2010–2019
The Role of the Book of Mormon in Conversion
October 2018


Ọrụ nke Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn n’ịnweta ngbanwe

Anyị n’achịkọta ndị Isreal n’oge ikpeazu ya, ma nke a ka anyị ji Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn n’eme, nke bụ otu n’ime ngwa ọrụ eji enweta ngbanwe kachasị ike.

Ọtụtụ mmadụ n’ụbọchị nke a n’eche ma Chineke na nmekọrịta anyị na ya ọ bụ ihe dị ire ka ọ bụ akụkọ nkịtị. Ọtụtụ amaghị ihe ọbụla banyere ụkpụrụ aṅụrị nke Ọ tụrụ maka ọ dị nma anyị. Ihe karịrị afọ ịrị atọ gara aga, Onye Isi Nduzi Ezra Taft Benson kwuru si na “ọtụtụ …n’ime ụwa taa anaghị anakwere ọdịdị nsọ nke Onye-Nzọpụta. Ha anaghị ekweta ihe iribama nke ọmụmụ Ya, izuoke nke ndụ Ya, na eziokwu nke mbilite n’ọnwụ Ya di ebube.”1

N’ụbọchị nke a, ọbụghị nanị banyere Onye-Nzọpụta ka ha n’ajụ maka Ya ma ha n’ajụkwa banyere Nzukọ nsọ Ya-Nzukọ nke Jisus Kraịst nke Ndị-Nsọ Ụbọchị-Ikpeazụ a-nke O wehachịtara azụ site na Onye-amụma Josef Smith. Ajụjụ ndị a n’agbasa akụkọ, nkuzị, ma ọ bụ ejirimara nile nke Nzukọ nsọ nke Onye-nwe.

Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn n’enyere anyị aka iwulite ọgbụgba-ama dị nsọ n’ime onwe anyị

N’ime Preach My Gospel ka anyị n’agụta: “Cheta na nghọta anyị [banyere Nna nke-Igwe na ụkpụrụ aṅụrị Ya] n’esita na ndị amụma nke ụbọchị anyị-Josef Smith na ndi nke nọchiri ya-ndị na-anata mkpuhe nke ha site n’aka Chineke.Ya mere, ajụjụ mbụ onye ọbụla ga aza bụ nke metụtara ọkpụkpọ oku Josef Smịth dịka onye-amụma, ma ọ bụ site na ịgụ ma kpee ekpere banyere Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn ka anyị nwere ike izaa ajụjụ a nke ọma.”2

Ama nke onwe m banyere ọkpụkpọ oku dị nsọ nke Onye-amụma Josef Smịth enwetala agbamume dịka m jị ekpere n’atule uche n’ime Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmon: Igba-ama Ọzọ nke Jisus Kraịst. Emewo m dịka Moroni siri kwuo ka “anyị rịọ Chineke, Nna nke Ebịgh-ebị, n’aha nke Kraist,” iji wee mata eziokwu banyere Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn.3 a na m agba ama na-ama m na ọbụ eziokwu. Dịka m sị mụta ihe a ka gị onwe gị nwere ike isi mụta kwa ya, “nke bụ site n’ịkịke nke Mụọ Nsọ.”4

Na ntupe ime ka a mata Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn ka edere: “Ndi nke nwetara aka-ebe a dị nsọ (banyere eziokwu nke Akwukwọ nke Mọrmọn) site na Mụọ Nsọ ga-amata kwa site n’otu ike ahụ na Jisus Kraịst bụ Onye-nzọpụta nke ụwa, na Joseph Smịth bụ onye-mkpuhe na onye-amụma ya n’oge ikpeazụ ndị a, na Nzukọ nke Jisus Kraịst nke ndị-nsọ Ụbọchị-Ikpeazụ a bụ ala-eze nke Onye-nwe hiwere n’elu ụwa ọzọ kwa, iji kwado maka ọbibịa nke ugboro abụo nke Mesaịa ahụ.”5

Dika onye mgbasa ozịọma ọhụrụ n’obodo Chile, a mụtara m ihe dị ukuu banyere ikike ngbanwe nke Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn. Otu nwoke-a ga m akpọ ya Mazị Gonzalez-rụrụ-ọrụ n’ogo dị elu n’ụlọ ụka ya ọtụtụ afọ. Ọ nwekwara ọzụzọ nke ọrụ oziọma dị ukuu nke gụnyere asambodo na tịọlọjị. Obi siri ya ike nke ukuu n’ọmara bịbụl nke ọma. Anyị hụtara ya dịka onye kwụsịrị ike n’okwu mgbasa ozịọma.

Ọ mara nke ọma ndị mgbasa ozịọma nke Ndị Nsọ Ụbọchị Ịkpeazụ a ka ha na-agagarị n’obodo ya nke bụ Lima, Peru. O nwewara nmasị ka ha na ya nọkọọ ka o wee kuziere ha bịbụl.

