Most Important Scriptures in the Book of Mormon That Investigators Should Read
On a Fri afternoon, September 16, 1988, in the Vicente López Ward meetinghouse in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-twenty-four hours Saints. A very good friend, Alin Spannaus, baptized me that day, and I felt happy, lighter, eager to learn more.
Today, I would like to share some lessons I learned on my path to baptism—lessons that I hope may help those of you lot listening who are non members of the Church withal. I pray that your hearts may be touched past the Spirit, as was mine.
First, Meeting the Missionaries
Why would a person without compelling challenges, needs, or questions exist interested in meeting the missionaries and listening to their lessons? Well, in my example it was love—dear for a girl, a daughter named Renee. I roughshod in love with her, and I wanted to marry her. She was different and had standards different from nigh immature women I knew. But I fell for her and asked her to marry me—and she said no!
I was confused. I idea I was quite a catch! I was handsome, 24 years old, and a college graduate with a great job. She spoke of her goals—of marrying simply someone who could take her to the temple, of having an eternal family—and she declined my offering. I wanted to go on the relationship, so I agreed to listen to the missionaries. Is this a skillful reason to encounter with the missionaries? Well, it was for me.
When I offset met with the missionaries, I did not sympathize much of what they said, and to tell you lot the truth, I may not accept paid much attending to them. My heart was airtight to a new religion. I wanted only to show they were wrong and to gain fourth dimension to convince Renee to marry me anyway.
Today my children have served and are serving missions, and I sympathize the sacrifices that these young men and young women make to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. At present I wish I had paid more attending to Elder Richardson, Elder Farrell, and Elderberry Hyland, the wonderful missionaries who taught me.
And then, from my offset lesson, I say to yous friends and investigators of the Church building: once you lot run into the missionaries, please take them seriously; they are giving up important years of their lives only for yous.
Second, Going to Church
The first time I attended a Church coming together, I heard many words that didn't brand sense to me. Who were the Beehives? What was the Aaronic Priesthood? the Relief Lodge?
If this is the first time you have attended a Church coming together and you are feeling dislocated by something you don't understand, do not worry! I was clueless too. But I however remember the impressions, the new feelings of peace and joy I experienced. I did not know it then, but the Holy Ghost was whispering to my ears and to my middle, "This is right."
So let me put this lesson in one judgement: if you are confused, don't worry—remember the feelings you have experienced; they come up from God.
Tertiary, Reading the Book of Mormon
Subsequently several meetings with the missionaries, I was not making much progress. I felt I had not received a confirmation of the truthfulness of the gospel.
1 day, Renee asked me, "Are you reading the Volume of Mormon?"
I replied, "No." I was listening to the missionaries—wasn't that enough?
With tears in her eyes, Renee assured me that she knew the Volume of Mormon is truthful and explained that if I wanted to know if it is truthful, the only way is—guess what—to read information technology! So inquire!
Read, ponder in your hearts, and "ask God, the Eternal Begetter, in the name of Christ, … with a sincere eye, with real intent, having faith in Christ" (Moroni 10:4) if the Book of Mormon is true, if this is the true Church building.
So the tertiary lesson, in 1 sentence: when y'all receive these things—the Book of Mormon—and yous are exhorted to read and ask God if they are true, please just do it!
Terminal, Repenting
The terminal experience I'd like to share is about repentance. Later on I had finished taking all the missionary lessons, I was still not convinced I needed to modify annihilation in my life. It was Elder Cutler, a young, confident missionary with limited Spanish, who 1 day said, "Joaquin, allow's read together Alma 42, and we volition include your proper name as we read it."
I thought it was silly, simply I did every bit Elder Cutler asked and read in verse one: "And at present, my son [Joaquin], I perceive in that location is somewhat more which doth worry your heed, which ye cannot empathize." Oh! The book was speaking to me.
And we read in poetry two: "Now behold, my son [Joaquin], I volition explain this affair unto thee," and then the Autumn of Adam was described.
And and then in verse four: "And thus we run into, that there was a time granted unto [Joaquin] to repent."
We continued reading slowly, verse by poesy, until we reached the final three verses. Then I was struck by a powerful force. The book spoke straight to me, and I started to weep as I read, "And now, [Joaquin,] my son, I desire that ye should allow these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you lot … unto repentance" (poesy 29).
I realize now that I had expected to receive revelation without paying the toll. Until then I had never truly spoken to God, and the thought of speaking to someone who wasn't present seemed foolish. I had to humble myself and practise what I was being asked to practice even if, in my worldly mind, it sounded empty-headed.
That twenty-four hours I opened my heart to the Spirit, desired to repent, and wanted to be baptized! Before that moment, I had thought of repentance every bit something negative, associated merely with sin and wrongdoing, but suddenly I saw it in a dissimilar light—equally something positive that cleared the path to growth and happiness.
Elder Cutler is here today, and I want to thank him for opening my optics. Every determination I accept made in my life since then has been influenced past that moment when I humbled myself and prayed for forgiveness, and the Amende of Jesus Christ on my behalf became office of my life.
Then the concluding lesson, in 1 statement: experience repentance; nothing draws y'all closer to the Lord Jesus Christ than a desire to modify.
My dearest investigator, friend of the Church building, if yous are listening today, you are very shut to reaching the greatest joy. You are shut!
Let me invite you, with all the energy of my middle and from the depths of my soul: get and be baptized! It is the all-time thing you volition e'er do. It will change not simply your life but also the lives of your children and grandchildren.
The Lord has blessed me with a family. I married Renee, and we take four cute children. And because of my baptism, I can, like the prophet Lehi of erstwhile, invite them to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, which is the love of God (see 1 Nephi 8:15; 11:25). I can help them come unto Christ.
So delight consider my experiences, and (1) take the missionaries very seriously, (2) get to church and call up spiritual feelings, (3) read the Book of Mormon and ask the Lord if information technology is true, and (4) feel repentance and be baptized.
I show to yous that if you pay the toll of revelation, humble yourself, read, pray, and apologize, the heavens will open and you will know, as I know, that Jesus is the Christ, He is my Savior, and He is yours. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2017/05/sunday-afternoon-session/to-the-friends-and-investigators-of-the-church?lang=eng
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