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Elder Rubén V. Alliaud: 'Found Through the Power of the Book of Mormon'

General Authority Seventy

Notable quotes:

"Jesus Christ Himself is the Lord of lost things. He cares for lost things. … In the end, nothing is truly lost to Him."

"I came to know that the Book of Mormon was crucial in the conversion process by experiencing firsthand the promise that ‘a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts."

"I solemnly testify that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that the Holy Ghost will confirm the truth of it time after time to anyone who, with a sincere heart, seeks knowledge unto the salvation of their souls."

Summary points:

  • In order to progress toward true conversion, converts to the Church must experience the power of the truths contained in the Book of Mormon.
  • Those who commit to a sincere study of the Book of Mormon with the spirit of prayer will learn about Christ and learn from Christ.
  • Each person is invited to allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find and embrace them once again.

Talk summary:

Just before Elder Rubén V. Alliaud of Argentina  turned 15, his uncle invited him to stay with him in the United States. His mother agreed for him to go providing his uncle, who had joined the Church several years earlier, did not try to convince her son to do the same.

His uncle kept that promise. But upon coming across a copy of the Book of Mormon, Elder Alliaud discovered Moroni’s promise that if readers ask God if “these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4).

With that promise in mind, he secretly began reading the Book of Mormon. And soon after praying, “I came to know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon was true.” His uncle, upon learning of young Rubén’s desire to be baptized, immediately sent him back home to Argentina with a note stating, “I had nothing to do with this!”

In order to progress toward true personal conversion, all converts must “experience and be found by the power of the truths contained in the Book of Mormon.” They must also make a serious commitment to God to strive to keep His commandments.

The Book of Mormon is imbued with the sacred purpose of teaching about Christ. “For this reason, any reader who commits to a sincere study of it, with the spirit of prayer, will not only learn about Christ, but they also will learn from Christ.”

“My invitation this afternoon to each of us, regardless of how long we’ve been a member of the Church, (is) to allow the power of the truths of the Book of Mormon to find us and embrace us once again, and day after day as we diligently seek for personal revelation. It will do so if we allow it.”

About the speaker:

  • Elder Rubén Alliaud, from Argentina, was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in April 2019 after being mission president of the Argentina Cordoba Mission. 
  • He was converted after living with his uncle, who was a member of the Church, during his teenage years. This was opposed to his mother’s request to his uncle to not let him join the Church.
  • His wife, Fabiana Bennett Lamas, lived in the ward he served in during his mission in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission. They got to know each other years after his mission and were married in the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple. They have six children. 
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