be. I have my struggles, like everyone does. The Atonement is how I take these to him daily, weekly, and monthly to reconcile, strengthen, and succor me through this life.

I love you and hope that this was understandable.

Hailey

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Thoughts
Letter to Author’s Grandmother

Grandma,

It has been a bit since Joy and I last saw you. We just made a scrapbook for the year 2011 and another for 2012, and we included pictures of us going to the Las Vegas temple with you and Sherida. Joy and I have set goals to attend the temple as it is so very close to us. Next time we come down, it would be nice to go again with you guys.

With my studies I have been studying the scriptures with Joy, and something made me think of you and your life. You have a few years on me, and I still have much to learn, but I admire those who give themselves to a cause and to a belief. In 3 Nephi chapter 9 verses 19 and 20, we read how Jesus introduces the higher law that coincides with His sacrifice. He teaches that we should not offer blood or burnt sacrifices anymore. Instead, He explains what He requires of each of us: “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”

I believe that sacrifice in ancient times is not so different from what it means today. While we do not offer up a physical animal to sacrifice, we offer up the animal in each of us. The carnal and natural man must be offered up as sacrifice. In ancient days, “sacrifice” meant to make something or someone holy. This can be very difficult, and it is supposed to be.

I think we all have daily opportunities to sacrifice for the God that suffered and died for us. Going to the temple, studying the scriptures, and magnifying my callings are the ones I am working on. It seems like the only thing I lack in my abundance is time. Days and weeks fly by and that means tests and papers. But each time I lay myself on the altar and give up snowboarding or movies or video games to do His work, I really feel closer to Him.

I sure do admire that you have been faithful for so many years and I know it has affected a lot of people outside our family to have a grandma who taught her kids about the church.

Stay healthy and write when you can.

Brandon

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Thoughts
Letter to Brother on a Mission

Dear Ryker,

This week we have been studying chapters 7 through 10 in 3 Nephi. In these chapters it shows how the people are becoming more and more wicked right before the Savior’s coming. A few concepts that caught my attention were how there are many paths to wickedness but only one path to Christ, and how signs or miracles can be overlooked if our spiritual eyes are shut.

Satan wishes to deceive all mankind by distracting us from the good and preaching against the doctrine of Christ. Although there are many signs in these chapters that followed the great sign of the star (the sign which had been prophesied would appear at Christ’s birth), the people become ignorant in their wickedness. They turn hardhearted and prideful as their attention strays from God. I believe that happens to us at times as well.

We know that we live in the last days and that Christ will soon come again, but with the many vain things of the world fighting for our attention we lose focus on our true and eternal goal. President Uchtdorf (member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) talked once in a story about a time when the navigation on his plane began to malfunction. As the controls went out, there was only a small compass to lead their coarse. With that they believed they were on track but little did they know they were only a few degrees off. Little by little they strayed from their destination and when they reached journey’s end, they realized they had ended up very far off course.

Satan will try and sway us only a little bit at a time as to confuse us and make us not notice where we are in the storm of life. We must hold fast to the word of God and follow our modern-day Liahonas (ancient spiritually guided compass), such as the living prophets, to guide and direct us with the Spirit. For if we don’t, we will become desensitized to even the greatest of God’s miracles, like the people in 3 Nephi did when they watched Nephi cast out devils and raise his brother from the dead.

I testify that there are miracles in our days and the closer we are to God, the more clear they come into our vision so that we can look to God and feel secure that he is in control. Thanks for being such a great example and preaching the good word to those who so desperately need it. You are the miracle that can help them see Christ’s love and accept Him as their Savior.

Love ya tons!

Brock Guthrie

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

Mormon Thoughts: God’s Plan
Letter to an Old Highschool Friend

There have been several times in my life where I have come to you in desperate need of advice and guidance. I am forever grateful that you were willing to listen to me and esteem me even during the times when I did not deserve your attention. You have a fine quality of listening which makes you a good friend. Listening has been one thing that I find myself doing a lot lately.

Recently, I have been surrounded by amazing spiritual giants that have helped shaped me to become a better and more loving person. I am humbled every day when I listen to them because they have such strong righteous desires and insights and I feel a bit inadequate at times when I am around them. Because of their example I have taken it upon myself to become a stronger disciple of Jesus Christ. I find myself listening throughout the day for the Spirit because I long to hear Him. I love being able to feel my whole body warm up and feel lighter when He enters into my heart.

After these past few weeks I have come to the conclusion that I need to hear God’s plan for me. There are times when I know that I am doing what He wants me to, even when no one else agrees with my decisions. Recently, the prophet of our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) announced an age change for missionaries. Young men are now allowed to served when they are 18 and young women are able to serve when they are 19. Many young women decided they were going to serve a mission and the pressure to join them was immense. I pondered many hours as to whether I should go on one or not and I received my answer: I knew it was not my time to serve a mission. Perhaps when I am older I can serve a mission with my husband after retirement. However God wants me to stay here for now.

It was difficult to tell people that I was not going because I could tell they expected me to go. My family did not push me, but I could tell there was a bit of hesitation when the subject was brought up. There will be times in your life where only God will understand what is best for you. You will receive confirmation from Him and no one else will. It is important to understand the authority and power that God has, especially during times like these where no one seems to understand or want to listen. He will guide you to where you need to be even when it seems like He is not in your life. We cannot let those around us distract us from hearing what God wants us to do. Even our most loved ones can block the Spirit at times.

I am telling you this because I want you to realize that God does love each of His children and will challenge their faith in order to make them grow. The Book of Mormon, scriptures that are a second witness of Jesus Christ, contains a scriptures in 2 Nephi 2:11 that states, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.”

I pray that you will be able to find God’s plan for you and when He reveals it to you I hope that you will be strong enough to never let go of it, even when those around you say otherwise.

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Mormon Beliefs