WHERE ARE YOU?

This is an excerpt from The California Carlsbad Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Newletter message from Elder JR Hyde's mission president , President Thomas.  It is fun to see what instruction he is receiving from his leaders.  

I am always intrigued by the account in Alma between Moroni and Zerahemnah. This is where Moroni’s army is battling Zerahemnah’s army and Moroni’s army has them encircled around and Moroni stops the shedding of blood. He then gives Zerahemnah a choice, “…I command you by all the desires which ye have for life, that ye deliver up your weapons of war unto us, … we will spare your lives, if ye will go away and come not again to war against us.” So, we see all Zerahemnah has to do to live is give up his weapons of war and commit to not come to battle again. Moroni is not going to put them in bondage, he will let them go. Zerahemnah’s response is interesting, “…he came forth and delivered up his sword…and said unto him…we will deliver them up but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you, which we know that we shall break.” Zerahemnah is saying, here are our weapons but we will not take the oath. I have often wondered why would a wicked man’s oath be worth dying for? Couldn’t he have just given up his weapons and “said” he wasn’t going to attack? His oath meant something to him, so much so that he would die rather than break his oath. I share that with you because I want to remind all of you of the invitation I gave you at Zone Conference. I asked for a commitment, even your oath, that you would commit to read the Book of Mormon every day for the rest of your lives. I expect your oath to be as strong as Zerahemnah’s. One that you will be so committed to that it is more important than your very life. I promise you it is worth it. You will have a fountain of peace, joy, and happiness that you never realized possible. Sister Thomas and I are making our oath with each of you that we will make the study of the Book of Mormon a daily event for the rest of our lives. You can test us by asking us where we are. But when you ask us, be prepared to tell us where you are as well, and to be able to say yes, I am studying every day. We love all of you so much. We love you so much that we invite you to make this commitment.