Brian (aka Erik's dad) asked Erik to "share with me your perspective as you use that sacred tome as an implement of conversion."
For the sake of my sanity, this won't be formatted as a talk, but a random collection of my thoughts. That way I can come and go as I please.
-The first thought I had about this topic is about something we discussed: true intent. While we can't get anything out of the Book of Mormon if we don't have true intent, we can LEARN true intent from the Book of Mormon. It's also true that we can learn a "full purpose of heart."
-Is it truly possible to come unto Christ without the Book of Mormon? 2 Nephi 25:18 teaches us that the Book of Mormon is there to teach us of the True Messiah. With the Bible alone I can't say that we know the True Messiah. Certainly, we know that Jesus Christ is our Savior from the Bible, but certain aspects of the Savior are left out, or have been taken out. With the Book of Mormon, we can know the True Messiah, we can understand his Eternal Nature, and we can understand that Jehovah is Jesus Christ.
-There is simply power in the scriptures. It isn't anything that I feel I can explain with an earthly understanding, but when we read the scriptures with true intent we are able to receive comfort, hope, peace, joy, and direction. This shows the power of the scriptures, no other book I've read has this power. All of the listed things have great power to lead us unto Christ. People seek after what makes them happy, right? The sad thing is that they don't "often know where to find it." The Book of Mormon has the ability to show with hard evidence the "where."
-Reading the scriptures allows us to connect with the blessings of God by allowing us to understand his counsel and teachings. If we didn't have the Book of Mormon, we would be lost like the rest of the world - many issues would lack a clear answer, and our hope for the life to come wouldn't be as bright. Having clear direction is a blessing with out compare.
-The Book of Mormon is simply an impossible book. There is no way for it to exist than through the hand of God. At every level, it's history, writing, grammar, and importance couldn't have been "made up" or a simple "story." The Book of Mormon exists, despite how impossible it is for that to be true, so that means that there must be a God, and Joseph Smith must have been his chosen prophet. There is no other way for this book to exist.
-I've mentioned hope a few times. I feel that people belive so strongly in Jesus Christ because of how great the hope he offers is. His is a Gospel so gentle and loving, so inclusive and caring, it is one that draws the thirsty soul after it. Why else would those who haven't hardened their hearts latched so strongly onto the Book of Mormon? The opportunity to hear more of the Gospel of the Lamb of God, the greater understanding, and the greater hope. It's no wonder the Book of Mormon is so loved.
-The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of our religion. This thought isn't new. It holds everything together and keeps it all from collapsing. It supports all of the revelation Joseph Smith received, it testifies of Jesus Christ's Atonement, and of God's endless mercy and justice. It is what allows the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to stand apart in one simple move. If we didn't have it we wouldn't have a convincing proof of the truthfulness of the Gospel. Jesus Christ could still remain at the head of this church, it could still be guided by revelation, and we could still have all the ordinances, but we wouldn't be able to touch the hearts of millions of people. That's the power of our keystone.
-With the Book of Mormon, we have a promise, something to cling to. It is something that people have lived and died for. True, they died for the Lord, but they received the promises of the Lord from the Book of Mormon.
-We can't understand the Book of Mormon without the Spirit. We just simply can't. I've had experience reading the Book of Mormon without the spirit - I can honestly say I couldn't ever remember anything I'd read. However, when we do read with the spirit we are blessed with understanding and a greater testimony. In that way the Book of Mormon working in tandem with the Spirit of God can move us closer to the Savior.
-The Book of Mormon is pure good. From my personal experience with it, there is no way to fall away from the presence of God if you're reading it will all diligence and true intent - by following the counsels given. We just can't fall away.
-Living the Counsel given by the Book of Mormon, both in a temporal and spiritual sense, will move us closer to the Savior. As you live the temporal counsel you'll experience greater joy and peace; you'll have a greater capacity to love and respect those around you - especially those of your spouse, children, and parents. Following the spiritual counsel will prepare you to live the Celestial Law of Heaven. You will be able to create a heaven on earth within your families.
-This is a Gospel that teaches joy in posterity and in the family. By reading the Book of Mormon as a family we are able to fulfill the command to (paraphrased) "teach the children to walk in righteousness' path." We are able to feel a love an spirit that comes from nurturing a child with a love of the Savior, and all this with the Book of Mormon as a focal point that brings everyone together.
-The Book of Mormon helps us learn special lessons that are completely subconcious unless you look for them. It teaches us that the Word of God is perfect, but the people who speak it aren't. We still love them for their faithfullness and we love to hear their experiences with the Gospel, but they aren't perfect.
-Power...power...what power does the Book of Mormon have? It has the power to open up our hearts to the Holy Ghost. I think I've mentioned this before, but it still holds true. Hearts that have been closed for pride, greed, distraction, or something else can be opened by the Book of Mormon to received the spirit, and a testimony.
I hope you found some of this useful, I don't think I said anything original, and the one thought I had the entire time was "What does the Book of Mormon Lack?" Nothing. I dunno, hope this helps.
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