Otu ụbọchị, ọ dịka agasị n’ọbụ onyinye sị n’elu igwe, dịka o siri chee, ndị mgbasa ozịọma abụọ kwụsịrị ya n’ụzọ ma jụọ ma ha nwere ike ịbịa ka ya na ha tụgharịa uche n’akwụkwọ nsọ n’ụlọ ya. Ihe ọ chọrọ-achọ emela! Azawo ekpere ya. N’ikpeazụ o nwetala ohere ọ ga-ejị kuziere ndị ntorọbia nke a eduhere-eduhe ụzọ nke kwesiri ekwesi. Ọ zara ha sị na ọ ga-enwe ọṅụ ịnabata ha n’ụlọ ya ka ha na ya tụgharịa uche n’akwụkwọ nsọ.

Ọ nọ n’echesị ike maka ụbọchị ahụ akara-aka. O jịkere iji baịbụl ma ka ndị mgbasa ozịọma mara n’okwukwe nke ha adịghị-nma. Obi siri ya ike na baịbụl ga-egosi ngbagọ nke ụzọ ha. Ndị mgbasa ozịọma ahụ kụrụ-aka n’ụzọ ya dịka ha sị yie. Obi tọrọ ya ụtọ. Oge ahụ ọ na echerịsị abiawo na nmezu.

O mepere ụzọ ma kpọbata ndị mgbasa ozịọma ahụ n’ime ụlọ ya. Otu n’ime ha nyere ya otu akwụkwọ nke n’acha blịu ma gbara ya ama sitere n’obi ya na ọbụ okwu Chineke nọ n’ime akwụkwọ ahụ. Onye mgbasa oziọma nke abụọ gbakwara ama nke ya banyere akwụkwọ ahụ, tinyere n’ọbụ onye amụma ụbọchị a, nke a n’akpọ Joseph Smith, tụgharịrị ya, ma ọ n’akuzi maka Kraịst. Ndị mgbasa ozịọma ahụ bilikwara ọtọ ma hapụ ụlọ ya lawa.

Mazị Gonzalez enwetaghị ihe o bu n’obi. Ma o mepere akwụkwọ ahụ ma sapewa ihu-akwụkwọ ya. Ọgụrụ ihu-akwụkwọ mbụ ya. Site n’ebe ahụ ọ gụrụ ya gawa ma ọkwụsịghị ịgụ ya tutu tuo n’ehihie ụbọchị n’eso nke ahụ. Ọgụrụ akwụkwọ ahụ nile ma mata n’ọbụ eziokwu. Ọ mara ihe ọ ga-eme. Ọ kpọhachịrị ndị mgbasa ozịọma ahụ, gee ntị na nkuzi ha nile, ma hapu ndụ nke ọ mara nke ọma iji wee bụrụ onye out Nzukọ Nsọ nke Jisus Kraịst nke Ndị-Nsọ Ụbọchị Ịkpeazu a.

Nwoke ọma ahụ bụ onye nkuzị m na MTC nọ na Provo, Utah. Akụkọ ngbanwe nke nwanne nwoke Gonzalez na ikike nke Akwụkwọ nke Mormon metụtara m n’obi nke ukuu.

Mgbe m rutere Chile, onye Isi-Nduzi mission mụ, Royden J. Glade, kpọrọ anyi oku ka anyi gụọ ama nke Onye-amụma Joseph Smith edepụtara na Joseph Smith-History izu ụka nile. Ọ kuziere anyị na ọgbụgba nke Mkpuhe Mbụ ga e metụta ọgbụgba ama anyị nke ozịọma na ọgbụgba ama anyị nke Akwụkwọ nke Mormon.

E jịrị m obi m n’abata ọkpụkpọ oku ya. Agụọla m ndepụta nke Mkpuhe Mbụ; agụọla m Akwụkwọ nke Mọrmọn. E kpela m ekpere dịka ntụzị-aka nke Moroni ma rịọ kwa “Chineke, Nna nke Ebịgh-ebị, n’aha Kraịst”6 ịmata ma Akwụkwọ nke Mormon ọbụ eziokwu. A na m agba ama taa na amara m n’Akwụkwọ nke Mormon, dịka Onye-amụma Joseph Smith kwuru, bụ “akwụkwọ a kachasịrị dezịe edezi n’ụwa,bụrụ kwa isi oke-nkume nke okpukpechi anyi, na mmadụ ga-abịa Chineke nso site na ịnọgide n’usoro iwu ya, karịa site n’akwụkwọ ọbụla ọzọ.”7 Onye-amụma Joseph kwukwara si: “Wepu Akwụkwọ nke Mormon na mkpuhe ndị a nile, ma kedụ kwa okpukpechi anyi? E nweghị nke anyi ga-enwe kwa.”8

Ngbanwe nke onwe

Mgbe anyi matara nke ọma onye anyi bụ ya na ebum n’obi nke Akwụkwọ nke Mormon, ngbanwe anyị n’abenye ụba. Anyi n’enweta agbam ume na nkwụsike anyi idobe ọgbụgbandụ nke anyi na Chineke meworo.

