Tuesday, September 16, 2014

How Has the Book of Mormon Changed You?

In one of my institute classes I asked my students how the Book of Mormon has changed them. I have been overwhelmed and touched by their responses and am so very grateful for their examples expressed in the following words:

The Book of Mormon fills my soul with a desire to become a better person. While I read the Book of Mormon I feel the spirit. I learn those things that I need I change in my life and find peace and strength to do them. I am filled with an assurance and my faith in Christ is strengthened. 

The Book of Mormon is my lifeline; It’s my lighthouse; my armor. With it I've become so much happier and my life completely turned around and now I can look back without regrets.

The way the Book of Mormon has changed me the most is that it makes me want to be a better disciple of Christ. Obviously this is mostly because the book constantly testifies and teaches of Christ. It so beautifully testifies of the atonement and the transformative power if His gospel that it compels me to try it out, to live the teachings laid out within the book.

The Book of Mormon tells the story of good people who sought a closer relationship with God. The lives of the characters make me want to be a better person and strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

It has brought light in a dark world, validated my beliefs, brought understanding amidst confusion, and has brought me closer to the savior.

The way the Book of Mormon has changed me the most: The first time I really knew the Book of Mormon was true was during survival training before leaving for my mission. I came to see the stories as real, the people in it really lived and these are their words. The Book of Mormon taught me to trust. Trust God. Trust other people. "Who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man...and forgettest The Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth." I often try to do things myself, I don't let others in, I don't want their help. I didn't share everything I could with others, if it was all for myself? I'm not going through life alone anymore.
The Book of Mormon has been a lens through which I can look at my life and see more clearly the changes that the lord would have me make in my own life.

The Book of Mormon has been the iron rod in my life constantly keeping me on track when I want to let or when someone or something is pulling me away. One of my favorite experiences with the Book of Mormon was hearing my mission President bear his testimony of that book. His dad was the first black General authority and he was the first black missionary. Later he was called upon to translate the Book of Mormon into Portuguese and the translation we use today. His witness and conviction about the truthfulness of the book was unlike anything I had ever heard. As a missionary this was confirmed to me day after day that in some special and divine way this book has power beyond any other book. The Book of Mormon has been the map in my life that I continue to refer to in my journey to be like Christ.

It has given me knowledge that has helped me and testified that God loves me individually, and that knowledge has let me help others know of God's plan and love.

The BoM has changed me the most by being a continuous reassurance the Christ is my Lord and Savior and that the Church is true. There are too many miracles that happen to me every single day and the BoM just has a way of speaking to me and allowing me to hear exactly what i need to hear even if I have already read that chapter. I love the BoM and it is a constant strength for me and allows my testimony to grow every time i read it. The BoM just makes too much sense and the Lord would continue to speak to us because He loves us. I am very grateful for the BoM for how much it has blessed my life and increased my Faith in the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The BofM has changed me the most because it has bridled my passions, it keeps me in check and reminds of how I should be acting. Without the BofM I can immediately feel an emptiness in my life and shortly after that I can feel that the temptations that surround become more prevalent and menacing. The BofM has been like a shield for me in my spiritual life.  It has made me more of a disciplined man of God.

The Book of Mormon has changed my life by giving me a childhood full of heroes, lessons to learn and examples of how I should live my life.  Now it gives me the understanding and guidance I need to become who I need to become.

The Book of Mormon has given me the knowledge that I am not alone, that Heavenly Father stills speaks to His children and that Jesus Christ is there for us in our sorrows, pains and afflictions.
The Book of Mormon has always grounded me in the right way.

We think we are strong, but we are only strong because He was strong. We think we are worthy, but we are only worthy because He was worthy. We think we can save ourselves, but we are only saved because He has saved us. The Book of Mormon has changed me most because it has brought me a deeper understanding of who Christ is and what I need to do to come closer to Him.

Firstly I have a really gained a really strong witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior from studying the Book of Mormon. I remember when President Hinckley told all the members to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. I was really young then so that was the first time I read the Book of Mormon. But because of that experience ever since I have known that Jesus Christ is our savior. Secondly, I have been able to make much better decisions. I can always find something in the Book of Mormon that relates to my current situation.

