The Domino Effect can be described as a situation, event or truth that is linked in a sequence of similar events. Like a chain reaction in chemistry each individual component is identifiable. Once the process starts the time between cause and effect often becomes relatively small and any space, physical, temporal or spiritual, that once separated the individual events or truths narrows and may even disappear completely.
It was 1979 in the town of Belemzinho, a small suburb of Sao Paulo, Brazil. An older woman, a recent convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, excitedly called her sister who lived in another city many miles away. She desired to share the feelings that had been kindled in her heart and the testimony of Jesus that had recently brought her so much Joy. As a result of the phone call her two nieces, both in their early twenties, boarded a train and journeyed across the country.
Several days later, in the early afternoon, the girls arrived safely at their aunt’s home. It had been years since their last visit and there was much to catch up on. As the evening approached the aunt awaited, with great anticipation, the arrival of the missionaries. She had invited them to come over to teach her nieces, just as they had taught her only a few short months before. She hoped her nieces would feel the same warm feelings she had experienced.
It was dark outside by the time the two 20 year old missionaries, a Californian and a Brazilian, stood outside the gates of the courtyard surrounding her small home and clapped their hands, the Brazilian way of knocking or ringing a doorbell. She opened the door and greeted them warmly.
The missionaries were excited to be teaching a lesson in the home of a recent convert. They knew that such settings were the ideal place for friends and family to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and His church. They expected this lesson would be like the many other lessons they had previously taught that month. In fact it would be no different than the hundreds they had each taught on their missions, . . . or so they thought.
They entered the home and were introduced to the young women who were already seated in the front room. After visiting for a few minutes they began to teach. It was their practice to preface this first lesson with some brief instructions regarding the Holy Ghost, and how it is through subtle promptings and feelings that this special witness of the Savior confirms the truth to our hearts. The focus of the lesson was on prophets and apostles and the responsibility that all prophets have to receive revelation from God, to share that information and to maintain a record of their prophesying.
The lesson proceeded uneventfully with an occasional question here and there which prompted a few brief discussions. Near the conclusion of the lesson the missionaries introduced the Book of Mormon as another witness of Jesus Christ, a record of God’s dealings with peoples living on the American continent. Before they could finish their explanation both girls sat up a little straighter and moved to the edge of their seats. It seemed a bit odd, the lesson had proceeded as planned and up until that point was uneventful. From the outset the young women had been polite and attentive. But now something had clearly peaked their interest. As if the Book of Mormon was what they had traveled such a long way and had been up until that moment, very patiently waiting to learn about.
One of the missionaries opened his Book of Mormon. He pointed to several verses marked in red pencil and asked if one of them would please read it out loud. The older of the two agreed and read Moroni 10:3-5. Before the missionaries could share their testimonies or even give a brief explanation of what had just been read the young woman quickly turned a few pages to an earlier chapter. After a brief pause she looked up smiling, pointing at another verse and said, “this one is my favorite.”
Surprised the missionary quickly scanned the verse, it was also marked with red pencil. He knew the verse well, he’d marked it himself many years before while attending an early morning seminary class as a freshman in high school. The scripture explained that little children are alive in Christ, not capable of committing sin and therefore have no need to be baptized. Her sister then added, “my favorite is when Nephi says that he will go and do whatever God commands.”
The two missionaries exchanged confused looks at one another. What had just happened? Was this some kind of a prank or joke? Almost instantly, like a subconscious reflex, the missionaries asked if the girls were already members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The young women responded that they had not heard of that church before, nor were they members of their aunt’s church. They explained that they attended a small community church in their home city. For the next several minutes they shared that their church also used and studied from the Book of Mormon, and that they knew of no other church that even had the Book of Mormon, let alone considered it sacred scripture. (Keep in mind that 35+ years ago there was no such thing as google search, Siri or even the internet.)
