The Book of Mormon Brings Happiness

Today, I am pleased to introduce you to Abby who blogs about her testimony over at A House Of....  Abby is one of the many of you who initially thought "I can't join the Forum. I just don't have the time..."  However, the spirit continued to nudge her to participate.  As a result, Abby has decided to read the Book of Mormon in 28 days this month and is blogging about her testimony every day.


While writing the following testimony, Abby received some valuable personal insight into her family relationships, which she acted on immediately.  She says, "Our eternal family is much closer now because of it.  Thank you!"

Here's Abby:

"When I was twelve I met some girls who belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at school.  They were nice girls, and I really enjoyed spending time with them.  We never really interacted outside of school, because we lived fairly far from one another, and I honestly can't even remember how it happened that they invited me to come to Church with them.  


I went once or twice, and it was nice, and then they invited me to something called "Girl's Camp" where all of the girls between 12 and 18 go camping and hiking, and just generally enjoy the outdoors.  I LOVED being there!!!  I couldn't wait until the next year, and I hoped they would invite me again.  I had always loved to camp, but there was something different about this camp, and I couldn't figure out what it was, but I just felt good there. 

Fast forward a few years, I had moved about an hour away, and one of the girls had moved to Utah, but we still kept in touch.  For about three years I had been going through some hard times at home, and I knew it was going to come to a head soon.  I was lonely and scared, and questioning everything, including the divinity of Christ.  


When I was down at my mom's for Christmas one of those sweet girls helped change my life. 


She gave me a copy of the "Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ".  


I had been offered one before, but this time I took it, and I read it.  I couldn't put it down.  I didn't want to put it down, because every time I read it I was happy.  


Happy wasn't something I knew a lot about at that time.  I wanted to be happy, and I wanted it to be true.  I wanted Joseph Smith to be a prophet, I wanted the Gospel of Jesus Christ to have been restored, but I was scared.  


I was scared that it wouldn't be true, and happy would go away again.  I started meeting with the missionaries, and they asked me to read Moroni 10:3-5-

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

So I read, and I prayed, I wasn't real sure how to pray, but I tried, and the comfort and peace that came to me was unimaginable.  I KNEW that this book was true!  


I read about the coming of Christ to the Americas in 3 Nephi 11 and I felt a love that was indescribable.  Because I knew the Book of Mormon was true, I knew The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the Lord's true church, and I was baptized on March 15, 1997.

The Lord knew at that time in my life I was prepared to receive the Book of Mormon, and find the truth, and I am so grateful to my beautiful friends who were willing to share it with me.  


I am grateful to my amazing brother in-law Mike who was willing and worthy to serve a mission at that time as well.  I didn't meet Mike until 2003, but I know that if my friend had not offered me the Book of Mormon at that time, my brother in-law would have found me.  


I am so grateful that God in His wisdom has a plan, and that He has given us another testament of Jesus Christ, to compliment the Bible.  


I am so grateful that this month I have the opportunity to read it yet again, and have so many of you join us as we testify of Christ in The Book of Mormon Forum!"

Would you like to read more about The Book of Mormon and what it is?

Check out this special edition of the Ensign...all about this sacred book.

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