Among several challenges, President Russell M. Nelson challenged the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to read the Book of Mormon, noting all verses describing Jesus Christ, His characteristics and mission, and to establish a regular temple attendance habit.
He made significant promises if we took the challenge.
As part of his Book of Mormon reading challenge, he promised,
And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As part of his regular temple attendance habit, he promised,
More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple.
I read the scriptures every day and have established a regular pattern of temple attendance. So I took the prophet’s challenge with a desire to more fully experience the promised blessings.
Along with reading the Book of Mormon and marking verses related to the Savior and His mission, I started a study journal specific to verses that stood out to me for any reason. I’ve noticed an emerging trend, a trend that’s become a trail to personal growth and insight.
And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
I read 1 Nephi 11 soon after hearing the prophet’s promises and saw it in context of a temple dialogue.
For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?
And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.
And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
Nephi went to the high mountain, yearning to see. A guide, prepared to help remove the veil from Nephi’s eyes, asked what was wanted. Nephi wanted to see. The guide asked questions pertaining to Nephi’s ability to see. Nephi’s heart and mind were prepared.
And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.
And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
The Spirit gave Nephi a sign.
And then, Nephi saw.
After he saw, the Spirit asked what Nephi desired. He’d seen, now Nephi desired the interpretation. And he received it.
And so continued Nephi’s encounter on the mountain. In his prepared state, he was seen and he saw.
President Nelson’s challenge invites us to experience that same thing—to see and be seen—on His holy mountain.
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