As we begin the Book of Mormon, one question that we may have is, “How can I approach my reading so that I come closer to my Heavenly Father?” We may have tried reading in the past but found the Book of Mormon either hard to understand or not interesting to read so we gave up. It’s okay. Our Heavenly Father knows that it’s not easy. After teaching the Nephites, the Savior said, “I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.” (3 Ne. 17:2) He then gave them the first step to understanding. He said—
Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again. (v. 3).
Sincere prayer is essential to getting the most out of our study. Before we start reading, we can plead for a testimony that He knows us and loves us. We can seek a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We can ask Him for an understanding of specific questions we have about the Gospel and our lives. We can open up to Him that we’ve had a hard time reading in the past and that we need His help in doing it now.
His answers will come. Sometimes they come to us while we read. Often they arrive over time while we prayerfully work through our questions. When His answers come, they come gently and quietly. Elder Boyd K Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve taught—
The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. It is described as a “still small voice.” And while we speak of “listening” to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, “I had a feeling …”
The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon. (CR October 1994, Sunday Morning, “Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise”).
The next thing we can do is to ask questions about what we read. We could ask ourselves “What is Heavenly Father trying to teach me in what I’m reading here?” or “Why is it important to Heavenly Father that I read and learn this?” or “How do I apply this in my life?” President Nelson also gave us another excellent question to ponder, “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” (“My 2020 Invitation to You: Share the Message of the Restoration of the Savior’s Gospel”)
As we take the approach of asking questions about what we read, we’ll not only gain answers to them, but we’ll also understand who God is, why He does the things that He does, and what He thinks about us. Every blessing you and I have that comes from the Restoration of the Gospel are available to us because Joseph Smith read the scriptures with a question in mind.
After seeking answers to specific questions, we should write down something we have learned. We can use a physical notepad to do this. We could also use the notes application on our phones or computers. Our physical and digital scriptures are excellent places for these thoughts as well. These notes don’t have to be long. They could be a single word or a phrase. Sometimes, they will be longer entries. The important thing is to learn to consistently recognize and record the lessons that our Heavenly Father has taught us.
Sister Nelson shared an experience President Nelson had receiving and recording revelation. One Saturday morning, she had the impression to “move out of bed now.”
She said—
“So I went downstairs and did some family history research and then puttered with some other things,” “Two hours later, my husband emerged from our bedroom and said, ‘Wendy, you won’t believe what has been happening for two hours. The Lord has given me detailed instruction about a process I am to follow.’” (Church News, Mar 15, 2019, “Sister Wendy Nelson Shares Her Personal Witness of President Nelson’s Prophetic Calling and Ministry”).
On another occasion, she shared that she watched “her husband write on a yellow notepad kept at the side of his bed during the night, noting impressions as they come.” (Church News, Jun 14, 2018, “President Nelson Ministers to Members in Alberta, Canada”)
The last thing we can do to get the most out of our Book of Mormon study is to apply the principles God teaches us. Some of those principles come literally from off the pages that we just read. More often, our study allows the Holy Ghost, in special moments of need, to help us remember other principles we have either read or heard in the past.
For example, it may be when someone maliciously does something to us or says something about us. Even though, we may be in the thick of Nephi’s Isaiah or Alma’s war chapters, Heavenly Father, through the Holy Ghost, reminds us that the Savior taught about praying for those who abuse and despitefully use us. When we follow that prompting and pray for these people, not only do we feel God’s peace, but we also gain His perspective. Joseph Smith taught—
“The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977, p. 241.)
As we prayerfully study the Book of Mormon, seek answers to specific questions, record the lessons learned, and apply Gospel principles, my hope and prayer, is that you and I will feel His love and find His peace. We’ll then be better able to endure what life brings and one day obtain eternal life.