Following an invitation from President Gordon B. Hinckley and his counselors — President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust — to read the Book of Mormon, Church leaders are saying Latter-day Saints who heeded the Brethren's direction drew closer to the Savior and now reflect His light in their lives on a greater level.

Photo by August Miller/Deseret Morning News

President Gordon B. Hinckley, reading Book of Mormon in his office at Church headquarters, and his counselors invited all Church members to read the sacred book. Accepting the invitation brought countless Church members many blessings.

"It started when President Hinckley had an inspiration to prepare us spiritually," said Gordon T. Watts, president of the Ogden Utah Temple, in reference to an article President Hinckley wrote for the August issue of the Liahona and Ensign magazines, and the subsequent invitation from the First Presidency to read the Book of Mormon by the end of 2005. Members of his temple district, he added, have advanced from reading the Book of Mormon to other important things — "including the ability to get closer to Heavenly Father by attending the temple."

And its not just temple attendance. At a time when, according to President Hinckley, "more people are reading the Book of Mormon than at any other time in history," other leaders report that their congregations are more reverent, patient and thoughtful. Church members across the continents bore testimony of the Book of Mormon, had increased confidence to share the Book of Mormon with friends and family, and reported seeing things in the book that they had not noticed before.

A young mother found creative ways to complete the challenge with her children, then saw them experience a "wonderful sense of accomplishment." A terminally ill priesthood holder determined to live long enough to complete the Book of Mormon. And, after learning some members of their stake could not read, Relief Society sisters met regularly to read the sacred scriptures out loud.

Word of the invitation definitely reached the end of the line in Brisbane, Australia, said John D. Jeffrey, president of the Brisbane Australia Temple. "People were constantly talking about it, in lessons and testimony meetings," he said. "It certainly made an impact" — the results of which will be seen in the coming year.

He said members responded to the invitation with a greater measure of obedience than he had seen before. Perhaps that is because President Hinckley — who since March 1995 has visited more than 150 countries, many of them multiple times — has connected with Church members on a personal level. On numerous occasions President Hinckley has explained that he does not like to travel, but "I love the peoples of the world."

Denzel N. Wiser, president of the Seattle Washington Temple, said there was such a great desire for members to follow the First Presidency's request, that members of his ward drafted and signed a letter stating they had met the challenge.

In Seattle, Church members celebrated the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the temple. To mark the event, members flocked to the temple in record number. There President Wiser noticed more were talking about the Book of Mormon in preparation meetings and more were reading the book while waiting for a session to start. The Book of Mormon invitation, he said, had a "significant effect that was interesting to observe." Many Church members, he added, said while reading the Book of Mormon "they were seeing all kinds of special things they had not seen before with special relevance to their special circumstances."

V. Kenneth Dutile, president of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, called the invitation the "most talked about challenge" the Church has recently experienced in his area, and Rodney H. Standage, president of the Albany New York Stake, said as a result of the invitation "clearly spirituality has increased." Each said they could not measure the results subjectively, but each also testified that they has felt the results spiritually.

"Without knowing how to measure the response, my intuition tells me the response was very favorable," said Ann Arbor Michigan Stake President Steven A. Hedquist. Seminary and institute students in his stake met the challenge. So did countless adults who bore testimony of the blessings they received. And then there were the Relief Society leaders in his stake who determined that no one would be left behind. Because there were some in the stake who struggled with literacy, the sisters regularly met together and read the entire book out loud.

The response to the invitation is just one more indication of a rising level of spirituality and obedience in the stake, he said, noting in the last 5 1/2 years the number of endowed members holding current temple recommends has doubled.

And on a personal note, he has noticed more and more members of his stake at the temple each time he attends with his wife.

Even children felt satisfaction from accepting the invitation. Paul and Jeanne Krumperman of the Redmond 3rd Ward, Redmond Washington Stake, read the book with their family.

"As we decided with our three young children (then ages 6, 4, and 2) to finish the Book of Mormon, my husband and I knew that it was important that not only we felt committed to this, but that they did as well," said Sister Krumperman. "As we all worked together on making sure we read nightly and also read enough to keep on track, we knew that it was a family effort. Knowing now that we set a family goal and accomplished it gives us the confidence and faith to know that we can set other family goals that will bless our lives."

Along the way, the family also created some family memories. "At one point, we realized we were having a hard time making it through Alma, so we decided that once we finished Alma, we would go on a special family outing — a Saturday morning of miniature golfing," she said. "Paige, Katie and Ryan still talk about the fun we had that day, and I am grateful for a fun-filled memory of happy children running around in the beautiful fall weather."

Like so many other Church members living across the globe, the Krumpermans also found great satisfaction heeding their prophet's word.

"Reading the Book of Mormon was a blessing in and of itself, but by following a direct challenge from President Hinckley and making it a family goal, our family felt greatly blessed and we have wonderful memories from the experience."

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