BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.
In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)
Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.
Mormon Thoughts: Finding Humility
Letter to Brother on Mission
Hey Ryker!
It’s been another great but cold week here in Provo, and I’m sure that you’re having a great time in Mexico blessing many lives. Just as I shared a little bit of what we learned last week, I’d like to do that again. Something that I really enjoyed from my readings this last week in Helaman 5:12 was about the pride cycle and how it works. It’s amazing how we can fall into that cycle even in the smallest way. The Lord always will bless us when we do what is right, but it is our job to keep ourselves in check. When pride starts to fill our minds, we lose sight of where our blessings have come from. The pride cycle starts with prosperity. Then we fall into pride, which leads us to sin, destruction and sorrow. With that sorrow we can either choose to become prideful again and cycle through sin and destruction or we can humble ourselves. If we choose to be humble, then we will inevitably repent. God blesses those who repent, and they become prosperous. To not fall into the cycle again, we must circle back to humility in our prosperity. By doing so, we can recognize our faults, repent and continually be blessed.
Brother Griffin taught how Satan is a divider and how Christ brings people together. He used an example with the words “at one,” which put together equal “atone.” When we become at one with Christ, we can rejoice in His atonement. He used the example of the temple altars that are used for marriage in the sealing rooms. The altar represents Christ. When a couple comes to the altar, they covenant to follow Him and abide by His teachings that they may live happily together for eternity. If He no longer becomes a part of their lives, they separate. No matter how close people become with one another, without Christ, they will be forever apart. I know that the powers of heaven are what keep us together and that temple ordinances are real. Families are eternal. I hope that this small message may be able to help you and those you teach who desperately need God’s love and the binding power of Christ to hold them together. Thank you always for your example and diligence in the greatest work on earth. I know that this Church is true, and I’m so grateful to have a brother like you who is part of the eternal glue to our family. Thank you for the choices you’ve made, are making and will continue to make to stick to the iron rod and bring others along the way. May the Lord bless you in all that you do Elder!
Love,
Your brother, Brock
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