An Independent View on the Book of Mormon

Come Unto Christ

This semester, as my first semester at BYUI, I was able to take the first Book of Mormon course taught by Brother Hammond. I was really excited for this course because I would finally be able to learn about the Book of Mormon in more depth in a classroom setting. I also really liked the structure of the class and how it is a more personal learning than a history class about names and facts.

From reading and studying the first half of the Book of Mormon and coming to class everyday I have been more fully convinced that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and without him I can not go back to heaven. I loved learning about the Tree in Nephi and Lehi’s vision. Having Brother Hammond explain all the symbolism helped incredibly too. It helped me to realize that the fruit is happiness, and the fruit is Christ. I personally, learned that without taking of the fruit, or repenting and coming to Christ, that I would never really have true happiness. It was a good thing for me to think about since I was probably over in the metaphorical great and spacious building in my real life, or at least lost in the mist without the iron rod.

The Isaiah chapters were really intimidating at first. That is usually the times I get lost in reading the Book of Mormon and I hardly understand the rest of the book. But this time, I read it with all the study helps and it actually made more sense to me. I was able to pass those chapters and still have an understanding of what was happening.

Enos was my favorite book to read and I think I studied it at the perfect time in my life. After reading 1 and 2 Nephi and Jacob I felt super prompted that I needed to repent of some mistakes that I had made. I had learned all about the atonement and what Jesus did for us and all the things that that gift has given us. It was also a good reminder to know that I could not return to Heavenly Father without repenting or taking part in the atonement. So after reading those chapters, I prayed really hard to have courage to go and talk to my bishop to confess and start the repentance process. It was extremely hard to do, but I knew that as soon as I did it I would be the happiest ever. While this was happening, I felt like every chapter and every lesson in class applies directly to my life right in that moment. I learned what I needed to know about how to repent, what to confess to my bishop, and lots of other things. I had never prayed so hard for courage then the night right before my appointment. I knew I was doing the right thing though. I had my talk and everything went well, just as expected. I walked home super happy and smiley.

The very next class we studied Enos and it talked more about repentance, and it was exactly what I needed to hear!!! Even though I had repented, I still felt a little sad or guilty. I wasn’t as happy as I thought that I would have been and I didn’t know what to think about that. My favorite thing I learned from Enos is that when I feel guilty after I went through the full repentance process, that is Satan!!! Satan is the one who is trying to make me still feel bad and I need to remember that because I have done all that was asked to do. It was amazing reading all of that! I told me what I should expect after repenting and how I can tell if I have been forgiven or not for my sins. I learned that if I have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in the atonement of him with fullness then I will be forgiven and my faith will make me whole ( Enos 1: 8). I love the book of Enos so much because of my experience I had with it. I shared this experience with my home teacher.

I really enjoyed reading in Mosiah about King Benjamin. I jus think he is an awesome guy. I really like in the verses Mosiah 5: 7 – 8 where the people take on the name of Christ and what that means. I liked reading that because it helped me think of the sacrament prayers, because every time we partake of the sacrament we are taking on the name of Christ that we can be more like him and always remember him. The people changed their hearts and converted fully to Jesus, and that’s how they took on his name. I think that every Sunday I can strive to be better and make that commitment, which in a way is like having my heart softened and taking on Christ’s name as well.

Alma the younger is another story that I love. I love it so much because it shows that people can change and do great things. I like to think about this story a lot when people say “ oh that person will never get baptized or convert, there is no way.” I hate that because obviously Alma the younger made lots of mistakes but he went and repented and came back to Christ and went and became an awesome missionary that preached the gospel to so many people. It also touches on the power of prayer because his dad Alma had prayed that Alma the younger would soften his heart. It is amazing.

Overall, I have learned more than I ever could imagine this semester in Book of Mormon. I have come to find the Book of Mormon super exciting. It is amazing how awesome this book is. I told my mom that this was my favorite class and how interesting it is and how it is just such an awesome book to read. I have very grateful for having this course and especially from this instructor. I can not wait to take the 2nd part of this course and, obviously to continue my education in the Book of Mormon for the whole rest of my life. There is just so much to learn from it!!!