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: Good Doesn’t Come Easily
A Letter to a Friend
I know you have been going through a lot lately. Sometimes it can seem unbearable or unfair. I have felt this way at many instances in my life and the Book of Mormon has given me a wonderful life line to hold on to in these difficult times. It came to me as I was reading in the 3rd book of Nephi. The first few chapters of this book are some of the darkest moments in the Nephite nation’s history. It is here that the Lord’s hand was so evident.
A few chapters earlier, in the book of Helaman, the people had heard the prophecy of the sign that would signify Jesus Christ’s birth. Here as the time drew near, divisions broke out as some people chose not to believe. Just as in our own lives, we worry sometimes and wonder if God really will help us and if all will be ok. No other confirmation was sent by God ahead of time, and it wasn’t until the very last moment that the promised sign of Christ’s birth came. This truly stretched the faith and patience of the humble followers of Jesus Christ. We must always be steadfast and immovable as Nephi was in his moment of great trial. He was threatened with death and ridicule, yet he endured to the end.
Julie, I can tell you truly that God knows how we feel and wants to help us become the best we can be. He often waits until the last possible moment to test and prove our own ability to choose the right. No good thing comes easily. God’s way may seem hard at first but always ends in a much happier and better state. Like any test we ever took in school, we must attend class, study, and practice in order to truly earn a good grade. In life it will always be the same. Perk up and keep trying. I know you will make it through even the toughest of trials because God will be there in the end if you do your part and stand firm.
I also learned from this instance that Satan always presents the easier path. I know you’ve heard it before but I have found that some lessons are always worth repeating. Don’t fall for the candy-lined, chocolate-paved, sugar-coated sidewalk that looks so appealing. Take the path less traveled by. I found that I must always be on my guard and pay attention to where I walk.
Also as a final thought, watch out for those abundant blessings because once one trial ends and the blessings role in, a new one is likely soon to come. I know my Savior lives and somehow everything has always worked out when I am in the right.
Have a great day,
Devon L
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