Day 13

I am thankful for the Book of Mormon.

When browsing blogs or bookstores for good books- parenting or novel, history or self-improvement- I sometimes remember that quote from Joseph Smith: "... man will get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." And then I think, "Wow, why am I wasting my time?"

I love books. But I love this book most of all. This doesn't mean I remember the seminary scripture mastery or that I have pages of it's text memorized. But I have a testimony that it is true. I have had confirmations that the book is God's word and that I can find answers in this book that I couldn't find anywhere else. Isn't that amazing. The libraries of this world contain millions of books with innumerable pages of text and theories. Brilliant minds have worked through centuries to fill halls and vaults. There are so many that some will never be opened or reached again for they are surrounded by so many other books that might get picked up. Are those texts lost? No. The plates were buried for 1400 years.

Last night I asked Mary what her favorite story was in The Book of Mormon. "That one with the King Moramoni. And the missionary Moroni saved his sheep." Hmmm, looks like we need to be a little more familiar with the main characters. But then when I asked her what she was thankful for for our Thankful Tree she said, "That God has a plan for us to come to this Earth." Bingo! Maybe it doesn't matter that she gets Moroni and Lamoni mixed up. Those are tough names for kids, but she understands the important things. The truths and the testimony of Christ that are in that book.

I am thankful for the Book of Mormon.