I have been wanting to bear my
testimony of the Book of Mormon for some time, but have neglected
to do so. This morning I was impressed that I should at least write it
down, so here goes.
After my relationship with God, my strongest
testimony is about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Ever
since I received a witness by the Spirit of it's correctness, just
before leaving on my mission at age 20, I have known that it is a
true and divine record. It is the anchor that brings me back every
time I have any doubts. For since it is true, then everything else
must be true as well, and the prophet who reveal it must be God's
messenger as claimed.
And since I have studied the geography
of the book for the last 20 years, my witness has been strengthen. For a history to be true it must have a location, and I have
been blessed to have been there and witnessed the places. I have walked across the Narrow Neck of Land. I have swam in the
lovely Waters of Mormon. I have surveyed the broad Valley of Helam,
and watched them harvest bananas in the beautiful Valley of Alma. I
have traveled the Land of Nephi and visited Nephi's gold mines. I
have contemplated the Nephite/Lamanite battles near Manti, while
sitting on the banks of the River Sidon. I have driven by the site of the city
of Zarahemla during a rainstorm. I have swam in the east sea near
Moroni, and waded in the west sea where Hagoth built his ships. I
have lived for a year and a half in what used to be the Land of Melek. I have driven
through the Narrow Pass a number of times, and last year my brother and I
located the city that Lib built, near the Place Where the Sea Divides
the Land. All these experiences, and many others, have built a more
sure foundation for my testimony of the Book of Mormon. It is true! The places
were and are real, the history is true and the authors of the book were prophets and faithful disciples of the living Christ.
