Having grown up in Japan where Christianity is scarce, the concept of the Bible is often a challenge to grasp, let alone having another testament of Jesus Christ.  To start with, the Book of Mormon has helped me understand the purpose of life, why I even exist.  It has brought me immense hope in the world full of darkness and chaos that there is a God, and that this mortal life is a time of preparation to meet Him.  Every word contained in this book points to Jesus Christ as our Savior and our ultimate source of life, light, and hope to become closer to God and to return to His presence one day.

I have a firm testimony that The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have never read another book that has made me feel as loved and known by my Heavenly Father. This book helped me develop my relationship with Jesus Christ and learn to rely on Him. My favorite scripture from the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 31:19 which says, “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.”

I love the Book of Mormon. It has been a foundational part of my life since I can remember and sharing its teachings as a missionary helped to solidify what it meant to me. The book is clearly filled with “plain and precious truths” and it has been a tool the Lord has used to guide me throughout my life. The Savior’s voice and purpose fill page after page and I’m truly blessed to have it in my life.

I’m not sure I have one favorite verse but among the ones that mean the most to me is 2 Nephi 25:26 “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” I love the promise it gives – pointing forever families toward heaven and an eternity with the Savior. 

I know it’s true and I feel so blessed to be a part of bringing this musical testimony to so many of you!

The Book of Mormon provides an answer to one of the most fundamentally common questions asked by mankind. “How can I get closer to God?” Joseph Smith taught “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.” I have found this claim to be true in my own life. Reading the Book of Mormon has brought me closer to God which in turn has blessed my life in every possible way. The ancient writers of the book make it clear that they were imperfect servants of God, but that the writing was inspired by God. They’re so confident of this that they invite the reader multiple times to not just take their word for it but to ask God if what they write is true. As a child, I asked God if the Book of Mormon was true, and through several experiences learned for myself that it is! That divine answer has been reaffirmed by the power of the Holy Ghost many times since. “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:5) The teachings of the Book of Mormon are simple, clear, and powerful, and I am eternally grateful to have had its companionship for most of my life.

As I read and ponder the Book of Mormon, I am able to come to know my Savior better. I love to read the words “And if men come unto me I will show unto them thier weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them”. I have seen that promise and many others from the Book of Mormon unfold in my life and I know I will see more unfold as I keep studying and living by its precepts.

My testimony of the Book of Mormon is a simple one. I believe that the stories, locations, characters, and most of all the doctrine contained in its pages are all REAL. I believe that the Lord provided prophets and lessons for the new world just as he did in the old world. I believe that His love extends to each of us and I’ve felt it more readily the more I study His word. I’ve seen it drastically change lives, both on my mission in Russia and in my own, individual life. I love its teachings and find that I grow every time I read.

Ever since I was a young boy this has been my favorite scripture.  I know that when we build our lives with Christ as our foundation, He will help us through any trial.  With his love, we can endure any burden.

Helaman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I know for myself that living the principles taught in the Book of Mormon has blessed my life with security, love, and peace that I would never otherwise have obtained. I know the Book of Mormon is true in so many ways. How it can flip my mood for the day by reading it, how I have received answers to prayers by opening its pages, how I have felt the confirming Spirit of the Lord witness to me of its truthfulness while reading the powerful introduction. The Book of Mormon is true and Jesus Christ truly was at the head of the writing, abridgement, and translation of this book. “But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction” – Jacob 3:1. I believe we will see that the Book of Mormon will stand the weathering of time. No unhallowed hand will stop the gospel from spreading through this book, nor the love of God, from reaching the hearts of men and women all over the world, through it.

I believe every word in the Book of Mormon. It has opened my eyes to a whole new world I didn’t know existed. It is the true word of our savior Jesus Christ and another testament of his love and miracles. Through the Book of Mormon is where I find peace for my soul and the true meaning of happiness. I say these thing in the name of our brother and savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

I believe the Book of Mormon has a unique power to truly change lives and bring hope, as Mormon says in Moroni 7:41:

“And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.”

The Book of Mormon has been an anchor in my life, helping me find direction and hope. My mom taught me to love the Book of Mormon by bringing the stories to life and “likening the scriptures” to the things that we were going through in our lives. I am so grateful for the lessons

learned and the examples of people of faith in this amazing book. For me, the Book of Mormon stands as a lighthouse leading to happiness and hope in a challenging world.

One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is found in the book of Alma 26:27

“Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.”

This passage has always uplifted and encouraged me in hard times. It reminds me of God’s love and strength as I read it, and it helps me to feel hope and joy.

It is hard to sum up into words what my heart feels for Jesus. My love for him is deeply personal. He has shown me that he loves me individually and has been there in my darkest moments. 

At age 12, my oldest brother took his own life. I could never describe how painful it was to lose him. It shattered my entire family, and we have never been the same. After losing him, I was very confused. I didn’t understand why something so terrible had to happen. I cried to heavenly father, begging him for answers. It seemed that for years, the heavens were closed, and answers would not come.

At age 16, I set out to read the Book of Mormon completely on my own. I had been raised a member of the Church, but I really didn’t have my own experience with the Book of Mormon prior to this. It took me 9 months to read the entire book. I will never forget how much peace I felt in my life, and how much strength the words on the pages brought me. So many of the questions I had, were answered when I read the Book of Mormon.

My favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is found in Mosiah 16:8 “But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ”. This scripture, for obvious reasons, brought me so much peace to my broken heart.

Because of Christ, all things broken will be made new. Because of Christ, I will be able to see my brother again. I know that He lives and loves us more than we can comprehend. The Book of Mormon teaches me about who Christ is and helps me feel the peace that only Christ can bring.

I read the Book of Mormon almost every morning with my family growing up. But I didn’t read it on my own, cover to cover, until I served a mission in Seoul, South Korea. I finished it a couple weeks into my service and knelt in prayer to ask God if the things that I read were true, and I knew in an instant they were. I know God is in Heaven and that He sent his Son, Jesus Christ to come to Earth and pave the way for us to return and live with Him after this life. I am certain that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God and the prophet of the restoration. The Church he re-established is the same church and gospel that Jesus Christ established during His ministry on Earth.

The best part about all of this? YOU can come to know for yourself these things! No one needs to tell you what to believe, or the answers to questions you have. YOU carry the power to find them out for yourself with sincere study and prayer. You will come to know, just like I have, that God is there and He is waiting to answer the questions in your heart. It truly doesn’t matter where you’ve been or where you are. What matters is moving forward. Reach out to Him. God doesn’t expect immediate perfection, but He does expect immediate progression.