“If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true—and I solemnly testify that it is—then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
“Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Power of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 86–87).
“Dictionaries say that ponder means to weigh mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, meditate. …
“By pondering, we give the Spirit an opportunity to impress and direct. Pondering is a powerful link between the heart and the mind. As we read the scriptures, our hearts and minds are touched. If we use the gift to ponder, we can take these eternal truths and realize how we can incorporate them into our daily actions” (Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).
“Occasionally I prayed to know what was right, but it was more of a passing thought than a sincere question. Then one night I decided to pray with ‘real intent.’
“I told Heavenly Father that I wanted to know Him and to be part of His true Church. I promised: ‘If Thou will let me know whether Joseph Smith is a real prophet and whether the Book of Mormon is true, I’ll do whatever Thou would have me do. If The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church, I’ll follow it and never give it up.’
“I had no spectacular manifestation, but I felt at peace and went to bed. Several hours later I awoke with a distinct thought: ‘Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and the Book of Mormon is true.’ The thought was accompanied by indescribable peace. I fell asleep again, only to awake later with the exact same thought and feeling.
“Since that time, I have never doubted that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. I know that this is the Savior’s work and that Heavenly Father will answer our sincere petitions” (Rodolfo Armando Pérez Bonilla, “How I Know,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 64).
“Moroni did not promise a manifestation of the Holy Ghost to those who seek to know the truth of the Book of Mormon for hypothetical or academic reasons, even if they ‘ask with a sincere heart.’ The promise of Moroni is for those who are committed in their hearts to act upon the manifestation if it is received. Prayers based on any other reason have no promise because they are not made ‘with real intent’” (Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart [1988], 19–20).
“The last five words of the verse offer an important admonition—‘ponder it in your hearts.’ What is the antecedent of ‘it’—the thing that we are to ponder? It is ‘how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things.’ We are to remember how loving, how provident, how good, how forgiving our Heavenly Father has been toward us” (Gene R. Cook, “Moroni’s Promise,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 12).
“A few years ago I showed one of my senior brethren a talk I had prepared for future delivery. He returned it with a stimulating two-word comment: ‘Therefore, what?’ The talk was incomplete because it omitted a vital element: what a listener should do” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Following the Pioneers,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 72).
“[The purpose of spiritual gifts] is to enlighten, encourage, and edify the faithful so that they will inherit peace in this life and be guided toward eternal life in the world to come. Their presence is proof of the divinity of the Lord’s work; where they are not found, there the Church and kingdom of God is not. The promise is that they shall never be done away as long as the earth continues in its present state, except for unbelief (Moro. 10:19), but when the perfect day comes and the saints obtain exaltation, there will be no more need for them. As Paul expressed it, ‘When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.’ [1 Cor. 13:10.]
“Faithful persons are expected to seek the gifts of the Spirit with all their hearts. They are to ‘covet earnestly the best gifts’ (1 Cor. 12:31; D. & C. 46:8), to ‘desire spiritual gifts’ (1 Cor. 14:1), ‘to ask of God, who giveth liberally.’ (D. & C. 46:7; Matt. 7:7–8.) To some will be given one gift; to others, another; and ‘unto some it may be given to have all those gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby.’ (D. & C. 46:29.)” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 314).
“One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts. …
“From Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–12, we have this truth: ‘For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
“‘To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.’
“God has given each of us one or more special talents. … It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given. …
“Let us review some … less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost. …
“God does live. He does bless us with gifts. As we develop and share our God-given gifts and benefit from the gifts of those around us, the world can be a better place and God’s work will move forward at a more rapid pace” (Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20, 23).
“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous [or difficult] and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments” (Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 88).
“Thus the Book of Mormon ends … on the promise of the Holy Resurrection [see Revelation 14:6]. That is most fitting, for this sacred testament—written by prophets, delivered by angels, protected by God—speaks as one ‘crying from the dead,’ exhorting all to come unto Christ and be perfected in him, a process culminating in the perfection of celestial glory” (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 339).