WEBVTT 00:00:02.340 --> 00:00:04.660 Welcome to closer to Christ through general conference 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:06.719 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:08.539 approach to studying the most recent general 00:00:08.539 --> 00:00:11.500 conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:32.359 jump into it. Welcome. Today we are talking about 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:34.579 the Book of Mormon, an immeasurable treasure 00:00:34.579 --> 00:00:37.859 on our journey, and this is by Elder Ozani Farias 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:41.380 of the Seventy. So he tells a story reflecting 00:00:41.380 --> 00:00:44.159 on receiving a life -changing gift 40 years earlier 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.679 while he was in high school. A classmate who 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:48.399 seemed to have a special light shared that he 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:50.640 was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:53.340 Latter -day Saints and gave him a copy of the 00:00:53.340 --> 00:00:55.369 Book of Mormon. He invited him to read it and 00:00:55.369 --> 00:00:57.469 meet with the missionaries, his friends. After 00:00:57.469 --> 00:00:59.049 learning about the doctrine of Christ, the speaker 00:00:59.049 --> 00:01:01.609 followed Moroni's invitation to pray and ask 00:01:01.609 --> 00:01:04.030 God if the Book of Mormon was true. And although 00:01:04.030 --> 00:01:07.189 he did not fully understand everything yet, he 00:01:07.189 --> 00:01:10.109 felt in his heart that the message was good and 00:01:10.109 --> 00:01:12.670 from God, and he received spiritual confirmation 00:01:12.670 --> 00:01:15.790 through the Holy Ghost. Just like any great life 00:01:15.790 --> 00:01:18.750 decision, he was pretty immediately met with 00:01:18.750 --> 00:01:22.060 opposition. this was the case for Elder Ferris. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.439 After he was baptized into the Church of Jesus 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:26.219 Christ of Latter -day Saints, friends were trying 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:28.480 to convince him that he had made the wrong decision. 00:01:29.500 --> 00:01:33.840 What's the benefit to push back like that? I 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:40.019 asked myself. Or for us, where we were born to 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:41.579 homes where the gospel was already present, we 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:44.219 weren't seeking that. I mean, in the same way. 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:48.680 But I was thinking like anti - content in our 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:51.280 newsfeeds kind of act in the same way that the 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:55.359 opposition in his case was. And sometimes, you 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:57.519 know, it's just like a little, a little anti 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:59.819 -content here or there, just somebody misspeaking 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:01.480 about the church or speaking on behalf of us. 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:05.579 I'm like, totally different religions. And I 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:07.640 thought, what does that do to me? Does that wear 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:12.120 me down? And I thought, you know, Sometimes I'm 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:14.180 faced with those, those things that people want 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:16.759 me to doubt. It's, you know, the opposition in 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:20.620 my life. And when I look at it, when I look at 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:24.219 it, face value, I say I actually renew, it renews 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:27.500 my dedication or it strengthens my testimony 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.819 because I briefly questioned it. I'm like, oh, 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:31.539 does that thing bug me? It doesn't bug me. What 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:34.080 do I actually know to be true? So totally, it 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.800 causes you to reflect on your own, my own opinions 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:39.689 about it. It doesn't take the next. content that 00:02:39.689 --> 00:02:41.909 somebody positively sharing something like, oh, 00:02:41.969 --> 00:02:43.430 well, they said that, so now I believe it's true. 00:02:43.530 --> 00:02:47.150 I reflect on my own, whether it's news that sustains 00:02:47.150 --> 00:02:48.810 a belief that I was already holding or one that 00:02:48.810 --> 00:02:50.889 makes me question things. And maybe they bring 00:02:50.889 --> 00:02:54.229 up gritty things that are hard and will take 00:02:54.229 --> 00:02:56.449 a minute to chew on. But what I'm saying is not 00:02:56.449 --> 00:02:58.310 really terrible to be confronted with that because 00:02:58.310 --> 00:03:00.030 all of those are opportunities to be questioned. 