I can think of two different times in my life when a prophet invited the church membership to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.
Both of these times, I made a dramatic and significant effort to accomplish the task.
It felt great to follow a prophet!
However, throughout the years, prophets have also issued much less flashy invitations to church membership.
They’ve asked us to repent daily, read the Book of Mormon more.
They’ve asked us to increase our temple attendance.
They’ve asked us to study the atonement of Jesus Christ more.
Sometimes I’ve been concerned that I’ve let the “big stuff” overpower the less dramatic invitations I’ve heard from the pulpit.
“My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13)
Are we willing to do the big things AND the small things that the prophet asks?
Would we have built the ark with Noah AND repented of our sins?
Would we have gotten in the barges with the brother of Jared AND worked to increase our faith?
Would we have crossed the plains in a covered wagon with only a few possessions AND read the scriptures daily?
And ultimately… it’s not really the prophet inviting us to do these things, right?
He’s the Lord’s mouthpiece.
Sometimes the Lord needs significant, dramatic changes and miracles.
But more often, He needs the quiet, consistent, daily efforts from our heart.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