Otu ebum n’obi nke Akwụkwọ nke Mormon bụ ịchịkọ Israel gbasasịrị-agbasa. Nchịkọ a n’enye ụmụ Chineke nile ohere ibanye n’ụzọ ọgbụgbandụ ma site n’idobe ọgbụgbandụ nile ndị a ha enwe ike ilaghachikwu Nna nke Igwe. Dika anyi n’akuzi nchegharị ma na wụ ndị gbanwere mmịrị, anyị n’achịkọ Israel.

Akwụkwọ nke Mormon ruturu aka n’ụlọ nke Israel ugboro otu narị na asato. Na mbido Akwụkwọ nke Mormon, Nephi kuzịrị, “N’ihi na uju nke ebum-n’obi m, bụ ka m new ike mee ka ụmụ mmadụ kwere, ma biakwute kwa Chineke nke Abraham, na Chineke nke Aịsak na Chineke nke Jekọb, ka a zọpụta ha.”9Chineke nke Abraham, Aịsak na Jekọb bụ Jisus Kraịst, Chineke nke mgbe ochie. A ga azọpụta anyi mgbe anyi biakwutere Kraịst ma bie ndụ anyi dika nkuzi ozịọma ya.

Nephi mechekwara dee:

E, ọbụna nna m kwuru ọtụtụ okwu gbasara ndị Jentaịlụ ahụ, na kwa gbasara ụlọ nke Israel, na a ga-eji ha tunyere osisi olive, nke aga-agbajipụ ngalaba ya wee fesasịa ya n’elu iru nile nke ụwa. …

Ma mgbe ekposasịrị ụlọ nke Israel a ga-ekpokọta kwa ha ọzọ; ma-ọbụ, na mkpirisi, mgbe ndị Jentaịlụ nabataworo uju nke ozi-ọma ahụ, ndị bụ ngalaba osisi olive ahụ n’ezie, ma-ọbụ ụfọdụ nke ụlọ nke Israel, ka a ga-akpọbata kwa, ma-ọbụ bịa na mmata nke ezi Mesaịa ahụ, Onye-new ha na Onye-mgbapụta ha.”10

N’otu aka ahụ, na nwụcha Akwụkwọ nke Mormon, onye-amụma Moroni chetara anyi banyere ọgbụgbandụ anyi sị, “Ka ị gara kwa inwe mgbawọjụ-anya ọzọ, ka ọgbụgba-ndụ nile nke Nna nke mgbe ebighi-ebi nke o meworo nye unu, O ụlọ nke Israel, ka e wee mejupụta ya.” 11

Ọgbụgba-ndụ nile nke Nna nke mgbe ebigh-ebi

Gini bụ “ọgbụgba-ndụ nile nke Nna nke mgbe ebighi-ebi” Moroni kwuru maka ya? Anyi n’agụta na Akwụkwọ nke Abraham:

Aha m bụ Jehova, na a maara m ọwụwụ site na mmalite, ya mere aka m ga-ekpuchite gị.

“Na aga m eme mba dị ukwuu site na gị, na a ga m agọzi gị karịa ihe atụ, na mee aha gị ka ọ dị ukwuu n’etiti mba nile, Ị ga-abụ kwa ngọzi nye mkpụrụ gị ga-esochi gị, n’ihi n’aka ha nile ka ha ga-eburu ije-ozi nke a na Ọkwa Nchụ-aja nye mba nile.” 12

Onye Isi-Nduzi Russell M. Nelson kuziri n’oge ozi agbasara nye ụwa nile n’adịghi anya na “ nkea n’eziebụụbọchị ikpeazụ ahụ, ma Onye-nwe n’eme ọsọ-ọsọ ọrụ Ya ịchịkọta Israel. Nchịkọta ahụ bụ ihe kachasị mkpa n’eme n’ụwa taa. Ọ dighị ihe e jị atunyere ya, n’udị ya, n’ugwu ya, na mkpa ya. Ma ọ bụrụ na ị họrọ, ị chọrọ, ị nwere ike isonye n’ọrụ a n’ụzọ di ukwuu. Ị nwere ike isonye na ọrụ a buru ibu, nwere ugwuu di kwa ukwuu!

