I can read this!

Two of our elders were teaching a woman at a member's home. They passed their scriptures to her and asked her to read a passage. She looked down at the scriptures and then looked up at them and said, "I can read this!" The elders didn't quite understand the significance of her exclamation until she explained. Earlier that day she had broken her glasses. Her eyesight is very poor. She was unable to see anything clearly. When they handed her the scriptures to read, she was going to give them back and explain, but when she looked down the words were clear to her. She was very moved by this experience and felt it was confirmation that the things she was learning and feeling were of God.

I can relate to this experience on a different level. Though in English, the wording of the scriptures is different from the way we use English today. When I first began reading, I felt I wouldn't be able to understand what was being expressed in a way that would have meaning for my life. Experience has changed that assumption. I have found that every time I read, I can glean something from these prophets that applies to me and strengthens my faith in Jesus Christ.

Why is that? Moroni, the last Book of Mormon prophet to record his witness of Jesus Christ, explained the reason. He said that he and his father, Mormon, had 'seen our day'.
Mormon was chosen by God to compile and abridge all the records of their prophets into one record in order to persuade everyone who would read it to come unto Christ. The accounts that would best help us with the obstacles and challenges from their day that would apply to us in ours were selected and included in the record. After Mormon's death, Moroni finished the task his father began and hid that record until God prepared and chose another prophet for our day. That prophet was Joseph Smith, and his first task was to translate and publish this record now known as The Book of Mormon.

This book and its testimony of Christ seconds the magnificent witness of the Bible. Moroni tells us how we can know if the record we're reading is true. He said,

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

That last line, "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things," is so important to me. These words have clearly testified to me that Jesus Christ is real. That He is the Savior of the world. Not only is He able, but willing to be a part of my life. He wants to guide me and my family back to our Father in Heaven. When my reading is regular (daily) and prayerful, the Holy Ghost gives me insight and inspiration-helping me apply the doctrines of the prophets in my life; doctrines such as faith, obedience, integrity, repentance, prayer, prophets, baptism, salvation. This book helps me to see clearly, to see the hand of God working in my life and bringing me ever closer to Him.