Prophetic Promises Regarding the Book of Mormon
Most members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin a year-long study of the Book of Mormon this year. As President Ezra Taft Benson famously noted, study of that book is associated with a number of inspiring promises:
[2] Elder David A. Bednar, “Watching with All Perseverance,” Ensign 40.5 (May 2010): 41.
[7] President
Henry B. Eyring, “A Witness,” Ensign 41.11 (November 2011), 69.
[8] President Henory B. Eyring, “A Witness,” Ensign 41.11 (November 2011), 69.
“Let us not remain under condemnation [see D&C 84:85],
with its scourge and judgment, by treating lightly this great and marvelous
gift the Lord has given to us. Rather, let us win the promises associated with
treasuring it up in our hearts.”[1]
“Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph
Smith said . . . ‘a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than
by any other book.’” (BoM Introduction)
“Parents who [read and talk about the Book of Mormon with
their children] faithfully will be blessed to recognize early signals of
spiritual growth in or challenges with their children and be better prepared to
receive inspiration to strengthen and help those children.”[2]
“Regular reading of and talking about the Book of Mormon
invite the power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within
our families.”[3]
“Youth of all ages, even infants, can and do respond to the
distinctive spirit of the Book of Mormon. Children may not understand all of
the words and stories, but they certainly can feel the ‘familiar spirit’
described by Isaiah.”[4]
“I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk
about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony
spontaneously, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely
to be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (Moses 6:27)
and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (Ezekiel 33:2-16). The
spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of
these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for
your families—‘watching . . . with all perserverance” (Ephesians 6:18)—to the
blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and
testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”[5]
“I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the
world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. . . .
Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple
program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of
Mormon, there will come into your lives and your homes an added measure of the
Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His
commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of
God.”[6]
“The effect of the Book of Mormon on your character, power,
and courage to be a witness for God is certain. The doctrine and the valiant
examples in that book will lift, guide, and embolden you.”[7]
“Every missionary who is proclaiming the name and gospel of
Jesus Christ will be blessed by daily feasting from the Book of Mormon.”[8]
“Parents who struggle to get a witness of the Savior into
the heart of a child will be helped as they seek for a way to bring the words
and the spirit of the Book of Mormon into the home and all the lives in their
family. That has proven true for us.”[9]
“Prayerful study of the Book of Mormon will build faith in
God the Father, in His Beloved Son, and in His gospel. It will build your faith
in God’s prophets, ancient and modern. It can draw you closer to God than any
other book. It can change a life for the better.”[10]
“[The Book of Mormon] can help with personal problems in a
very real way. Do you want to get rid of a bad habit? Do you want to improve
relationships in your family? Do you want to increase your spiritual capacity?
Read the Book of Mormon!”[11]
“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth,
though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears
testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that. But there is something more.
There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the
moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to
resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find
the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called ‘the
words of life’ (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the
Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will
find life in greater and greater abundance.”[12]
“There is another reason why we should read the Book of
Mormon: By doing so we will fill and refresh our minds with a constant flow of
that ‘water’ which Jesus said would be in us ‘a well of water springing up into
everlasting life’ (John 4:14).”[13]
“If we would avoid adopting the evils of the world, we must
pursue a course which will daily feed our minds with and call them back to the
things of the Spirit. I know of no better way to do this than by daily reading
the Book of Mormon.”[14]
“I am persuaded, my brothers and sisters, that it is
irrational to hope to escape the lusts of the world without substituting for
them as the subjects of our thoughts the things of the Spirit, and I know that
the things of the Spirit are taught with mighty power in the Book of Mormon. I
believe with all my heart, for example, that if our young people could come out
of our homes thoroughly acquainted with the life of Nephi, imbued with the
spirit of his courage and love of truth, they would choose the right when the
choice is placed before them.”[15]
“If our young folks become familiar with the teachings of
the Book of Mormon, they will not only be inspired by the examples of Nephi,
the 2,000 sons of Helaman (see Alma 53), and other great Book of Mormon
characters to choose the right, they will also be so schooled in the principles
of the gospel of Jesus Christ that they will be able to know and understand
what is right.”[16]
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read
from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with
their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes
and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual
respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention
will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.
Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their
parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of
Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and
happiness.”[17]
If you know of other prophetic promises regarding the Book of Mormon, please share in the comments, and I will add your contribution to the list (as I update it periodically).
[1] President Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign 16.11 (November 1986): 5-7.
[3] Elder David A. Bednar, “Watching with All Perseverance,” Ensign 40.5 (May 2010): 41.
[4] Elder David A. Bednar, “Watching with All Perseverance,” Ensign 40.5 (May 2010): 42.
[5] Elder David A. Bednar, “Watching with All Perseverance,” Ensign 40.5 (May 2010): 43.
[6] President Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Testimony Vibrant and True,” Ensign 35.8 (August 2005).
[8] President Henory B. Eyring, “A Witness,” Ensign 41.11 (November 2011), 69.
[11] Elder
Russell M. Nelson, “A Testimony of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign 29.11
(November 1999), 71.
[12] President
Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon: Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign
16.11 (November 1986): 5-7.
[13] President Marion
G. Romney, “The Book of Mormon,” Ensign 10.5 (May 1980): 65.
[14] President
Marion G. Romney, “The Book of Mormon,” Ensign 10.5 (May 1980): 65.
[15] President
Marion G. Romney, “The Book of Mormon,” Ensign 10.5 (May 1980): 66.
[16] President
Marion G. Romney, “The Book of Mormon,” Ensign 10.5 (May 1980): 66.
[17] President
Marion G. Romney, “The Book of Mormon,” Ensign 10.5 (May 1980): 67.
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