Your Relationship with God. . .It's as Easy as Riding a Bike

I have been thinking a lot about The Book of Mormon  recently. Yes,  I know I'm a missionary and that I'm supposed to think about it a lot but recently it has taken on a whole new meaning for me. As I have talked to people on my mission the common thing people tell me is that they want to be closer to God; or they want to have a stronger relationship with Him. I think this is a desire most of us have in life. Especially when life seems to be ripping at the seams and you just don't know what to do. So how do we come closer to our Heavenly Father? In the introduction to the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith is quoted as saying, “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.”

This statement is very true. This book of scripture, which is another testament of Jesus Christ, truly has brought me so much closer to my Father in Heaven. I have come to know who He is and to really feel how much He loves me by reading it.  For instance today I felt close to Him as I read in 2 Nephi 8 verse 22, "Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleadeth the cause of his people; behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again." This scripture shows me how much my Savior loves me. He loves me so much He took that which was going to be my punishment for my sins and bore it on His back so I can return to our Father in Heaven. 

I know as I read the Book of Mormon everyday my testimony of Him is strengthened. Yes, it's hard sometimes reading scripture with all the "thee's" and "thou's." But was it easy the first time riding a bike? For me I remember a lot of painful scrapes, bruises and even falling into our cactus plant. Do you really think I wanted to get back on the bike after falling into the cactus plant? No, I figured that it was the bike's fault and so I wasn't going to get back on. However, I did get back on and I now know how to ride a bike. Don't expect your knowlege of the scriptures to come all at once because it won't. It's going to be hard to understand at first but with prayer and diligent study of the scriptures you can do it. The Lord isn't going to make it impossible because He makes all things possible. We just need to do our part.

So do you want a strong relationship with Heavenly Father? I can promise you can through reading the Book of Mormon. Just remember its not going to come all at once.

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