S2 E48 (Dec. 14-20) “Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him”
Awww, this is our last scripture reading assignment together! 😢 Waterworks ahead! This week we talk about Moroni's promise, how we can feel the Spirit answer the question "Is the Book of Mormon true?", and the work that Christ has for us to do.
Also I begin saying goodbye to all of my amazing listeners! We have one episode left, the Christmas episode.
December 14–20
Moroni 10
“Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him”
As you finish reading the Book of Mormon, consider seeking a renewed witness from the Holy Ghost that it is true. As you do, record the impressions you receive.
Record Your Impressions
Create a Note
The Book of Mormon opens with Nephi’s promise to show us that “the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith” (1 Nephi 1:20). The book closes with a similar message from Moroni as he prepared to “seal up” the records: he invited us to “remember how merciful the Lord hath been” (Moroni 10:2–3). Even if we think only of the many mercies recorded in the Book of Mormon, this gives us a lot to think about. What examples come to your mind? You might ponder the merciful way God led Lehi’s family through the wilderness and across the great waters, the tender mercies He showed to Enos when his soul hungered for forgiveness, or the mercy He showed to Alma, a bitter enemy of the Church who became one of its fearless defenders. Or your thoughts might turn to the mercy the resurrected Savior showed to the people when He healed their sick and blessed their little children. Perhaps most important, all of this can remind you of “how merciful the Lord hath been” to you, for one of the main purposes of the Book of Mormon is to invite each of us to receive God’s mercy—an invitation expressed simply in Moroni’s farewell words, “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).
Mercies I’ve noticed this year: The BOM prophets were real people too, there is hope for ANYONE to come back, and sometimes bad stuff happens to good people but the Lord is always with us.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
I can know the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost.
The promise in Moroni 10:3–7 has changed the lives of millions of people around the world. How has it changed yours?
Every time I read the BOM I do the promise. Sometimes it’s super strong, sometimes it’s just a warm comforting feeling. When I was younger it was one of the first examples of the Spirit in my life. It taught me how to feel the Spirit.
Whether you are seeking to gain or to strengthen your testimony of the Book of Mormon, Moroni’s invitation applies to you. As you read Moroni 10:3–7, consider reading more carefully than you have in the past. You could examine each phrase, asking yourself questions like these: What does this mean? How can I do this better? What experiences have I had with this? How has the Holy Ghost manifested the truth of the Book of Mormon to me?
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and bponder it in your chearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not btrue; and if ye shall ask with a csincere heart, with dreal intent, having efaith in Christ, he will fmanifest the gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may aknow the btruth of all things.
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
7 And ye may aknow that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, baccording to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.
How Does the Spirit Witness to Me That the Book of Mormon Is True?
Gratitude and Joy
The Book of Mormon opens with the prophet Lehi seeing a marvelous vision. In this vision, he was given a book and invited to read. “As he read,” the record says, “he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.” This experience led Lehi to praise God for His “power, and goodness, and mercy,” and Lehi’s “soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled”
Have you ever had a similar experience? Has reading the Book of Mormon ever filled your heart with gratitude for God’s goodness and mercy? Have passages in the Book of Mormon ever caused your soul to rejoice? These feelings are the influence of the Spirit, testifying to you that the words you are reading come from God and teach His truth.
A Changed Heart
After preaching a remarkable sermon about the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 2–4), King Benjamin wanted to know if his people “believed the words which he had spoken unto them.” They responded that they did believe his message. Why? “Because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:1–2).
Maybe you have noticed something similar in your heart as you have read the Book of Mormon. For instance, you may have felt inspired to be a better person, to turn away from sin, or to do something kind for someone. This is the spiritual witness you are looking for that the book is inspired of God. For as Mormon taught, “Every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God” (Moroni 7:13; see also 2 Nephi 33:4, 10; Alma 19:33; Ether 4:11–12).
An Enlightened Mind
When Alma wanted to help the Zoramites “experiment upon [his] words” and know for themselves whether his testimony was true, he compared the word of God to a seed: “If ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart,” he explained, “it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma 32:27–28).
You “give place” in your heart for the words of the Book of Mormon when you allow them to influence your life and guide your choices. And how will these words “enlarge [your] soul” and “enlighten [your] understanding”? You might sense that you are becoming spiritually stronger. You might feel more loving and open toward others. You might also notice that you understand things better, especially spiritual things—almost as if a light is shining in your mind. And you might agree that the doctrine taught in the Book of Mormon is “delicious.” Such feelings can help you understand that you have truly received a spiritual witness of truth, as Alma declared: “O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good” (Alma 32:35).
You Do Not Have to Wonder
These are just some of the ways in which the Spirit communicates. There are many others. Keep looking for opportunities to listen to the voice of the Spirit, and you will receive His ongoing, confirming witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
President Russell M. Nelson has promised: “You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95).
“Deny not the gifts of God.”
There are many ways a person might “deny … the gifts of God” (Moroni 10:8). Some people deny that these gifts even exist. Others might deny that they have spiritual gifts but recognize them in other people. Still others deny their gifts by simply neglecting them or failing to develop them.
As you read Moroni 10:8–25, look for truths that will help you discover your spiritual gifts and use them with greater power to bless yourself and others.
9 aFor behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may bteach the word of wisdom;
10 And to another, that he may ateach the word of bknowledge by the same Spirit;
Seek insights about the gifts God has given you or the gifts He wants you to seek. Why is it important to “remember that every good gift cometh of Christ”? (Moroni 10:18).
Consider also this counsel from Elder John C. Pingree Jr.: “So how do we come to know our gifts? We can reference our patriarchal blessing, ask those who know us best, and personally identify what we are naturally good at and enjoy. Most important, we can ask God (see James 1:5; Doctrine and Covenants 112:10). He knows our gifts, since He gave them to us” (“I Have a Work for Thee,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 33).
Pingree talk is REALLY good!
“I have too much going on, I can’t take on any more”
“I’m not a good enough writer...It’s HARD...”
“There are so many other good writers out there. What do I have that I could contribute?”
Satan also seeks to distract us with less important matters. The Lord warned an early Church leader, “Your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me … and the ministry whereunto you have been called” (D&C 30:2). Are we so preoccupied with worldly things that we are diverted from our divine assignments?
In addition, Satan discourages us with feelings of inadequacy. He makes our work appear too difficult or intimidating. However, we can trust God! He loves us. He wants us to succeed. He “doth go before [us]; he will be with [us], he will not fail [us]” (Deuteronomy 31:8; see also Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5–6; Matthew 19:26; D&C 78:18).
Satan may also coax us to view our work as less valuable than the work assigned to others. But every assignment from God is important, and we will find fulfillment as we “glory in that which the Lord hath commanded [us]” (Alma 29:9).
See Guide to the Scriptures, “Gifts of the Spirit,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
I can be perfected through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Moroni’s admonition to “come unto Christ” involves more than learning about Him or thinking about Him more often or even trying harder to keep His commandments, as important as these things are. Rather, this is an invitation to come unto Christ in the most complete sense possible—to become as He is. As you read Moroni 10:30–33, notice phrases that help you understand what it means to come to Christ completely, such as “lay hold upon every good gift,” “deny yourselves of all ungodliness,” and, of course, “be perfected in him” (italics added).
How is this possible? Look for answers in Moroni 10:30–33. What is the Spirit telling you that you should do to more completely “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”?
Turn to Him FIRST. Abide with Him.
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