I read the Book of Mormon (again) in 3 months + I love Jesus!

My heart is full of gratitude for Jesus Christ + for the Book of Mormon which teaches about + testifies of Him!

I accepted President Nelson's challenge (he's the prophet/president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to read the book between October General Conference + the end of the year.

At first I pursued it somewhat halfheartedly + then I realized that, as I was praying for a rather big thing, it would be a good sign of my faith to show my God that I can be obedient -- by reading His scriptures + obeying His living prophet. So I 'stepped up my game' + focused more on Christ in my reading, as Pr. Nelson invited us to. My previous slowness meant that this past week I've been reading ca. 30 pages/day, but I made it!

(Here's a link to the current edition in English)

And for extra fun, I read the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon which is in paragraph form -- the text flows so nicely! Here's a searchable PDF version)

Anyway, here are some of the gems (starred in my scripture journal :) ) I found in this read-through: (this is the somewhat longer version vs. my FB post)

** (1 Nephi 11:22) And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. (23) And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.

** (2 Nephi 8:3/Isiaiah 51:3) For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

** (2 Nephi 9: 8) O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! ... (10) O how great the goodness of our God, ... (13) O how great the plan of our God! ...(19) O the greatness of the mercy of our God, ... (20) O how great the holiness of our God!

** (2 Nephi 22:3/Isaiah 12:3) Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

** (2 Nephi 24:3/Isaiah 14:3) And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.

** (2 Nephi 26:24) He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

**pretty much all of Mosiah 4 :) :) :), for example (verse 9) Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

(11) And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, ....

(12) And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

** (Mosiah 24:13) And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

** (Alma 34:16) And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption. (38) ... ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

While I was reading in Alma, I was struck by how often the Lord was mentioned, so I drew it :) Enjoy!

** (Helaman 3: 35) Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

** (3 Nephi 22:10/Isaiah 54:10) For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

** (Mormon 5:23) Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?

** (Ether 3:14) Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

** (Moroni 7:13) But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and that it helps me (along with the Holy Bible) come closer to Jesus Christ! If you have questions, feel free to ask me :) or just read it yourself -- it's great!