The Book of Mormon Is TRUE

Hey friends and family! I want to express my love for all of you. I apologize for missing a week of email writing, but I have so much to share, so this might be a lengthy one!

Over the past two weeks, I've been deeply immersed in studying Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

I had a wonderful experience on exchanges with Sister Mcbride, who has been out for just 3 weeks. She's absolutely adorable, and I have a lot of affection for her. As I mentioned in my last email, we met a lady named Pat, whose son is critical of our beliefs. Sister Mcbride and I managed to teach Pat a lesson, but her son began to criticize us again. He asserted that the Book of Mormon isn't true, insisting that the Bible is the only accurate book and that we're going against God by suggesting otherwise.

Sister Mcbride, being the incredible individual she is, quoted 2 Nephi 29:8:

"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also."

Pat then responded, "Okay, so if your favorite movie releases a sequel describing the first one, are you just going to claim you know enough about the first and ignore the second?" - quite the comeback!

Elder Holland shared:

"When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum set off for Carthage, knowing martyrdom awaited, Hyrum read these words to comfort Joseph: 'Thou hast been faithful; wherefore … thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. “And now I, Moroni, bid farewell … until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ.” A few short verses from the 12th chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Before closing the book, Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die."

Later, when Joseph the Prophet was jailed, he bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon to the guards holding him captive. Shortly after, their lives were taken by pistol and ball.

Joseph and Hyrum were ready to die rather than deny the divine origin and eternal truth of the Book of Mormon.

"For 179 years, this book has been examined, attacked, denied, deconstructed, targeted, and torn apart, perhaps more than any other book in modern religious history, and yet it endures."

How could it not be true?

"As Saints, we not only have the privilege to defend the Book of Mormon but also the opportunity to take the offense — to powerfully preach its divine doctrine and testify of its significant witness of Jesus Christ."

Fast forward to this week. We spoke to Pat's son again and then engaged in a conversation with a lady sitting on her porch. Unbeknownst to us, this led to a 30-minute exchange of her criticizing our beliefs. But I was prepared for it!

Honestly, it's challenging for me to listen to people criticize what I know deep in my heart and soul to be true. Most importantly, it's tough to witness people rejecting the Book of Mormon.

Every day as missionaries, we not only testify of Jesus Christ but also defend The Book of Mormon.

Tad R. Callister emphasizes:

"While some might choose to believe the critics' reasoning, it is, for me, an intellectual and spiritual dead end. To accept such arguments, I'd need to embrace one unproven assumption after another. Furthermore, I'd have to disregard the testimonies of the 11 witnesses, reject the divine doctrines in this sacred book, ignore the countless individuals who've drawn closer to God through it, and deny the confirming whisperings of the Holy Spirit. This contradicts everything I hold to be true."

In these situations where I encounter people rejecting God's word and the Prophet Joseph Smith, I can't help but think of the early saints and Joseph Smith, and the persecution they endured. They sacrificed their lives for what some might call "just a book," but we know it's much more. Despite the torment they faced, they were unwavering in their conviction that God and Jesus Christ live, The Book of Mormon is true, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's restored church on Earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.

I will never deny The Book of Mormon. I'm resolute in that. What I've realized is that I appreciate it when people attempt to convince me otherwise. Their rejection compels me to stand firm in what I unequivocally know and believe. It provides the chance to persuade people to reconsider and open their hearts. It's an opportunity to momentarily put aside worldly concerns and lean on my Savior and the love I hold for Him.

While I'll never fully comprehend the trials faced by the saints and Joseph Smith, I can, to some extent, understand why they never gave up.

I'm certain that God the Father and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith as he knelt in a grove of trees. Joseph was indeed a prophet of the latter days, and he restored the true Church of Christ to the Earth. I know this because I've read and continue to read the Book of Mormon. It stands as another testament of Jesus Christ, complementing the Bible. I wholeheartedly believe in it and want to share its message with the world.

Mormon 9:7-9 teaches us:

7 For those who deny God's revelations and claim they're obsolete, that there are no prophecies, gifts, healing, or speaking in tongues,

8 Know this, he who denies these things doesn't comprehend the gospel of Christ; he hasn't truly read the scriptures and thus doesn't understand them.

9 Don't we read that God remains constant, yesterday, today, and forever, unchanging?

If you don't believe in the Book of Mormon, you likely haven't read it. The spirit only testifies of truth; it won't convince you that the book isn't true.

If you've made it this far, I leave you with this:

2 Nephi 33

10 Listen, my beloved brethren, and to everyone around the world, believe in Christ. And if you can't believe in these words, believe in Christ. By believing in Christ, you'll also believe in these words, for they are His words, teaching us to do good.

11 And if these aren't Christ's words, you will be shown, with power and glory, that they are His words on the final day. You and I will stand before His judgment-seat, and you will know that despite my weaknesses, I was commanded to write these things.

I know Jesus Christ lives, and I'm certain that The Book of Mormon is truly God's word.

I repeat it often, but I'll say it again. I'm incredibly grateful to be here, and I feel fortunate and blessed to represent Jesus Christ and defend The Book of Mormon. I'm committed to doing so for the rest of my life, and I wholeheartedly hope that all of you will do the same. This is the most crucial work on Earth.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sending you all my love! Always keeping you in my prayers.

With love,

Sister Liljenquist

Oh, also I won the rock paper scissors tournament against 2 zones last week at zone pday. I didn't know I was that cracked

Here are some quotes:

Jake: "You might need to buy a lottery ticket after your baptism."

Sister Colson: "Ugh, it's going to be one of those nights when I'm too tired to go to bed."

Guy at service: "Are you married?"

Me: "Am I Mary?"

Him: "Married."

Me: "Like Mary?" spells out Mary