00:03:00.490 --> 00:03:02.050 So yeah, who wants their friends telling you 00:03:02.050 --> 00:03:03.490 you've made the worst decision of your life? 00:03:03.650 --> 00:03:07.180 Nobody. the testimony that he has 40 years later 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:09.680 from that pulpit, the passion that he has, I 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.020 was like, yeah, it was probably hard, but what 00:03:12.020 --> 00:03:15.039 a payoff. That's the testimony that he has cultivated 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:21.840 from that experience. So I just was thinking 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.580 about this for myself and I wrote these thoughts. 00:03:23.780 --> 00:03:25.699 I said, I receive renewed confirmation through 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:27.400 studying scriptures and praying to stay true 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:31.759 to the covenants. And that's the same thing that 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:34.789 this elder had at the same time, it's like, yeah, 00:03:34.789 --> 00:03:36.490 I'm going to take your information, but you're 00:03:36.490 --> 00:03:39.430 not going to let it sit and like, make him stew 00:03:39.430 --> 00:03:42.030 about it. He's going to say, do I really believe 00:03:42.030 --> 00:03:43.330 those things to be true? And again, he comes 00:03:43.330 --> 00:03:46.169 out of it knowing he had confirmation from God 00:03:46.169 --> 00:03:48.509 about these things. Then he says this, since 00:03:48.509 --> 00:03:50.729 then, the Book of Mormon has been my companion 00:03:50.729 --> 00:03:53.069 and has become an immeasurable treasure in my 00:03:53.069 --> 00:03:54.750 mortal journey. Love that. The Book of Mormon 00:03:54.750 --> 00:03:57.169 is a treasure. The Book of Mormon is another 00:03:57.169 --> 00:03:59.009 testament of Jesus Christ. It was written by 00:03:59.009 --> 00:04:01.870 ancient prophets through revelation. Its most 00:04:01.870 --> 00:04:05.250 significant event is the visit to the ministry 00:04:05.250 --> 00:04:07.629 of Jesus Christ among the Nephites after his 00:04:07.629 --> 00:04:11.129 resurrection. I'm so excited because I am in 00:04:11.129 --> 00:04:13.840 Helaman 9 right now and I'm like, okay. He's 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:16.480 almost here. I always look forward to that part. 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:20.100 Love it. Love it. So good. And even if you're 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:21.300 in the Book of Mormon and that's not where you 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:23.540 are, skip to those chapters. Right. Celebrate. 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:26.879 It is so great. So, the Book of Mormon teaches 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:29.120 the doctrines of the gospel, explains the plan 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:31.620 of salvation, and it shows how people can find 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:33.660 peace in this life and eternal salvation in the 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:36.959 next. He wrote some facts out about the Book 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:39.500 of Mormon I thought they were worth. I'm reviewing. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:41.620 He said the first edition of the Book of Mormon, 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:43.839 Another Testament of Jesus Christ was published 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:46.980 in March 1830 in a small town in New York, United 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:50.459 States. Joseph Smith was 23 when he completed 00:04:50.459 --> 00:04:52.680 the translation. I always am amazed when I hear 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:56.399 that. 1829, he translated almost the entire book 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.699 in less than 75 days, printing process taking 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:03.279 about seven months. There are 80 ,000 full -time 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:06.569 missionaries roughly today. I'm going to be interested 00:05:06.569 --> 00:05:08.730 to see what that number blossoms to in June, 00:05:08.730 --> 00:05:11.170 July. There's just that huge influx of 18 -year 00:05:11.170 --> 00:05:14.670 -olds that are trying to graduate. These missionaries 00:05:14.670 --> 00:05:17.189 serve in more than 150 countries. And what's 00:05:17.189 --> 00:05:19.089 awesome with this influx of missionaries, you're 00:05:19.089 --> 00:05:21.430 seeing new missions being announced all the time. 00:05:21.769 --> 00:05:24.350 And they serve as volunteers dedicating their 00:05:24.350 --> 00:05:26.750 time to testify that the Book of Mormon is true 00:05:26.750 --> 00:05:29.850 and that it bears witness of Jesus Christ. I 00:05:29.850 --> 00:05:33.550 love that this book is so powerful. It speaks 00:05:33.550 --> 00:05:37.160 for itself. and that truly 18 and 19 year olds 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:39.620 can rely on the truths and teachings of one book 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:41.540 and they can go throughout the world and change 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:43.240 lives with it. I mean that's just a testament 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.879 to its power and to its truth because who is 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:49.300 a masterful teacher at 18 and 19? Not very many 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:53.579 people. Having missionary children myself, I've 