O Be Wise

A short and simple verse from the Book of Mormon reads, "O be wise; what can I say more?" -Jacob 6:12

So what is wisdom?

According to the dictionary on my desk it means knowledge of what is true or right coupled with good judgement.

I find that very interesting. If we want to heed Jacob's counsel and be wise we must first gain knowledge. This knowledge comes from things like going to church, reading our scriptures, and other things. But it doesn't end there. We have to correctly apply the things we learned or else we might become the opposite of wise and that's foolish. None of us want that now, do we??

So all I can say is, "Be wise."

Inspiration

In the Book of Mormon we read of different military leaders who inspired their men to fight. The two fundemental driving forces were either hatred or love. The righteous Nephite leaders strengthened their men in love of their God, their family, and their freedom.1 On the other hand, wicked men inspired their warriors with hatred towards their enemies or for power and money.2

I have experience first hand the difference both types of leaders can make. Maybe not to the same extremes, but to some degree. During my high school years spent on the track I had great coaches. They showed confidence in me and my abilities. They cared about me. They inspired me to want to become a better athlete. However, when I had coaches who yelled at me and told me only what I was doing wrong I was not prone to work as hard.

In both cases (in the Book of Mormon and in my life), those who were inspired by love were more effective than those inspired by hatred. I hope we can be like my track coaches and help those around us to recognize their potential and help them to reach it. It's easy, just love them.

Wearing the Right Shoes

I grew up playing a lot of sports.1 Soccer, basketball, running, and football were some of my favorites. Sports are all different from one another. They require different skills and equipment. One of the most important items, in my mind at least, are the shoes. Soccer and football are played on grass/turf and in order to prevent yourself from slipping you wear cleats. On the basketball court, however, wearing cleats would not only ruin the floor but you would slide everywhere too. Bad idea...

So what shoes should we wear in battlefield against Satan? In Ephesians 6 it talks about a whole bunch of equipment that will help us defend ourselves and fight against the adversary. In verse 15 specifically it says to have "your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"

In order to shod your feet with the gospel you have to know the gospel. And I don't think that there is any better place to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ than in the Book of Mormon. I would challenge everyone to read the Book of Mormon everyday, even if it's just a little bit. Heavenly Father will bless us if we will study the words of the prophets. I so testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Need a Book of Mormon?

Other articles to check out:

The Armor of God

A Testimony Vibrant and True, President Gordon B. Hinckley

The Keystone of Our Religion, by Elder Steinicke

Sandbaggin'

       A couple three weeks ago we had the opportunity to help out the community of Helena. We had a lot of rain and the creeks were overflowing. Thankfully, the water has receded. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to fill sandbags I would recommend that you give it a try sometime. It is a great workout. I do not know if there is any back workout to match filling and hauling sandbags.

       Service is an important part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was great to see the community come together and help those in need. A man named Benjamin in the Book of Mormon talks about service in this way, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."1

       We can all do better at helping our neighbors and friends. "...our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another."2

1. Mosiah 2:17
2. Finding Joy through Loving Service by Elder M. Russell Ballard

Pray to Know the Truth through the Holy Ghost

       Prayer is an essential part in coming to know our Father in Heaven. It's how we communicate with Him. Through the Holy Ghost we can receive promptings and thoughts that help us to know what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. As missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we invite people to read the Book of Mormon and to ask God if it is true. We cannot convince anyone of this by ourselves. The Spirit is what truly converts each of us.

       An example of this would be... me. My parents taught me about Jesus Christ and about the Book of Mormon. As a child I may have taken their word for it. But as I grew older I realized that I needed to know for myself. I read and studied the Book of Mormon and then prayed to God asking Him if it was true. I can testify that it is. I didn't have an angel appear to me and proclaim its truthfulness, I didn't see a vision, but I did feel something deep in my heart confirming to me that what I had been taught was true. Everybody can receive an answer for themselves. You just have to ask.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

       The Book of Mormon is another book of scripture comparable to the Bible. It contains the gospel of Jesus Christ given to the people of the ancient Americas. Just as the Bible, the Book of Mormon was written by prophets of God who were striving to teach their people the word of God.
       Through Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon was translated into the English language by the power of God and published in 1830. It is proof of our Father in Heaven's love for us and that He has restored the true church of Jesus Christ on the earth again. Moroni, an ancient American prophet, gives us the promise that if we read and pray with faith and real intent that God will reveal to us its truthfullness (see Moroni 10:3-5). I can testify that I have done this and I know the Book of Mormon is true.
       To find out more about this book of scripture please check out some of the following links:

mormon.org

Free copy of the Book of Mormon

How the Book of Mormon has helped everyday people

Safety for the Soul

Basketball and the Book of Mormon

       Playing sports and gaining a testimony have many parallels. Such as hard work, enjoyment, and growth.

If you want to be good at any sport it's going to take some hard work. You can have talent but to really be something in the world of sports you have to devote a large amount of time to practicing. To be the best you can be it takes hard work. The same is true in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It often takes time in practicing correct principles such as: faith, repentance, and enduring to the end before you can become the best you can be. We have both heavenly and earthly coaches who will help us every step of the way.

       Playing basketball for me has always brought much enjoyment. I love other sports too, but basketball has always been my favorite. I love the feeling of lacing up my shoes and stepping onto the court. Shooting around in my front yard was therapeutic for me. Don't laugh, it's true. It was an outlet that made me really happy and still does. Guess what, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the same way. We can find joy in His teachings and comfort in the scriptures. The Book of Mormon is also a great help in my life. It makes me feel better when I read its pages.

       Most of all, the exercise you get from playing sports helps your body grow physically. Just as running strengthens your legs, reading the Book of Mormon strengthens your testimony and helps you grow spiritrually. 

The Keystone of Our Religion

The Book of Mormon? What is it?

The Book of Mormon is a book containing a record of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. It contains a record of their dealings with Christ and our Heavenly Father. It is comparable to the Bible. It holds in its pages the word of God and His commandments to His children. Through this book we can know if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is really the true church once again restored on the earth. A prophet from the Book of Mormon gives us all a challenge saying, "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." There we have it, a promise from a prophet of God. If we will read the Book of Mormon and pray to God asking if it is true He will answer. I know this is true because I have done it myself. I would challenge everyone to find out for themselves if this book is true.