October 27, 2011

A Change Of Heart


Conversion By The Word Of God:
My Experience Reading The Book Of Mormon in 30 days 




About two months ago I had an impression. I felt very strongly that I needed to start blogging again. I wasn't really sure what I was suppose to blog about, only that I needed to start making an effort. It seemed like kind of a silly impression, but I decided to start keeping track of the changes that I was trying to make in my life.

Within a few weeks I stumbled across Jocelyn's idea to have a BOOK OF MORMON forum. I knew instantly that I wanted to participate. I quickly realized that while I loved The Book Of Mormon and knew that it was the Word Of God, I had one problem. How could I profess to testify and teach about a book that I had become so unfamiliar with? My scripture study had been minimal for years. My love for the Scriptures had died, and I was unfamiliar with the Voice Of The Lord.

How could I participate in a Forum about The Book Of Mormon when I hadn't even read it cover to cover since I was a missionary 13 years ago?

I felt a call to ACTION.
I felt a resolve to be BETTER.
I felt the need to CHANGE.

I knew that Jocelyn's purpose in starting The Book Of Mormon Forum was to share her testimony about the Gospel with others.

I realized that my participation was going to be sharing the gospel with Myself.

I love this quote by Elder Jeffery R. Holland:

"You can change anything you want to change, 
and you can do it very fast.
 That’s another satanic suckerpunch—
that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent.
 It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say,

 “I’ll change”—and mean it. 

Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. 
You may well spend—indeed you had better spend—
the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. 
But change, growth, renewal, and repentance can come for you 
as instantaneously as for Alma and the sons of Mosiah.
 Even if you have serious amends to make
it is not likely that you would qualify for the term,
 “the vilest of sinners,” 
which is the phrase Mormon uses in describing these young men. 
Yet as Alma recounts his own experience
 in the thirty-sixth chapter of the book that bears his name, 
his repentance appears to have been as instantaneous as it was stunning."


This quote is so beautiful and I believe it with all my heart. I am a different person than I was 28 days ago. I have been purified by the Word Of God. I feel Closer to My Savior. I feel determined to stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all places and in all things.

Elder Scott in his recent General Conference address reminded me that The Scriptures are like precious friendships. I have become reacquainted with them. I love them. I feel the POWER that they offer. 

I know that The Book Of Mormon bears testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Book Of Mormon is the Word Of God.
The teachings found in this book are True.
I can proudly tell you that I LOVE THIS BOOK.
I know that the Savior Lives, and Loves us.
I know that there is Peace & Safety in the Plan Of Salvation.
I know that the path to happiness is found in Righteousness.

I encourage anyone to read The Book Of Mormon.
Pray About it.
Seek after Christ.
Keep the commandments.
Be Baptized.

I found the Savior. 
And.

You. 
Can
Too.

9 comments:

coco said...

thank you. xoxo

Monica said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
corabeth said...

Love your blog!

New Follower from Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop. Hoping you will follow back! =0)
My Crazy Life

Abby said...

Erin, what a beautiful and wonderful testimony. Thank you for sharing the power you have found in the Book of Mormon so we can all be strengthened. Your testimony is really touching, thank you!

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Karey said...

I found your post a couple of months ago, and I felt much like you describe. Thank you for encouraging me (among others) to come back to the Book of Mormon and study it with greater purpose. My life is changed because of you <3

Unknown said...

I feel that our savior wanting me to learn the book of mormon more thural, and then I stumbled on this blog , and my heart was touched I believe this was a placed in my path by Our heavenly father thank you for your blog it has inspired me to take that step

Unknown said...

I feel that our savior wanting me to learn the book of mormon more thural, and then I stumbled on this blog , and my heart was touched I believe this was a placed in my path by Our heavenly father thank you for your blog it has inspired me to take that step