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:56.629 witnessed a change in my own kids as they've 00:05:56.629 --> 00:05:59.029 dedicated the years teaching others from these 00:05:59.029 --> 00:06:02.410 pages. It was so sweet. My son was telling us 00:06:02.410 --> 00:06:04.670 the other day that they do a lot of Facebook 00:06:04.670 --> 00:06:08.430 missionary work in his mission. And somehow we 00:06:08.430 --> 00:06:13.350 got onto a forum that had like 30 ,000 people 00:06:13.350 --> 00:06:16.560 on it. and he said, you know, he just bore a 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.279 quick testimony of Jesus Christ and said, if 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:20.540 you want to know anymore, well, come to find 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:23.279 out. I mean, it was, it was, maybe it was 300. 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.339 It was seen by 30 ,000 people and commented by 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:29.339 a lot. Most of it was him totally getting bashed. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:32.759 Okay. Which is fine. Yeah. Like I was just listening 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:34.740 to what he was saying and he's like, mom, and 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:37.000 he started reading all the comments to me, right? 00:06:37.319 --> 00:06:40.689 And there were a few of them. I was like, bless 00:06:40.689 --> 00:06:43.310 this person, bless this person. He goes, man, 00:06:43.449 --> 00:06:45.649 this guy right here, he's my homie. He happens 00:06:45.649 --> 00:06:48.209 to be a former member of our church. And he was 00:06:48.209 --> 00:06:52.889 like, you guys, lay off of him. Just so you know, 00:06:53.050 --> 00:06:55.649 these boys go out there on their own dime, but 00:06:55.649 --> 00:06:58.129 just like this says, they're volunteering. And 00:06:58.129 --> 00:07:00.189 he just wanted to share something about Jesus. 00:07:00.250 --> 00:07:02.850 And I was like, thank you. And there were other 00:07:02.850 --> 00:07:04.829 things too. And there were some nice things, 00:07:04.850 --> 00:07:07.529 but there were quite a few people that came to 00:07:07.529 --> 00:07:10.120 his. aid, I would say. And we're just kind of 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.980 like, you guys, come on, just calm down. And 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:15.339 anyways, I just was kind of quiet and listening 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:18.600 to what my son had to say about it. And he was 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:21.300 telling his siblings too. And his younger sibling 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:22.980 was like, man, that's rough. And he goes, you 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:26.519 know what? I think it's a win. And he goes, even 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.139 bad publicity is good publicity, as far as the 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:30.560 Lord goes. And I was like, wow, where'd he learn 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:34.300 that? And then he said, I think it's a win because 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:36.660 30 ,000 people saw that testimony. And I was 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:38.560 like, way to go. That's a great way to think 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.540 about it, to look at it, right? Yeah. And that 00:07:40.540 --> 00:07:43.160 they're so hyped up that they've got a comment 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:45.740 on something somebody's testifying of means that 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:47.720 it pricked something in them rather than just 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:49.800 scrolling past and being indifferent to it. And 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:51.800 also the thought came to my mind as you were 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:55.000 speaking that... a former member of the church 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.079 that is willing to stand up and be like an aid 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:01.959 to his brother. I think that potentially opens 00:08:01.959 --> 00:08:05.360 them up to some other spiritual experiences just 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.199 kind of in passing or they'll maybe recognize 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:09.439 God in their life. Because he wasn't on there 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.839 to be like, I have that same testimony, brother. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:14.839 What he was saying was like, allow him to testify 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:18.480 of Jesus Christ. And so in that way, in him saying 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:21.720 that. He stood up for Jesus in that moment. He's 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:24.620 gonna receive some blessings from that. I agree 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:27.420 with Adam. All that interaction is super positive. