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.

The LDS Seminary Teaching Tradition

James Austin Owen was a “religious educator” for a little over four years.  As an LDS Seminary teacher Brother Owen made a difference in the lives of high school aged youth in Burley, Idaho between September 1948-November 1952.   

 The Burley, Idaho Seminary building in 1948.  Note by Maxine Owen, the Seminary Teacher's wife.

He was really one of the “pioneers” in a program that began in 1912 and continues to evolve.  After teaching for four years in Burley, he contracted polio.  He was moved from Idaho Falls Hospital to the Veteran’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT and never returned to a full time seminary teaching position.

In the summers, Dad helped keep the youth in Burley out of trouble by organizing the “Knothole Gang” and playing baseball.  He also coached in a basketball league.

When we were younger, Dad loved to have a family gospel sharing time on Sundays.  We each had small black notebooks with our initials monogrammed on the side in white. My favorite time was when we just asked gospel questions and he would answer them using the scriptures.   Much of my understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ came from these question and answer session.

Maxine Owen, James Owen, and Ida Ellen Fish Owen, Jim's mother, holding Ralph Owen in Burley, Idaho in 1950.  Jim had been teaching seminary for 1 1/2 years when this picture was taken.

Photo shows a young Boyd K. Packer, left, as a seminary teacher at the Brigham City, Utah, Seminary in 1953. (Deseret News archive)  We don’t have any pictures of Jim with his seminary students.

In January 2012, a worldwide broadcast was held to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of the seminary program.  The website says that today the seminary and institute programs teach over 700,000 students in 143 different countries through the efforts of nearly 50,000 full-time, part-time, and volunteer teachers and administrators.¹

 Over 100 years ago the first released-time seminary program was launched at Granite High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Begun largely as an experiment by a single stake, the program has since grown into a worldwide system of religious education, bringing gospel instruction to young members of the Church throughout the entire world. From small beginnings, the seminary program and its collegiate counterpart—institute of religion—grew to become the primary educational entities in the Church, with a larger enrollment than any other LDS educational venture and a wider reach than almost any educational organization worldwide.

 In 1977 Elder Boyd K. Packer commented, “In the history of the Church there is no better illustration of the prophetic preparation of this people than the beginnings of the seminary and institute program. These programs were started when they were nice but were not critically needed. They were granted a season to flourish and to grow into a bulwark for the Church. They now become a godsend for the salvation of modern Israel in a most challenging hour.”²

Today on the website for Seminary and Institute it states:  Our purpose is to help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven.

I think Dad would have agreed that was his purpose although the program has changed and evolved into something quite different than it was in 1948.

 L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said,

“I know the power that comes from associations in the seminary and institute programs. It has enriched my life, and I know it will do the same for you. It will put a shield of protection around you to keep you free from the temptations and trials of the world. There is a great blessing in having a knowledge of the gospel. And I know of no better place for the young people of the Church to gain a special knowledge of sacred things than in the institute and seminary programs of the Church.” 
Ensign, Nov. 1997, 61-62

The tradition of working with youth in the Seminary Program has continued in our extended family.  If we counted the number of Jim Owen’s posterity who have attended Seminary it would be a significant percentage.  Many are four year seminary graduates and have attended Institute classes while in college. 

Craig Ostler, husband of Sandy Owen Ostler, worked for the LDS Seminary program for many years before joining the faculty at Brigham Young University.

As Volunteer Teachers, Mark and Cyndy Weiss have served a combined 22.5 years in teaching Seminary and Institute classes.  Mark taught seminary one year in Kirkland, Institute 3 years in Redmond, Institute 3 years in Vancouver, and Institute 5 years in Logan.

Cyndy Weiss taught seven years in Redmond, Washington, was one of the first Stake Supervisors ever called (as it was a new position in the Church), and supervised teachers for 1.5 years in Redmond and then again for 2 years in Vancouver.  When I was teaching, I would sometimes bring the younger children to watch their older brothers’ or sisters’ classes.  These young siblings loved scripture chasing and were oft times quicker at finding the passages than the older students.

Getting up early for a 6:00 a.m. Seminary class was just something you did during your high school years.   When we moved to Logan, UT, William and Joseph Weiss didn’t have that opportunity to arise extra early as they participated in a released time Seminary program. 

Mark Weiss also worked for three years for Seminary and Institutes (S&I) creating a system for a fourth option for seminary instruction.  Along with released time, early morning and home study seminary, now some students will be allowed to do on-line seminary classes.   Along with Tyler Griffin, Mark worked created the original curriculum for the on-line Book of Mormon Class.  

Recent Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual

I am thankful for the scripture mastery verses that I have retained over the years.  I know they have helped my own children in making important decisions.  Now as Mark and I have the opportunity to serve in a Young Single Adult Ward and we see yet again the difference regular attendance in religious education classes can make the lives of USU students.

It is fun to imagine “Brother Owen” standing at the chalkboard with his scriptures open in his hand.  I’m sure he was respected and well liked.  It is easy for me to visualize him doing similar teaching in the spirit world.  He was a gifted teacher and served as Gospel Doctrine teacher for many, many years.   His love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is part of his legacy to us.