This episode talks about repentance and how much joy our Savior feels when we repent. I share the “Parable of the Dairy.” This episode also talks about the sacrifices Martin Harris made to pay for the publishing of the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon.
From the manual:
Martin and Lucy Harris had one of the finest farms in Palmyra, New York. It had taken them years to acquire, had enabled them to raise a family, and had given them good standing in the community. But in 1829 it became clear that the Book of Mormon could be published only if Martin mortgaged his farm to pay the printer. Martin had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but Lucy did not. If Martin went forward with the mortgage and the Book of Mormon did not sell well, he would lose his farm and jeopardize his marriage. At some time or another, we all face questions similar to those that Martin may have been facing: What is the gospel of Jesus Christ worth to me? What am I willing to sacrifice to help build God’s kingdom? It may help us to remember that no one has ever paid a higher price to bless God’s children than Jesus Christ, “the greatest of all” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18).
Martin made the decision to mortgage his farm. His sacrifice paid for the printing of the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. And now, more than 190 million copies later, millions of souls around the world have been blessed.
For more information about the publication of the Book of Mormon, see Saints, 1:76–84.
I saw the following video on Youtube and it went along with this talk so I’m including it here. So sweet!
So often I feel like this podcast is for me personally…even though I know I’m not the only one. I feel like sometimes I am like the Nephites in that I’m slow to remember the powerful spiritual experiences that I have had, but this episode reminded me of a couple of years ago when I felt just like Alma, as Christ also brought me immediate peace and joy after I had gathered all my courage to tell a loved one of my betrayal. He had no idea what I had done, but I knew I needed to repent fully, even if it meant he couldn’t forgive me. IMMEDIATELY after I confessed to him and asked his forgiveness, I felt overwhelmed with peace and this incredibly joy that was such a stark contrast to the misery I had been in for years. Even though the repentance process was lengthy, I felt peace and joy from that moment on. I also gained a testimony of the Atonement’s purpose in helping those who have been hurt to heal and be capable of forgiving those who hurt them.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful experience! I wish more people understood this!!