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:29.420 Absolutely. And when you put yourself out there, 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.339 as we're being encouraged to share more freely 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:33.539 and openly in social media, we put ourselves 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:38.500 out here. Yeah, we're behind a microphone. There's 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:42.139 some safety, but we get our fair share of bad 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:43.720 comments directed to it. Does that make me want 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:47.039 to stop? Not really. Not doing it for that, right? 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:50.559 Yeah, absolutely. No publicity is bad publicity. 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:52.759 Give us a one -star rating. I'm like, did you 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:56.120 even listen? Oh, goodness. Just kidding. Hey, 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:58.100 if you're listening and you like this podcast, 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:00.580 go ahead and leave us a review. It will help 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:02.559 more people see us so we can testify to more 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.889 people. So now the talk goes on to lay out three 00:09:06.889 --> 00:09:09.429 principles to practice to deepen our conversion 00:09:09.429 --> 00:09:12.409 to Jesus Christ. So number one, be diligent and 00:09:12.409 --> 00:09:14.809 consistent in our daily study. Like Alma and 00:09:14.809 --> 00:09:16.850 the sons of Mosiah, we must search the scriptures 00:09:16.850 --> 00:09:18.929 diligently that we might know the word of God 00:09:18.929 --> 00:09:22.950 and be strengthened in the truth. That's in Alma 00:09:22.950 --> 00:09:26.889 17, too. While serving a mission as mission leaders 00:09:26.889 --> 00:09:28.649 in the Georgia Atlanta Mission, Elder Farias 00:09:28.649 --> 00:09:30.610 and his wife encouraged missionaries to study 00:09:30.610 --> 00:09:33.830 the Book of Mormon 30 minutes a day. This practice 00:09:33.830 --> 00:09:36.049 strengthened their faith and helped them expect 00:09:36.049 --> 00:09:37.629 miracles, which is one of the things President 00:09:37.629 --> 00:09:39.870 Nelson asked us to do. Even though people may 00:09:39.870 --> 00:09:41.870 not always have that much time after a mission, 00:09:42.169 --> 00:09:43.710 right? It's not that we always have a full 30 00:09:43.710 --> 00:09:46.769 minutes in our day. Sincerely prioritizing daily 00:09:46.769 --> 00:09:48.909 prayerful study of the Book of Mormon brings 00:09:48.909 --> 00:09:51.690 greater spiritual strength and confidence in 00:09:51.690 --> 00:09:54.649 the Lord and His promises. And then here's a 00:09:54.649 --> 00:09:58.779 challenge. for readers. This should air at the 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:00.700 beginning of Holy Week, and for the next seven 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:03.440 days, read the Book of Mormon every day and pray 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.580 before and after you read, asking Jesus Christ 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:09.120 to help you recognize one truth or one insight 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.120 that meant something special to you or that might 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:15.919 be significant. I love that. Step two that he 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:17.820 outlined was make your study more meaningful 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:20.820 by feasting upon the words of Christ. Nephi taught 00:10:20.820 --> 00:10:22.820 feast upon the words of Christ for behold the 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:25.159 words of Christ will tell you all things what 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:28.759 you should do. That's second Nephi 32 .3. Feast 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:30.659 meaning more than just reading means savoring 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:32.639 and pondering and applying. As you study the 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:34.340 Book of Mormon, make your study more meaningful. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.399 Maybe you can use tools like the Gospel Library 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:38.980 app to identify eternal truths about God's plan 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:41.399 and covenants. I always like to make a little 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.460 note. If I highlight something, maybe just test. 00:10:43.370 --> 00:10:46.730 justify, so I can read my own words back. I love 00:10:46.730 --> 00:10:48.690 nothing more than my own testimony of that same 00:10:48.690 --> 00:10:51.450 thing years later. Yes, when you see the date 00:10:51.450 --> 00:10:53.330 and I'm like, oh, yeah, that was 2019. This was 00:10:53.330 --> 00:10:55.149 happening or whatever. I was doing a move. I 00:10:55.149 --> 00:10:58.759 love that. Record impressions that you're having 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:00.519 and what you're reading. The Book of Mormon can 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:02.519 answer the questions of your souls. As Nephi 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.320 taught, we should apply the scriptures to our 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.399 own lives. When we feast on the words of Jesus 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:08.320 Christ, we invite revelation and guide us to 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.659 the choices and challenges we face. If you decide 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:12.840 to take the challenge that Amy just presented 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:15.159 during this holy week, start off the week with 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:17.019 a question that you would like to ponder and 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:19.519 allow time in your scriptures to find all or 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:22.340 part of that answer as the week progresses. So 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:26.259 good, Abby. Thank you. Three is bury your testimony. 