The Lord Has Lifted an Ensign to the Nations

2 Nephi 15:26 - "And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them."

Elder Marion G. Romney - “[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] is the standard which Isaiah said the Lord would set up for the people in the latter days. This Church was given to be a light to the world and to be a standard for God's people and for the Gentiles to seek to."

President Joseph Fielding Smith - “Over 125 years ago, in the little town of Fayette, Seneca County, New York, the Lord set up an ensign to the nations. It was in fulfillment of the prediction made by the Prophet Isaiah...That ensign was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was established for the last time, never again to be destroyed or given to other people. It was the greatest event the world has seen since the day that the Redeemer was lifted upon the cross and worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It meant more to mankind than anything else that has occurred since that day”

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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Transcript

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Welcome to Seek This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truth found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps. Welcome to today's episode of Seek This Jesus. Instead of focusing on a single verse today, we're going to focus on a prophetic voice, President Ezra Taft Benson, and his bold inspired call for us to do more with the Book of Mormon. When he became president of the church in 1985, one of his first and most urgent messages was this. The Lord is calling us to reemphasize the Book of Mormon. And today, forty years later, his voice still feels urgent. His message still feels needed. And the blessings he promised if we will make the Book of Mormon central in our lives still stand. So today we're going to focus on four takeaways from President Benson's teachings that can help us seek Jesus Christ through this sacred book. The first message is a sobering one. We are under condemnation for treating the Book of Mormon lightly. President Benson quoted Doctrine and Covenants eighty-four, verse fifty-seven. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon. Now that's not just a reminder, that is a warning, and it was directed to the whole church. He taught that this condemnation will remain until we repent, not just by saying we love the Book of Mormon, but by actually using it, studying it, living by it. And that's where it hits home. It's easy to say we believe in it, but are we letting it shape our homes, our habits, our lives, our daily thoughts? President Benson says we must do more with it. That's our challenge. Are we remembering the covenant? Or are we just occasionally glancing at it and moving on? The second truth is powerful. The Book of Mormon is the clearest and strongest witness we have of Jesus Christ. President Benson said, The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. And then he explained why. Because it testifies of Christ boldly, plainly, powerfully. Yes, President Benson is quoting a famous word about the Book of Mormon from Joseph Smith, who also called it the keystone of our religion. Unlike other ancient texts, the Book of Mormon came from translator to reader in a single inspired step. No centuries of copying, no counsels deciding what stays and what goes. It came by the gift and power of God. And what it tells us is this Jesus is the Christ. He was born of Mary. He worked miracles, he suffered for our sins, he died on the cross, and he rose again. This book cuts through doubt, it clears the fog, and it brings us closer to Him than anything else. Joseph Smith said, A man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book. That's a wonderful promise. If we want to draw closer to Jesus, the Book of Mormon is the way. The third message from President Benson is that we don't talk about it enough. The Book of Mormon protects us, especially our families. President Benson was clear when he said, Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat falsehoods. This book is not just a record of the past, it is a defense for the present. President Benson even said that this book is a great sifter, meaning it reveals who is truly converted. The Book of Mormon will sharpen our spiritual discernment, it will fill our homes with light and drive out contention. President Benson also quoted Marion G. Romney. Don't we want that? A home filled with light, peace, and spiritual protection? It starts by bringing this book into our daily lives, not just as study, but as conversation and a way of life. The final takeaway is this we are called to move the Book of Mormon forward. President Benson felt that his very life had been preserved so he could fulfill that mission, and he said the Lord had placed that same burden and blessing on all of us. He said, Some of us may not live long enough to see the day when the Book of Mormon floods the earth, but God willing I intend to spend all my remaining days in that glorious effort. That is so beautiful. That's our invitation too, to make the Book of Mormon not just something we believe in, but something we live and share, and that we've tried to flood the whole earth with it. We do that by talking about it, teaching it, bearing testimony of it, giving it as a gift, quoting it in our homes and lessons, letting it shape our words and decisions. This is not the time to set it aside. This is the time to raise it up. President Benson's voice still rings today. We must do more with the Book of Mormon, and that starts with each of us. If we'll open its pages daily and live what we read, God will keep his promises. He will bless our homes, he will deepen our conversation, he will protect our families, and he will draw us closer to his Son. The condemnation can be lifted, not just from the church, but from our individual lives, as we remember the covenant and seek Jesus Christ in this remarkable record. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true. It was prepared for our time. It testifies of Jesus Christ and brings us nearer to Him. It teaches us how to repent, how to serve, how to find peace. It is not just a companion to our faith, it is a foundation. One final quote from President Benson. My beloved brothers and sisters, I bear my solemn witness that this book contains the mind and the will of the Lord for us in these days of trial and tribulation. It stands with the Bible to give witness of the Lord and his work. This book contains the voice of the Lord to you to us in these latter days. May we turn to it with full purpose of heart and use it in the way the Lord wishes it to be used. So let's not treat it casually. Let's move it forward. Let's use it every day to seek this Jesus who is the Christ. 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.