The Origin of My Testimony



1 Nephi 1:1

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

This verse is the original source of my testimony of the Book of Mormon. In a very dark time just prior to my mission in 1972, I was in desperate need of spiritual reassurance. I turned to the Book of Mormon for an answer. If the Book of Mormon was true, I could move forward. If it was not true, I would drop the church and change my life. 

I opened the book, read the first verse, and knew instantly that Nephi was a real person. He lived a real life. I felt in that moment that I knew him. If he had walked into my room and introduced himself, I could not have been any more sure of his existence. Because he lived, wrote, and died, I knew with absolute certainty that the book was true. Therefore, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the church was true. 

God placed my life on a sure path and set my course forever with this one verse. I finished reading the book in a few days, but I needed nothing more than 1 Nephi 1:1 to know it was true.

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