Scott Sorensen BofM

On Real Talk Come Follow Me today, Ganel-lyn Condie and Scott Sorensen bore their testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Ganel-lyn shared this quote from Elder Holland in his talk Safety for the Soul:

"As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, I submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. In this their greatest—and last—hour of need, I ask you: would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?

Never mind that their wives are about to be widows and their children fatherless. Never mind that their little band of followers will yet be “houseless, friendless and homeless” and that their children will leave footprints of blood across frozen rivers and an untamed prairie floor.⁹ Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if not the very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! They were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin and the eternal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon."

She said that hearing that quote did something to/for her and she never wants to forget how she felt when she heard those words.

Then Scott shared that when he was a senior in high school he decided to read the Book of Mormon.  He'd never read it on his own before.  He read 4-5 days a week and it took him the whole year.  And he said he doesn't really remember anything specific that he learned.   But THEN he read this quote from President Nelson:  "My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day."

And he said that THIS is what happened to him.  He started spending more time with his family and having heartfelt discussions with his parents.  He started getting along better with his brother.  And he had the thought/feeling that some of his music wasn't good for him.  So each week he would look through his CD's and get rid of one CD that didn't serve him well.  And then he started getting rid of two each week.  And that had a tremendous impact on him emotionally and spiritually.  It didn't say in the Book of Mormon "Throw out your CD's" but reading the Book of Mormon allowed him to have the spirit with him so that he could recognize that prompting and have the strength to follow through on it.

I love that story!  I love the way the Book of Mormon blesses my life!  I'm so grateful for it! I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It was translated by Joseph Smith, but it was written by ancient prophets and written for us TODAY.  It was inspired of God and can help me become closer to Christ and become my best self.

LESSONS LEARNED:  Joseph did what he said he did.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  The Book of Mormon helps us make better decisions.