“Mgbe anyi n’ekwu banyere nchịkọta a, anyi n’ekwu nani eziokwu nke a: nwa Chineke ọbụla, ma ndị di ndụ ma ndị nwụrụ anwụ, ga enwetariri ohere ị nụ ozi-ọma nke Jisus Kraịst enwehachiri. Ha ga-ekpebi n’onwe ha ma ha ga anabata ya.” 13

Nke a bụ ihe anyi n’eme dika ndi otu Nzukọ nke Jisus Kraịst nke Ndị-Nsọ Ụbọchị Ikpeazụ a: anyi n’agbalisi ike ime ka ndi ụwa ghọta-ma gbanwe-na ozi-ọma nke Jisus Kraịst. Anyi bụ “ndị nchịkọta ụbọchị ikpeazụ a.”14 Ọrụ anyi doro anya. Ụmụnne nwoke na ndi nwanyi, ka a mara anyi dika ndi n’emewo dika Moroni siri kpọọ oku, kpee ekpere ma nata ọzịza na Akwụkwọ nke Mormon bụ eziokwu, ma n’ekesa ihe nmụta nke a n’okwu ọnụ, na nke kachasị mkpa, n’omume.

Ọrụ nke Akwụkwọ nke Mormon n’inweta mgbanwe

Akwụkwọ nke Mormon nwere uju nke ozi-ọma Jisus Kraịst;15ọ na edube anyi n’ọgbụgbandụ nile nke Nna, nke anyi dobee, anyi enweta onyinye Ya karichasiri-ndụ ebighị-ebi 16 Akwụkwọ nke Mormon bụ isi-nkume nke mgbanwe nke ụmụ Nna nke Igwe nile, ndi nwoke na ndi nwanyi.

Onye Isi Nduzi Nelson kwukwara si: “Dika ị …na-agụ ụbọchị nile Akwụkwọ nke Mormon, ị ga amụta nkuzi nile banyere nchịkọta ahụ, eziokwu nile banyere Jisus Kraịst, Aja-mgbapụta Ya, na uju nke ozi-ọma ya nke n’adizikwaghị na Bible. Akwụkwọ nke Mormon n’ejikọ ọrụ nke nchịkọta ahụ. N’ezi ya, ọbụrụ n’enweghị Akwụkwọ nke Mormon, nkwa e kwere banyere ịchịkọ Israel a garụ ibia na nmezu.” 17

Ka m were okwu nke Onye-nzọpụta kuziere ndị Nephi banyere nkwa ngọzị nile ndị a piachie: “Unu bụ ụmụ nke ndị-amụma; ma unu bụ nke ụlọ nke Israel; ma unu bụ nke ọgbụgba-ndụ ahụ nke Nna mere ya na n di nna unu, na-asị Abraham: Ma n’ime mkpụrụafọ gị ka ebo nile nke ụwa ga enwe ngọzi.”18

A na m agba ama na anyi bụ ụmụ Chineke ndị nwoke na ndị nwanyi, mkpụrụ nke Abraham, ụlọ nke Israel. Anyi na-achikọta Israel nke oge ikpeazu ma nke a ka anyi ji Akwụkwọ nke Mormon n’eme-akwụkwọ nke, etinyere ya Mụọ nke Onye-nwe bụ ngwa-ọrụ kachasị ike inweta mgbanwe. Onye-amụma nke Chineke n’edu anyi, Russel M. Nelson, onye nke n’atụzi aka ọrụ nchịkọta nke Israel n’ụbọchị a. Akwụkwọ nke Mormon bụ eziokwu. Ọ gbanwela ndụ m. A na m ekwe nkwa, dika Moroni na ọtụtụ ndị amụma ọzọ kweworo n’onwere ike igbanwe ndụ nke gị.19 N’aha Jisus Kraịst, amen.

Notes

  1. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (2014), 129.

  2. “What Is the Role of the Book of Mormon?”Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, rev. (2018), lds.org/manual/missionary.

  3. Moroni 10:4.

  4. Moroni 10:4.

  5. Introduction to the Book of Mormon.

  6. Moroni 10:4.

  7. Introduction to the Book of Mormon.

  8. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 196.

  9. 1 Nephi 6:4.

  10. 1 Nephi 10:12, 14.

  11. Moroni 10:31.

  12. Abraham 2:8–9.

  13. Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” (worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018), 4, broadcasts.lds.org.

  14. See Jacob 5:72.

  15. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “The Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the ‘fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ’ (D&C 20:9). That does not mean it contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. And they are taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation” (Teachings: Ezra Taft Benson, 131).

  16. See Doctrine and Covenants 14:7.

  17. Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” 7.

  18. 3 Nephi 20:25.

  19. See, for example, Henry B. Eyring, “The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life,”  Liahona, Feb. 2004, 12–16.