Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by its Precepts

Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by its Precepts was the topic for the 36th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium. I was excited to read this book, because I think too often we think the Book of Mormon itself will get us nearer to God than any other book, but that is not true. It is by "abiding by its precepts" that we achieve such a conquest. I will share some of my favorite highlights from this book.

Robert L. Millet talks about the Book of Mormon being called "the most correct book" and quotes extensively from Elder Holland. I love Elder Holland, and Millet selected some choice quotations to talk about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. He emphasizes that Joseph Smith is either a prophet, or a liar. There is no middle ground. But to suppose that a farm boy could have created the Book of Mormon is an absolute ridiculous idea.

Michael A. Goodman discusses the history of Laman and Lemuel, and their fatal flaw of pride. He talks about the lessons we can learn from them. If we read their story carefully, they humbled themselves many times and worshiped the Lord. Because we can see that they did not start out all bad, we can also see how to avoid making the same mistakes they did and heading down the same path.

Daniel L. Belnap wrote an exquisite essay on separation vs. reconciliation and talks about how these themes are taught throughout the Book of Mormon. Jacob and Moroni especially focus on these themes, because they are separated from their brethren and the promised lands of inheritance. And yet both find comfort and joy in the reconciliation through Jesus Christ. I was very impressed with this topic, and I think it is worth reading again and again.

Terry B. Ball talks about Alma 5, and how we can use it as a tool to help us reach out to the less-active, for that is essentially what Alma is doing in this chapter. Ball clearly points out Alma's methods of building trust, establishing relationships, reminding them of the joy of the Gospel, and helping them use their agency to organize their lives once again according to the Gospel. I thought this essay was very well written.

C. Robert Line discusses missionary work as found in the Book of Mormon. He quotes Elder Richard G. Scott, talking about the importance of discovering the principles taught in the Book of Mormon, and separating these out from the stories we read. I also loved the quote he shares from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland where he says that asking every member to be a missionary is not as crucial as asking every member to be a member. There is great power in a good example!

Finally, I was very impressed by Michael L. King's discourse on the atonement of Jesus Christ. I could really feel the Spirit bearing witness of the power and reality of the atonement as I read this essay. My favorite part is where King states that the atonement is not only infinite, but it is also intimate. How true this is!

This book was fantastic, and it makes me more eager to comb through the Book of Mormon to understand its precepts better, and most of all to live them that I may draw closer to God.