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:29.399 of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. So 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:32.059 just as Lehi desired to share the fruit of the 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.740 tree of life with his family, it's interesting, 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:36.460 Abby, this is the second time this week that 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:39.120 I have heard in a talk, we also heard it in state 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:42.799 conference, just reminding us how great that 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:46.740 story is of the tree of life that once Lehi partook 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:48.759 of it, his very first thing that he wanted to 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:51.019 do. We share it with his family, share it with 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:53.740 everyone. I love that. And that's what bearing 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.940 testimony is. When we gain a testimony of the 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:57.879 Book of Mormon, we develop a desire to share 00:11:57.879 --> 00:12:00.360 that joy that comes from knowing the gospel of 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:03.139 Jesus Christ. At the conclusion of this week, 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:05.000 whether it tracks with Holy Week when you're 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:08.320 listening and ends with Easter or you catch this 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.519 episode later on, we would invite and encourage 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:13.120 you to take an opportunity to testify of the 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:15.740 truthfulness of the Savior in His life, His ministry, 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:18.279 and His resurrection and that the Book of Mormon 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:21.120 has been the source of truth and that has helped 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:24.179 build that testimony. On a final thought about 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:31.139 Holy Week, last year we recorded this whole a 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:35.019 whole session or episode about Holy Week. And 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:37.340 we invite you to go back and listen to that and 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:39.840 please share it with others. It's so good. We 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:43.279 have Abby's husband who came and I could just 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:45.259 sit and listen to him the whole time. I loved 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:47.759 every minute of it. It's an episode. It's episode 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:51.080 six, nine. And can you listen to in one pass 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:54.179 or it is broken into a day or a week. a day at 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:56.299 a time for the whole week. Yeah. And it really, 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:58.440 it breaks down to some days. It's like a few 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:01.500 minutes. I guess. Perfect. Um, well, we don't 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:03.519 know a whole bunch about some of the days like 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:05.299 Wednesday or something. Yeah. And, and kind of, 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:07.220 he tried, he did a big youth activity and he 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:09.539 tried to pair like that woman or that thought, 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:12.500 you know, to center those days. And there's a 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:14.100 million things out there. There's a million people 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:16.100 that have Holy Week studies. But if you're the 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:17.740 type that's busy about doing things and you just 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:19.820 want something in your ear, it's a great way 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:22.960 to just help you refocus and re -center. If you 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:25.399 had missed your chance kind of incorporating 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:29.799 more Jesus into your whole season, that you can 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:32.000 add a little bit more of this Holy Week, basically. 