What is my Book of Mormon story?  I don't know how it has changed my life.  I can recall times where I have received comfort, but I don't know that it necessarily changed my life.  In my philosophy class we are reading Plato's Republic.  It is interesting, but our instructor opens my eyes to the hidden truths in the pages.  At this point in my life, I feel as though my own knowledge is insufficient for me to bring out some of the truths that are tucked into the nooks and crannies of the Book of Mormon.  That is where the apostles, institute teacher, and general conference come in.  They open my eyes.

I feel like I received my testimony of the BOM gradually over time. It's just the simple things really, small things here and there that show me the principals taught within hold the everlasting truths as advertised. Then there are those private tender moments when you feel The Lord talking directly to you through the unchanging words on the page, telling you things are going to be alright, giving you the nudge to do what you know you need to and giving you the guidance to make it through this battle back to him safe and sound.

The BOM has given me the desire to never let go of the gospel or my relationship with God.  It strengthens me and gives me hope in myself when I have none.  It helps me to understand and be willing to open my heart, to feel the love of Christ for others.

The way the Book of Mormon has changed me the most.... It has shown me what is truly important in life, that happiness doesn't come from money or possessions. It comes from family and doing what is right. This has given me an eternal perspective that I never would have had otherwise. It is in my nature to focus on possessions and money as a sign of success. But, the Book of Mormon has taught me how to see what is truly important.  It has also shown me who my Savior is. It has given me the peace, comfort and hope of knowing that he loves me. Because of that love he has felt every pain, sorrow and weakness that I will ever have to feel. He knows how to save me. He has saved me when there was no other way out. I am a different person today because of the Savior and the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon has changed me the most by showing me my purpose in life. Before I knew about the Church, I was lost both figuratively and literally. I had gone through a really rough year in my life and was uncertain of what to do next. I bounced around from church to church in search of something that could bring me the answer I needed, something that would give me hope. When I met [an LDS friend], I saw the happiness and peace that the Book of Mormon brought him, so I asked him to read with me. We started with the introduction, but that's all I needed. I had found what I was looking for. I can't fully explain it, except to say that this book was the missing puzzle piece in my life. I knew just from the introduction that what I was reading was true, and that I would no longer have to wander looking for peace or hope. I was holding it in my hands.

The Book of Mormon has changed me the most by giving me hope. I used to not know where I was going after our earthy existence, nor did I know where I came from. This book has giving me the guidance in these subjects and it all makes sense. It continues to give me hope daily. In the moments I mess up, when I'm overwhelmed or stressed, when I don't know where to go next or what to do, I rely on the Book of Mormon and on this gospel to get me through my day. The purpose of life, which comes through this book, reminds me not to take anything here on earth to serious. The hope comes when something detrimental occurs and I try to learn from each trial and strive to become better and more like Heavenly Father. I've learned, through faith, truly nothing is impossible.

The simple knowledge I have that the Book of Mormon is true has changed me. If the Book of Mormon is true, it means the bible is true. If the Book of Mormon is true then God and Jesus Christ restored the fullness of the gospel through Joseph smith. This means that living prophets lead and guide us today and that God speaks to us, individually. If I didn't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, then I would not know the truth of any of these other things. But with this knowledge, I can be sure of what my purpose is, and how I can eventually receive a fullness of joy and eternal life in God's presence.

The way the Book of Mormon changed me most was through constant reminders that Jesus is my savior and that I need to be clean.

I remember the first institute class I was struggling. I felt the guidance so clearly on my mission but something changed when I got home. My life became cluttered with other things. I yearned to find the balance but I couldn't find anything [and] felt like I needed to ask again. After class I found a small quite room and I offered a prayer out loud. I felt so strongly that The Lord was listening. I could hold back my emotions as I gave him thanks for all he'd done. I realized how so many times the BofM guided me to safety. I love that book will all my heart. I know, through small experiences and big ones it is true.


If it had not been for the Book of Mormon, I don't know if I would be [where I am] right now. 

Institute Readings for Sep. 15-19


This week's readings & assignments for my classes are as follows:


  • USAFA Religion 121: 2 Nephi 9-16, next week we will cover 2 Nephi 12-24.
  • UCCS Religion 341: Chapters 3-4: WE HAVE A PERMANENT CLASSROOM NOW AT UCCS!!!! WE MEET, STARTING ON WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK IN THE OSBOURNE  CENTER A204, 12:00-1:30!!!!
  • Pathways Religion 121: 1 Nephi 16-22. 
    • Weekly paper is based on 1 Nephi 19:23: "And I did liken all scriptures unto [me, ie, you]."
  • Friday Forum: This week's talk will be by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Cast Not Away Your Confidence. 
Keep up your readings of the scriptures! There are few other things you can do to help you more with your challenges, weaknesses and the vicissitudes of life. President Monson said, "I promise you...that if you will study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased" (Be Your Best Self, Apr. 2009 Gen Con). Who doesn't want that? 

