Gratitude Day 80: 40 Days and 40 Nights Challenge

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My older brother sent our family a message on Facebook asking us to join the...

40 Days and 40 Nights Challenge

 

Here are your options...

The Book of Mormon: http://countrymomatheart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/BOM40DWeb.pdf

The New Testament (KJV): http://countrymomatheart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/40D-NT.pdf

My Testimony of the Scriptures...

I believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. Because the Bible has been translated many times, there are several different versions of it; altered by men. The King James Version of the Bible is known all over the world for its beauty of expression and accuracy. It is the version the English-speaking members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have used since the beginning of this dispensation.

The bible is made up of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is a holy record of God's dealings with His covenant people in the Holy land. The New Testament is the record of Jesus Christ's birth, earthly ministry, atonement, and resurrection. It ends with the ministry and death of the Savior's disciples.

I love the Bible! Studying it richly blesses my life. The Bible not only fortifies my faith in Jesus Christ, but it helps me draw closer to Him as I live His words and teachings.

A Modern-day apostle, Elder M. Russell Ballard said, a talk entitled "The Miracle of the Holy Bible":

"I am sure many of you have had the experience of hearing people say that “Mormons are not Christians because they have their own Bible, the Book of Mormon.” To anyone harboring this misconception, we say that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and the author of our salvation and that we believe, revere, and love the Holy Bible. We do have additional sacred scripture, including the Book of Mormon, but it supports the Bible, never substituting for it."

I believe, the Book of Mormon is also the word of God and was written by ancient prophets. It's another testament of Jesus Christ, another witness of the truths taught in the Bible. It restores the "plain and precious truths" that had been lost from the Bible through errors made in translation or "taken away" by men who try to "prevert the right ways of the Lord"(see 1 Nephi 13:24-27, 38-41). 

It came to us, in our day by the will of the Lord. It is a holy record that gives an account of two great civilizations. One which came from the city of Jerusalem in 600 B.C., which ended up separating into two nations, known as the Nephites and Lamanites. The other civilization came from much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel in (Genesis 11:6-9). This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years past, all civilizations were destroyed, except for the Lamanites which are the among the primary ancestors of the American Indians. Just like the Bible, I know that prophets were called by God to preach the gospel of Christ to these people.  

The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people "that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations, not just the Jews" (see Book of Mormon Title Page).

 
Another modern day Apostle, Russell M. Nelson said the following, in a LDS Conference Talk entitled, "Scriptural Witnesses":

"The Bible and the Book of Mormon are both witnesses of Jesus Christ. They teach that He is the Son of God, that He lived an exemplary life, that He atoned for all mankind, that He died upon the cross and rose again as the resurrected Lord. They teach that He is the Savior of the world.

Scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the Book of Mormon was “written for the intent that ye may believe [the Bible]; and if ye believe [the Bible] ye will believe [the Book of Mormon] also." (Mormon 7:9) Each book refers to the other. Each book stands as evidence that God lives and speaks to His children by revelation to His prophets. (D&C 5:10)

Love for the Book of Mormon expands one’s love for the Bible and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible. We are indebted to martyrs who gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. It establishes the everlasting nature of the gospel and of the plan of happiness. The Book of Mormon restores and underscores biblical doctrines such as tithing, the temple, the Sabbath day, and the priesthood."

Christ taught in John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. The scriptures persuade men to come unto God and be saved."

What does one loose by reading the Book of Mormon? Nothing. You only have more to gain. In the Book of Mormon a prophet warned that some people would object to the idea of additional scriptures. To those of you who think you “need no more Bible," (2 Nephi 29:6) consider this God-given counsel found in the Book of Mormon:

“Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, … created all men, … and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

“… Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And … the testimony of the two nations shall run together also." (2 Nephi 29:7-8)

In John 8:17, Christ taught that truth is established in the mouth of two witnesses (see John 8:17). We have a testimony of two nations as a witness of Christ. The Jews have the Bible as a witness and the Nephites recorded their own witness in the Book of Mormon. Both nations testify of Him. (See 2 Nephi 29:8, Ezekial 37:17).

As I search these Holy books, I have come to know that God, the eternal Father lives, His son Jesus Christ lives and Christ is the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament. The Book of Mormon along with the Bible is the word of God and together they teach the fullness of the gospel. 

There are many churches claiming to have the truth of God's word, but they only have a portion of His truth and they don't believe there is anymore to be had.
  
A Book of Mormon prophet Nephi wrote: “O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves. … But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Ne. 9:28, 29).  

If you are a truth seeker, then know this...

• Truth is centered in God the Father and His son Jesus Christ (see D&C 84:45).
• Truth is eternal, complete, pure, consistent, and all-inclusive (see D&C 88:66; D&C 93:24). It is not produced, only revealed.
• Truth is given “line upon line and precept upon precept” (see 2 Ne. 28:30; D&C 84:45–46).
• Truth is always in complete harmony; it never challenges itself (see D&C 88:40). Whether religious or scientific in nature, it is never in disagreement. The Apostle Paul taught, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Cor. 14:33.)  He is a God of order, that means there is only one true church on the earth today. More than one is just confusion and chaos.

I have sought truth for myself and discovered through prayer that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in it's fullness on the earth today and is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know the Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ and contains the fullness of His gospel. My conviction of the truthfulness of this sacred book is so strong that I could never deny it. The Holy Ghost has born witness to me that it is true. Every time I read it along with the Bible, I not only gain a further witness of the divinity of Christ and a knowledge that he lives and loves me, but I gain a greater understanding of who I am and what God's will is for me and my family.

The Book of Mormon has brought deeper meaning and purpose into my life, greater happiness, faith, hope, peace in troubled times, a desire to love and serve all of God's children, a knowledge that God and Jesus Christ live and love me. There is so much more; this book act as a compass for my life, a way pointing me on the right path back towards that God who created me, even Jesus Christ. Of this I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.