I Know...

                When I was starting 9^th grade, President Hinckley, then the latter-day prophet of my church, issued the challenge for every member of the church to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover before the end of the year. I took this challenge to heart and started on my way. That same fall, the teachers in my school district went on strike and I was out of school for almost the entire month of October. However, my early morning seminary class, which included several school districts, still met every morning at six. So, the entire month that I didn’t have school, I still got up and went to seminary every morning and then came home and spent most of the rest of the morning reading from the Book of Mormon. This became one of the greatest experiences of my life. I didn’t just waste away my month with no school, I filled my time with reading from this divine book and my life was completely changed.

                Upon completion, I took the challenge issued at the end of the Book of Mormon to ask our Heavenly Father if the things written in the book are true. I had read from the Book of Mormon since I was little and grew up with the stories but I had never asked and known for myself. I remember kneeling down in the early morning light at the side of my bed and sincerely asking Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon was true. I was answered; I have no doubt about that. I had the distinct impression of being swept up into the arms of my Heavenly Father and swung around, the way you see fathers hugging and swinging their daughters and then the words came to me, clear as day, “Emily, Emily, Emily, you know it’s true.”

                This experience has stuck with me for my entire life and is something I will never forget. I know the teachings in the Book of Mormon are true and divinely inspired. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he restored the fullness of the church to the earth in these latter days. I know that are Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and that he cares about the little details of our life. I know that someday we will be able to return to Him, where we truly belong. I know it and I cannot deny it.