First Blog Post Ever! I feel like a total noob…

Today, I finished reading the Book of Mormon before I leave on my mission. I had made a New Years resolution to finish it before I leave on April 9th. I really wanted to gain a true testimony of this book before I could honestly and faithfully testify of its truthfulness. 

I have completed the Book of Mormon before, but let's be honest…I really have never spent as much time as I should studying it. Growing up, I would read about a page a night, but my thoughts were always on how tired I was or what happened on The Office that week. In college, I started studying more, but that was because I had a Brother Marsh's test that week. 

How can I expect to convert people to this gospel if I didn't make it a daily goal to study and not just read? 

Being back at home, I have learned what it truly means to feast upon the words of Christ. I spent over an hour a day reading, and I came away from my studies feeling so uplifted and inspired. I truly felt a connection to all of the prophets who sacrificed everything to share what they know to be true.

Today, I finished reading Moroni 10, and knelt down to try out Moroni's challenge for what felt like the  hundredth time in my life. 

And you know what? No lights appeared in my room. No angels visited me. But I did feel peace and joy come to my heart. I know that the Spirit speaks to the heart.  As I knelt there pondering for a few minutes, flipping through my Book of Mormon, I found this picture that I had placed in there at the beginning of the year:



Immediately, two words came to my mind: He lives. 

I know that Christ lives. If He lives, then all that we are working for is worth it. All that the Book of Mormon recounts is true. He has died for us. He is always with us no matter how we feel about ourselves. He will be with you. He will be with me. 

D&C 76:22-24

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

I know that He lives, and I know that He loves me. 

This life will not be easy. However, through His enabling and healing atonement, we can return to Him and find everlasting joy with those we love. I testify of these things in the name of my Savior, who would do anything to help me succeed. Amen.