The Power of Imagination

I recently went to a missionary farewell where the young missionary-to-be gave a talk. In his talk, he shared an experience he had with the Book of Mormon. He was told by a church leader that if he read the Book of Mormon it would make him a better person. The missionary-to be wanted to take him up on his offer but felt as though he didn’t have time to actually read the Book of Mormon. The young man was convinced the power of the Book of Mormon was so strong that if he left it open on his night stand the book would still help him become a better person. He left the book open on his nightstand and lo and behold it prompted him to be a better person. He bore his testimony of how the Book of Mormon is so powerful you don’t even need to read it—if you leave it open on your nightstand you will become a better person by its existence alone. He then shared a few experiences of how he was a more benevolent person after leaving his Book of Mormon open on his nightstand.

Now, before you cynically roll your eyes at this young man’s experience, I believe this young missionary-to-be is making a very important point. I believe he is telling the truth that the power of the Book of Mormon changed him without him even reading it. Why? Because he believed it. The mere presence of the book and his belief was enough to change him. He didn’t have to use it, or perhaps I should say he didn’t have to use it as intended. The mere existence of the book along with the power of imagination was transformative.