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The Book of Mormon

Yesterday in the October 2017 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Nelson asked 3 questions:

1. What would your life be like without the Book of  Mormon?
2. What would you not know?
3. What would you not have?

I would like to answer those questions for myself.

1. What would my life be like without the Book of Mormon?

Without the Book of Mormon my life would be much more confused, much more empty, I would have much more doubt and question more.  I would only be able to rely on the Bible and would have a lot more doubt because of stories and situations that I do not understand.  That seem unclear and questionable.  I would not feel the amazing love I feel from my Savior.  I know I would know He loves me but I wouldn't realize how completely.

2. What would I not know without it?

My favorite part of the Book of Mormon is when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas.  I love His compassion for the people.  I love that He goes through the crowd "one by one" (3 Nephi 11:15) and allows everyone to touch His hands and His feet.  He then heals all the sick, not just the physical ailments, but the emotional as well.  It gives me hope of my depression someday being cured.  He then takes the children and blesses them.  They open their mouths and speak truths that baffle the parents.

Without the Book of Mormon I would not know and feel this compassion and love He has for the people.  In the Bible He does have compassion and love but the people are so hard hearted that they don't believe Him and He is constantly defending Himself and God.  But in the Book of Mormon the people recognize who He is and immediately accept Him and He is allowed to perform miracles and easily show His love for them.

Without the Book of Mormon I would not understand the "natural man," I would not understand the faith needed to believe in something I do not see or completely understand.  My testimony would be so limited.  I can't even comprehend how much I would not know.  And linked with the Book of Mormon would be all of the restored gospel.  The fullness of the gospel that allows us to better see our Father's Plan of Happiness.  If all this knowledge was taken from me I would feel more lost, less happy, more empty, and have even more questions than I do now.

How grateful I am for the Book of Mormon and the knowledge that it brings to me and my life and my family.  How blessed I am to have been born into this gospel and to know for myself of its truth.

3. What would I not have without it?

I would not have as much peace as I do now.  I would not have the restored gospel that gives me a forever family.  A temple that allows me peace and clarity when I walk into its doors.  I would not have such a clear knowledge of the Plan of Happiness, of why I am here, where I came from, and where I am going.  There would be a part of me that wold feel lost.  I would not have the gift of the Holy Ghost as my constant companion that continually guides me in all I do.  That I can ask questions to, seek help from, receive peace and comfort and knowledge that God loves me and that I am doing okay, that He is happy with me.  That knowledge of God's love is what sustains me daily as I fight the battle of depression and of Satan's lies.  Instead of Satan always entering my head with thoughts of my worthlessness and me dwelling on those thoughts and allowing them to take over, I am immediately reminded of the experiences I have had with Heavenly Father by the power of the Holy Ghost that have testified to me of my worth and God's love.  Those thoughts are then pushed aside and I am able to see a better picture of what is going on and where I stand and where I should go.

I love General Conference.  It is so good to be reminded of truths and to be challenged to grow and to be reminded of what I have.  It has been fun to see my kids excitement for General Conference this year.  In primary the 3 youngest were given a bag of treats to be eaten when certain words were used in conference.  Michael has been begging to open that bag all week.  He was counting down the days until we would come to Lake Gaston so he could watch conference.  The other kids get so excited with our traditions of a small treat after ever speaker, of conference bingo squares, and the conference packets I print out.  I love that they look forward to Conference and even ask about it during the year.  They want to come back to the Lake and watch Church at the house.  It is truly delightful.



Yesterday we even tied fleece blankets for Project Linus.  There were some scraps left over and John Derek went around to all of our family tying them on our heads so we looked like a bunch of Anti-Nephi-Lehi's.  It really is a good time.  Today I will try to see that goodness when I have to show my children patience as I quiet them and keep them seated and listening.  It is not all roses but it is good!

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