The Book that Changed My Life

My Testimony of

The Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ

By Cyndy Weiss

March 11, 2020

I love to read.  I have easily read over a thousand books in my 68 years.  However, there is one book that stands far above the rest.  It was a book I read when I was 15 years-old. A book that actually changed my life.

It was during my freshman year at Washington High School in Portland, Oregon, that our early morning seminary teacher (Laurie Anderson) challenged all of us to read the entire Book of Mormon before the end of the school year.  I did and something powerful happened to me.

My parents and Primary teachers had told me many of the stories in the Book of Mormon, but reading these stories from the book itself was different.  The Spirit of God began teaching me great truths.  I was feeling enlightened in ways I cannot describe.

Reading the Isaiah chapters in Second Nephi wasn’t easy, but I sensed that I was working toward my goal to finish an important book and so I plowed forward and my experiences became sweeter the more I read.  

It was during that freshman year that one of my friends took the missionary discussions.  She never joined the church, but I was impressed by the teachings and testimony of the missionaries.  As the elders challenged my friend to read, ponder, and pray (Moroni 10:3-5),  I reaffirmed my own witness that this special book was sacred.  I knew it was a gift from God to be treasured.  This book was actual evidence that I could hold in my hands and know that Joseph Smith was who he said he was…a chosen prophet come to earth to restore God’s truth and power.

 

I have probably read The Book of Mormon well over 35 times since I was 15.  I am always amazed at the spirit I feel as I experience “the power of the word”.  I have learned to not just read, but to “feast” upon truths I find (2 Nephi 32:3).  I have made important connections to own life situtions as I have “likened” the words of ancient prophets to my own “here and now”.  

I would read the book while rocking each of my eleven babies asleep.  I would read the book in preparing to teach early morning Seminary classes.  I would read The Book of Mormon even when we were studying other scriptural texts that same year.  The Book of Mormon became like an old friend to me.  When I was a youth attending Seminary we memorized 40 passages from the Book of Mormon. These were verses I learned the fastest because they were so clear and plain to be understood.   I would have to get new Book of Mormon every 4-5 years because the “old one” would have so many passages underlined that I needed a “clean” copy to mark up.  (This year I am reading the Book of Mormon in Italian.)

I always loved the “Tree of Life” vision and imagined it and drew pictures of it.  Like Lehi, I hope to see all my own children partake of the fruit of the tree (1 Nephi 8:12)

I felt Nephi’s pain and joy when I read the “Psalm” of Nephi (2 Nephi 4) and felt to plea along with him,  “Wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!” (verse 33).

I treasured the words of Nephi’s brother, Jacob (2 Nephi 9-10) as he witnessed of “the merciful plan of the great Creator” with such clarity and power. I often taught from these very same chapters in Italian while serving on my mission.

Each time I study the Doctrine of Christ (2 Nephi 31), I thrill at the richness of the truths taught by Nephi and desire to “press forward” and endure so that I might claim the gift of eternal life (verse 20).

When I “hear” King Benjamin’s speech, I am reminded of the many days I heard his speech as a participant in the King Benjamin scene (Mosiah 2-5) during the Hill Cumorah Pageant in New York.  I had many parts of the mighty king’s speech memorized.  I remember being overwhelmed with the challenge of raising such a large family and learning “it is not requisite that a (woman) should run faster than (she) has strength…all things must be done in order.”  (Mosiah 4:27)

The chapters in Third Nephi were so full of drama and it was easy for me to visualize the Savior’s visit to His other sheep.  I remember that Tamarah’s first memorized passage was from Third Nephi 11 verse 10:  “Behold I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.”

I once asked my mom what her favorite part of the Book was and she said 3 Nephi 17.  I always think of her when I read of the children being ministered to by the angels.  My dad often shared his favorite verse from Ether 12:27:  “then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”  His belief in the resurrection was firm and he knew that one day his body so weakened from Polio would be restored in perfection.  

I have learned about the characteristics of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ from the pages of the Book of Mormon.  The God I have come to know is just and merciful. He wants me to come home to live with Him again.  He is compassionate and patient.  He wants to share His knowledge and vision with me.  He is all powerful and I can trust in His wisdom and timing.  He knows I will learn by making mistakes, so he provided a Savior for me.  

 

I have had wonderful experience of reading the all the scriptural canon at the same time.  I would read from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms and Proverbs in a “365-day Bible” and then I would read the modern scriptures from The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price a little each day.  I’ve probably done this five or more times.  Each time I marvel at the truths I find in the “wisdom literature” of Jehovah.  I also can more clearly see that many “precious things” have been removed from other sacred texts.  They all witness of each other, but The Book of Mormon is especially powerful in its plainness (1 Nephi 13:28).

I am forever thankful that Joseph Smith was called of God to translate the words from the “Golden Plates”.   I know that by reading this sacred book I can become nearer to God by living its precepts than than by reading and applying principles learned from any other book. 

 I pray each of my children and grandchildren will gain their own witness (2 Nephi 25:26) “that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah” (see Introduction).

The Book of Mormon is the keystone of my religion.  I cherish it.  It has changed my life.