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The Book of Mormon Inspires Faith in Jesus Christ
Melbourne members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turn to the Saviour in their 2024 study of the Book of Mormon.
As part of the Pacific Area Presidency’s focus for 2024, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been attending worship services each Sunday, followed by their Gospel Doctrine class where they discuss what they have learned the previous week from The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
This volume of scripture, a companion to the Holy Bible, is turning hearts, one by one, to the Saviour of the world, by strengthening faith in Him, and helping students of this scripture to feel God’s love.
When Israel Lutalo, a newly baptized member of the Church, heard about the Book of Mormon for the first time, he read in 2 Nephi 31:17–18 about entering the kingdom of heaven through repentance and baptism.
“When I read this for the first time, it really spoke to my heart,” he reflects. “I wanted to know how to thrive in God’s kingdom, to do His work. I learned that the first steps are repentance and baptism. These verses are close to my heart.”
Lincoln Babbage, branch president of the Melbourne 2nd Branch, says, “I’m grateful for the Spirit that the Book of Mormon brings into my life. One time, while pondering the purpose of life and how to live a good life, I was reading in Alma, chapter 5 about life and resurrection. I had a really warm feeling in my heart and felt the Spirit telling me to stay on the straight and narrow path (of keeping God’s commandments) and all would be well.”
Elder Kunhua Lee, who serves as a young missionary from Taiwan, spoke in a Sunday sacrament meeting recently on what he learned about faith from the Book of Mormon. “In Alma chapter 32,” he said, “we learn that we show our faith in God through small and simple ways. Just like a seed grows into a tree, experimenting with faith leads to greater faith.”
Sister Trisha Teeples, another missionary, says, “As we come to church with a broken heart and contrite spirit, the Saviour will help us to change our natures and to feel His love. The more we give to Him, the more He gives back to us. We all have different sorrows and pains in our lives, but none is too big for our Saviour. The Book of Mormon has brought me a lot of comfort and strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Jody McClellan, a senior missionary serving with her husband in Melbourne, loves how beautiful it is “that we can read and study the Book of Mormon for a lifetime and learn and grow with each reading.”
In 1 Nephi chapter 8, the prophet Lehi sees a vision of the tree of life with beautiful white fruit that represents the love of God. He desires his family to hold fast to an iron rod on a straight path leading to the tree so that they may partake of this priceless fruit with him.
Reflecting on this Book of Mormon account, Sister McClellan says, “I am reminded of the importance of holding to the iron rod and staying at the tree while partaking of the fruit of the tree—in other words, participating in the covenants we make in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From baptism to enduring to the end, we eat the fruit that, as Lehi explains, ‘fills our souls with exceeding great joy’.
As I serve, as I participate, and as I observe missionaries sharing the joy of the gospel, I can’t help but contemplate how desirable the fruits of the gospel are. I am grateful that for 18 months I am commissioned by Jesus Christ to invite others to partake of the fruit and find true and everlasting happiness.”