Dear people in the world.
About 99% of the people I have met here in Brazil have no Idea what the Book of Mormon is.
Let me shed a little light on the subject.
The Book of Mormon is a book that has changed my life. It has offered me comfort and understanding. It has offered me inspiration and hope. It has opened my perspective and softened my heart.
I am serving a mission because I know the Book of Mormon is true.
What does that mean?
Good question.
It means- If someone reads the Book of Mormon and asks God with a sincere heart (with real intent to follow the answer that follows) He will in fact, receive a personal witness that the book was divinely inspired, that is was written by ancient prophets, that it was brought to light in these latter days through the goodness and power of God.
That is what it means to me when I say "I know the book of Mormon" is true.
It is quite simple, really. How can someone know which church to join, which religion to follow? How can someone know if Jesus Christ was really the Son of God, or if God really exists, how can someone discover the will of God?....
I think... You have to ask God!
And that is just what we as missionaries do. We offer the opportunity for all people to read the Book of Mormon, learn about Christ, and then ASK GOD if what we teach is true.
And the most amazing thing?
God responds.
God lives. He knows and loves every single one of us. He is deeply involved in our lives, and is anxiously waiting for us to turn and come unto Him.
The Book of Mormon is an ancient record comparable to the Bible. It is a record of the inhabitants of the Ancient Americas. The prophets (as always in the history of the world) were called to bear witness of Christ, and to keep a inspired, sacred record of God's dealings with the people.
This book has changed millions of people's lives, including mine.
So that's... ha, that's why I am here.
I love God. I know this is His work. I have read and asked God in sincere prayer and I know and will never deny that truly His church has been restored.
I don't say these things to hate on everybody else, or all the other wonderful churches in the world. I LOVE YOU ALL. please don't be offended. There are so many inspired leaders, so many good churches, and people truly going about doing good work and following the Savior's example.
I say these things to let you know... There is a profound light available to all the penitent seekers of truth and happiness. There is available- the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, and it has the power to change lives. To bring answers, light, hope, direction, it helps people find themselves, heals wounds, stops addiction, it heals the hungered soul, and leads men to God.
I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.
It is impossible to explain, and I just.... Please just experiment upon these words. Even if you just have a desire to know. A desire to understand or maybe just find out.
Get yourself a book of Mormon. Read. Ponder the words which are written. Have a desire to know the truth, and Ask God.
That is all my lovely friends and colleagues. I am off to speak Portuguese :)
P.S. just as in the primitive church, the Lord has called apostles which lead guide, and direct the Lords church- here is Elder Hollands testimony of the Book of Mormon-
The Living Prophet- Thomas S. Monson-
And Videos of the life of Jesus Christ- I am obsessed with these films/representations of the Bible stories that the church has produced.
A precious friend horse, we walked by this house and
I thought he was a large dog with a hair problem. neope.
The moon ontop of a portão. Very precious.
The beautiful sunset- you may notice on top of the wall there is glass- Its a thing here in Brazil! People do it for protection- they concrete thousands of shards of bottle glass onto the top of the walls so people don't jump 'em and rob 'em.
We run here in the mornings. Do stair workouts in the stadium of death.