00:13:43.529 --> 00:13:46.409 Sorry. I felt such a spirit when I listened to 00:13:46.409 --> 00:13:49.669 this talk and I, I mean, I just kind of had it 00:13:49.669 --> 00:13:53.509 on play and not just listening for the sake of 00:13:53.509 --> 00:13:55.789 listening. Like I was really prepared to study 00:13:55.789 --> 00:13:58.269 it, but I was like, it was funny because like 00:13:58.269 --> 00:14:00.070 little lines in the talk would just kind of take 00:14:00.070 --> 00:14:01.990 me back to some moments of my life and maybe 00:14:01.990 --> 00:14:05.090 some of the darker ones when or when I was really 00:14:05.090 --> 00:14:08.850 seeking questions to some different things. And 00:14:08.850 --> 00:14:12.860 it reminded me how answers have been provided 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:16.700 to me so many times in that book. And so you 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:19.019 get people that question the book, the integrity 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:21.419 of the book, who wrote the book, was it translated, 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:25.659 and a million different little attacks they want 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:31.139 to place at that book. But if I ever find another 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:37.679 book in my time on Earth that gives me more peace 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:40.730 and guidance, teaches me more about my Savior, 00:14:42.090 --> 00:14:44.549 although my testimony about that book. But since 00:14:44.549 --> 00:14:47.950 it hasn't come up for me yet, this is the book 00:14:47.950 --> 00:14:50.649 I want to testify. It is another testament of 00:14:50.649 --> 00:14:53.149 Jesus Christ and He did have other children that 00:14:53.149 --> 00:14:55.809 were not in Jerusalem at the time. I know He 00:14:55.809 --> 00:14:57.809 had children, I mean, well, when I say that, 00:14:57.929 --> 00:14:59.690 there could be another continent of people that 00:14:59.690 --> 00:15:01.549 He also prepared for and established the covenant 00:15:01.549 --> 00:15:05.090 with them, you know, multi -continent things. 00:15:05.929 --> 00:15:10.019 I do believe that He has the same love for all 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.580 of his children, and I'm just so grateful that 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:13.779 that book was preserved in a mountainside for 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:15.539 such a time as this, that it would come forth, 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:18.960 that it would be brought forth by a young boy 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:23.659 who had not a lot of education or skills. And 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:26.340 what I find interesting, like, did we talk about 00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:30.480 chat in this program? Just before we talked about 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.139 chat and I'm like, the more that technology catches 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:36.700 up and it can do, you know, analysis of writings, 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:40.759 It just goes to strengthen the authenticity of 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:42.980 the Book of Mormon, being multiple writers and 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:47.379 a translation, an abridgement of multiple writers. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.840 And I've always made this claim. I'm like, if 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.320 you're going to call Joseph Smith a liar and 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.460 a fraud, then he also needs a Pulitzer Prize. 00:15:57.019 --> 00:16:00.000 Whatever the greatest literary awards are there. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:03.179 because if he pulled this off, being a charlatan, 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.399 then that's pretty incredible. But I know, in 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:07.299 fact, that he was a prophet of God, and he was 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.519 not challenged with something that was easy to 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:13.600 do, but it was worth it. And so many of the early 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.419 people of the church, they were tasked with some 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:18.340 really difficult things, and some of them, they 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:21.940 did succumb to the attacks, people trying to 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:25.419 tear them down, but their testimony of this book 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:31.179 being valid and legitimate did not. in the knowledge 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:34.000 that I have of the histories that I have of the 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.580 closest to first -hand accounts that I have, 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:39.740 they didn't deny the book. And fair, not everybody 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:42.080 likes the way things are run and, you know, church 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:44.259 culture maybe