Read on, brothers & sisters! See you in class, and be sure to bring a friend!

Best,
BroP

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Faculty Inservice Thursday, 9/11

Dear Faculty,
Thank you all so very, very much for all you do! I am so grateful to each of you for all your efforts "To help the young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven." Thank you for that, and please do not forget, that is our Objective, nothing else.

You will remember we have four priorities this year. In this upcoming inservice we will touch on a portion of each of them.

Strengthen Unity & Elevate Learning. In our faculty inservice on Thursday morning (6:00AM-7:00AM at Jamboree), we will seek to "harmonize our efforts with...the direction of those appointed to lead us" by covering the Administrator of S&I, Brother Chad Webb's talk from the August S&I Training. The talk is titled, "An Invitation to Study the Doctrine & Covenants." Come ready to discuss how his invitations can be applied in your class, even, no, especially if you're not teaching the Doctrine & Covenants. 

Seek Truth. We will also discuss several resources to "help [our] students be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ and discern truth from error." There are several resources listed on a bookmark I made for you to share with our students for finding answers to our questions about the gospel and the Church, I will share these with you in our inservice. There are six resources we will discuss and you will want to continue to review or familiarize yourselves with them prior to the meeting:
  • The Standard Works should be our first line for answering students questions;
  • The words of the living prophets and apostles;
  • The Seek Truth website at www.si.lds.org;
  • Fair Mormon found at www.fairmormon.org;
  • Gospel Topics on www.lds.org;
  • And finally, we ought to always encourage our students to bring their questions to institute! We may not know all the answers to all the questions we might hear, but can and ought to help our students learn for themselves. Are there other sources I am missing? Lets look at those too. 
Reach One More. We will discuss different ways we can simply "counsel with priesthood leaders to increase enrollment, attendance, and completion....[And] act on the direction received." Yup, I mean it, simple. Simple, such as asking your own home ward Bishop something like, "Who do you think I could invite to my institute class this week?" or "Sister Relief Society President, which of the 18-30 year old sisters in Relief Society could be blessed by my inviting them to come to my institute class?" Lets start simple, with our own ward families and then we will worry about reaching out from there.

Do you think we can do all that in one hour? I do. We will need to focus our efforts, exercise faith in the Lord, listen to the promptings of the Spirit, and get to work. 

Brothers and Sisters, we have souls to save and a great work to do. Are you ready? I know you are, President Monson says, "Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." Trust in that, trust in the Lord, He is on our side. Let no spirit of digression get in our way. The Lord will bless us, He will bless us, I know He will. 

Students: A Must Read

Greetings! This year rather than manage multiple different blog pages to keep all of my students and faculty updated on who, what, where, when, how and why for each of our classes on different blogs, I am going to attempt to do it all from one blog each week. Soooo, here goes:

  • Religion 121 (USAFA): Readings for this week: 2 Nephi 1-8, next week 2 Nephi 9-16. 
  • Religion 121 (Pathways): 1 Nephi 6-15. Paper due: "Me and Nephi." You have one page (typed, double-spaced) to share what you learned from Nephi's experiences in 1 Nephi 1-5 and what you should be doing with yourself because of it.
  • Religion 341 (UCCS): Chapter 2 of the Church History in the Fulness of Times Manual.
  • Friday Forum (Jamboree): Every Friday we have a light lunch at 12:00 and listen to one of the great BYU or BYU-I Devotionals. This week's Devotional is a recording of Sister Sheri Dew's "You Were Born to Lead, You Were Born for Glory" given in Dec. 2003 at BYU.


The bestest, the most coolest, the mostest importanist thing you can do to prepare for class is read the assigned reading prior to coming to class! And when you come to class, be totally, completely and entirely ready to jump in with faith in the Lord and teach, testify and share the things you are learning. 

See you in class! 
Bro Palmer
PS: If you like what you are feeling and learning in institute, bring a friend. If you are having troubles in any way, tell me so we can fix it. Really.