The Power and Protection of the Book of Mormon

President Monson's Testimony of the Book of Mormon: The Power and Protection of the Book of Mormon

Today's episode focuses on the testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon from President Thomas S. Monson.

Seek this Jesus - A Book of Mormon Daily Podcast invites you to discover the joy and guidance that comes from studying the Book of Mormon everyday. This podcast would hope to just be a supplement to your studies. 

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For more information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/

Transcript

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Welcome to Speak This Peace, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps. As I had done previously, I wanted to interrupt our single verse discussions and discuss a testimony of the Book of Mormon from a prophet of God. We had previously spent some time discussing President Nelson's testimony. Today we will discuss President Thomas S. Monson's testimony. President Monson passed away in January of 2018. He gave a small talk in April 2017 and did not give a talk in October 2017. His last talk, which he gave in a general conference, was titled The Power of the Book of Mormon. The message I'm sharing today is based on his last talk. President Monson said, This morning I speak about the power of the Book of Mormon and the critical need we have as a members of this church to study, ponder, and apply its teachings in our lives. The importance of having a firm and sure testimony of the Book of Mormon cannot be overstated. He continued, We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? So let's think about that. That was stated eight years ago. Have you seen more great trouble and wickedness in the world? I have. The world around us is flooded with moral confusion, spiritual apathy, and widespread distractions. And while these conditions aren't new, they are increasingly intense and unavoidable. We're not just being asked to live the gospel, we're being asked to defend it, preserve it, and stand firm in it under pressure. So the question is a real one. What will protect us? The prophet's answer is clear and direct. President Monson said, A strong testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and of his gospel will help us see through to safety. That protective power doesn't just appear out of nowhere. It grows as we engage with the Word of God, specifically the Book of Mormon. President Monson declared, If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. I love the simplicity of the ask. Please do so. There's no complicated formula here. Read daily, read with sincerity, and be open to the Spirit. When we do that, we aren't just collecting information, we're inviting revelation. The promise is bold. If it's true, and it is, then Joseph Smith was a prophet. The restoration is real, and Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. And once we know that, we're no longer anchored to opinions or trends, we are grounded in eternal truth. Here's where the prophet speaks directly to our responsibility. If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. Why do we need a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon? This is not a time to borrow conviction. The faith of a parent, a spouse, a bishop, or a friend, they can inspire us, but it cannot sustain us. President Monson said, The testimonies of others will carry you only so far. That's a warning and an invitation. Our spiritual survival depends on our willingness to seek the truth for ourselves and to act on it. And once we've received that testimony, we are not done. President Monson continues. In other words, a testimony is not a trophy we place on a shelf. It's a fire we tend. We feed it daily, or it fades. If we feed it properly, it can become a raging inferno of a testimony inside. If we ignore it, it could just barely be embers. And a simple rainstorm might wash it away. Finally, he pleads with us not commands, not insists, but implores. Quote, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. I really like the word that he used in here. He used the word us. He didn't point his fingers at us at the audience and tell us that we needed to do it because he was doing it. In no way was he is giving a thinking that he was better than us. No, he said we all need to by using that word each of us. Everyone needs to prayerfully study and ponder the book of Marvin each day. The great news is he provides a why. Quote, as we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven's help in our lives. That's not an abstract idea, that's concrete, practical spiritual protection he's promising, hearing the spirit in a noisy world, resisting temptation in moments of weakness, overcoming doubt when our faith is stretched, receiving divine help when human answers aren't enough, receiving answers when Google or Chat GPT aren't enough. These are the real life outcomes of a habit as simple as opening the Book of Mormon every day with purpose. And that's what makes this message so powerful. The promise is not tied to some future event. It's available now, if we choose to act. In conclusion, let's remember what's at stake. A personal testimony is not a luxury in our day, it's a necessity. And daily engagement with the Book of Mormon is not a suggestion. It's spiritual survival survival. So here's our challenge today. Let's commit to daily studying the Book of Mormon. How long should you study? Ask God. And if you truly intend to do what He answers, He will tell you how long you personally should study. If our study has become routine, let's approach it with more intent. The Book of Mormon is not just a book. It's a witness. It's a shield. It's a source of power for every disciple of Jesus Christ who seeks to stand strong in a world of shifting sands. Let's take President Monson's invitation seriously. Let's study the Book of Mormon daily. Let's nourish our testimony until it becomes unshakable. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior. Come back tomorrow for a verse and message to help you keep focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.