gets in the way of things. But 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:46.500 what a beautiful reminder here, the closing, 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.740 almost closing words of the conference session 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:52.740 to just reiterate that the truth is restored 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:55.600 in this book and it will bring you the light 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:59.610 and the joy and, and sure. answer innumerable 00:16:59.610 --> 00:17:03.129 questions that you can bring to it. So, I appreciate 00:17:03.129 --> 00:17:05.769 that we have the opportunity to do this and we 00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:08.049 have quite a few opportunities to testify, but 00:17:08.049 --> 00:17:10.970 I definitely want to add my testimony that I 00:17:10.970 --> 00:17:12.490 know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God 00:17:12.490 --> 00:17:15.069 and it's taught me more about Jesus Christ than 00:17:15.069 --> 00:17:19.029 anything. So, now I just need to be better at 00:17:19.029 --> 00:17:22.009 applying what I learned. Sometimes I do, sometimes 00:17:22.009 --> 00:17:24.910 I need a little more. Don't we all, right? Yeah. 00:17:26.670 --> 00:17:28.569 The thing I love about the Book of Mormon is 00:17:28.569 --> 00:17:31.829 that it truly is living scripture. As many times 00:17:31.829 --> 00:17:33.750 as I've read it, as many times as like you said, 00:17:33.809 --> 00:17:36.089 whether it's cover to cover or whether it's I 00:17:36.089 --> 00:17:38.450 pick it up just for a verse or I go straight 00:17:38.450 --> 00:17:41.789 to third Nephi, whatever it is, it is always 00:17:41.789 --> 00:17:45.710 relevant to me in that moment. And I am always 00:17:45.710 --> 00:17:49.519 amazed. It's just I truly have come to know not 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:52.119 only that God is in the details in my life and 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.799 he sees me and knows me, and because that happens 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:58.700 for me, I know that it's true for everybody, 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.579 meaning he sees and knows every one of his children 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:05.740 on this earth. And the other thing that I love 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:10.839 is that It has taught me more about the nature 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:13.319 of Jesus Christ than any other book. Sometimes 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:16.299 I hear other scripture and it almost feels, his 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:18.859 nature in that almost feels foreign to me. And 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.920 sometimes he sounds like a very harsh God or 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:22.859 whatever. And some people have said before like, 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:25.039 how do you justify like the difference in it? 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:27.400 And it's just interesting because for me, my 00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:30.440 spirit recognizes Jesus Christ in the Book of 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:33.460 Mormon. I have come to know him there and I just 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:35.880 feel like everything else I have questions about. 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:38.519 will get worked out and filtered out because 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:41.980 I know and I love and I trust the Jesus Christ 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:45.099 I've learned to love. From those pages. Yes. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:52.380 From God to a prophet onto golden plates and 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:56.339 translated. Through a different language. Less 00:18:56.339 --> 00:19:00.339 editing, not knocking the Bible, but if you're 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:02.930 a pastor that's like fire and brimstone, The 00:19:02.930 --> 00:19:04.910 God that you want to perpetuate in the words 00:19:04.910 --> 00:19:08.210 of the Bible is going to be a really harsh, stern, 00:19:09.809 --> 00:19:14.150 severe God. I feel like it's so much easier to 00:19:14.150 --> 00:19:18.009 see the true nature of Him. I do too. I recognize 00:19:18.009 --> 00:19:20.390 Him. With another testament, the new covenant 00:19:20.390 --> 00:19:24.829 that He made. You were talking and I was like, 00:19:24.849 --> 00:19:27.349 man, it's almost like what you're saying is that 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:29.869 the Book of Mormon is an immeasurable treasure 00:19:29.869 --> 00:19:33.690 on our journey. What a great name for a talk, 00:19:33.869 --> 00:19:38.470 right? I'm going to close. Thank you for your 00:19:38.470 --> 00:19:41.549 testimony. I'm going to close with his testimony. 00:19:59.289 --> 00:20:01.450 a testimony of the truth and divinity of the 00:20:01.450 --> 00:20:03.710 Book of Mormon by the power of the Holy Ghost. 00:20:03.910 --> 00:20:05.869 And this he testified in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:20:06.369 --> 00:20:09.009 Amen. Amen, Abby. Thanks so much. I think this 00:20:09.009 --> 00:20:11.450 is Easter Sunday. It is. Happy Easter. Happy 00:20:11.450 --> 00:20:11.910 Easter.