General Authority Seventy Elder Matthew S. Holland spoke to the BYU community about how the Book of Mormon can guide people through the wilderness of life at the devotional, Jan. 20.
Elder Holland began by explaining the Book of Mormon’s repeated descriptions of righteous people traveling through the wilderness. He noted that most readers of the Book of Mormon will rarely spend any time in a true wilderness, but they can still relate to the stories as they wander through metaphorical wildernesses.
“Maybe you feel lost in an academic performance wilderness, a friend or dating wilderness, a marriage fulfillment wilderness, a career choice wilderness, a faith crisis wilderness, a health challenge wilderness or a moral transgression wilderness,” Elder Holland said.
He counseled those who feel they are wandering to cling to the Book of Mormon.
“The Book of Mormon will provide you with a path, which, in the wilderness, is the most needful yet hardest thing to find. It won’t spell out every step of escape from every specific wilderness you face. But it will direct you to the wisest, most foundational and illuminating path there is,” Elder Holland said.
Elder Holland expanded on that path to eternal life. He described the initial steps of the path taught in the Book of Mormon, including faith, repentance and covenants.
“Consider the truly unique blessing of the Book of Mormon. Of all books on Earth, it provides the clearest and most convincing portraits of the path to eternal life, which is the happiest destiny that anyone can seek — the promised land of all promised lands,” Elder Holland said.
Elder Holland then shared about his late parents, Patricia and President Jeffrey R. Holland, and their deep love for the scriptures. He shared his experience of turning to the Book of Mormon after his father’s recent passing.
“As I began to read, I quickly realized certain passages were speaking directly to me … Every word was seared into my soul. I dropped to my knees and called upon the Lord. And, in Him I found — and continue to find — the strength, peace, and deliverance I was missing that bewildering afternoon,” Elder Holland said.
Elder Holland shared how he read from the Book of Mormon, but what he found was Jesus Christ.
“The Book of Mormon was the conduit, but the power was in Christ. We cling to His book to cling to Him,” he said.
Elder Holland concluded by stating the Book of Mormon is the purest testimony of Jesus Christ.
“The true path and power needed for the wilderness of life is Jesus Christ … As He promised the Nephites anciently, and thus promises you today, ‘I will … be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you … and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led,'” Elder Holland said.