BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.
In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)
Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.
Mormon Reflections: Save It Were among a Few
Sometimes, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (frequently misnamed the Mormon Church”), we can feel very alone. I know this is not always the case here at Brigham Young University, because we are always surrounded by other Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”), but even here there are times when we can feel isolated with what we go through.
This is why I found so much comfort in 3 Nephi 6:14. It talks about the how there were only a few Lamanites converted to the truthfulness of the gospel. If we are ever feeling alone we can identify with this small group, who despite all the wickedness going on in the world around them, still chose to have faith. It could not have been easy for them, to be a such a minority in their society because of their beliefs, but it says “they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.”
In our circumstances today, we can follow their example and be just as strong in the gospel as they were. We can do this by avoiding the temptations of the devil that Nephi warns of in the following verse. He teaches that the devil will always try and lead us away with the same things: pride, power, and vain things. If we can recognize that these are not nearly as important as the peace and happiness we receive from the gospel, it will be easier to diligently follow the word of Christ. Even though it is sometimes hard being one of a relatively small group of members in the world, we can do as the Lamanites and remain converted to the gospel. We can be one of the few and Heavenly Father will bless us for our struggles.
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