Posted by I read the book of Mormon when I was a teenager and found it difficult to understand and I couldn’t follow the timeline of the characters. I loved some of the thoughts and stories but I couldn’t feel much as I read two pages a night. I think I finished the book and I skipped around, but I took the challenge at the end of the book. Pray and ask God if these things are true. I did and I was left hollow emotionally. A year or two later I began to want to go on a mission and I thought I better know the truth about what I was preaching so I began to read the book again. I really liked the stories and was inspired by Enos, who went into the hills to hunt animals and fasted and prayed for three days then prayed fervently to know if God was there and if he had a plan for him. Like Enos, I chose to go hunting for three days. I took nothing but my gun and decided to fast and pray until I knew the Book of Mormon was true. I became weak and dehydrated. At the end of the last day I prayed with all my heart to have answers to all the questions of my heart. I expected to know the Book of Mormon was true and that God lived and that Jesus Christ was my savior and redeemer. I didn’t get an answer. I heard no words, I never saw any angels nor could I get confirmation about any of these questions. I really expected to come down from the mountain like Moses, knowing Gods plan for me and it didn’t happen.
As I walked down from Bountiful peak, sweating and fatigued, sleep deprived and starved for the past three days, I had a moment of peace that what I had done was good but God inspired me to know that I wasn’t ready to know what I had no foundation for. But, if I would complete reading the Book of Mormon I would know of its truth. I got the answer I deserved. And as I looked back at my life I realized I had never read the book of Mormon completely nor with full intention of knowing its truth. The effort I had given it was sparse, irregular and incomplete. So, when I asked God to tell me it was true, he confirmed my effort and it was insufficient to determine the truth. I felt inside that as soon as I read the book I would have my confirmation, but I got offended. I told God that my fasting, prayer and love for him should be good enough to know the truth of all things. My offense grew into a grudge and I told God that I was ready and I would wait for him to come to me. My life became stagnant and empty. I was really wanting to know the truth of these things but struggled through my prideful grudge. My prayers became repetitive and unfeeling.
My life changed after an auto accident where I was severely injured. I realized my mortality and began to thank God more fervently and I could see that I needed him and wanted him. I was humble and contrite. I started reading the Doctrine and Covenants and couldn’t put it down. I loved the idea of earths creation, the miracle of life, the doctrines stated so plainly and my responsibilities declared boldly and with clarity. I learned where I came from and, where I was going and yearned to know more about who I was. So, I read the Book of Mormon and I learned what it felt like to believe, and have a humble experience that confirmed my knowledge of truth. I made a plan to read the Book of Mormon but this time I read ten pages each night. I loved how entire thoughts and stories were easy to understand and I began to feel that same peace that I felt from the Doctrine and Covenants. I learned to pray for a confirmation of the truth and every time I read ten pages or more I could feel truth being confirmed. It was peace. It was a confirmation of my belief. I know why I didn’t have my requests fulfilled on the mountain, it was because I hadn’t believed, read completely and prayed with a humble heart to have the truth confirmed. The process of feeling the truth begins with a choice to believe. The second step is to choose to have a humble attitude. The third step is to read completely the Book of Mormon believing and praying for a confirmation of your understanding. Then receive the truth through the feelings of peace. I completed the Book of Mormon and by the time I completed the book I knew through the spirit that attended me each night that every section was truthful. This Book is the truth. The action of reading the Book of Mormon will open the doors of peace, revelation and inspiration. I found the answers of who I am, where I came from and where I’m going after this mortal life. Jesus Christ is my master and savior and redeemer. The Book of Mormon enlightened me as to the mission of my savior. It is his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. I know these things.
Gordon Pedersen
Book of Mormon Testimonies 