I will never forget what happened next, for it left an indelible impression on my heart and mind. The fundamental link between the Book of Mormon and literally everything else I had based my personal testimony of Jesus Christ and His church became perfectly clear. You see, unbeknownst to me there was one notable difference between the book their congregation used and my book, the one I had asked her to read from.
I guided her to turn to the front of my book and read near the bottom of the title page (1973 edition). There in bold letters is the declaration TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun. I explained that in 1827 Moroni, as a resurrected personage, the same prophet who had written the words so dear to her about the innocence of children, delivered his record on engraved plates to Joseph Smith and that by the gift and power of God The Book of Mormon was brought forth and translated.
She looked up with tears in her eyes and told us that their books had no title page or introduction. That after turning back their book's cover the very first page was the beginning of first chapter of the book of Nephi. Apparently, several decades before someone had received a box of Books of Mormon. They had removed the title pages along with anything that would testify of the book’s divine origin, the prophet Joseph Smith or the church which holds it as a sacred volume of scripture.
The introduction, first published in the 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon, invites us “to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in [our] hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true.” We are promised that “those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)”
This additional threefold promise follows: “Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.”
In the New Testament, near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned his followers, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt 7:15-20)
The Book of Mormon stands as one of the many fruits of the ministry of the prophet Joseph Smith. Therefore, if the Book of Mormon is the word of God, containing the fulness of the gospel and is a second witness of Jesus Christ, then Joseph Smith is a true prophet. And if he is a prophet, then the priesthood of God has been restored along with the authority needed to act in God’s name. Then The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, organized in 1830 by Joseph Smith under the direction of Jesus Christ, is His church on the earth. Then the priesthood keys from all previous dispensations have been returned and continue in use to this day, being handed down through an unbroken chain of living prophets and apostles. Then Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God on the earth today.
This is the Domino Effect to which I was referring at the outset of this blog post. As you can see the truths are propelled like dominos falling forward one after another, linked inseparably to the ones before and after. Then baptism, baptismal covenants and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then obedience to the commandments, keeping the Sabbath day holy and renewing our covenants through partaking of the sacrament. Then tithes and offerings. Then charity, Christ-like love, service and missionary service. Then temples, eternal marriage and eternal families.
This list is in no way meant to be complete or all inclusive. I believe if you will take a few moments to quietly reflect on your many testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the gospel principles taught with such simpleness and clarity therein, you too will see how they all blend together to create a rich and enduring testimony of Jesus Christ.
Write your thoughts down, share them with your family. Build your own train of dominoes, start with your testimony of the Book of Mormon. If you have not as of yet, received a witness of truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, then begin with the gospel principles that you do have a testimony of. Continue to read daily, study the words of the prophets, ponder them and remember the Lord’s promise near the end of the Book of Mormon. Put the prophet Moroni’s words to the test, remember how merciful the Lord has been to the children of men, from the time of Adam down until your day.
Remembering can humble us while at the same time increase our faith in God’s love for His children. Consider the many blessings you and your ancestors have received from the hand of God. Then do as both Moroni and James directs, that is ask of God in all sincerity of heart. And ask in faith, nothing wavering. Then God will answer your prayers by the power of the Holy Ghost.
This is my testimony, that the words of God will tell us what to do and the Holy Ghost will show us how to do it. That by the power of the Holy Ghost we can have a testimony, even a sure witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
“A testimony of the Book of Mormon is one of the first steps in obtaining a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Much as the first domino causes the other dominoes to tumble in succession, if we first come to know that the Book of Mormon is true, then we can also come to know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, that Joseph Smith was His prophet through whom the Restoration took place, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church of Jesus Christ restored with power and authority to the earth today.”
Each of the dominoes essential to our salvation and exaltation have been placed in their appointed sequence and position by God. All that is lacking to initiate the domino effect of peace and happiness in this life and eternal lives in the life to come, is for us to put forth the prescribed effort. To tip the first domino by reading, pondering and praying for a witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that it is true.