Visiting Teaching Message- November 2017

31 October

During the months of May and November Mormons are encouraged to pick a talk from the previous General Conference to share with those who they Visit Teach. As soon as I saw the title of the talk I’m about to share with you I knew this was the one! 😊

The title is:

“The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” by President Russell M. Ballard

Why is it Mormon leaders are so concerned about their people reading the Book of Mormon? Could it be that they are afraid if the members of the Church are getting into their Bibles, and studying them daily, they will see just how wrong Mormonism is?

In his talk Mr. Ballard asks these questions:

“First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?”

Will let me try to answer these questions this way:

As a Mormon I can tell you that ‘with’ the Book of Mormon in my life I was very confused. I would read one thing in the Bible, another in the Book of Mormon, and hear something else from church leaders/teachers, and not know what to believe. When it came to the bible, it didn’t help that I was told by church leaders it wasn’t reliable, or trustworthy. Yet, at the same time using it as a reference when they found a verse that suited their needs for a talk, or lesson.

With the Book of Mormon, I didn’t know who God truly was, or Jesus, for that matter. I didn’t know what true salvation was, or how to receive it. Most of all, I didn’t know the teachings found in Mormonism were completely opposite of what God has said in the bible.

As a Mormon, with the Book of Mormon I didn’t have God’s truth. I didn’t know how to study the Bible, nor did I want to because with the Book of Mormon it wasn’t something that was important to me.

I’ve been living my life without the pressure to study the Book of Mormon for ten years now, and all I can say is, “it’s awesome”!

I’m finally studying the Bible and leaning from it, and (for the most part) understanding it! As a Mormon it was something I avoided because when I read it I couldn’t understand it. It wasn’t until I left Mormonism that I realized I was missing a key ingredient to understanding the Bible, the Holy Spirit.

Do I miss the reading the Book of Mormon every day, and participating in the Church leader’s little challenges to read it in an X amount of time?  Nope!

I’ll end my message with this scripture from God’s word that has become one of my favorites.

1 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes

Reference:

Visiting Teaching Message – Russel M. Ballard

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