Coming to know the Book of Mormon as the word of God "and bending our wills to its precepts" will move Church members a major step forward in becoming people of truth, virtue, light, wisdom, mercy and justice, Elder L. Aldin Porter said Sunday, Sept. 13.

Speaking to more than 4,400 young adults gathered for a Church Educational System fireside originating from the Hart Auditorium at Ricks College, Elder Porter said studying the Book of Mormon will help young people become men and women of stature.Elder Porter of the Presidency of the Seventy was accompanied by his wife, Shirley. The fireside was transmitted via the Church satellite system to more than 100,000 seminary and institute students in 500 locations across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Elder Porter's address will also be translated into several languages; printed copies will be distributed to seminaries and institutes throughout the world.

During his address, Elder Porter said sometimes there is confusion about the Book of Mormon - often referred to as a scriptural history of the inhabitants of ancient America.

Quoting President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Porter said the Book of Mormon is not a biography nor, in a strict sense, is it a history. "It is the saga of a message, a testament," he said.

". . . Among other things," he continued, "the book is given `to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.' "

Elder Porter called the response of all people to the message of the Book of Mormon a test - a test with eternal consequences. "We are being tested as we read the book, and we will one day account for our response to it."

He said this is a time when many secular leaders believe truth depends upon circumstances. However, he added, "Some things are true under all conditions." The Book of Mormon, he explained, will act as a guide to help people find those truths that are always certain.

"This book is filled with the power and the wisdom that can make us into the men and women we truly want to be," he said. "We must not live our lives with a false sense of security, feeling that all is well in Zion. There are so many [in the secular world] in positions of trust today who call evil good and good evil that we simply must build a fortress of faith."

Elder Porter asked the young adults how they could overcome doubt, handle scorn, deal with pride and avoid secret combinations or sexual immorality.

"In the pages of the Book of Mormon we will find specific instructions about how to deal with all of these challenges," he said. "In addition we will find the power through the Holy Spirit to fill our souls with the certainty and strength to resist evil in all of its very enticing forms.

"Do we treat the book as if it were a guide for us? Do we search its pages in an effort to prepare ourselves for the challenges that we will face individually as well as collectively?"

Elder Porter told the young adults they could not just absorb the words in the Book of Mormon mentally - they had to feel them spiritually.

"The spirits of men and women respond to the scriptures as they pray, ponder, and live in accordance with the instructions therein," he said. "When you immerse yourself in the scriptures in this manner then your life reflects a desire . . . to be obedient. Further, the Holy Spirit will resonate with your spirit . . . and the truth will become part of your very being."

Reading, praying and pondering over the messages of the Book of the Mormon will build faith, he said.

"We must understand that the Book of Mormon is either the word of God or it is not. There can be no middle ground."

Accepting the gospel socially, Elder Porter continued, is not enough.

"We love our associations, we love the youth programs, the Church schools and institutes and many other important parts of our culture. But, may I tell you, that is not enough," he said. "Our testimonies must be firmly rooted; we must be well grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Book of Mormon."

Elder Porter said the Lord has done something with the Book of Mormon that he is not aware of Him doing with any other book - "He bears His testimony of it." Reading D&C 17:6, Elder Porter quoted, "He [Joseph Smith] has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth, it is true."

"We must teach out of the Book of Mormon, we must testify of it, we must convince investigators and less-active members to ponder and pray over its pages, bringing them to the Lord Jesus Christ and His one true Church."

Elder Porter promised the young adults that if they would read from the Book of Mormon at least 20 minutes a day, they would gain much in their quest to become men and women "of truth, of virtue, of light, of wisdom, of mercy and of justice."