Prophetic Promises for Reading the Book of Mormon

"We studied the Book of Mormon in Sunday School this past year. Nonetheless 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. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year. Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries ago. Said he:

“And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? …

“And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true” (Moro. 10:27, 29).

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 into 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."

Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Testimony Vibrant and True,” Ensign, Aug 2005, 2–6

The Following are additional promises given by prophets and apostles associated with reading the Book of Mormon.


The Lords Promise to You

1. There will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord.

2. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments.

3. There will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.

What You Must Do

Prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it.

Reference

President Gordon B. Hinckley
"The Power of the Book of Mormon" June 1988 Ensign, p. 6

The Lords Promise to You

1. A power will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.

2. Greater power to resist temptation.

3. Power to avoid deception.

4. Power to stay on the strait and narrow path.

5. You will find life in greater and greater abundance.

What You Must Do

Begin a serious study of the book. Hunger and thirst after those words (the words of life).

Reference

President Ezra Taft Benson
"The Book of Mormon-Keystone of our Religion" October 1986 General Conference



The Lords Promise to You

1. The spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.

2. The spirit of reverence will increase.

3. Mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow.

4. The spirit of contention will depart.

5. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.

6. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents.

7. Righteousness will increase.

8. Faith, hope, and charity--the pure love of Christ--will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.

What You Must Do

If in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly both by themselves and with their children.

Reference

President Marion G. Romney "The Book of MormonApril 1980 General Conference"

In closing I would add two additional declaration from the Doctrine and Covenants:

D&C 1:38
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my ^aword shall not pass away, but shall all be ^bfulfilled, whether by mine own ^cvoice or by the ^dvoice of my ^eservants, it is the ^fsame.

D&C 82:10
I, the Lord, am ^abound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no ^bpromise.

D&C 130: 20-21

There is a ^alaw, irrevocably decreed in ^bheaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all ^cblessings are predicated—

And when we obtain any ^ablessing from God, it is by ^bobedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

I have found that one way to obtain blessings in my life is to learn the law associated with the blessing I seek. There are many "if / then" statements made in scriptures and if we listen closely to the words of our living prophets we can obtain the promised blessings such as those listed above for reading the Book of Mormon.

The Scriptures - Dwell with the Source

I have made it a pursuit in my life to collect as many doctrinal commentaries on the scriptures as I can. I often have both my scriptures along side these volumes open as I study with the thought that they can provide additional insight. I cannot deny that I feel they do in some ways provide just that, but I also feel as though they can detract from receiving teachings from the true instructor: the Spirit. The following quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley supports the idea that focusing our studies solely on the scriptures would be more fruitful:

“I do not concern myself much with reading long commentary volumes designed to enlarge at length upon that which is found in the scriptures. Rather, I prefer to dwell with the source, tasting of the unadulterated waters of the fountain of truth— the word of God as he gave it and as it has been recorded in the books we accept as scripture. . . .

Through reading the scriptures, we can gain the assurance of the Spirit that that which we read has come of God for the enlightenment, blessing, and joy of his children.

I urge our people everywhere to read the scriptures more.”

Gordon B. Hinckley - Feasting upon the Scriptures,” Ensign, Dec. 1985, 45

My reaction to this statement is not to pile up my institute and seminary manuals for the next garage sale. Rather, I think my study of the scriptures going forward will begin exclusively with the scriptures without anything else but a pad and pencil on the table. When I do not understand something I will follow the pattern given by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants:

D&C 9:8

But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right...

I do believe one component of studying it out in your mind is to do your homework which also includes additional direction given by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants:

D&C 118:88

...seek ye out of the best ^dbooks words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

I would consider examples of best books (amongst others) as commentaries written by men and women who have dedicated their lives to the study of ancient and modern day scripture. But, when it comes time to really find the answer our Heavenly Father has prepared for the question we have at this specific time in our lives, it is He who will speak thoughts and impressions to our minds line upon line and precept upon precept. This is the power of the Comforter promised by the Son to His apostles before His ascension:

John 14: 26

But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my ^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Happy Easter

My favorite hymn together with the beautiful work of Mark Mabry.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