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 copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.
Mormon Thoughts: God’s Plan
Letter to an Old Highschool Friend
There have been several times in my life where I have come to you in desperate need of advice and guidance. I am forever grateful that you were willing to listen to me and esteem me even during the times when I did not deserve your attention. You have a fine quality of listening which makes you a good friend. Listening has been one thing that I find myself doing a lot lately.
Recently, I have been surrounded by amazing spiritual giants that have helped shaped me to become a better and more loving person. I am humbled every day when I listen to them because they have such strong righteous desires and insights and I feel a bit inadequate at times when I am around them. Because of their example I have taken it upon myself to become a stronger disciple of Jesus Christ. I find myself listening throughout the day for the Spirit because I long to hear Him. I love being able to feel my whole body warm up and feel lighter when He enters into my heart.
After these past few weeks I have come to the conclusion that I need to hear God’s plan for me. There are times when I know that I am doing what He wants me to, even when no one else agrees with my decisions. Recently, the prophet of our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) announced an age change for missionaries. Young men are now allowed to served when they are 18 and young women are able to serve when they are 19. Many young women decided they were going to serve a mission and the pressure to join them was immense. I pondered many hours as to whether I should go on one or not and I received my answer: I knew it was not my time to serve a mission. Perhaps when I am older I can serve a mission with my husband after retirement. However God wants me to stay here for now.
It was difficult to tell people that I was not going because I could tell they expected me to go. My family did not push me, but I could tell there was a bit of hesitation when the subject was brought up. There will be times in your life where only God will understand what is best for you. You will receive confirmation from Him and no one else will. It is important to understand the authority and power that God has, especially during times like these where no one seems to understand or want to listen. He will guide you to where you need to be even when it seems like He is not in your life. We cannot let those around us distract us from hearing what God wants us to do. Even our most loved ones can block the Spirit at times.
I am telling you this because I want you to realize that God does love each of His children and will challenge their faith in order to make them grow. The Book of Mormon, scriptures that are a second witness of Jesus Christ, contains a scriptures in 2 Nephi 2:11 that states, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.”
I pray that you will be able to find God’s plan for you and when He reveals it to you I hope that you will be strong enough to never let go of it, even when those around you say otherwise.
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