Saturday, November 21, 2009

Another Testament

I have fallen in love this this photographer's work and his vision. He has captured the feeling and spirit of this incredible event so well.


The Christian world as a whole believe that the only record we have of Jesus Christ and his mission is the Bible. They do not know that there is another testament of him found in the Book of Mormon. After his resurrection and ascension into heaven to his father he fulfilled the scripture John 10:16 - "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." He then visited his other fold of sheep on the America Continent. That record of his visit, his teachings and his continued role as Savior is found within the Book of Mormon in 3rd Nephi, chpt 8 - 30.

It happened. It is true. I have read the account numerous times. The spirit has testified of it many times. This account has changed my life. The Book of Mormon has changed my life. It can bring you closer to God than any other book. I know that without any doubt. I recently had the opportunity to share my testimony of the Book of Mormon with a Christian friend of mine. Sometimes in the busyness of the day and the many things to do, you forget what incredible blessings you have. The Book of Mormon is that for me. As I had a chance to tell her about it and encourage her to read it for herself to find out if it was true, I once again felt that incredible love for this book and the power of the spirit declaring to me that it is true. It made me want to share it with everyone. It made me wish everyone would read it and ask for themselves. It made me sad for those that because of pride, apathy or hardened hearts will brush it off and say no thanks. Not realizing what they are rejecting and completely missing. Missing the fullness of the gospel, missing more of the Savior's mission, missing answers to life's questions, missing the chance to have their lives completely changed and to be completely and utterly happy.

Many people don't even know what the Book of Mormon is. What is it? I think the preface to the book declares and explains it better than anything.

The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel.
The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.
The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.
After Mormon completed his writings, he delivered the account to his son Moroni, who added a few words of his own and hid up the plates in the hill Cumorah. On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and instructed him relative to the ancient record and its destined translation into the English language.
In due course the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith, who translated them by the gift and power of God. The record is now published in many languages as a new and additional witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that all who will come unto him and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel may be saved.
Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
In addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Their written testimonies are included herewith as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.”
We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.)
Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power 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.
I don't know who it is that reads my blog. I do not know why you read my blog. But whoever you are I want you to know that I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true. I know the accounts, the stories, the doctrines and messages found inside are true and from the Living God. I know it has the power to bring peace, healing, comfort, knowledge, joy, happiness, and a testimony that God lives and his Son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. I know that he did visit the people portrayed in this video after his resurrection and set up the way for us to find true happiness and joy.
Have you read the Book of Mormon? Would you like to? What do you have to loose by reading it? Everything. What do you have to gain by reading it? Everything.
You can read it online here: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents
You can have a hard copy delivered to you from missionaries or by mail here. (Scroll to the bottom and there will be a link to request a copy.)
You can email me and I'll send you your own copy: satippetts@gmail.com

4 comments:

Tippetts Family said...

I hope you reached someone with that message. It was wonderful! I didn't get to tell you thanks for introducing me to LDSJournal. I LOVE IT! Thanks for putting links to the scriptures as well. You had mentioned that and I never asked for the link. SO THANKS!

The Delgado's (all 9 of us) said...

I loved the video Shalae! Thanks for sharing!

Caroline said...

What a wonderful video Shalae! I admire you for being able to talk about your faith in such a passionate and beautiful manner! Thanks for sharing it with us ... I LOVE to read it ;)

Anonymous said...

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Thanks