The Book of Mormon

FEBRUARY-MAY READING

Dear Elders and Sisters,

Sister Aquino and I are truly happy with your response to the Book of Mormon reading challenge, we know that
your efforts to read and finish the Book of Mormon has brought to you and your family timely blessings and we are
truly grateful for your testimonies.

This February, we will renew again the challenge to re-read the Book of Mormon for the second time starting
February 1 and this time with a different emphasis. In your preparation to read the book please buy a new study
notebook for this purpose.

As you read the Book of Mormon continue to ponder and do the instruction that was given to you in the first reading
challenge and in this reading we will study the life of the people in the Book of Mormon. As you study the life of
each prominent person (this includes even the anti-Christ) write down the insights you learned from them especially
how they exercise their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The following questions may help you as you ponder on
them.

• What are their attributes, talents and abilities?

• How did they exercise their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? What do they have that made it possible for
them to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
• On the other hand, why is that it is not possible for them to exercise their faith?
• What have I learned from them that will help me become a better person or missionary?

As you read the Book of Mormon, stay on schedule so that you and your companion may have something to talk
about.

As you study the story and the life of the people in the Book of Mormon be guided by what Elder Richard G. Scott
said, “As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain
them. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle
makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to
organize the truth we gather to simple statements of principle.” (Elder Richard G. Scott, “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge”,
Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 117–20; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86–88)

Remember this promise made by President Joseph Fielding Smith, "Now the Lord would give us gifts. He will
quicken our minds. He will give us … a knowledge that will be so deeply rooted in our souls that [it] can never be
rooted out, if we will just seek for the light … and the understanding which is promised to us, and which we can
receive if we will only be true and faithful to every covenant and obligation pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ"
(in Conference Report, Oct. 1958, p. 22).

May the Lord bless you that your companionship may truly be divine.

FIRST READING EMPHASIS

• Each reference to Jesus Christ (any of His names or pronouns referring to Him).
• His words (spoken by Him or by prophets when they say, “Thus saith the Lord”).
• His attributes.
• The doctrines and principles contained in the Book of Mormon. Like, examples of Faith in the Jesus Christ
(Nephi 3:7), reference to conversion (Alma and Abinadi), references about the Atonement (2 Nephi 2),
references to great missionaries, and others.