“Scriptures for Spiritual Emergencies,” For the Strength of Youth, Aug. 2021, 25.
Scriptures for Spiritual Emergencies
Illustration by Katy Dockrill
Growing up, I always wanted a testimony of the Book of Mormon. But I had a hard time believing that the people, the events, and the miracles it describes were real. For a long time I prayed to Heavenly Father to help me know for myself that the Book of Mormon is true.
One Sunday, two of my friends taught a lesson about the scriptures and how they can help answer our most burning questions. They handed each of us a sheet titled “Emergency Contact Numbers.” It had 25 different situations on it, and next to each situation was a scripture. One of the lines caught my attention:
“For a testimony of the Book of Mormon, see Moroni 10:3–5.”
I flipped open to the scripture. It tells you that you can know the Book of Mormon is true by the power of the Holy Ghost if you read it and pray about it and that “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
A powerful, simple answer hit me. I hadn’t really read the Book of Mormon for myself! That was the reason I didn’t have a testimony of it.
Right when I got home, I sat down and started reading through my copy of the Book of Mormon. As I read about the people from ancient times, I could feel my testimony growing that they were real and that miracles really did happen to them.
Months later, when I finished the Book of Mormon, I felt so full of the Spirit. I know Heavenly Father sent me those “Emergency Contact Numbers” to help me when I needed an answer. I thank Him every day for my greater testimony, and I know that He’s just a prayer and a scripture away.
The author lives in Utah, USA.